糟糠之妻 — “Wife of dregs and chaff”

During the Han Dynasty, there was a story about Wang Lang pursuing Liu Xiu. At that time, Liu Xiu's forces were weak, and he was relentlessly pursued by Wang Lang, fleeing day and night from north to south. During the conflict, one of Liu Xiu's generals, Song Hong, was unfortunately injured. When they reached Raoyang, Song Hong could no longer walk, and the pursuers were close behind. What could be done? Liu Xiu had no choice but to entrust Song Hong to a family named Zheng in Zhengzhuang to recover from his injuries.

The Zheng family sympathized with Liu Xiu and were very kind, treating Song Hong like a family member, offering tea, water, good food, and drink, showing great care. Especially the Zheng daughter, though not particularly beautiful, was upright, intelligent, and generous. She treated Song Hong like a brother, preparing medicine, inquiring about his well-being, and providing meticulous care. Song Hong was deeply moved. As time passed, a deep affection grew between them. After Song Hong recovered from his injuries, they married.

Later, Song Hong followed Liu Xiu on various campaigns, achieving numerous military merits and eventually helping Liu Xiu conquer the realm. After Liu Xiu became emperor, everything went as he wished, except for one matter that troubled him: his elder sister had lost her husband early in life and remained unhappy all day. Liu Xiu repeatedly sent matchmakers to propose marriages for her, but she was never satisfied. Later, Liu Xiu learned that his sister had taken a liking to Song Hong.

He thought, "I am the emperor, how difficult can this be?" Moreover, Song Hong's wife, Zheng, was not only older but also far less attractive compared to his sister. So, he sent someone to propose marriage to Song Hong on his sister's behalf. To his surprise, Song Hong replied, "糟糠之妻不下堂" (A wife who has shared one's poverty should not be expelled from the hall). When the messenger reported Song Hong's words to Liu Xiu, the emperor was deeply moved by Song Hong's character. Instead of blaming him, Liu Xiu held him in even higher regard. From then on, the story of "A wife of dregs and chaff should not be expelled from the hall" spread widely.