During the Warring States period, Xi Men Bao became the magistrate of Ye Cheng County.
When he took office, he first talked to the local elders and asked the people what their woes were.
The old people said, “This matter of giving He Bo a daughter-in-law has really harmed us, making everyone poor and miserable.”
It turns out that every year the local bureaucrats tax the people and then take most of the money to enrich themselves, using only a small portion to give He Bo a wife.
The witch would pick a pretty girl, dress her up, and then put her in the river to float away, saying she was a bride for the He Bo.
He Bo is the water god of the Yellow River in traditional Chinese mythology. Everyone is afraid of flooding if they offend He Bo, so they are all afraid to speak out.
Xi Men Bao heard this and had an idea in mind.
When it was time to give the He Bo a wife the following year, he told everyone to come to the river, including the local bureaucrats.
When the girl was brought out, Xi Men Bao took one look at her and said, “This girl is not pretty; we must ask the Witch to go and talk to the He Bo and get a pretty one instead.”
When he had finished, he had his men throw the great witch into the He Bo.
After waiting a while, he added, “Why is the witch gone so long? Send a disciple to hasten it!”
So another disciple was thrown into the river.
This threw three disciples in a row.
Then Xi Men Bao added, “It seems that women can’t speak clearly, so we have to let the magistrate speak.”
The magistrate was also thrown into the river.
The people next to him were scared to death, so Simon Bao said, “What should we do if they don’t return?”
The other officials and the rich and powerful were so frightened that they kowtowed and begged for mercy.
Xi Men Bao then said, “Alright, you all go back.”
From then on, no one dared to mention the matter of giving He Bo a wife.
Then, Xi Men Bao led the people to dig twelve canals to divert water from the Yellow River to irrigate the farmland.
At first the people were a bit reluctant, but Xi Men Bao said, “First bitter, then sweet.”
As a result, Yecheng County became very rich as a result, and the people lived a good life.