The Republic of China general Feng Yuxiang came from a poor family and joined the army at the age of two.
At that time, the army usually paid salaries on the 3rd and 5th of the lunar month and conducted target practice on the 5th and 10th. Target practice was an arduous task; regardless of the scorching heat, bitter cold, wind, or rain, soldiers had to lie prostrate on the ground for half a day. Feng Yuxiang's father, Feng Youmao, worried about his son's young age and frail constitution. On practice days, he would always give him a few small coins to buy two sesame cakes to strengthen his body.
Although Yuxiang accepted the money, he was always troubled. Family finances were already tight, and his father had recently fallen from a horse, injuring his right leg and needing proper nutrition to recover. How could he spend it on himself? So, He saved the money given by his father, added a little leftover salary from his own frugality, and accumulated 24 coins. He then bought two jin of pork at the butcher's shop and took it home.
In the evening, when his father returned from work, he noticed fragrant pork stewing in the pot. Surprised, he asked Yuxiang, who was standing by the stove: "Son, where did this meat come from?"
Yuxiang smiled and said, "It wasn't stolen, nor was it robbed. Please eat it with peace of mind!"
However, the upright and honest old man Feng insisted on knowing the truth. Having no choice, Yuxiang finally told him the whole story.
Upon hearing this, Feng Youmao was deeply moved and tears welled up in his eyes.
This incident happened in 1897, when Feng Yuxiang was just fifteen. Twenty years later, he still remembered this event and wrote a humorous doggerel verse specifically about it:
"Bought two jin of fatty meat to take home, Cooked it with my own hands to serve my father. Getting meat is not easy in a poor family, My old father eats it, and I dance with joy."
Target practice was an arduous task; regardless of the scorching heat, bitter cold, wind, or rain, soldiers had to lie prostrate on the ground for half a day.