During the Han dynasty, about two thousand years ago, to the north of Huayin Mountain, there lived a family called Yang. They were farmers and had only one child, whom they cherished so dearly that they named him Treasure Pao.
Yang Pao was not only clever, kind, and quick-witted, but also handsome with clear eyebrows and bright eyes. His parents shaved all his hair except for two locks on top, which they tied into knots. Everyone agreed he was very cute.
Yang Pao loved nature and often played in the forests of Huayin Mountain. One day when he was nine, he heard a cry above him. Looking up, he saw a hunting owl snatch a little titmouse from the air. Startled by Yang Pao's presence, the owl dropped the bird, which fell to the ground, dazed and motionless.
Ants soon came to carry it away for food, but the titmouse, injured by the owl's claws and the fall, couldn't move. Yang Pao rushed over, picked it up, brushed away the ants, and took it home. He cared for it in a bamboo cage, feeding it chrysanthemum petals and tending its wounds until it was strong enough to fly. Then he released it back into the forest, saying, "You're free now! Watch out for owls! Goodbye!"
Not long after, Yang Pao had a strange dream. A child in brown clothes came to thank him for saving his life. He presented Pao with four priceless white jade bracelets, saying, "Sir, I am an envoy of the Heavenly Queen. To show my gratitude, I give you these four immaculate jade bracelets, with my blessing that your descendants be as spotless as pure jade and hold high government posts."
Yang Pao hesitated to accept, but the boy insisted. As soon as he took the bracelets, he woke up, realizing it was just a dream. "That sure was a strange dream," he thought, shaking his head.
True to the blessing, Yang Pao's sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons were as virtuous as pure jade. For four generations, his descendants held top-ranking positions in the government.