成语典故：一饭千金

Paying Back A Thousand Pieces of Gold for a Simple Meal

　　Explanation：

　　To reward someone handsomely for a small favor done in the past.

　　Story：

　　Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty had a commander-in-chief named Han Xin， who had been orphaned at an early age and， as a result， had been reduced to begging.

　　One day， as he was trying to catch fish in a river， an old woman came upon him. Seeing that Han Xin was so thin and pale， the old woman shared her paltry meal with him. She continued to do this for a few days， and the grateful Han Yin said to her： "You have been so kind to me， that I am determined to pay you back some day." But the other only replied， "Never mind about paying me back. It will be reward enough for me if you simply learn how to feed yourself and not have to rely on others." Han Xin flushed at these words， and there and then determined to build a career for himself. He diligently studied the martial arts， and in time became a renowned fighter.

　　One day a local ruffian ran across Han Xin in the street and challenged him to a duel. Han Xin， knowing fully well that he could dispatch the braggart easily with his sword， was nevertheless reluctant to become involved in such pointless bloodletting in case it hindered his future career. The bully， sensing Han Xin's hesitation， said， "If you are afraid to fight me， crawl under my legs， and then I will let you live." Han Xin had no alternative but to humble himself.

　　Later， Han Xin became a follower of Liu Bang， whom he helped to establish the Han Dynasty by defeating his most powerful opponent， Xiang Yu.

　　Han Xin was given the grand title of King of Chu. Returning to his hometown in triumph he sent people to find the old woman who had shared her paltry food with him when he was destitute. To her he gave 1，000 pieces of gold. The local tough who had insulted Han Xin， however， shivered with fear. But when he was brought before Han Xin the latter merely patted him on the shoulder and said to his generals： "When this man insulted me he did so in order to spur me on to make harder efforts. So he actually did me a favor." Thereupon， he had the man installed in a high official position.

一饭千金

　　解释：

　　吃了别人一顿饭，就拿千金来报答。比喻受恩厚报。

　　故事：

　　汉高祖刘邦身边有一员大将军名叫韩信。他出身贫困，父母早逝，每天靠讨饭过日子。

　　韩信没有别人可以依靠，只好每天到河边去钓鱼，用鱼来充饥。有一天，韩信碰到一个老婆婆。老婆婆见他饿得骨瘦如柴，面无血色，便把自己的饭分一些给他吃。一连几天，这位老婆婆每天都给韩信饭吃，韩信十分感激，便对老婆婆说：“您这样照顾我，将来我一定要好好报答您。”老婆婆说：“我不要你报答。只希望你要努力自立啊！”韩信满脸羞愧。从此，他认真读兵书，练习武艺，决心做个有用的人。

　　乡里有一个恶少，在街上碰到了韩信，就大声对他说：“看你整天舞枪弄棒，像个有胆量的人。来来来，你敢拿剑刺我吗？要是不敢，你就从我这胯下爬过去！”韩信心想：“如果我拿剑刺他，岂不犯了杀人罪？日后还有什么前途呢？不如宁受眼前之辱也不逞一时之勇为好。”于是，他伏在地上，从那个恶少的胯下爬了过去。周围看热闹的人都哈哈大笑起来。

　　后来，韩信投奔到汉王刘邦门下，受到重用，拜为大将，并授以调兵遣将、行军布阵的大权。韩信经过认真训练兵马，率领汉军东征西讨，终于打败了大的对手项羽，协助刘邦建立了汉朝。

　　韩信被封为楚王，回到了故乡，派人去找给他饭吃的老婆婆。韩信见了老婆婆，向她再三道谢，并送给她一千两黄金。曾经侮辱过韩信的那个恶少却吓得直打哆嗦，韩信用手拍着他的肩膀笑着说：“你不必害怕，过去的事算了。”又对左右的将士说：“这位将士从前羞辱过我，其实是激励我上进啊！让他做个中尉吧！”韩信念念不忘曾经帮助过自己的人，对曾欺负过自己的人，也没有报。 相反，加以原谅和提拔。他这种气度，是值得敬佩的。