Zhen Cheng was the owner of an appliance repair shop. He was kind, honest, and did business by the book. He would never try to pull the wool over someone's eyes, but he was only making enough money to barely support his family. After a time, a family member and a fellow tradesman urged him to practice the unwritten rules of business, and Zhen Cheng began to believe in sayings that represent a satanic philosophy such as: "A man without a second income will never get rich just like a horse starved of hay at night will never put on weight," "The bold die of gluttony; the timid die of starvation," "Money isn't everything, but without it, you can do nothing," and "Money is first." Zhen Cheng lost his good conscience that had guided him before and began using underhanded means to earn more money. Even though he earned more money than he had previously, and his living standards improved, Zhen Cheng nonetheless felt unhappy and a feeling of emptiness plagued him; life was hollow and fraught with suffering.
