This is our spoken word in consequence: in place of one tael every man among us shall now take two, and he who before has laboured eight gongs to receive it shall henceforth labour four.
"Kai Lung's Golden Hours"
Ernest Bramah Commentator: Hilaire Belloc
The moon has not been eaten up since the day when you stood before me in a like attitude and bargained that every man should henceforth receive a full tael where hitherto a half had been his portion, and that in place of the toil of sixteen gong-strokes eight should suffice.
"Kai Lung's Golden Hours"
Ernest Bramah Commentator: Hilaire Belloc
"It is well said: 'He who lacks a single tael sees many bargains,'" replied Sun Wei, a refined bitterness weighing the import of his words.
"Kai Lung's Golden Hours"
Ernest Bramah Commentator: Hilaire Belloc