包拯，字希仁，庐州合肥人也。始举进士，除大理评事，出知建昌县。以父母皆老，辞不就。得监和州税，父母又不欲行，拯即解官归养。后数年，亲继亡，拯庐墓终丧，犹裴徊不忍去，里中父老数来劝勉。久之，赴调，知天长县。有盗割人牛舌者，主来诉。拯曰：“第归，杀而鬻之。”寻复有来告私杀牛者，拯曰：“何为割牛舌而又告之？”盗惊服。徙知端州，迁殿中丞。端土产砚，前守缘贡，率取数十倍以遗权贵。拯命制者才足贡数，岁满不持一砚归。(Bao Zheng, with courtesy name Xiren, was born in Hefei, Luzhou. At the beginning, he passed the examination of Jinshi and appointed as Pingshi of Dali and magistrate of Jianchang County. As his parents were old, Bao Zheng had to resign the official post and went back to support parents. Several years later, his parents successively died. Bao Zheng built thatched cottage next to his parents’ tombs and could not bear to leave after expiry of funeral period. Villagers in the village advised and encouraged him for many times. After a long time, Bao Zheng accepted dispatch and took the post of magistrate in Tianzhang County. A robber cut the tongue of others’ cattle, the owner came to the appeal. Bao Zheng said: you can go home, kill the cattle and sell it.” Later, another person came to accuse others of privately killing farm cattle. Bao Zheng said: “why did not cut the tongue of others’ cattle and due him?” The robber was stunned and convinced. Bao Zhang was transferred to act as magistrate in Duanzhou and promoted as Zhongcheng. Duanzhou was abundant in inkstone. Previous magistrate exploited several dozens of tribute number to donate them to influential officials in the royal court. Inkstone manufactured under the order of Bao Zheng only satisfied tribute number. He did not take one inkstone home after expiry of holding office for a year. )