An iron magnate swore his widowed daughter would get not one coin after she eloped, then gave her 100 servants and a million cash when she sold wine in his town

The Shiji, compiled by Sima Qian about 100 BC, says the Zhuo family of Shu came from Zhao, where they grew rich smelting iron. When Qin conquered Zhao it deported them. Other deportees bribed officials to be settled close by. The Zhuo couple pushed their own cart and asked to be sent far away, to Linqiong. There they smelted iron from the mountains and grew rich enough to own a thousand servants. Zhuo Wangsun's household held 800. His daughter Wenjun had recently been widowed. The poet Sima Xiangru came to a feast at the house. That night Wenjun ran away with him to his home in Chengdu, which had nothing but bare walls. Zhuo Wangsun said his daughter was worthless. He could not bear to kill her, he said, but she would not get a single coin. The couple came back to Linqiong, sold their carriage and horses, and bought a wine shop. Wenjun served at the counter, and Sima Xiangru washed dishes in the market. Zhuo Wangsun was ashamed and shut himself indoors. His brothers and elders told him the family's problem was not money. In the end he gave Wenjun 100 servants, one million cash, and the clothes and goods of her first marriage. The couple went back to Chengdu, bought land and a house, and lived as rich people.