# The Story of Wang Ho and the Burial Robe explained — Kai Lung’s Golden Hours > Chapter companion for Kai Lung’s Golden Hours by Ernest Bramah. ## What happens Wang Ho, a wealthy but illiterate merchant, suffers mysterious ailments after wearing an expensive burial robe. His scribe Cheng Lin, who secretly dreams of passing the literary exams and marrying Hsi Mean, reveals that the robe was embroidered by a maiden named Hsi Min who died young, thus imparting a malign influence. Lin advises Wang Ho not to confront the seller Shen Heng publicly, but instead to wait for a relative to impose the loss upon, and to exchange the robe for one of proven efficacy, such as his own father's robe made by a wise old woman. ## Themes in this chapter ### Wisdom and Cunning Cheng Lin uses his knowledge of the robe's origin and his persuasive rhetoric to manipulate Wang Ho, turning a potential loss into an opportunity. ### Social Class and Hierarchy Wang Ho's wealth and illiteracy contrast with Cheng Lin's education and lowly position, highlighting class dynamics and the power of knowledge. ### Survival and Resilience Cheng Lin endures his lowly status and Wang Ho's tests, patiently working toward his goals of passing exams and marrying Hsi Mean. ## Character check-ins ### Wang Ho A wealthy but illiterate merchant who suffers ailments after wearing a burial robe; he is suspicious and shrewd about money but easily swayed by Lin's advice. ### Cheng Lin Wang Ho's scribe, secretly ambitious to pass literary exams and marry Hsi Mean; he cleverly manipulates Wang Ho by revealing the robe's malign origin and proposing a solution. ### Hsi Mean The desirable maiden whom Cheng Lin hopes to marry; she appears in Lin's romantic imaginings by the river. ### Shen Heng The degraded merchant who sold the ill-omened burial robe to Wang Ho; he is accused of concealing Hsi Min's untimely death. ### Hsi Min The deceased maiden of the house of Hsi who embroidered the burial robe; her premature death is said to impart a malign influence on the wearer. ## Key lines > Beware of helping yourself to corn from the manger of the blind mule. Do not steal from someone who appears unaware but is actually watchful. _A proverb warning against underestimating Wang Ho's vigilance over his money._ > When one is inquiring for a way to escape from an advancing tiger, flowers of speech assume the form of noisome bindweed. In a crisis, elaborate language is useless and obstructive. _Cheng Lin reflects that direct action is needed when Wang Ho despairs._ > Do not burn down your house in order to inconvenience even your chief wife's mother. Do not take extreme measures that harm yourself just to spite someone else. _Lin advises Wang Ho against publicly shaming Shen Heng, which would damage his own reputation._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters/the-story-of-wang-ho-and-the-burial-robe - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters