In ancient Korea, a starving old man named Quan is sentenced to five years in a dungeon for stealing a single handful of rice. Lacking the copper coins to pay his fine, the clever bibliophile devises a brilliant plan to win his freedom. He presents the King with a "magic" plum pit, claiming it will grow trees of solid gold—but only if planted by someone who has never stolen or cheated. When the King, the General, and the Prime Minister all sheepishly admit to their own past dishonesties and bribes, Quan exposes the hypocrisy of punishing a starving man while they profit from greed. Moved by the truth, the King realizes his harshness, collects a bag of coins for Quan, and sets him free. This wise adaptation serves as a powerful reminder that true justice requires empathy and that those who judge others must first examine their own hearts.