In the 11th year of the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1702), Fan Shu, a talented scholar from Yangzhou, was appointed as magistrate of Lingao County in Hainan. In the ten years he served in the post, he was upright and incorruptible, striving tirelessly to eliminate major issues faced by the local populace.

In pursuit of these goals, Fan Shu showed the utmost dedication and sympathized with the people’s plights, often suffering alongside them. He improved coastal defenses—adding six forts and gun emplacements—and manned them with militia drawn from the citizenry, ensuring that pirates would think twice before harassing the locals. After a severe typhoon obliterated the county seat, he paid out of his own pocket for repairs, especially for a crucial bridge that connected the town to outlying villages. He even proposed strengthening the bridge’s piers with tung oil and lime, rebuilding it so that it would stand the test of time and typhoons.

Starting in the 13th year of Kangxi’s reign, Fan Shu turned his efforts towards charity and education. Over the years, he donated more than 1,000 silver taels to the construction of the Confucius Temple and advertised that it was open to all who wanted to study for and pass the imperial examinations. He also bought up land to build a marketplace, and established nurseries and other facilities for the people’s benefit.

Fan Shu’s annual salary was a mere 45 taels. He exhausted his family’s wealth, donating many thousands to public causes, leaving him in poverty. In gratitude for his selflessness and community spirit, the people of Lingao constructed the Kuimi (“Rice-Giving”) Pavilion. Every year, each household would donate a few pounds of rice to help him out, and he became known as the “Rice-Giving Magistrate.” Later, in recognition of his exceptional contributions, the people of Lingao built the Daide Stele.