“Rich people often carry doubts, poor people embrace sincerity.”

Mr. Tran – a billionaire from the countryside, built his entire career from scratch. After many years in business, he was used to lies, deception, and flattering looks from people. But because of that, he always wondered: “Is anyone sincere with me?”

One afternoon, after returning from a business trip, he saw that in the large villa there was only the maid – Mai, the daughter of the long-time maid. Only eighteen, with bright eyes and a tanned face, Mai was gentle and quiet. Since her mother became seriously ill, Mai replaced her mother to work and take care of the housework for him. Mr. Tran suddenly had a strange idea: to test the girl. In his heart, everyone has a price and a desire. But is a poor girl like Mai any different?

That night, he pretended to be tired, lying on the sofa, eyes half-closed as if he had fallen asleep. On the table, he deliberately left a thick wallet with money, a few gold jewelry – things that any poor person could covet. He thought to himself: “If she touches it, I will immediately know her true face.”

The space was silent. The sound of the ceiling fan was steady. Mai’s slippers softly echoed from the kitchen, then stopped when she passed the living room. Mr. Tran opened his eyes slightly, his heart pounding, waiting for that moment…

But what he saw made him speechless.

Mai did not touch the wallet, nor did she glance at the glittering gold and silver. She gently pulled the thin blanket over him, adjusting the pillow to make him lie more comfortably. She paused for a moment, her eyes quietly looking at him – not a greedy look, but like the eyes of a daughter looking at her father, both loving and worried.

Then, Mai quietly picked up the towel that had fallen on the floor, and put it in the laundry basket. Then she went back to the kitchen, brought out a cup of warm water, placed it neatly on the table near him, and attached a small piece of paper: “When you wake up, remember to drink water, don’t let yourself get thirsty.”

Mr. Tran pretended to keep his eyes closed, but his heart was trembling. It had been a long time since he felt cared for by such simple care
In the darkness, he remembered the time when he was poor. At that time, only his mother – a hard-working country woman – worried about him with every cup of water, every sleep. Now he was rich, with many servants, but that sincerity was unusually rare.

He suddenly felt his eyes sting.

That night, Mai continued her work: washing clothes, mopping the floor, and cleaning the kitchen. Every action was diligent, gentle, without a single complaint. When she finished, she sat studying under the yellow light in the corner of the kitchen, writing and yawning. Mr. Tran was still lying there, looking through the slit of his eyes, and a question arose in his heart: “Why can such a child maintain her innocence in a society full of temptations?”

The next day, Mr. Tran no longer pretended. He took the initiative to talk to Mai, listening to her talk about her mother’s serious illness, about her dream of continuing to college but not daring to think about it because she didn’t have enough money. Her voice was calm, not blaming fate, only a simple desire: “I just hope my mother gets well soon, and I have a stable job, to ease the burden on the family.”

Those words were like a slap in Mr. Tran’s heart. For many years, he had only thought about profit, about numbers, about assets. He was used to testing people, doubting people, and then forgetting the value of sincerity. And now, it was a poor girl – without a degree, without status – who showed him a great lesson about character.

He decided to do something he had never thought of before: pay for Mai’s mother’s medical expenses, and sponsor her entire education. “Consider this as me making up for what life has taken from you,” he said.

Mai burst into tears, but still shook her head slightly: “I accept it for you, Mom, but I want to try my best for the tuition fee.”

Mr. Tran was stunned again. In that moment, he realized: wealth is not what determines character. There are souls so pure that even gold and silver cannot tarnish them.

From that day on, the large villa was no longer a cold place. Mr. Tran found the meaning of sharing again, and Mai found a solid support on her life journey. And somewhere, he seemed to hear his mother’s voice from the past: “A sincere person, my child, even though poor, is still richer than ten thousand people with money.”

Many years passed, Mai from a poor maid became a mature woman. Thanks to Mr. Tran’s initial help, she had the opportunity to study and develop her career. Mai worked in a social company specializing in supporting poor children in the same situation as her in the past.

Despite her success, she still maintained a simple, sincere personality, and never forgot the person who opened the first door to her life.

Meanwhile, old age came to Mr. Tran. His huge business empire was gradually transferred to his children. But the richer he became, the lonelier he felt. The people around him – some calculated benefits, others distanced themselves. His health also gradually weakened, the once bustling villa now had only the sound of a cane tapping on the cold tile floor.

One day, he unexpectedly received a phone call:
– “Uncle, this is Mai. I heard that you have been in poor health lately, I want to visit.”

At that moment, he was silent. Among so many blood relatives, there was the little girl who had once been tested by him, now returning, with a selfless heart.

Mai came, bringing a basket of fruit, some tonics, and a gentle smile. Not luxurious gifts, but full of affection. She sat for hours listening to him tell old stories, including his mistakes and regrets. Mr. Tran saw sympathy in Mai’s eyes, not judgment.

Gradually, Mai became the person he trusted most. She not only visited him but also encouraged his children and grandchildren to care more about him. The villa had laughter and warmth again.

One late afternoon, Mr. Tran looked at Mai, his voice trembling:
– “In the past, I tested you by being mean, pretending to sleep to see if you were greedy. But you woke me up from the long sleep of doubt. Now, I am grateful that you are still by my side.”

Mai just smiled softly:
– “If it weren’t for you, my mother and I would not have survived. Life is like that, uncle. People with sincerity will meet again, like a circle.”

The story ended not with a definitive end, but with a cycle of life: the rich tested the poor, and then when they were weak, they were supported by that person.

And perhaps, that is the greatest gift that life gives: sincerity returns, like a stream that never runs dry.