During the Ming Dynasty, a county magistrate was insulted in public by a butcher.

The butcher had a backer, and the magistrate dared not offend him, so he could only swallow his anger.
Back at the government office, the clerk said: Should we secretly find someone to deal with the butcher?
The magistrate waved his hand and said: That would be too obvious and might cause trouble.
Then he told the clerk: Tomorrow, you send ten taels of gold to the butcher. Remember, when you deliver the gold, you must do it grandly so that the neighbors all know.
This official has always been known for winning people over with virtue. The clerk did as instructed.
After three days, the clerk suddenly reported: Sir, the butcher you sent the gold to had a thief break into his house last night. The gold was stolen, and the butcher was killed.
The magistrate asked: Was the thief caught? The clerk said: Yes, the thief was caught, and the gold was recovered and returned to the treasury.
The clerk then suddenly understood the magistrate’s clever plan:
1. To avenge the insult
2. To recover the gold without financial loss
3. To catch the thief and achieve good results
4. To demonstrate his virtue and magnanimity
Therefore, truly formidable people are always half gentleman and half villain.