There was once a civil magistrate whose surname was Chao. Everyone called him "Legendary Judge Chao", because he never wronged the innocent. There was a filial son named Ma-Ming who sold fried doughsticks at the market every morning to take care of his sick mother.

One day, after selling his fried doughsticks, he needed to go to the toilet urgently. So, he wrapped up his money in a blue cloth bag, and placed it in a bamboo basket on top of a large stone. When Ma-Ming came out, the blue cloth bag and his money had disappeared. He looked everywhere, but he could not find it. When Ma-Ming realized that he did not have money to buy his mother's medicine, he started to cry. Everyone gathered around Ma-Ming and wondered who had taken his money. Judge Chao happened to pass by and heard Ma-Ming crying.

After listening to Ma-Ming's story, Judge Chao pointed at the large stone and asked, "Did you place your basket on this stone?" Ma-Ming replied, "Yes, I did." Judge Chao replied, "Then we shall have to ask the stone to find out who stole your money!" Judge Chao turned to face the stone and said, "Stone! Did you steal Ma-Ming"s money? Speak! Or you will be punished!" As expected, the stone did not utter a word. Judge Chao picked up a stick and started to beat the stone. Everyone laughed.

Judge Chao said, "As you all can see, the stone refuses to speak! I don't think it will return the stolen money even if I continue to beat it. However, since Ma-Ming is a filial son, let us all donate a coin to help him out." He asked for a basin of water, and told everyone to toss a coin into it. Everyone lined up and tossed a coin from their pockets into the basin of water. Suddenly, Judge Chao shouted, "It is you! You stole Ma-Ming's money! Ma-Ming sells fried doughsticks so his coins are covered in oil. There was oil floating on the water after you put the coin in." Judge Chao ordered his guards to search the man. As expected, the blue cloth bag with Ma-Ming's money was found. Ma-Ming bowed gratefully and said, "Thank you, Sir!" And everyone nodded and said, "Judge Chao is clever indeed!"

　　從前有個姓趙的縣官，因為他不會冤枉好人，大家就叫他「趙神判」。有個孝子叫馬明，他靠著每天一大早到市場賣油條，來照顧生病的母親。

　　有一天，他把賣油條的銅錢，用藍布包起來放進竹籃裡，路上急著上廁所，便把竹籃放在大石頭上，出來後發現錢不見了，到處找都找不到，這時他想到沒錢給母親治病，就坐在路邊大哭起來，路人都圍過來看，這時剛好趙神判經過，就問馬明為什麼哭。

　　趙神判聽完後問：「籃子是放在石頭上嗎？」馬明回答：「是的！」趙神判說：「那只有審問石頭才會知道犯人是誰？」趙神判說：「石頭，你快說馬明的錢是誰偷的，不說，我就叫人打你。」石頭當然說不出話來，接著趙神判拿起棍子邊問邊打石頭，圍觀的人看到後大笑起來。

　　趙神判說：「你們都看到，我審問石頭它都不肯招，就算是它偷的也一定不會還了，看在馬明孝順的份上，大家好心捐點錢給他吧！」便派人拿一個裝水的大盆子來，叫大家把銅錢放到盆子裡，有個人才剛投下銅錢，趙神判大叫：「犯人就是你！馬明的銅錢是賣油條的辛苦錢，上面一定沾有油漬，銅錢在水裡，一定會浮起油花。」果然，在他身上搜出裝銅錢的藍布巾，馬明感激地說：「謝謝大人！」圍觀的人說：「趙神判名不虛傳，用審石頭來引出真正的犯人。」