(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-01-23 10:46

Zhang Jianshun, a lottery ticket seller in Xiaogan city, Hubei Province in Central China, returned a 5 million yuan prize to a ticket-buyer.

A man surnamed Ming was a good customer of Zhang’s. On January 16 Ming called Zhang to help him buy 108 lottery tickets. Ming said he would pay him back the money the next time he came into Zhang’s stand.

However, on one of the tickets, Zhang didn’t use the numbers Ming requested. But it turned out that was the winning ticket that hit the jackpot of 5 million yuan ($690,000).

According to the lottery regulations, if a ticket doesn’t have a name on it, it cannot be declared lost. So Zhang could have won the money.

Instead he called Ming and told him the good news.

When the media and others asked Zhang why he gave the grand prize to Ming, Zhang felt it was the most ordinary thing to do. “It’s the duty and proper ethic of a lottery seller,” said Zhang with an honest smile on his face.

He adds about 10 percent of his customers are like Ming, calling him advance to buy lottery tickets and they pay him back later. “They phoned and bought tickets from me out of trust. It is simple, because there is mutual trust between us,” he explains.

After he was laid off from a fertilizer plant, Zhang began selling lottery in 2004. He’s far from rich - the 38-year-old lives in a 30 sq m house with his family.

“I know some people might think I’m a fool for not claiming the jackpot myself, but I don’t think so I am happy with my life and will not go against my conscience,” Zhang said sincerely.

On January 18, Hubei Sport Lottery Office recognized Zhang’s honesty by giving him a 10,000 yuan ($1,370) reward.

“What makes me even happier is neither the appreciation of Mr Ming, nor the award from the Lottery Office, but the praise of my 11-year-old son,” he said. “When I asked him whether he was mad at dad for returning a 5 million yuan prize to someone else, he replied in English, “You are wonderful!”