This saying describes someone who has been poor for a long time and suddenly becomes rich, and then behaves arrogantly or obnoxiously. It implies that sudden wealth often reveals a person's true, petty character.
In Chinese culture, humility and self-restraint are highly valued, especially among the educated and refined. Sudden wealth without corresponding moral cultivation is seen as a test of character that many fail.
This saying serves as a social warning and a way to critique those who lack grace in prosperity. It reinforces the cultural ideal that wealth should be accompanied by virtue and modesty, not arrogance.
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