My first history textbook was a fragile, 120-year-old genealogy book tracing our family’s story across forty-five generations. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my father gently turning its pages, bringing our ancestors to life through their struggles and triumphs. One story stood out: our earliest recorded ancestor, Chen Shi (104 - 187 AD). Upon discovering a thief hiding on a roof beam, he calmly told his family, “Those who have gone astray can still redeem themselves—but only through deep and painful self-reflection. I believe the gentleman above us will find the goodness in his heart.” Moved, the thief climbed down, confessed, and changed his life. That moment inspired the Chinese idiom “Gentleman on the Beam.” (梁上君子) Chen Shi didn’t condemn—he offered trust and a path to redemption. His wisdom traveled two thousand years to reach me, and I hope to pass it on.