A rumor spread through the city, saying that the county magistrate was embezzling money.
城里流传着一个消息，说县令贪污银两。
In tea houses and on the streets, people talked about it everywhere.
茶馆里、街头巷尾，人们议论纷纷。
Someone said, "I heard he secretly took the people's tax money."
有人说：“我听说他偷偷拿了百姓的税钱。”
Another person agreed, "Yes, my neighbor said the same thing."
有人附和：“是啊，我的邻居也这么说。”
But in reality, no one had any proof of the magistrate taking money.
但实际上，没有人见过县令收钱的证据。
One day, the magistrate heard about the rumors and was very puzzled.
一天，县令得知了这些传言，十分疑惑。
He asked his clerk, "Who saw me embezzling money?"
他问书吏：“是谁看到我贪污的？”
The clerk shook his head, "Sir, these are just words passed around by people."
书吏摇头：“大人，这只是大家传来传去的话。”
The magistrate realized that these were baseless rumors.
县令明白了，这不过是毫无根据的谣言。
He immediately put up a public notice and opened the financial records.
他当即张榜公告，公开账目，证明自己清白。
The people read the records and saw that the magistrate had not taken any money.
百姓看了账本，才知道县令并没有贪污。
Those who spread the rumors lowered their heads in shame.
传谣的人惭愧地低下头，不敢再乱说话。
The magistrate sighed, "It seems that a hole in the ground does not always mean there is wind, but rumors can still harm people."
县令叹道：“看来，空穴未必有风，谣言却能害人。”
From then on, the people learned not to believe things without evidence.
从此，大家学会了不轻信没有证据的话。
"Rumors from nowhere" means that some news or gossip might have a reason, but sometimes it is entirely baseless.
空穴来风，意思是消息或传言并非无缘无故，但有时也可能没有根据。
