During the Spring and Autumn Period, a Shi family in the State of Lu had two sons. One of them studied liberal arts and the other martial arts.

　　春秋時期，魯國一戶姓施的人家，有兩個兒子，一個學文，一個學武。

　　The son who studied liberal arts went to the State of Qi to advocate his doctrines, which were well received by the Lord of Qi. The Lord appointed him Tai Fu （one of the three highest officials to teach several princes of the State of Lu.

　　學文的兒子用他自己的道理，打動了齊侯。齊侯任用他為太傅，負責教導幾位魯國公子。

　　The son who studied martial arts went to the State of Chu to tell the King of Chu his own military strategies. The King of Chu gladly asked him to stay to help administer military and political affairs.

　　學武的兒子到了楚國，向楚王講述了自己的韜略，楚王高興地請他留下來協助治理軍事與政治。

　　The two sons of the Shi family achieved success and fame, brought honour to their ancestors, and the whole family enjoyed high position and enormous wealth.

　　施家二子功成名就，光宗耀祖，全家富貴。

　　The next-door family, the Meng family, also had two sons. They learned liberal arts and martial arts in the same way, but remained poor and frustrated.

　　施家的鄰居孟家，也有兩個兒子，也一樣都練過文，習過武，但是一直窮愁潦倒。

　　The Meng family was envious of the Shi family’s achievements, and visited them to ask about the ways of winning promotion and getting rich. The two sons of the Shi family told the Meng family their experiences as they were.

　　孟家很羨慕施家的成就，就登門請教升官發財的方法。施家的兩個兒子把經歷如實地告訴了孟家。

　　Thereupon, the son of the Meng family who studied liberal arts went to the State of Qin to advocate "benevolence and righteousness". At this, the King of Qin was very displeased. He said: