Lord Huan of Qi set up a torch in his reception hall in order to receive men-of-service who desired to have audiences with him, but a full year passed without anyone coming.
期年，而士不至。
於是東野鄙人有以九九之術見者，桓公曰：「九九何足以見乎？」
Eric Henry
Then a rustic from the eastern wilds came, saying that he knew the art of multiplication. “Can skill in multiplication be enough to qualify a man for an audience?” asked Lord Huan.