He picked up a zither and strummed it, producing sounds that were just like what he heard.
On going out, he heard one of his disciples heave a sigh.
“Who is it?” Kongzi asked.
“Hui” was the answer.
“Why did you sigh?” asked Kongzi.
“There is someone weeping,” said Hui.
“The sound is very mournful.
It isn’t just weeping over death, but weeping over separation in life.” “How do you know this?” asked Kongzi.
“It is like the bird of Mount Wan,” said Hui.
“What do you mean?” asked Kongzi.
“The bird of Mount Wan,” said Hui, “had four chicks.
When their feathers and wings had matured, they all flew off to the ends of the earth.
The bird called mournfully as it sent them off, for they would never again return.” Kongzi had a man question the weeping person, who replied, “My father died and our family is poor, so I have sold my son to have the means to bury him.
I am about to bid him farewell.” “How knowledgeable!
A veritable sage!” exclaimed Kongzi.
Yanzi Helps Lord Jing of Qi Gain Prestige by Interpreting a Dream