A man named Fu Xian was fond of reading books. Though proficient¹ in literature and etiquette², he was stubbornly adherent³ to outworn rules. Being impractical⁴ and dull, he looked just like an old pedant⁵.

 

One day, Fu Xian strolled on the street with measured strides and asked whomever he met: "Have you seen Wei San?"

 

Someone pointed⁶ to the direction and he walked on unhurriedly with measured strides. When he saw Wei San, he panted for a while, then said: "I just saw your wife doing needlework under a tree. She was tired and taking a nap. Your child was playing beside a well, only 3 to 5 chi away from it. It seemed to me that some accident might happen. As there is prudent⁷ reserve between men and women, it was not convenient for me to awaken⁸ your wife in person. That's why I have come all the way here to tell you."

 

Upon hearing this, Wei San was panic-stricken and hurried home. When he got home, his wife was bending over the well, wailing⁹ bitterly for their son.

 

有个叫傅显的人喜欢读书。他对文章礼仪也很精通，只是性情迁腐迟钝，看上去就像个老学究。

 

一天，傅显踱着四方步上街，见人就问：“看见魏三了吗?”

 

有人给他指点方向，他就踱着方步走去。等见到魏三，他喘了几口气之后才说：“我刚才看见三嫂，她在树下做针线活儿，疲倦了，就在那儿打吨。您家的小孩儿，在水井旁边玩耍，离井口不过三五尺远，看上去好像要出事。因为男女有别，不便直接叫醒三嫂，所以特地跑来告诉你。”

 

魏三听了，惊恐万分，急忙跑回家去。等他赶到家，他的妻子已经趴在井口，在痛哭自己的儿子了!

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