Lv Meng was a general of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-180). He was born in such a poor family that he did not get any chance to go to the school when he was a child. However, there was still less time for reading when he served in the army after he grew up.

 

Once the king of Wu summoned¹ Lv Meng and said to him, "Since you are now a general in power, you had better read some books to widen your horizon."

 

Lv Meng answered, "I am so busy with military affairs that I am afraid I have little time to read."

 

The King said, "Are you busier than I am? Even I often find time to read books on the art of war and gain much benefit from them. To read more about the experience left by our ancestors will make you progress."

 

Lv Meng then did according what the king said. He concentrated himself on reading history and military writings. On day, Military Governor Lu Su visited Lv Meng and was surprised to find that Lv Meng had become very knowledgeable². Lu Su, who held Lv Meng in contempt³（轻视，蔑视） earlier, said, "I did not expect that you would know so much besides fighting! You are not the one you used to be!"

 

Lv Meng replied, "You should look at a person with a new eye even only after a three days' separation."

 

The idiom Gua mu xiang kan, also Gua mu xiang dai is from Lv Meng's remarks. We use it when we are astonished by others' fabulous⁴（难以置信的） progress or improvement, and we should have increased respect for him or her.

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