A person of the state of Yue was deeply troubled by the mice loved in a pitcher¹ and let the opening uncovered. Purposely he allowed the mice to eat the grains in it as possible, and would not intervene them at all.

 

After getting the benefit, the mice came in gangs to climb in the pitcher and feasted themselves with the grains inside, and then went back to their holes happily. Thinking that it is the right time, the Yue person replaced the grains with water, and placed some chaff² on the surface of the water. During the night, the mice came in groups again excitedly and were not alert at all. They entered the pitcher orderly and none of them came out alive.

 

一个越国人被家中的老鼠弄得苦不堪言，便把老鼠最喜欢的谷子放在瓦罐里面。罐口也不盖严，故意让老鼠尽情地吃，一点儿也不干涉它们。

 

老鼠尝到了甜头，便呼朋招友成群结队地赶来。钻进去大吃特吃，吃饱后高高兴兴地回洞。越国人估计时机已到，便将瓦罐里的谷子换成水，在上面浅浅覆盖一层谷糠，兴冲冲跑来的老鼠一点儿也没有一个提防，在夜里成群结队地再次光临，它们次序井然地进入瓦罐里面，结果一只也没有活着出来。

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