A beadle
garrisoning1 the frontier Changwu said to Confucius's student. Zi Lao, "When I grew crops in the past, I used to be repaid with poor harvest because I ploughed the field absent- mindedly; I hoed up the weeds carelessly, consequently the weeds grew higher than the crops. Afterwards, I ploughed the field
diligently2 and hoed the weeds with extra care, leaving the field
thoroughly3 tilled, as a result of which the crops grew
extraordinarily4 well, and I was rewarded with an improved harvest. I got ample food and clothing. If you deal with government affairs as assiduously as I ploughed the field, your decent income is guaranteed."
驻守在长梧的边疆小吏对孔子的弟子子牢说:“我以前种庄稼,由于耕地的时候漫不经心,收获的季节便遭到减产的回报,除草马马虎虎,结果草长得比庄稼还要高。后来,我割地时候很用力,地也犁牛得很深,又十分细致的除草,庄稼变长得格外地好,收成也大有提高。这一年,我的日子过得丰衣足食,您处理政务如果也能做到和我耕田般勤恳,您的收入也一定会有保证。”