One year, there was a great famine in the State of Qi.

 

A rich man named Qian Ao set up a stall by the roadside with lots of food, waiting for hungry people to come to give it in charity.

 

After a short while, an awfully¹ hungry man walked over, with his head covered by his sleeve and his shoes tied up with strings². When Qian Ao saw this, he held food in his left hand and tea in his right, shouting: "Hey, come and eat your fill."

 

The man raised his head suddenly, opening his eyes wide and said angrily: "It is exactly because I don't want to take this kind of hand-out food given by people shouting charity that I have starved to such an extent!"

 

As soon as Qian Ao heard this, he quickly apologized to the man.

 

But eventually the man starved to death because he was unwilling³ to take the food.

 

有一年，齐国发生了特大的饥荒。

 

有个富人，名叫黔敖。他在大路旁边设摊，摆了许多食物，等饥饿的人来了，就施舍给他们。

 

不一会儿，一个饿得发慌的人，用衣袖蒙着头，用绳子绑着鞋，昏昏沉沉地走了过来。黔敖见了，左手捧着食物，右手拿着茶水，吃喝道：“喂！来吃个饱吧！”

 

那个人猛地抬起头来，双眼圆睁，生气地说：“我就是因为不吃这种人家吃喝着施舍的食物，才饿到这种地步的啊！”

 

黔敖一听，连忙向他表示歉意。

 

但那人终因不肯吃他的东西而饿死了。

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