During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Huan of Qi appointed Guan Zhong as his prime minister, carried out reforms at home, and became angry and strong, so that the economy of the State of Qi gradually developed, the treasury was enriched, and the army was strong and strong. Subsequently, he repeatedly convened and presided over the meetings of the princely states to form alliances, and was promoted to the head of the countries, becoming the head of the "Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons".
On this day, Qi Huangong took advantage of his leisure time in government affairs to study in the hall, and a wheel carpenter named Bian cut materials under the hall and made wheels, because he was good at making wheels, so people called him Wheel Flat. When Lun Bian saw that Qi Huan was reading a book, he put down his axe and chisels and other tools, walked to the front of the hall, and asked Qi Huan Gong, "May I ask the king, what book are you reading?" What is the book saying? ”
Qi Huangong felt that it was rare for a carpenter to be interested in what books he read, so he called Lun Bian to the temple and deliberately replied in ambiguous terms: "I am reading the books of ancient saints, and the books are all said by saints." Lun Bian asked again, "Then dare to ask the king that these saints are still alive?" Qi Huangong smiled and said, "You are really just a carpenter, of course the saints can't live, they are already dead!" Lun Bian thought about it thoughtfully, and then said, "Even if this is the case, then the words in the books you read, king, are nothing more than the dregs of the ancients." ”
When Qi Huangong heard this, his heart burned with anger. Because he had been the monarch for such a long time, no one had ever dared to be so rude in front of him, not to mention that he was now the overlord of the dominant side, so he sunk his face and said: "Bold wheel flat, a small wheel carpenter, dare to be so arrogant." The king is studying here, and there is nothing to hinder you, you just have to do your carpentry work. You come out and talk nonsense, and you don't want to think about your identity. The king now commands you to explain clearly what you have just said, and if it makes sense, I will spare you from death; otherwise, I will put you to justice!" ”
Seeing Qi Huan Gonglong Yan's anger, anyone would be terrified. However, Lun Bian was not afraid, and he said without hesitation: "The little man did not mean to offend the king, but also asked the king to stop his anger and listen to the little man slowly." I look at this from the point of view that I make wheels. The production of wheels is different from the general work, some do it fast, some do it slowly. It is made slowly, although it is labor-saving and comfortable, but the wheels that come out of this are not strong. Make fast, although the efficiency is very high, the production is more, but it has to suffer, and because the speed will lead to the wood is not deep, the wheels made may not fit, obviously not a good way to make the wheels. With my decades of experience in making wheels, I believe that to do a good job of wheels is neither urgent nor slow, not hurried, not slow, do whatever you want, think where to do where, so that you can make a good wheel. ”
Qi Huangong asked, "You have talked about such a big thing, what makes wheels and does not make wheels, what does this have to do with my reading?" Why do I say that I am reading all the dregs of the ancients? ”
Lun Bian then said, "As for how to be not fast or slow, and how to be handy?" The technique here is only in my heart, and the mouth is not clear. To get these tricks you can only look for from making wheels. Like my son, he wants to learn the techniques of making wheels, but I can't explain these techniques to him, because it can't be said, so he can't learn this craft. So I was still doing this work, even though I was very old, until I died, and these skills would follow me into the grave. In this way, the truths and ideas of the ancient saints have long since died with them. What remains in the book is nothing more than the dross of the ancients. ”
After Qi Huangong listened, he nodded thoughtfully.
A small carpenter can apply simple common sense of life to profound philosophies, and can really be called a thoughtful person and a deep thinker of life. As he said: True craftsmanship cannot be taught in words, but can only be understood with the heart, which is the same as Lao Tzu's "Tao ke Dao, extraordinary Tao; name can be named, very famous", which makes people think deeply.