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。”