蔡京诸孙，长生膏梁，不知稼穑。 一日，京醆问之曰：“汝曹日啗饭，试为我言米从何处出？” 其一对曰：“从臼子里出”。京大笑。 其一旁应曰：“不是，我见在席子里出。”盖京师运米以席囊盛之，故云。
——《独醒杂志》
Whence Comes Rice?
The
grandsons of Cai Jing, the notorious prime minister, who grew up in riches,
could not tell wheat from rice. One
day, while having a meal, Cai Jing said, “You eat rice every day. Do you know
where it comes from?” “From
the mortar, ” one hazarded. Cai Jing laughed. “No,
it doesn’t!” said the other. “It comes from rush-mats. I saw it!” In those days
rice was transported into the capital in bags made of rush-mats, hence the
conclusion.
Du Xing Za Zhi （杨宪益、戴乃迭 译） |
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