A man from the state of Yue was deeply troubled by mice in his house. He placed a pitcher filled with grain and left its opening uncovered. He purposely allowed the mice to eat as much as they wanted without any intervention.
After enjoying the easy feast, the mice returned in gangs, climbing into the pitcher to feast on the grain before happily returning to their holes. Judging the time was right, the Yue man replaced the grain with water and covered the surface with a layer of chaff. That night, the excited mice came again in groups, completely unsuspecting. They entered the pitcher in an orderly fashion, and none came out alive.