There lived a rich man named Guo in the State of Qi and a poor man named Xiang in the State of Song.
The poor man traveled to Qi to seek Guo's advice on becoming wealthy.
Guo told him, "I was once poor, but now I am well-off. The secret is that I know how to 'steal' and 'rob.' It is painstaking work. In the first year of 'stealing and robbing,' I made a living. In the second year, I had more than enough food and clothing. By the third year, my storehouse was filled with grain and millet."
Xiang, the man from Song, only heard the words "steal and rob" and did not ask for details. The moment he returned home, dizzy with imagined success, he began to steal and rob.
Under cover of darkness, he climbed walls and dug holes, taking whatever he saw. In time, his family grew rich. But just as he was immensely proud, bailiffs from the yamen arrested him. He was declared guilty, imprisoned, and all his possessions—stolen goods and his own worn-out belongings—were confiscated.
Upon his release, the thief went to Qi to blame Guo. "How are you doing?" Guo asked hastily.
The thief recounted his story and sighed, "I am now even poorer than before."
Guo was astonished, then said regretfully, "How did you end up in such reduced circumstances? Alas, you completely misunderstood my meaning of 'stealing and robbing.'"
He continued, "By 'stealing and robbing,' I meant harnessing the resources of the earth and racing against the seasons. Dense forests, broad land, sunshine, rain and dew, wind and cloud—these are my targets. I befriend them and rely on them to plant crops and build houses. Birds in the sky, beasts on land, fish and shrimp in the river…none belong to me by nature. But I, fearing neither hardship nor toil, use my wits to 'steal' and 'rob' them. This is an open and aboveboard endeavor, not a crime. As for the clothing, food, and belongings of individuals, they are earned through one's own labor and belong solely to them. I never encouraged you to steal private property. You broke the law. Who is to blame for your imprisonment?"