Master Dongguo, a pedantic teacher and follower of Mohism, was always ready to help anyone in distress, regardless of who they were or the circumstances.
One day, while traveling through Zhongshan Mountain, he encountered a wounded wolf being hunted by Viscount Zhao Jianzi's party. Cornered, the wolf glibly and fawningly begged for help. Seeing a chance to practice the Mohist doctrine of "universal fraternity," Master Dongguo risked the nobleman's displeasure. He emptied his traveling bag of books and hid the wolf inside. When the Viscount asked if he had seen a fleeing wolf, Master Dongguo lied, claiming he had noticed nothing unusual. The hunters galloped away.
However, once freed from the bag, the wolf revealed its true nature. It claimed to be hungry and argued that since the master had helped once, he should help again by letting himself be eaten. The wolf also complained of nearly being suffocated in the bag, giving it another reason to take revenge. Master Dongguo was forced to flee.
An old man leaning on a staff approached and asked what was happening. After hearing both sides, he pondered and said, "Mister Wolf should return to the bag. If he truly suffered, then Master Dongguo should be eaten."
The wolf got back into the bag, which was tied up as before.
"What are you waiting for?" the old man asked Dongguo. "Why don't you kill him now?"
Only then did Master Dongguo understand. The wolf was killed.
This fable is so well-known in China that "Master Dongguo" has become a synonym for a pedantic person, and the "Wolf of Zhongshan" for an ingrate. Handicrafts based on this story serve as reminders that the incorrigibly wicked cannot be appeased.