Zhuang Zhou's family was poor. Once, he went to the official who supervised rivers to borrow some grain.
The official said: "Well, wait until the end of the year when I collect the taxes from the people, then I will lend you 300 gold pieces. All right?"
When Zhuang Zhou heard this, he grew angry, his face changing color. But he told the official a story:
"When I came here yesterday, on the way I heard a voice calling 'Help!' I turned and saw a small crucian carp in a dried-up carriage ditch.
I went over and asked: 'Little crucian carp, why are you calling for help?'
The little crucian carp answered: 'I am a subject of the Dragon King of the East China Sea. Unfortunately, I am stranded here. Can you give me a little water to save my life?'
I said: 'All right. I am just going south to advise the kings of Wu and Yue. I will ask them to stir up the waters of the Xijiang River to welcome you. Will that do?'
When the crucian carp heard this, it became angry and said: 'When I lose the water I depend on, I cannot survive. Now, I need only a little water to live, yet you speak of such distant plans. Then you might as well look for me in the salt-fish shop!'"