English Original
The Ding family in the State of Song had no well of their own. Someone in the household often had to spend an entire day fetching water from afar. To solve this problem, they had a well dug in their courtyard.
After the work was completed, they said to each other happily, "It seems that with this new well, it's as if we have gained an extra person in our family."
One of Ding's friends heard this remark and passed it on. The story spread from friend to friend until it became: "The Dings dug a well and found a man inside!"
When the Duke of Song heard this tale, he summoned Ding to inquire about the matter. "With the digging of the well," Ding explained to the Duke, "it is as if your humble servant has gained the help of an extra man. It does not mean I actually found a man in the well."
中文翻译
宋国有一户姓丁的人家，自家没有井。家里常常需要有人花一整天时间到很远的地方去挑水。为了解决这个问题，他们在院子里挖了一口井。
井挖好后，他们高兴地互相说道：“有了这口井，感觉就像我们家多了一个人一样。”
丁家的一个朋友听到了这话，便传了出去。这个故事在朋友间口口相传，最后变成了：“丁家挖了一口井，在井里发现了一个人！”
宋国国君听到这个传闻后，便召见了丁询问此事。丁向国君解释道：“挖了这口井，就好比您卑微的仆人得到了一个额外人手的帮助。这并不是说我真在井里发现了一个人。”