English Original
A rich man in the Qi Kingdom had two foolish sons, yet he doted on them and considered them the apples of his eye.
One day, a man named Ai Zi said to the rich man, "Your sons are ignorant of the world. How will they manage your property after you're gone?"
Hearing this, the rich man grew angry. "Everyone praises my sons for their intelligence and good virtue," he retorted. "What you say is nonsense!"
"Then let's test them," Ai Zi suggested. The rich man agreed.
The father summoned his sons. Ai Zi asked them, "Do you know where rice comes from?"
The elder son smiled confidently. "Anyone with sense knows that. It comes from the kitchen."
The younger son blinked. "You're wrong! It doesn't come from the kitchen. It comes from the bag."
The rich man, red with anger, looked at his sons and shouted, "You fools! Why didn't you ask me if you didn't know? You're both wrong! Rice comes neither from the kitchen nor from the bag. It comes from the barn!"
中文翻译
齐国有个富翁，他有两个愚笨的儿子，但他却非常溺爱他们，视他们为掌上明珠。
一天，一个叫艾子的人对富翁说：“您的儿子对世事一无所知。将来如何接管您的家业呢？”
富翁听了很生气，反驳道：“人人都夸我儿子聪明过人，品德优良。你简直是一派胡言！”
“那我们考考他们吧，”艾子建议道。富翁同意了。
富翁叫来两个儿子。艾子问他们：“你们知道大米是从哪里来的吗？”
大儿子自信地笑了。“这谁不知道？是从厨房来的。”
小儿子眨了眨眼。“你错了！不是从厨房来的。是从口袋里倒出来的。”
富翁气得满脸通红，看着儿子们吼道：“你们两个蠢材！不知道为什么不问我？你们都错了！大米既不是从厨房来的，也不是从口袋来的。是从粮仓来的！”