Meaning: This expression is used to describe a much-visited house.
Source: "Qi Records, I" of Bamboo Records of the Warring States
1.During the Warring States era, there lived a high official named Zou Ji in the state of Qi. A handsome man, Zou wanted to know how he compared to Xu Gong, who was renowned for his good looks, so he asked his wife, "Who do you think is better looking, me or Xu Gong?" His wife didn't hesitate: "Xu Gong doesn't hold a candle to you!"
2.Skeptical, Zou asked his concubine the same question. She responded demurely, "How could you possibly think that Xu Gong was handsomer than you?"
3.When friends came to visit, Zou asked them too, "Who is handsomer, me or Xu Gong?" The friends, who had favors to ask, smiled and said, "Of course you are!"
4.One day Xu Gong came to visit, and Zou immediately realized that Xu was far better looking.
5.He came to this conclusion: "My wife said I'm handsomer because she loves me; my concubine said I'm better looking because she respects me, and my friends said the same because they wanted something from me!"
6.The next morning, Zou spoke of this matter to the King of Qi and proposed that the rulers of a country should not allow themselves to be deceived by false praise. The king saw Zou's point, and immediately announced that he would generously reward those who would dare to come to the court and offer constructive criticism.
7.As a result officials began coming with reports critical of how the court was governing, so that the courtyard and gates to the palace became as crowded as a marketplace (hence this expression).
8.As the court strove to improve the way it governed, Qi grew ever stronger among the seven major states of that era, succeeding without using force.
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
