This man also went. A friend advised him thus: "You are always saying unlucky things; it is better that you should not go." The man said: "I will go with you and will not utter a word; what do you think of it?" The friend answered : " If you really will not speak, then you may go." They went together to the new-born child's father's house to pay their congratulations. The man went straight to the dining room and commenced eating, not saying a word. His friend was very glad of this. After the feast, he went to thank the host and said: "I have not spoken a word to-day. After I leave here, if your baby gets fits and dies, don't blame me for it."
Chapter CI— The Stupid Worm, (糊塗蟲.)
HERE was a Mandarin whose decision in lawsuits was not always fair. The people hated him and nicknamed him a "stupid worm." Notices were pasted up in public places criticizing his actions. The mandarin seeing that some notices were on the walls, said to his underlings: "There is an order to catch 'stupid worms,' why do you not go to arrest them? The people will be displeased, I will allow you three days to catch three stupid worms. If one is left unarrested, you will be beaten to death." He hastened their going. After the underlings received the warrant, they started on their way. They complained to themselves: "Such a mandarin, issuing such orders; where are we to make the arrests?" When they got outside of the city walls, they saw a man riding on horseback with a package on his head. Being curious, they asked him why he did not put the package on the horse. He replied: "Fearing the weight is too heavy for the horse, I placed it on my head, so as to save the horse's strength." When the underlings heard this, they said: "This man can be considered a stupid worm." They took him to the
