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?'

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 fell down here. Can you give me a little water to save my life?'

When Zhuang Zhou heard this, he was so angry that the colow of his face changed. But he told the official this story:

"When I came here yesterday, on the way I heard a voice calling `Help!' I turned my head and saw a small crucian carp in the dried-up carriage ditch.

I said: `All right, I am just going to the south to sell ideas to the kings of the States of Wu and Yue. I will ask them to stir up the water of the Xijiang River to welcome you. Will that do?'

When the crucian carp heard this, it got angry and said:

`When I lose the water which is always with me, I cannot survive. Now, I want only a little bit of water so that I can survive. Yet you say such things. Then you'd better go to the salt-fish shop to look for me.' "