一阃师，寒天夜宴，炽炭烧烛，引满浮白，酒后耳热，叹曰：“今年天气不正，当寒而暖。”

　　兵卒在旁跪禀曰：“较似小人们立处，天气觉正。”

　　——《雪涛小书》

　　Abnormal Weather

　　Ageneral was drinking in the camp in a cold winter’s night. Candles were lightedand coal was burning well in the stove. After a few bowlfuls of wine, beads ofsweat appeared on his forehead.

　　“Extraordinaryweather we’re having this year!” said the general. “When it should be old, it’swarm.”

　　Hiswords were heard by his orderly, who was standing outside in the cold. Enteringthe tent, he knelt respectfully before the general and said, “The weather seemsnormal enough where your servant was standing, sir.”

Notes of Xue Tao