昔苏秦父母诞辰，伯子捧觞称寿!叹曰：“好佳酿。”及季子亦捧觞称寿，骂曰：“酿酒”。

　　季子妻乃从伯姆借酒一觞，复骂曰：“酿酒。”

　　季子妻曰：“这是伯姆家借来的。”

　　翁叱之曰：“你这不行时的人，过手便酸。”

　　——《雪涛小书》

　　Sour wine

　　SuQin had not been successful in his quest for an official post. One day a feastwas held to celebrate his father’s birthday.

　　WhenSu Qin’s elder brother presented a cup of wine to the old man, he exclaimed onits excellence. But when Su Qin presented a cup, his father pulled a wry face,and said, “Oh, how sour!”

　　SuQin’s wife thought perhaps the wine was really sour, so she borrowed some winefrom the brother. But when she presented it, the old man still declared it wassour.

　　“Thisis the same wine that Su Qin’s elder brother gave you,” she said.

　　“Youluckless people! Even sweet wine turns sour when you touch it,” scolded the oldman.

Notes of Xue Tao