I have a college friend who is a big sports fan. “I Love Sports”, as he always introduces himself.

However, he only loves “watching” sports. When we try to ask him to join us playing basketball or soccer, he never does. He’d prefer to stay in the dorm to check the most recent news. I am sure you might know some people like him, too.

Storyteller: Today I will tell a story about a world-wide popular idiom. According to wikipedia, there are at least 29 different versions of this idiom in different languages. The English version is: “Pot calling the kettle black”.
50 steps laughing at 100 steps
During the Warring States Period of China, there was a king in the state of Liang. He liked to drive his people into war fighting with neighboring states. One day, he met Mencius, and asked: “As a king, I think I govern the state fairly well.  If there is …

Storyteller: In such a severe global financial crisis, preserve your hard earned money is critical for everyone.  Lots of people think paper notes as numbers on your bank statement is too vulnerable to inflation, and gold or silver might be a better alternative.  But where is the safest place to store your shiny precious heavy metal? In your bank? In a bullet-proof steel-made password-protected storage case? Somewhere underground in your backyard? An ancient Chinese had also thought about this question, and found a quite surprising solution.
“No 300 taels of silver …

Storyteller: “There is no free lunch”, “Pie in the sky”.  We all know these phrases. They tell us to take efforts and work hard towards our goal; and don’t depend on luckiness or miracle.  There is a Chinese edition of story for the same idea, and IMHO, it’s more vivid and fun than the two phrases.
Waiting for more hares to dash dead against the stump

This story happened more than 2,000 years ago, in the Warring States period of China (475-221B.C.).  There was a young farmer in the state of Song.  …

Storyteller: Around 2,500 years ago, in ancient China, it was the time of Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period.  Although it was wrought with chaos and bloody battles, it is also known as the Golden Age of Chinese philosophy because various thoughts and ideas were developed and discussed freely, an era of great cultural and intellectual expansion in China.  There are “Hundred Schools of Thought”, and some of them don’t respect the Confucius as others do.  Here is one example.
Confucius puzzled by kids – by LieZi
Confucius was traveling …