昔蘇秦父母誕辰，伯子捧觴稱壽!嘆曰：“好佳釀�！奔凹咀右嗯跤x稱壽，罵曰：“釀酒”。

　　季子妻乃從伯姆借酒一觴，復(fù)罵曰：“釀酒�！�

　　季子妻曰：“這是伯姆家借來的�！�

　　翁叱之曰：“你這不行時(shí)的人，過手便酸。”

　　——《雪濤小書》

　　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