Shudan Guan

During the Warring States Period, a farmer dug out a square jade that was 30cm wide when he was farming. He gave the jade to his King. His King asked an expert in jade to examine, the expert said, “Congratulation my King! You get a rare precious stone.” His King asked, “How much does it cost?” The expert answered, “You can’t buy it with money. One who spends the price of 5 cities on it can only have a look.” His King was happy and rewarded the farmer. [Definition] When something is rare and invaluable. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

One day, many archest were practising archery field. An archery master Yang Youji shot the bull’s eye several times, some men provokingly suggested, “It’s nothing special to shoot the bull’s eye, you should shoot that cottonwood leaves a hundred steps away!” Yang stood steadily, attached an arrow to the bow and shot the cottonwood leaf, people all clasped hands and cheered. [Definition] To describe someone who has a mastery of archery. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Once upon a time, there was an unbribable official. One day, he interrogated a storehouse manager who stole a coin. The manager said, “It’s merely one coin!” He then wrote down a line, “A coin a day, a thousand coins a thousand days; strings can cut the log, constant dripping wears away the stone.” This means if one steals a coin each day, it would be one thousand coins after one thousand days; a string can cut the log if one cuts constantly, and the stone can be pierced if water constantly drips on it. One should always keep in mind that little effort can have a great impact. [Annotation] 水滴石穿: Constant dripping wears away the stone. [Definition] Persistence can help you achieve a difficult or unlikely object. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Chen Yaozi was a master in archery in Song Dynasty and was proud of it. One day an oil salesman* passed by when Chen was practising archery in his yard, and the oil seller stopped and watched, merely nodding his head when Chen frequently hit the bull’s eye. Chen asked him, “Do you know archery? Am I not good at archery?” The oil seller said, “It’s nothing special but merely because you’ve practised a lot.” Chen said angrily, “How dare you look down on my skill!” The oil seller said, “By my skill of pouring oil.” He put a Calabash bottle on the ground and covered it with a cash*. He used a spoon to steadily pour the oil into the calabash bottle without wetting the coin. He said, “There is nothing special about me, it’s just because I’ve practised a lot.” Chen smiled and let him go. [Annotation] 1. Oil salesman: Sole proprietor who sells oil for cooking in ancient China. They usually carry two large wooden containers that are filled with oil and walk on the street to find buyers. 2. Cash: Cash is a type of coin in ancient China with a hole around 0.8 cm wide inside. [Definition] Practice makes perfect. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

There was a famous artist in Song Dynasty called Wen Yuke, who was a master at painting bamboo. He has planted many bamboos in his yard and observes their shapes and changes constantly; thereby, he will have a vivid picture of bamboo in mind every time before painting it. [Annotation]成: Ready-made or made beforehand. [Definition] When (someone) is well-prepared before doing something. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

Zhuangzi, a famous ancient philosopher writes a story in his biography, “Once I dreamed myself to be a butterfly, dancing vividly and beautifully, I was so fascinated that I almost forgot my own existence in the real world.” [Annotation] 栩栩: Vivid and lively. [Definition] When a vivid and lively image of humans or other species is provided by literature or artworks. * If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a famous painter who was good at painting landscapes, pines, and rocks called Zhang Zao. Zhang is different from other painters because he can paint with two brushes at the same time: one paints the green branches while the other paints the dry twigs, thus becoming a pine tree, everyone who sees him painting finds it incredible. [Annotation] 管: It means painting brush in this context. [Definition] When (someone) does two things simultaneously or uses two methods to address one problem. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

There was an official called Feng Xiang in Song Dynasty. One day, he came into the court in a pair of new boots. A colleague asked him, “How much does your boost cost?” He lifted one foot and says, “900.” The colleague said surprisingly, “Why would my boosts cost 1,800?” Feng lifted another foot and said, “This one cost 900 too.” People in the court all laughed. [Definition] When people in the house/room all laugh. * If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

There was a master in Go named Qui in ancient times, so people called him Yi Qui (Yi is the old name for Go). He has two students, one is curious and listens carefully, so he improved very soon; the other, although listens in class every day, is very distracted. He looks at the teacher while thinking if there would be swan geese flying in the sky, thus missing every word the teacher said, so he has made no improvement. [Annotation] 致：extreme, all; 志：interest, mind [Definition] (Someone) is very concentrated and not distracted.

I might help you but could you explain detailedly about the story, I'm not sure I've heard a Chengyu about flowers and underwear as a Chinese.