Lead Away a Goat in Passing

Chūnqiū Zhànguó shíqī, xíngjūn dǎzhàng shì chángshì, jūnduì zài yěwài yì zǒu jiùshì jǐshí lǐ dì.

In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, marching to war was common, and an army walking through the open country might cover dozens of li in a single stretch.

Nà shíhou liángcǎo zīzhòng dōu kào rén tiāo mǎ tuó, shìbīngmen zìrán géwài liúxīn lùshang de língsǎn wùzī.

In those days rations and baggage were all carried on men's shoulders or horses' backs, so the soldiers naturally kept a sharp eye out for any useful odds and ends along the road.

Yǒu yí cì, yì zhī jūnduì fèngmìng kāiwǎng qiánxiàn, shìbīngmen yánzhe dàlù chángtú-báshè.

Once, an army was ordered to the front, and the soldiers made a long, tiring march along the main road.

Zǒuzhe-zǒuzhe, duìwǔ lǐ yǒurén fāxiàn lùbiān de cǎocóng lǐ wòzhe yì zhī wú rén kānguǎn de xiǎoyáng.

As they walked, someone in the column spotted a small, unwatched goat lying in the grass at the roadside.

Xiǎoyáng dàgài shì cóng fùjìn cūn lǐ pǎo chūlái de, pángbiān jì méiyǒu mùrén, yě méiyǒu wéilán.

The little goat had most likely wandered out of a nearby village; there was no herdsman beside it and no fence around it.

Yí ge lǎobīng xiàozhe shuō: “Zhè kě zhēnshì sòngshàngmén de hǎochù, shùnshǒu qiān zǒu ba.”

A veteran soldier said with a grin, 'This is good luck delivered to our door — let's lead it along as we go.'

Tā méi ràng duìwǔ tíngxiàlái, jǐ bù zǒu guòqù jiù bǎ yáng qiāndàole xíngjūn duìliè lǐ.

Without making the column halt, he walked a few steps over and led the goat into the marching ranks.

Zhè zhī yáng hòulái bèi zǎi le, gěi shìbīngmen tiānle yí dùn rèhūhū de ròu.

The goat was later butchered, adding a hot meal of meat for the soldiers.

Xíngjūn sùdù yìdiǎn méi dānwù, quánjūn shàngxià hái duōle zhè yí fèn yìwài de hǎochù.

The march was not slowed by a single beat, and the whole army gained this unexpected bonus into the bargain.

Zhè jiùshì “Shùnshǒu-qiānyáng” —— zuò zhèngshì de shíhou, yùdào shùnshǒu kě dé de xiǎolì, bùfáng yě yíbìng náxià, jīshǎo-chéngduō.

This is 'leading away a goat in passing': while doing your main task, if a small gain comes easily to hand, you might as well take it along too, and many small things add up to much.

Shēnghuó zhōng yě shì yíyàng: qù càishìchǎng mǎi cài, lùguò shuǐguǒtān, shùnshǒu mǎi yìdiǎn yìngjì de shuǐguǒ.

It is the same in everyday life: when you go to the market to buy vegetables and pass the fruit stall, you pick up a little seasonal fruit while you're at it.

Tā de zhìhuì zàiyú: búyào yīnwèi shìqing xiǎo jiù fàngguò, shùnshǒu duō ná yí fèn, rìjī-yuèlěi jiùshì dà shōuhuò.

Its wisdom lies here: do not pass a thing by just because it is small; take one more along the way, and over days and months these add up to a great harvest.