During the Spring and Autumn Period, You Meng, an entertainer in the Chu King's palace, learned that the son of the late prime minister Sun Shu'ao was living in extreme poverty after his father's death. Feeling uneasy about this, You Meng dressed in Sun Shu'ao's official robes and cap, imitating his voice and appearance, to meet the King of Chu.

The King was moved by the sight. You Meng then seized the opportunity to recount how Sun Shu'ao's son was utterly destitute, without even a tiny plot of land to stand an awl.

Deeply touched, the King of Chu re-conferred titles and land upon Sun Shu'ao's son.