同病相怜 — “Same illness, mutual pity”

A gentleman named Mr. Zhang acquired a new bed for his home. This bed was truly beautiful, with wood carvings on the headboard and exquisite patterns on the footboard, adding much splendor to his bedroom.

Mr. Zhang was eager for others to see this bed and shower it with compliments, as he particularly enjoyed flattery. So, he decided to invite relatives and friends over, seizing the opportunity to show off his newly purchased bed. However, upon reflection, he realized this wasn't ideal, as guests were usually entertained in the front hall, making it impossible for them to see the bed in the bedroom. After much thought, Mr. Zhang came up with a plan: he would feign illness and inform his relatives and friends. Anyone coming to visit him would surely have to come to his bedroom, thus achieving his goal.

So, Mr. Zhang lay sick in bed, and his family, following his instructions, informed several relatives and friends that Mr. Zhang was ill and couldn't visit them, but missed them dearly and hoped they could stop by. The first person to visit Mr. Zhang was an old friend named Mr. Wang. Coincidentally, Mr. Wang had just bought a new pair of shoes, of excellent quality and stylish design. So, Mr. Wang wore these new shoes to Mr. Zhang's house, also hoping to get Mr. Zhang's praise for them.

Upon arriving at the Zhang residence, Mr. Wang was led by the Zhang family to the bedroom to see Mr. Zhang. After greeting Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang withdrew to a nearby stool and sat upright. To ensure Mr. Zhang saw his new shoes, he deliberately pulled his robe aside and crossed one leg over the other, propping up his foot to make the shoes more visible to Mr. Zhang.

Little did they know, both men were so focused on their own intentions that neither noticed the other's subtle efforts. After sitting for a while, Mr. Zhang finally patted the bed and said to Mr. Wang, "Please, Mr. Wang, come sit closer, sit on the bed. This is my newly acquired bed, what do you think of it?" Mr. Wang understood implicitly. While complimenting the bed, he pointed to his own shoes and said, "New things are indeed special, look at this new pair of shoes I bought, aren't they nice too?"

Both men, sharing the same underlying motive, naturally understood each other and thus enthusiastically praised each other's possessions.