During the Spring and Autumn period, a very intelligent man named Gongye Chang could understand the language of birds.

One day, while returning to the state of Lu from Wei, he overheard birds calling each other to come to Qingxi to feed on a deceased person's flesh. He then informed the deceased's mother. However, the local official misunderstood and judged Gongye Chang guilty, casting him into prison.

Sixty days later, Gongye Chang heard sparrows chirping that a cart of millet had overturned. The official, upon verifying this unusual detail, found it to be true, thus proving Gongye Chang's innocence and realizing his ability to understand birdsong.