古時候有一家人，
鍋灶旁邊堆柴薪，
煙囪壘得粗又直，
柴束草垛堆得近。
那天家裏來了客，
客人見狀很擔心，
勸主人，快把柴垛移開去，
別靠煙囪這麼近。
煙囪最好壘個彎，
預防失火最要緊。
主人認為皮毛事，
根本沒有放在心。
哪料想，一天果然失了火，
救火多虧眾鄉鄰。
這家人宰牛擺酒表酬謝，
正席上，都是救火燒傷的人。
有人說：“那次你家來客人，
曾勸你，重壘煙囪移柴薪。
失了火，因你忽略良言勸，
表酬謝，為何不請那客人？”
主人一想果在理，
趕緊去請那客人。
實際上他若早聽客人話，
也免得，失火救火勞鄉鄰。
這說明，正確意見要采納，
否則害己又誤人。
Bend the Chimney and Remove the Fuel
In ancient times，there was a household，beside whose pot there was a stack of wood。The chimney was thick and straight，and the stack was quite near。One day a guest came to his home，and felt upset as he saw it。He suggested the host remove the stack right away，and keep it a little further away from the chimney。And the chimney should bend a little，so as to prevent it from starting a fire。
The host，however，thought it was a trifle，and didn't keep it in his mind at all。Unexpectedly，one day a fire did break out。And thanks to the folk，it was put out before it ruined the house。The householder slaughtered an ox and brought out wine to reward his helpful neighbours。On the honoured seats were all those who had extinguished the fire。One of them stood up and said，“Last time a visitor came to your home，and gave you a suggestion to rebuild the chimney and remove the fuel stack。Now you were struck by the fire merely because you neglected his golden advice。Now that you are giving thanks why not invite that man？”
The householder thought it reasonable，and went to invite that friend of his immediately。As a matter of fact，had he listened to his friend's advice，there should not have been a fire and not have needed to trouble his neighbours。This means，a correct idea should be accepted，lest harm will be done to one and to others。