战国时期，齐国的国君齐宣王爱好音乐，尤其喜欢听吹竽，手下有不到300个善于吹竽的乐师。齐宣王喜欢热闹，爱摆排场，总想在人前显示做国君的威严，所以每次听吹竽的时候，总是叫这不到300个人在一起合奏给他听。
During the Warring States period, the king of the Qi kingdom, Qi Xuan Wang, loved music and especially liked to listen to bragging. His men had less than 300 musicians who were good at boasting. Qi Xuan Wang likes to lively, loves to parade, always want to show the dignity of the monarch in front of people, so every time I hear bragging, always call this less than 300 people together to listen to him.
有个名叫南郭的处士听说了齐宣王喜欢听合奏，觉得有机可乘，是个赚钱的好机会，就跑到齐宣王那里去，吹嘘自己说：“大王啊，听过我吹竽的人没有不被感动的，就是鸟兽听了也会翩翩起舞，花草听了也会合着节拍摆动，我愿把我的绝技献给大王。”齐宣王听得高兴，很爽快地收下了他，把他也编进那支300人的吹竽队中。
这以后，南郭处士就随那300人一块儿合奏给齐宣王听，和大家一样享受着优厚的待遇，心里极为得意。
A sergeant named Nan Guo heard that Qi Xuan Wang likes to listen to the ensemble. He feels he has a chance to make money. He is a good opportunity to make money. He goes to Qi Xuan Wang and boasts himself and says, “Oh, King, I’ve heard people I boast about. If you are not touched, the bird and the beast will dance and you will also dance with the beat. I would like to give my special skills to the king.” Qi Xuanwang was delighted and accepted him very readily. Put him in that boasting team of 300 people. After this, the South Kuo Shih-chieh together with the 300 people together to listen to Qi Xuan Wang listen to, and everyone enjoy the same generous treatment, and my heart is extremely proud.
其实南郭处士他压根儿就不会吹竽。每逢演奏的时候，南郭处士就捧着竽混在队伍中，人家摇晃身体他也摇晃身体，人家摆头他也摆头，脸上装出一副动情忘我的样子，看上去比别人吹奏得更投入。南郭处士就这样靠着蒙骗混过了一天又一天，不劳而获地白拿丰厚的薪水。
In fact, South Guo Shi Shi will not brag about it. During the performances, Nan Guo’s regiments were holding and mixing in the ranks. People shook their bodies and he shook his body. People also put on their heads and put on their heads. They put on a look of ecstasy and looked more engaged than others. . South Kuo Shih was so fooled by swindling for a day and a day, earning a generous salary for nothing.
但是好景不长，过了几年，爱听竽合奏的齐宣王死了，他的儿子齐湣王继承了王位。齐湣王也爱听吹竽，但他喜欢听独奏。于是齐湣王发布了一道命令，要这300个人轮流来吹竽给他欣赏。南郭处士急得像热锅上的蚂蚁，惶惶不可终日。他想来想去，觉得这次再也混不过去了，只好连夜收拾行李逃走了。
像南郭处士这样不学无术靠蒙骗混饭吃的人，骗得了一时，骗不了一世。假的就是假的，最终会因逃不过实践的检验而被揭穿伪装。我们想要成功，最好的办法就是勤奋学习，只有练就一身真本领，才能抵挡住一切困难、挫折和考验。
Such as Southern Kuo Shih-chih, who did not learn from the arts and deceived the people who cheated and mixed the food, deceived it for a moment and deceived the whole world. False is false, and eventually it will be exposed through disguise because it can't escape the test of practice. The best way for us to succeed is to study hard. Only by practicing a true skill can we be able to withstand all difficulties, setbacks and trials.
