One day, a man named He Shi of the State of Chu got a piece of uncarved jade1 in a hill. He quickly went to present it to King Li of the State of Chu. King Li asked a jade craftsman2 to appraise3 it. The jade craftsman said: "This is a piece of ordinary stone."
King Li believed that He Shi had deceived him and felt very angry. He had He Shi's left foot cut off.
After King Li died, King Wu became the king. Again He Shi took this piece of jade to present it to King Wu. King Wu asked a jade craftsman to appraise it. The jade craftsman also said: "This is a piece of ordinary stone."
King Wu believed that He Shi had deceived him and had He Shi's right foot cut off.
A
