While heading to Chu, Confucius came out of the forest and noticed the Hunchback, who was catching cicadas as if he was simply picking them up.
- How skillful you are! - Confucius exclaimed. - Do you have a secret?
- Yes! “I have a secret,” replied the cicada catcher. — On the fifth or sixth moon I put balls on the cicada cocoons. Of those on which I place two balls and the balls do not fall, I lose few. Of those on which I place three balls and the balls do not fall, I lose one out of every ten. Those on which I put five balls and they don’t fall, I simply catch them all, as if I were picking them up. I stand like an old stump, holding my hands like dry branches. No matter how great the universe is, no matter how many creatures there are in it, I know only the winged cicadas. Why shouldn't I catch them, if nothing else makes me move, I wouldn't trade cicada wings for anything in the world!
- These are the speeches of that Hunchback! His will does not dissipate, but condenses in his soul! - Confucius exclaimed, turning to his students.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru