In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Mengchangjun in the State of Qi. He liked to make friends with writers and chivalrous people. In order to often discuss national affairs with them, he always liked to invite these people to his palace. He stayed at home for a long time and had three thousand guests in his home. Because there were so many people, Lord Mengchang divided them into three levels: upper, middle and lower! The upper-class guests can eat big fish and meat every day, and have cars to ride in when they go out; the middle-class guests can only eat fish and vegetables every day; the lower-class guests can only eat vegetables every day. Although many people were dissatisfied with this, no one raised objections. After all, people have different talents, and it is natural for them to be treated differently.
Later, a friend introduced a man named Feng Chen (sound: Xuan) to Mengchangjun. Mengchangjun asked his friend: "What expertise does this man named Feng Chen have?" The friend thought for a long time. Said: "It seems that he has no expertise!" Mengchangjun didn't say anything after hearing this, but he still left him. Because Mengchang Jun felt that Feng Xuan had no expertise, he didn't pay much attention to him. When the servants at home saw Mengchang Jun ignoring Feng Xuan, they thought that the master looked down on Feng Xuan, so they treated Feng Xuan as an inferior guest.
Feng Xuan was very unhappy and complained every day: "Since everyone looks down on me, I might as well leave!" When Mengchang heard about it, he promoted Feng Xuan from a low-class guest to a high-class one. The guests also gave Feng Xuan’s mother food and things to use. However, Feng Xuan did nothing. Although Mengchang Jun felt it was strange, he was hospitable and still entertained Feng Xuan warmly.
One day, Lord Mengchang sent Feng Chen to Xuedi to collect debts. Feng Nuan asked Mengchangjun, what did he buy after collecting the debt? The master replied: "Look at what I lack, just buy it."
When Feng Nuan arrived in Xuedi, he saw that the debtors were all poor farmers, so he immediately announced that the debts would be written off in the name of Lord Mengchang, and the debts would be cancelled. The debt deeds of each household were burned. The people of Xuedi all thought that this was the kindness of Lord Mengchang, and they were full of gratitude in their hearts. After Mengchangjun saw Feng Nuan, he asked him what he had bought for him. Feng Nuan said: "You have all kinds of treasures, horses, beauties, and I only bought 'Renyi' for you." When Mengchangjun knew that Feng Nuan had been exempted from the crime for a long time in his name. Xue Di's debt, after buying Renyi, was angry and angry, but it was irreversible and very helpless.
Until later, Lord Mengchang was dismissed from his position as prime minister by King Qi and went to settle in Xuedi. Feng Nuan thanked Feng Nuan repeatedly for the value of his kindness and righteousness.
Mengchangjun asked Feng Nuan: Why do you take such a long-term view?
Feng Nuan said: "A cunning rabbit has three burrows to avoid being hunted by hunters. Now it has one burrow, so it can't sleep peacefully." The general idea is: a rabbit must have three holes to hide in to avoid being hunted by hunters. The danger of killing. You live in Xuedi, just like a rabbit with only one hole, it is very dangerous! If the king of Qi is dissatisfied with you and wants to kill you, you won't even have any other place to hide! So, you can’t just raise your pillow and sleep peacefully!
Mengchangjun heard this: What should I do?
Feng Xuan: Leave this matter to me! I will let you be like a cunning rabbit, with three safe holes to hide in!
So Feng Chen went to see King Hui of Liang. He told King Hui of Liang that if King Hui of Liang could invite Lord Mengchang to help him govern the country, then Liang would definitely become stronger. After hearing this, King Hui of Liang immediately sent someone with a thousand catties of gold and a hundred carriages to invite Lord Mengchang to come to Liang to be the prime minister. However, when envoys from the Liang Kingdom came three times in a row, Feng Chen told Lord Mengchang not to agree. The news that Liang State sent people to ask Lord Mengchang to govern Liang State reached the King of Qi. The King of Qi was anxious and quickly sent people to ask Lord Mengchang to return to Qi State and become the prime minister.
At the same time, Feng Chen asked Lord Mengchang to build an ancestral temple in Xuedi to ensure the safety of Xuedi. After the ancestral temple in Xuedi was built, Feng Chen said to Lord Mengchang: Your three shelters have been built. From now on, you can raise your pillow and sleep peacefully.
The idiom "The cunning rabbit has three burrows" comes from this story. It literally means that the cunning rabbit has multiple burrows, and it is a metaphor that people need more cover and emergency measures to protect themselves.