But the stepmother didn't think much of Tzu-chien. He did housework, wore clothes of poor quality, and ate only leftovers. As winter approached, the stepmother had new silk jackets sewn for the children.
有一年冬天天寒地凍，後母特別為兩位弟弟縫製保暖的棉襖，其中塞滿了上等絲棉，穿在身上又輕又暖；她也給閔子騫縫了一件棉襖，襯的卻是虛有其表、既不擋風也不保暖的蘆花。