They took out an expensive lea and exquisite tea service, but by the time the friend had finished his first cup of tea, tears covered his face, for he knew, without needing to be told, what had befallen his hosts. He could taste that they had boiled the water for tea with bamboo instead of vegetable oil, and thus had tasted their fall from wealth.
多年未見的好友在飲完一杯茶後淚流滿面，明瞭了主人的窘境。原來用不起菜油沾燈芯的破落戶，以竹枝燒火，朋友不言，茶湯的滋味已經說了。