Aspire to Be Like Li

Master Lawrence shared this story with us today:

One day in ancient China, there were three friends in search of a job. Their names were Li, Bos and Dos. They entered a Chinese Restaurant, known for having the finest dumplings in all of China, hoping to find work. The three boys were informed by the owner, there was only one position open; a dish washing position. The owner told the three friends to spend one day washing dishes, and after he would give the job to the person best suited for the task.

"Now," said the owner, "You must wash each dish three times, dry it, and then stack it in a pile." The three boys were put quickly to work.

When the day was over, Li compared his pile to Dos's pile of dishes. Li was disappointed to find that his own pile was half the size. "How did you wash so many dishes?" Li asked Dos.

"I only washed my dishes twice." Dos stated. "Look," he said, holding up one of his dishes, "You can't even tell the difference." And it was true, Dos's dish appeared just as clean.

Li then turned to Bos, whose pile was three times greater than his own. "How did you wash so many dishes?" Li asked Bos.

"I only washed my dishes once," Dos boasted. "Look, no one would be able to tell the difference," he said, holding up a gleaming dish.

Li  hung his head as the owner walked in. "My measly pile will never get me this posiition," Li thought to himself.

 The owner looked over Bos's pile first. Bos puffed out his chest as the owner fixed his eyes on the big pile of washed dishes. The owner picked up a plate and examined it. He plopped a dumpling in the dead center and then tilted the plate. The dumpling quickly slid off the plate. "How many times did you wash each dish?" the owner asked.

Bos looked down at his feet. "Once," he mumbled.

The restaurant owner then examined Dos's pile. He plopped a dumpling onto the center one of his plates. He tilted the plate. Though not as swift as the first dumpling, it also slid off the plate. "How many times did you wash this plate?" the owner inquired of Dos.

Dos also looked toward the ground. "Twice," he sheepishly said.

The owner then examined a plate from the Li's small pile. He plopped a dumpling onto his plate. He tilted the plate, and the dumpling staid exactly where it had landed. The Owner smiled at Li. "You washed these dishes three times each, didn't you?"

"Yes," Li said proudly.

The owner took a step back and addressed all three boys. "We make the finest dumplings at this restaurant," he began. "When costumers come here to eat, not only do they expect to have the best dumplings, they also the dumplings to stay in one spot while they are cutting them. If there is even the slightest grease on a plate, a dumpling will slide. We therefore, need our dishes washed not once, not twice, but three times." He looked each boy in the eye before continuing. "Li was the only one who did not take shortcuts, and executed my exact instructions. Li will receive the dish washing job."

Li smiled. "Thank you sir."

This is Li :)

The moral of the story: Don't Take Shortcuts.