Ma Xin, a magistrate's assistant in the County of Changzhou, was a native of
Shandong Province. One day, he went by boat to call on his superior.
"Where have you moored your boat?" inquired his superior.
"In the river, sir," came the reply.
This infuriated his superior who snapped: "Straw sack!"
At that Ma Xin hastily added: "The straw sacks are all in the boat, sir."