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When the Snipe and the Clam Grappled, it was the Fisherman who stood the Benefit

yù bàng xiāng zhēng,yú wēng dé lì

鹬蚌相争, 渔翁得利

This is a very popular Chinese fable. A clam swam to the bank and opened its shell in the sun. a snipe flew over and saw it. It dived to the ground and pecked at it. Before the snipe drew back its beak, it was gripped tightly inside because the clam suddenly felt the pain and closed its shell quickly. The snipe shook its head violently to cast off the clam, but it failed. The snipe said angrily, “listen, your clam, it’s not going to rain today, neither will it tomorrow. Then you’ll die from thirst. So quick! Let me off!” the clam was angry too. “You listen; I won’t let you off today, neither tomorrow. Then you will die of hunger. Do you still dare to eat me?” the snipe and clam were locked in a fight and quarreled, and neither of them liked to give up first. Just at that moment, an old fisherman came. He picked them up and took them home for dinner. The story tells us that the 3rd party will have an advantage fall into his lap when the other two parties are locked in combat for their own personal interests.

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