Su Dongpo cleverly turned down an old friend's job application by fabricating a story about a grave robber digging for treasure.

In Zhang's Miscellaneous Notes of Song Mozhuang, there is a story that Su Dongpo skillfully rejected a friend's job application through an ancient friendship. The content of this story is very interesting, which can provide reference and enlightenment for officials to get rid of the selfish interests of relatives and friends and avoid getting into trouble.

It is said that Su Dongpo and Zisu became high officials through their two brothers, and a friend who had a deep friendship with his brothers came to visit and asked them to help find a job in the yamen. The man went to see Su Ziyuan first and then Su Dongpo. Su Dongpo knew his purpose and told him a joke before he started to work.

Su Dongpo said: A long time ago, a man, because of his poor family, began to dig graves and rob tombs. When he was digging a grave, he saw a naked man. The undertaker said to the grave digger, "I am Yang Wangsun of the Han Dynasty. I am famous for funerals. Never heard of it? " What can satisfy you in the grave of a buried person? "The grave digger had to dig another grave and enter it, only to find that the owner of the grave was a king. The king said to the grave digger, "I am the emperor of China. "I have an imperial edict before I die. All my funerary objects can't be gold or silver, only pottery. There is nothing valuable here that can't meet your requirements. " When the grave robber came out of the Han tomb, he saw two tombs connected together. He was very happy and immediately began to dig the hole on the left. As soon as I entered the grave, I saw a man say, "I am Boyi." I was thin and hungry and died at the foot of Shouyang Mountain. " There is nothing here. I can't meet your requirements. The grave digger sighed and said, "I spent so much effort digging the grave, but I found nothing." Better dig the grave on the right, or hope I can dig something from there. Boyi said to him, "I advise you not to dig that hole grave." Look, my figure is thin and ugly. My brother Shu Qi starved to death. His situation is worse than mine. '

Su Dongpo's old friend knew this well, so he didn't mention looking for a job and said goodbye to Su Dongpo according to etiquette.

Obviously, this so-called story of grave robbers digging for treasures was deliberately fabricated by Su Dongpo. In fact, he politely suggested, "Leave me alone." . I, Su Dongpo, really have no ability to help you find a job in yamen. I also advised him not to go to Su Ziyuan, and it didn't help him.

With this trick, Su Dongpo skillfully got rid of a trouble that might bring trouble and achieved his goal without having to face his old friends.