During the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), there were two men called Sun Bin and Pang Juan. They studied the arts of war from Gui Guzi, was a renowned expert in all areas of military strategy.
Gui Guzi was good at teaching, and Sun Bin and Pang Juan both studied hard. He always found ways to test their wisdom. He judged that Sun Bin was wiser and was broad-minded, while Pang Juan was adept at strategy but was somewhat narrow-minded.
One day, Gui Guzi asked an unusual question. He took out some steamed buns and said to his two students, “There are five steamed buns here. Now let’s see which of you can eat more. Remember that you can only take two steamed buns every time, and that you are not allowed to take another steamed bun without finishing eating the one in your hand.” Sun Bin and Pang Juan both nodded.
As Gui Guzi opened the steamed bun container, Pang Juan found that there were only five steamed buns in the container, so he took two at once and began to wolf them down. In contrast, Sun Bin took only one steamed bun and began to eat it slowly.
Before long, Pang Juan ate up his first steamed bun, while Sun Bin had only eaten half of his. When Pang Juan began to swallow his second bun, he stole a glance at his rival and saw that Sun Bin was still taking his time. Pang Juan was delighted at this. He thought, “I am about to eat up my second steamed bun, so I will surely be the winner.”
Before Pang Juan had finished his second steamed bun, Sun Bin finished off his first one. He then reached out and took the remaining two steamed buns from the container. Then, there were none left. He smiled and said to Pang Juan, “You have eaten two, but I have three. I win.” After saying this, Sun Bin ate his steamed buns. Pang Juan realized that he had lost the contest. With a piece of bun still in his mouth, he was dumbstruck as he gaped at Sun Bin holding the two steamed buns in his hands.
At this time, Gui Guzi came and said to them, “Pang Juan ate fast, but didn’t grasp the overall situation. Although Sun Bin didn’t eat fast, he grasped the crucial point. Thus, he won.” Pang Juan blushed and felt ashamed.
