Two key sentences and their explanations in Shishuoxinyu are as follows:
1. Original text: Chen Liuruan Ji, Qiao Guoji Kang, and Hanoi Shantao were all compared to each other in years, and Kang Young and inferior. Those who have signed this agreement: Liu Ling of Peiguo, Ruan Xian of Chenliu, and Xiangxiu of Hanoi. Langxie Wang Rong. The seven people often gather under the bamboo forest and enjoy themselves as much as they want. In the old days, they were called the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest.
Translation: Ruan Ji of Chenliu County, Ji Kang of Qiao State, and Shantao of Hanoi County are all of the same age, and Ji Kang is slightly younger than them. Among those who attended their gathering were: Liu Ling of Peiguo, Ruan Xian of Chenliu County, Xiang Xiu of Hanoi County, and Wang Rong of Langye County. The seven people often gathered under the bamboo forest and drank freely without any scruples, so the world called them the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest.
2. Original text: Liu Ling was ill and thirsty, so he asked his wife for wine. The woman donated wine and destroyed the utensils. She cried and remonstrated: "You drink too much. It is not a way to maintain your health. You must stop it!" Ling said: "It's very good. I can't help myself. I can only pray to the ghosts and gods to swear to cut off my ears." Then you can have wine and meat."
The woman said, "Please listen to your order." Ling knelt down and congratulated, saying: "I was born Liu Ling, and he was named after wine. One drink of dendrobium and five measures of wine will dissolve the pot. Be careful not to listen to women's words." Then he introduced the wine into the meat, and Wei was already drunk.
Translation: Liu Ling suffered from alcoholism and was very thirsty, so he asked his wife for wine. His wife poured out the wine and destroyed the furniture that contained the wine. She cried and advised him, "You drank too much. This is not a way to maintain your health. You must quit drinking!" Liu Ling said, "Very good. But I can’t quit. I can only quit by praying and swearing in front of ghosts and gods.”
His wife said, “I obey.” Then she offered the wine and meat to Liu Ling. Pray and swear. Liu Ling knelt down and prayed: "I was born to be Liu Ling, and I am famous for drinking. One drink will make me ten dou, and five dou will cure the alcoholic disease. Don't listen to the woman's words." After saying this, he took the wine and meat to eat and drink, and after a while he drank again. He collapsed drunkenly.
3. Original text: Liu Gongrong drinks with others, causing filth and unkindness, and others may ridicule him. The answer was: "Those who are better than Gongrong cannot but drink with them; those who are not as good as Gongrong cannot but drink with them; those who are Gongrong's generation cannot but drink with them." So he drank all day long and got drunk.
Translation: When Liu Gongrong drank with others, he would be with people of different identities and statuses, which was messy and impure. Some people criticized him for this. He replied: "Those who are better than Gongrong, I can't help but drink with him; those who are not as good as Gongrong, I can't help but drink with him; and those who are similar to Gongrong, I can't help but drink with him." "So he spent the whole day drinking with other people and got drunk.