2. Moral: People derived the idiom of "Snipes and Clams Strive for Each Other" from this fable story told by Su Dai, and often used it together with "Fisherman Gains Profit". The idiom of "sandpipers and mussels contending with each other" is often used to describe the two sides contending with each other, resulting in both sides losing, so that a third party can benefit from it.
3. Story: During the Warring States period, Qin was the strongest state. It often invaded other weak states. The weaker states also often had friction with each other. Once, Zhao claimed to attack Yan. At that time, the famous lobbyist Su Qin, whose brother was called Su Dai, was also very good at lobbying. Su Dai was commissioned by the king of Yan to go to Zhao to dissuade the king of Zhao from sending troops. When Su Dai arrived at Handan, he met King Huiwen of Zhao. King Huiwen of Zhao knew that Su Dai had come as a lobbyist for Yan, but knowingly asked, "Su Dai, what are you doing here in our state of Zhao?" "Honorable king, I have come to tell you a story." Telling a story, King Huiwen of Zhao couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder in his heart. Su Dai told this story: one day, the clam took advantage of the sunny day to open its two hard shells and sunbathe on the river bank. A snipe saw it and quickly put its beak into the clam's shell to peck at the meat. The mussel hurriedly closed its hard shell and clamped down on the snipe's mouth. The snipe, unable to peck at the meat and with its beak pinched, threatened the clam, saying, "Well, if you don't let go of your shell, you'll just have to wait. If it doesn't rain today, it won't rain tomorrow and fuck you up?" The mussel did not show any weakness and said back, "Well, your mouth has been clamped by me. Can't pull it out today, can't pull it out tomorrow, and starve you to death!" In this way, the clam and the snipe fought with each other on the river bank, neither of them letting the other go. As time went by, they were both exhausted. A fisherman was passing by, and when he saw them entangled together, neither of them could move, so he easily caught them together and took them home. After Su Dai finished the story, he said to King Hui of Zhao, "If Zhao goes to attack Yan, and Yan tries its best to resist, the two sides are bound to fight each other for a long time and get exhausted. In this way, the mighty Qin would reap the benefits like a fisherman. Please think carefully before making a decision." King Hui of Zhao thought that Su Dai's words were very reasonable, so he canceled the idea of attacking Yan.