If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you.

This famous saying originates from "Yi" in the Greater Odes section of The Book of Songs. The original text reads: "If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you. That child with horns, truly confuses the young one." This was a verse used by Zhou dynasty nobility during banqueting occasions to express the principle of reciprocity and mutual courtesy. In ancient society, both peaches and plums were precious fruits symbolizing beautiful friendship and valuable gifts. The poet uses the imagery of mutual fruit-giving to express the moral concept that in human relationships, there should be reciprocity and mutual return of kindness.

"If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you" embodies the traditional Chinese virtue of reciprocity. The core meaning is that when others give us help, kindness, or goodwill, we should be grateful and return the same or even greater sincerity and kindness. "Peach" and "plum" here are not just specific fruits but symbolize human relationships, goodwill, and kindness. This saying emphasizes the principle of mutual benefit in human relationships, advocating the virtue of repaying kindness with kindness and opposing ingratitude and betrayal.

According to legend, during the Western Zhou period, the Duke of Zhou established rituals and created music, forming a complete ceremonial system. Once, King Cheng of Zhou hosted a banquet for the feudal lords at the palace, during which a lord presented precious peaches as gifts. King Cheng was deeply moved and immediately ordered fine plums to be brought as return gifts. The court historian was deeply touched by this scene and recorded it in The Book of Songs, using "If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you" to praise this virtue. Since then, this allusion has been passed down as a classic example of reciprocity. Another legend tells of an ancient virtuous ruler who would always return plums whenever his subjects presented peaches, expressing the ruler's care and reciprocation for his people, embodying the people-oriented thought of "the people are most important, the state comes second, and the ruler is least."

"If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you" has had profound historical impact in China. Since the Han dynasty, this saying has been widely applied in politics, diplomacy, commerce, and other fields as an important principle for handling human relationships. During the Tang dynasty, poets like Li Bai and Du Fu referenced this phrase multiple times in their poems, further expanding its literary influence. After the Song dynasty, this saying entered enlightenment reading materials and became a moral maxim that children must learn. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this phrase was carved into ancestral halls and academies, becoming an important part of family traditions and precepts. In modern times, this saying continues to be widely quoted, with Premier Zhou Enlai having cited it multiple times in diplomatic occasions to express China's principle of friendly foreign relations. Today, this phrase has become an important symbol of Chinese culture and frequently appears in international cultural exchanges.

To apply the wisdom of "If you throw a peach to me, I will return a plum to you" in modern life, consider these practical approaches: 1. In the workplace, when colleagues offer help, express gratitude promptly and reciprocate appropriately by sharing resources, providing information, or offering support. 2. In customer relationship management, go beyond simple buyer-seller relationships to establish emotional connections, such as remembering important dates for customers and providing service that exceeds expectations. 3. In friendships, avoid taking advantage mentality and ensure mutual exchange - if a friend treats you to dinner, take the initiative to reciprocate next time. 4. In neighborhood relationships, after accepting neighbors' kindness, take the initiative to reciprocate, such as returning homemade treats when receiving fruit from neighbors. 5. In online social interactions, respond to others' likes and comments to create positive interactions. The key is sincerity - don't calculate gains and losses, but rather reciprocate from genuine gratitude and goodwill.