get on a gravy train
守株待兔
Once upon a time, there was a farmer.One day, while he was working in the fields, he saw ahare run into a tree stump accidentally and die of a broken neck.
从前，有一个农夫。一天，在他耕田的时候，忽然跑过来一只野兔，恰好碰在一个树桩上，脖子折断死了。
The farmer took the hare home and cooked a delicious meal for himself.
农夫把兔子拾回家去，美美地吃了一顿兔肉。
That night he thought: "I needn't work so hard. All I have to do is wait every day by the stump to pick up the hare that runs into it."
当晚，他就想：“我何必辛辛苦苦的种地呢?每天在树桩旁等着捡撞死的野兔就好了”。
So from then on he gave up farming, and stood by the tree stump waiting for the hare to come and run into it.
于是他从此不再耕种，每天在树桩旁等待野兔的到来。
But from then on, he never saw another hare run into the tree stump.
但是，从那以后，他再没有发现一只野兔撞在树桩上。
go too far
得寸进尺
During the late Zhanguo period, there were seven kingdoms on the mainland of China. Among the seven kingdoms, the Qin kingdom was the most powerful one. The ruler of Qin wanted to conquer the other kingdoms to be the ruler of all.
战国末期，七雄争霸。其中秦国最强大，并图谋统一天下。
The Emperor of Qin intended to attack the Qi kingdom by going through the kingdoms of Han and Wei.
秦昭王准备越过韩、魏两国打齐国。
But his subordinate Fan Ju said: "The Qi kingdom is still powerful now and far away from our kingdom.
但策士范雎说：“现在齐国势力还算是强大，但离秦国很远。
Even if we win the battle, we must guard the land of Qi by passing through the kingdoms of Han and Wei.
即使打胜了，也必须越过韩、魏两国才能到达，很难守住。
What if we slowly expand the amount of land we control from here? So we can firmly control every inch of land we conquer. And in the end we will be the ruler."
所以不如慢慢向外拓展，这样所得的每一寸一尺土地，都 将稳稳当当地为秦国所拥有，这样就能逐渐统一天下了。”
The Emperor adopted his suggestion, and won many battles.
秦昭王便采用了这个策略，果然在许多战役中取得胜利。
Kong Rong gave away bigger pears
孔融让梨
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a person called Kong Rong. He was very smart ever since he was a little boy. He had five older brothers and one younger brother.
东汉时候，有个叫孔融的人。他小时候很聪明，有五个哥哥，一个弟弟。
One day his father bought some pears, picking one of the largest and giving it to Kong Rongdeliberately. But Kong Rong shook his head and picked up the smallest one.
一天爸爸买了一些梨子，特意捡了一个最大的给孔融，孔融却摇头不要，拿了一个最小的梨。
His dad was very curious, and asked: “Why?”
爸爸很好奇，就问：“为什么呢?”
Kong Rong said: “I am younger, so I should eat the smaller pear, and brothers should eat the bigger ones.”
孔融说：“我年纪小，我吃小梨，大的给哥哥吃。”
His dad was very glad after hearing his words, but asked further: “What about your younger brother who is younger than you are?”
爸爸听后很高兴，又问：“那弟弟比你还小呀?”
Kong Rong said: “I am older than him, so I should leave the bigger one to my little brother.”
孔融说：“我比弟弟大，我是哥哥，我应该把大的留给小弟弟吃。”
Later, Kong Rong became a great scholar.
后来，孔融成为了一个很有学问的人。