Buy bamboo slips and return them to pearls-bamboo slips: wooden cases; Pearl: Pearl. Bought the affairs box and returned the pearls. It is a metaphor for people who have no vision, make improper choices and value appearance over substance. It is also an irony for those who don't understand the essence of things, abandon the root and pursue the end, and abandon the Lord and retreat.
Idiom story: A Chu man had a beautiful pearl to sell.
Chu people found a valuable magnolia, made a box (bamboo rafters) for pearls, smoked the box with cinnamon spice, and carved many beautiful patterns with kingfisher feathers outside the box.
A Zheng man held the box in his hand and couldn't put it down for a long time. Finally, he paid a high price for it. After paying the money, he went back with the box. But he came back a few days later. The man thought Zheng regretted returning the goods. Before the man could finish thinking, he came to him. Zheng gave the pearl to the man and said, "Sir, I just bought a box. Please give him a pearl."
The Chu people stood there awkwardly with the returned pearls.
Synonyms: putting the cart before the horse.