覆水難收 Fù Shuǐ Nán Shōu
Zhu Mai Chen was a very diligent scholar. He spent all his time studying, and never earned money, so his family was very poor. They were so poor that they could not buy lamp oil, so Zhu Mai Chen used pine oil when he studied at night.
His wife could not stand this hard life, and asked for a divorce. Zhu Mai Chen tried to comfort her by saying, “One day I will achieve a high status, and we will be rich, and we will have everything we desire. Our lives are long, so be patient and things will get better.”
However, his wife would not be swayed, and Zhu Mai Chen had no choice but to give her a divorce.
After several years, Zhu Mai Chen achieved the rank of Prefecture. He returned to his home town, and all the people came to greet him. His ex-wife was also there, and when she saw Zhu Mai Chen in his splendid clothing, she approached him and said, “Sire, I am your wife, do you remember me? I know I have done wrong, can you forgive me?”
Zhu Mai Chen replied, “Our marriage is like water poured on the floor, it cannot be retrieved. What is done is done.”
Fù shuǐ nán shōu is said to show that things cannot go back as they were.
