【Source】Ban Gu, "Book of Han · Biography of Huo Guang" (Eastern Han Dynasty).
【Explanation】"Qu" means to bend; "Tu" means chimney; "Xi" means to move or relocate; "Xin" means firewood or dry grass. The phrase literally means to bend the chimney and move the firewood away from the stove. It is a metaphor for taking preventive measures in advance to avoid disaster.
【Historical Anecdote】
Huo Guang, styled Zimeng, was a powerful minister during the mid-Western Han Dynasty. Upon the death of Emperor Wu of Han, Huo Guang followed the late emperor's will and served as regent for Emperor Zhao of Han. After Emperor Zhao's death, Huo Guang first installed Prince Liu He of Changyi as emperor, and soon after installed Emperor Xuan of Han. Huo Guang governed for over twenty years, serving and supporting two emperors, Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan, and made significant contributions to the Han dynasty. He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Bolu.
A scholar from Maoling named Xu observed that the Huo family lived in excessive luxury. He had submitted several memorials to Emperor Xuan of Han, pleading that the court should not indulge the Huo family too much, and urging that their extravagant lifestyle be curbed promptly to prevent future troubles. However, his warnings were ignored by the imperial court. After Huo Guang's death, someone indeed reported that Huo Guang's descendants were plotting a rebellion. Emperor Xuan ordered the suppression of the plot, rewarded those who reported and helped suppress the rebellion, but Xu from Maoling received no reward at all. Therefore, someone told Emperor Xuan the following story:
Long ago, a guest visited his friend. Noticing that the host's chimney was straight and dry firewood was piled up nearby, the guest advised the host: "You should bend your chimney and move the dry firewood far away from it. Otherwise, a fire will break out." The host gave no definite reply, thinking to himself: "For so many years, nothing has happened. Why go to unnecessary trouble?"
Not long after, the house indeed caught fire. Neighbors rushed over to help extinguish the blaze, and through their combined efforts, the fire was finally put out. The host then slaughtered an ox and hosted a banquet to thank his neighbors who had helped fight the fire. Those who were burned while helping were seated in the places of highest honor, while others were seated in order of merit. The host raised his cup to toast and thank the neighbors for their assistance, but he never mentioned the guest who had earlier advised him to bend the chimney and remove the firewood.
At this, one person said to the host: "If you had listened to that guest's advice, the fire would never have happened, and you wouldn't have needed to slaughter an ox and host this banquet. Now you are thanking those who came to put out the fire, but you've forgotten the man who advised you to prevent the disaster before it occurred."
Only then did the host realize his mistake, and he quickly sent someone to invite the guest.
After hearing this story, Emperor Xuan was deeply moved. He immediately rewarded the scholar Xu from Maoling with ten bolts of fine silk and appointed him as a Lang officer.