What does it mean to plant elms in a cesspit?

"Elms grow in the cesspit" is a figurative idiom, which originally meant that something unexpected happened in a place with poor conditions. It is said that this idiom comes from a fable in Zhang Hengchuan of the Later Han Dynasty written by Zhang Heng in the Han Dynasty: an elm tree actually grew in a cesspit of a family, and the onlookers were amazed. This unexpected thing became "an elm tree grew in a cesspit".

Nowadays, "elm in the cesspit" has been widely used in politics, economy, education, literature and many other fields. Politically and economically, it can be said that some poor areas have seen effective industrial development; In education, it can be shown that an ordinary student can't resist his extraordinary talent and become a campus leader; In literature, he is a neglected writer, but he has created amazing works and achieved success.

Although "elm grows in the cesspit" originated from a special situation, its meaning is not limited to this. It also has an extended meaning and can cover a wider range of topics. For example, it can be used to describe that the situation looks bad, but in fact it may have invisible benefits; It can also be used to show that some people are full of hope and courage despite adversity. In a word, the implication of "elm grows in the cesspit" is very enlightening, which provides people with a positive attitude and a difficult attitude.