At many conferences on literature and translation, Xu Yuanchong talked about the famous poem "Plucking Wei" in the Book of Songs: "In the past I left, and the willows clung to them; now I come to think about them, rain and snow. Fei Fei. I am delayed in my journey. I am hungry and thirsty. My heart is sad. I don’t know how sad I am.
" He translated it in French:
A mon départ,
Le saule en pleurs;
Au retour tard,
La neige en fleurs.
Lents,lents mes pas,
Lourd,lourd mon Coeur;
J'ai faim; j'ai soif,
Quelle douleur!