Yan Ying, also known as Yan Pingzhong, was a man of upright character and frugal habits from the state of Qi. He personally attended to his duties, earning great respect throughout the land.
Later, when Yan Ying became the prime minister of Qi, he still lived a very frugal life without any ostentation. At his table, only one meat dish was served; his wife and concubines wore only plain cloth, never silk or satin. He himself never flaunted his power due to his high rank. When the ruler trusted him, he remained humble and never took credit; when the ruler distanced himself, Yan Ying focused even more on cultivating his virtue, reflecting on his own faults and mending what he had done poorly.
Sima Qian, the Grand Historian, deeply admired Yanzi's character, saying, "If Yan Pingzhong were alive today, I would gladly serve as his groom and hold his whip." Later, the idiom "Frugal and Diligent" came to describe someone who lives simply and works hard personally.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biographies of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "节俭力行" came to describe how someone lives simply and works hard personally.