During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a man named Xu Shao who enjoyed evaluating people. He himself became famous through others' assessments. When he was about ten, the skilled physiognomist Xie Ziwei saw him and declared him "a rare great talent, destined to dominate Runan in the future." Xu Shao's reputation soared from then on.
Every month on the first day, Xu Shao hosted a gathering to evaluate the era's notable figures, calling it the "Monthly Critique." His assessments of character, temperament, and talent were always impartial and hit the mark. Obscure individuals who received his praise often launched successful official careers, making him indispensable when discussing talent selection. Those uncertain of their futures eagerly sought his guidance. When Cao Cao was of humble status, he asked Xu Shao for a judgment. Xu Shao replied, "You are a villain in times of peace, but a hero in times of turmoil."
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Chen Shi served as magistrate of Taiqiu County, where he governed with such flexibility and fairness that the region enjoyed peace and harmony. He never rigidly followed rules but found clever solutions to tricky problems, settling disputes so wisely that no one left with complaints. His reputation grew, and many sought his company. One day, the renowned critic Xu Shao passed through Yingchuan and visited all the local celebrities—except Chen Shi. When asked why, Xu Shao replied, "Chen Shi is like a towering tree that overshadows all others; I dare not approach him lightly." This remark, both a compliment and a subtle critique, highlighted Chen Shi's immense influence and the respectful distance even the most discerning observers kept from him. Source: *Records of the Later Han*, "Biography of Chen Shi"
Another official named Chen Fan was known for his incorruptible integrity and outspoken honesty, earning him a fine reputation. When his wife passed away, he escorted her funeral procession back to his hometown. The entire village came to pay their respects—everyone except the renowned critic Xu Shao.
Later, someone asked Xu Shao, "When you visited Yingchuan before, you called on many people but never visited Chen Shi. Now everyone is visiting Chen Fan, yet you still refuse to go. Why?" Xu Shao replied, "Chen Shi's way is too broad—too broad to be thorough. Chen Fan's temperament is too stern—too stern to be flexible. That is why I do not seek them out."
"The idiom 'Taiping's Wide Path' later came to describe someone with a broad circle of friends."
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Xu Shao"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "太丘道广" came to describe how someone with a broad circle of friends.