During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the minister Chen Fan was known for his integrity
One day, an old man came to his home and said, "Why don't you sweep the courtyard?" Chen Fan replied, "A true man's duty is to sweep the world clean—how could I bother with this courtyard?"
As an adult, Chen Fan served in the local government, but his blunt nature often led him to openly criticize injustices, which displeased the provincial governor. Without a word of farewell, Chen Fan simply left his post and walked away.
Later, recommended by Grand Commandant Li Gu, Chen Fan was appointed Governor of Le'an. His superior, Inspector Li Ying, was an incorruptible official who demanded strict discipline from his subordinates, causing many officials to resign and leave. Only Chen Fan remained dedicated to his duties, achieving outstanding results, and Li Ying held him in high regard.
In Dong'an, the governor Chen Fan held talented scholars in high regard and always visited them personally. In Le'an, a renowned hermit named Yue Qiu had repeatedly refused invitations from previous governors to serve in office. Yet when Chen Fan paid him a single visit, Yue Qiu gladly accepted the offer.
Chen Fan refused to associate with arrogant officials, eventually offending the powerful General Liang Ji and being demoted to county magistrate.
Later, Chen Fan was transferred to the capital Luoyang to serve as Minister of State due to his outstanding political achievements. At that time, small-scale peasant uprisings erupted in some parts of the country. Chen Fan clashed with the powerful ministers over whether to send troops to suppress them, and soon he was demoted again, this time to the position of Grand Administrator of Yuzhang (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi).
In Yuzhang, there was a virtuous talent named Xu Zhi. After Chen Fan arrived in Yuzhang, before even settling his household, he prepared to visit him. An official welcoming him said, "My lord, you should first go to the mansion to settle your family and rest. Mr. Xu lives right in the city; visiting him in a few days won't be too late!"
Chen Fan said, "Seeking the worthy cannot be delayed. When King Wu of Zhou conquered Shang, he visited the virtuous minister Shang Rong immediately upon entering the city, not even having time to warm his seat. Now I follow the ancients in honoring the wise and humbly seeking the learned—why is it wrong to visit Mr. Xu first?"
From that day forward, Chen Fan and Xu Zhi became great friends.
Later, people used the idiom "no time to warm the seat" to describe someone so busy and eager that they have no time to settle down or rest.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Virtuous Conduct"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "席不暇暖" came to describe how someone so busy and eager that they have no time to settle down or rest.