Customers are jade; merchandise is grass

Similar sayings:

When the tree dies, the grass underneath withers When the tree dies, the grass underneath withers
A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated
Grass fears the frost, frost fears the sun Grass fears the frost, frost fears the sun
Jade and men, both are sharpened by bitter tools Jade and men, both are sharpened by bitter tools

Chinese sayings and proverbs