在动物界中，羊以老实厚道著称。一天，一只山羊手持礼物前往狮王宫。狮王远远望见这位诚实的羊友急匆匆而来，不由得心生好奇：“这位老实的羊儿今日为何也做起了歪门邪道之举？难不成是有紧要事务相求？”狮王故意装作没看到，将目光转向树荫下的一朵花。

“请问，尊敬的狮王，您愿意帮助我吗？”山羊一到达就恳切地说道。

狮王睁开眼睛，微微一笑：“啊，这不是那位一直以来都很老实诚信的羊朋友吗？你今天找我有何贵干？”

“我昨日遭遇了一件麻烦事，”山羊深情地说，“一个兔子占据了我的草地。我家虽小，但又面临旱灾，我和家人如何过上好日子呢？”

听完这一番话，狮王点头表示理解：“看来，这只小兔子胆大妄为，在白昼竟敢侵占别人的领地。真是秃子打伞——无法无天！既然如此，那么让我们一起解决这个问题吧。”

山羊听后满怀期待，却发现自己忘记了带回来的礼物，又急忙将其放在桌上说：“这是我的一点意思，请您收下，以示感谢。”

狮王接过礼物，对着山羊轻声细语地说：“看来，你对我的承诺有些存疑。”他微笑着继续道，“你怕我收下你的礼品，就不会帮忙，是这样吗？”

Mountain Goat hesitated, then nodded.

Lion sighed inwardly. He knew that some people had become so accustomed to the practice of giving gifts in exchange for favors that they couldn't even think straight without it. It was as if they believed that if they didn't offer something first, others would never be willing to lend a helping hand.

He decided to accept the gift and later instructed his loyal servant, a deer named Mei Hua, to return it discreetly. Mountain Goat's anxiety was finally assuaged when he received his grassland back without any additional conditions or expectations from Lion.

The story of how Mountain Goat sought help from Lion serves as an amusing reminder of how some individuals' trust in others is directly linked to their ability (or inability) to reciprocate with material goods rather than genuine goodwill and faithfulness.