During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), there was a high official in the State of Jin. He once saw a farmer working in the field and his wife bringing a lunch to him in a very respectful manner. It moved him much that the couple treated each other with the respect they would give a guest.
He took the farmer back to the King of Jin and recommended him for an official post. "Respect is a demonstration of virtue. If one is respectful, he must be virtuous," the official said. "We should educate our people with virtue."
"His father is guilty. Is it wise to do so?" the King countered.
The official replied: "Guan Zhong was an enemy to the Duke Huan of Qi, but the duke appointed Guan Zhong prime minister and finally accomplished his hegemony. Shun exiled Gun but promoted his son Yu. You just make use of his strong points."
At last, Duke Wen took his advice and put the farmer in an important position.
Later, this idiom means a couple treat each other with respect as if the other were their guests.
xiāng jìng rú bīn
相敬如宾
春秋时期，晋国有个大官。有一次他外出，看见一个农夫在田里干活，他的妻子很恭敬地给他端上午饭。夫妻之间就像客人一样，非常客气。他很感动。
他把这个农夫带到晋王的面前，要求晋王给他封官。他对晋王说：“互相尊重是一种美德。一个品德高尚的人才会待人有礼貌。我们应该培养我们的臣民养成这种美德。”
晋王说道：“他的父亲是个罪人，我们用他合适吗？”
他答道：“管仲曾是齐王的敌人，但齐王后来让他做了齐国的相国，帮助他完成了霸业。当年舜放逐了鲧，却重用了鲧的儿子禹。你只要利用他的长处就可以了。”
最后，晋王听从了他的话，重用了这个农夫。
后来，人们用“相敬如宾”来表示夫妻之间互相尊重，好像客人一般。
zhāng dēng jié căi
张灯结彩
Hang up lanterns and silk festoons; be decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers
