 He is sitting next to a man shearing a pig, so represents the expression ""One shears sheep and one shears pigs"", meaning that one has the advantage over the other, but may also represent the advice ""Shear them but don't skin them"", meaning make the most of available assets.This painting has inspired others to depict multiple proverbs in their paintings, also.An illustration from the Hong Kong magazine Passion Times illustrates dozens of Cantonese proverbs.