Zhōngjiānshāng yànguòbámáo, nóngmín ná dào de qián suǒshèngwújǐ.
The middlemen take a slice off every transaction, leaving the farmers with hardly anything.
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From the Qing novel《儿女英雄传》(Wenkang, 19th c.). Originally praise for a martial artist quick enough to pluck feathers off a flying goose; the meaning later flipped to greedy opportunism.
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Sharply pejorative, often used of corrupt officials or middlemen. Avoid in polite contexts.
