颜斶是一个在战国时代齐国的贤士，他喜欢过简单的生活，不在乎名利。
他学问很广博，品德也很好。
有一天，齐宣王听说了颜斶的故事，就派人去找他来见面。
见到颜斶后，齐宣王说：“颜斶，你过来。”
没想到，颜斶也用同样的语气对齐宣王说：“大王，您过来。”
齐宣王听了以后非常生气。
他的大臣们也都责备颜斶说：“你是臣子，怎么能这样跟大王说话呢？”
颜斶解释说：“如果我走过去，那说明我在追求权力和地位；但如果是大王走过来，那就说明大王是个尊重贤士的好君主。这不是更好吗？”
齐宣王听后更生气了，大声问颜斶：“你说，是君王尊贵还是士人尊贵？”
颜斶回答：“当然是士人尊贵。从前秦王攻打齐国时，曾下令：‘谁敢在贤士柳下惠墓地五十步内砍柴，一律处死。’同时又下了另一道命令：‘谁能砍下齐王的头，就能封侯并赏千金。’从这里可以看出，一个国家的君主的头颅还不如一位贤士的坟墓尊贵啊！”
齐宣王听完觉得颜斶说得有道理，就想用财富和权力留下他。
但是颜斶谢绝了，他说：“我喜欢过简单的生活，粗茶淡饭就可以。我希望大王让我回家去。对我来说，慢慢走路就像乘车一样舒服，饿一会儿再吃饭，也能像吃肉那样美味。我喜欢清静无为，自得其乐的生活。我已经把我想说的话都说完了，现在我要回家去了。”
“安步当车”的意思就是用慢慢走路代替乘车。
后来，人们把这个故事引申为成语，用来形容那些不贪图富贵，能安心过贫苦生活的人。
Yan Chu was a wise man in the state of Qi during the Warring States period. He enjoyed a simple life and did not care about fame or wealth.
He was knowledgeable and virtuous.
One day, King Xuan of Qi heard about Yan Chu's story and sent someone to invite him for a meeting.
After seeing Yan Chu, King Xuan said, "Yan Chu, come here."
Unexpectedly, Yan Chu also spoke to King Xuan in the same manner, saying, "Your Majesty, please come over here."
King Xuan became very angry after hearing this.
His ministers also scolded Yan Chu, saying, "How can you speak to His Majesty like that as a subject?"
Yan Chu explained, "If I walk over, it shows that I am pursuing power and status; but if Your Majesty walks over, it shows that you are a good ruler who respects wise men. Wouldn't that be better?"
King Xuan became even angrier and asked Yan Chu loudly, "Tell me, is the king more noble or is a scholar more noble?"
Yan Chu replied, "Of course, scholars are more noble. In the past, when the King of Qin attacked the state of Qi, he issued an order: 'Whoever dares to cut wood within fifty paces of Scholar Liu Xia Hui's tomb will be put to death.' At the same time, he issued another order: 'Whoever can cut off the head of the King of Qi will be granted a title and rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold.' From this, we can see that the head of a country's ruler is not as noble as the tomb of a wise man!"
King Xuan thought what Yan Chu said made sense and wanted to keep him with wealth and power.
But Yan Chu declined, saying, "I enjoy a simple life. Plain tea and rice are enough for me. I hope Your Majesty allows me to return home. For me, walking slowly is as comfortable as riding a carriage, and going hungry for a while makes my meals taste as delicious as meat. I enjoy a quiet and contented life. I have already said what I wanted to say. Now I want to go home."
"Walking instead of riding a carriage" means using slow walking as a substitute for riding a carriage.
Later, people extended this story into an idiom, describing those who do not covet wealth and luxury and are content with a poor life.
