zhuangzi may have been a total SB when it came to technical things as we know back then the natural science stuff was not a common knowledge for all through public K12 education system.
but the example was given to establish a logical point, as the difference was stressed over that of how did as versus how would.
the classical chinese language has not changed that much in itself to the extent that leaves us to speculate, not to me at least. but who i am to say that my understanding is the understanding? knowing that, this is not a debate but a discussion. no right or wrong, good or bad, just different points of view and we are both entitled to our own opinions
and no harm is done to any, since it is not adapted either one of our opinion into the text books for youngsters
