顺藤摸瓜

lit. to follow the vine to get to the melon / to track sth following clues

to feel with the hand / to touch / to stroke / to grope / to steal / to abstract

variant of 摹[mo2]

to obey / to follow / to arrange / to make reasonable / along / favorable

melon / gourd / squash

variant of 藤[teng2]

rattan / cane / vine