想xiǎng方fāng设shè法fǎ

Literal: think up ways, devise methods
Figurative: To try every possible way; to do whatever it takes to get something done.

Where does 想方设法 come from?

It does not come from a specific tale; it is a very common set phrase built from two parallel pairs: 想方 ("think up ways") and 设法 ("devise methods"). The repetition stresses the idea of exhausting every possible resource, and it is widely used today in both everyday speech and the press.

How is 想方设法 used? Two examples

老lǎo师shī想xiǎng方fāng设shè法fǎ让ràng学xué生shēng爱ài上shàng读dú书shū。
The teacher tries every possible way to get her students to love reading.
为wèi了le让ràng妈mā妈ma高gāo兴xìng，他tā想xiǎng方fāng设shè法fǎ准zhǔn备bèi了le一yī顿dùn好hǎo饭fàn。
To make his mother happy, he did everything he could and cooked her a fine meal.

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