从前,有个宰相的孙子是有名的败家子。他把家产都败光了,连饭也吃不上,常常向别人家借米。
Once he borrowed another bag of rice. He carried it half- way and couldn't go any further, so he rested by the roadside. At this moment, a poor man in rags happened to pass by. He called this poor man, set the pay and let the poor man carry the rice for him.
有一次,他又借到了一袋米,背到半路上背不动了,只好在路旁歇脚。这时候,恰巧前面走来一个穷人,穿着破衣破裤。他就叫住穷人,讲好了工钱后,让穷人为他背米。
Unexpectedly, after carrying the rice for some distance, the poor man also panted and couldn't walk any further. The grandson complained:
不料,走了一段路程,穷人也气喘吁吁,走不动了。他就埋怨说:
"I am the grandson of a prime minister. It is natural that I can neither lift with my hands nor carry on my shoulder anything heavy. But you are from a poor family. Why are you also so useless?"
“我是宰相的孙子,手不能提,肩不能挑,那是常事。你是穷人出身,为什么也这样不中用呢?”
Unwilling to give in, the poor man glared and retorted:
那人不服气,翻翻白眼说:
"How can you blame me? I am not from a poor family. I am the grandson of a prime minister, too."
“你怎么能怪我,我并不是穷人出身,我也是宰相的孙子呢!”