There was a man named Cao Shang in the State of Song.

宋国有个人，名叫曹商。

Once, he was sent on a mission by the King of Song to the State of Qin. Before departure, the King of Song bestowed upon him several horse-drawn chariots. Upon arriving in the State of Qin, Cao Shang won the favour of the King of Qin. Consequently, the King bestowed upon him 100 chariots.

一次，他受宋王的派遣，出使秦国。临行时，宋王赐给他几乘车马。到了秦国，曹商很得秦王欢心，于是秦王又赐给他百乘车马。

Soon afterwards, Cao Shang returned to the State of Song. One day he met Zhuang Zi and said proudly:

不久，曹商返回宋国。一天，他见到庄子，得意洋洋地说:

"In the past, I lived in poor streets and humble alleys. I was very poor, and made my living by making shoes. I was sallow and thin. This was my weak point. Now, relying on my clever tongue, I have touched the heart of the King of Qin, who is the sovereign lord with 1,000 chariots. He bestowed upon me 100 chariots. This is my strong point."

"过去我身居穷街陋巷，非常贫困，靠编鞋过日子，面黄肌瘦，这是我的短处。现在，我凭着三寸不烂之舌，打动万乘之主的秦王，赐给我车马百乘，这是我的长处。"

When Zhuang Zi heard this, he gave a snort of contempt and said sarcastically:

庄子听了，嗤之以鼻，讽刺他说:

"I heard that the King of Qin was ill. He let the physicians treat him, and rewarded them according to their contributions: those who sucked pus and ate sores would get 1 horse-drawn chariot; those who licked the piles would get 5 chariots. The more filthy the illness you treat, the more chariots you would get. You have probably licked his piles; otherwise, how could you acquire that many chariots? You had better go away!"

"我听说秦王有病，让医生治病，实行论功行赏:吸脓吃疮的，可得车马一乘;舌甜痔疮的，可得车马五乘。治的病越肮脏，得的车马越多。您大概为秦王甜过痔疮吧，不然怎么会得到那么多车马呢?您还是给我走开吧!"

（编者注：本文由作文地带整理。）

编辑:Liuxuepaper.Com