1919年兩本奇書之《中國奇觀》

可以稱之為1919年版的《功夫熊貓》，美國人對中國文化的神韻把握和天才表現，真是引人入勝。優美的文字，動人的故事，是了解中國文化的最好讀物。本書的作者諾曼·欣斯代爾·皮特曼（Norman Hinsdale Pitman，1876-1925年）是一位教育家和作家。他出生於密歇根州拉蒙特市。他的作品包括：《當選夫人：中國浪漫史》（The Lady Elect: A Chinese Romance  1913年），《中國奇觀》（A Chinese Wonder Book 1919年），《中國童話》（Chinese Fairy Tales 1924年）和《龍誘：北京浪漫史》（ Dragon Lure: A Romance of Peking  1925年）。他收集了中國神話和童話，並為英語聽眾撰寫。《中國奇觀》（The Chinese Wonder Book 亞馬遜網站可以免費購買此書 ）是他最著名的作品。讀者年齡7-12歲（這是指英文為母語，對非母語者屬於很高級的英語 ) 。 40幾歲就在天津去世，並葬在當地公墓。

[i]

A CHINESE WONDER BOOKBY
NORMAN HINSDALE PITMANILLUSTRATED BY
LI CHU-T'ANG

NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON & CO.
681 FIFTH AVENUE

[ii]

Copyright, 1919
By
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

[iii]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat	1
The Great Bell	21
The Strange Tale of Doctor Dog	39
How Footbinding Started	52
The Talking Fish	68
Bamboo and the Turtle	88
The Mad Goose and the Tiger Forest	104
The Nodding Tiger	120
The Princess Kwan-Yin	134
The Two Jugglers	147
The Phantom Vessel	160
The Wooden Tablet	172
The Golden Nugget	187
The Man Who Would Not Scold	193
Lu-San, Daughter of Heaven	206

[iv] 

[v]

THE GOLDEN BEETLE
OR
WHY THE DOG HATES THE CAT

hat we shall eat to-morrow, I haven't the slightest idea!" said Widow Wang to her eldest son, as he started out one morning in search of work.

"Oh, the gods will provide. I'll find a few coppers somewhere," replied the boy, trying to speak cheerfully, although in his heart he also had not the slightest idea in which direction to turn.

The winter had been a hard one: extreme cold, deep snow, and violent winds. The Wang house had suffered greatly. The roof had fallen in, weighed down by heavy snow. Then a hurricane had blown a wall over, and Ming-li, the son, up all night and exposed to a [2]bitter cold wind, had caught pneumonia. Long days of illness followed, with the spending of extra money for medicine. All their scant savings had soon melted away, and at the shop where Ming-li had been employed his place was filled by another. When at last he arose from his sick-bed he was too weak for hard labour and there seemed to be no work in the neighbouring villages for him to do. Night after night he came home, trying not to be discouraged, but in his heart feeling the deep pangs of sorrow that come to the good son who sees his mother suffering for want of food and clothing.

"Bless his good heart!" said the poor widow after he had gone. "No mother ever had a better boy. I hope he is right in saying the gods will provide. It has been getting so much worse these past few weeks that it seems now as if my stomach were as empty as a rich man's brain. Why, even the rats have deserted our cottage, and there's nothing left for poor Tabby, while old Blackfoot is nearly dead from starvation."

When the old woman referred to the sorrows of her pets, her remarks were answered by a pitiful mewing and woebegone barking from the corner where the two unfed creatures were curled up together trying to keep warm.

Just then there was a loud knocking at the gate. When the [3]widow Wang called out, "Come in!" she was surprised to see an old bald-headed priest standing in the doorway. "Sorry, but we have nothing," she went on, feeling sure the visitor had come in search of food. "We have fed on scraps these two weeks—on scraps and scrapings—and now we are living on the memories of what we used to have when my son's father was living. Our cat was so fat she couldn't climb to the roof. Now look at her. You can hardly see her, she's so thin. No, I'm sorry we can't help you, friend priest, but you see how it is."

"I didn't come for alms," cried the clean-shaven one, looking at her kindly, "but only to see what I could do to help you. The gods have listened long to the prayers of your devoted son. They honour him because he has not waited till you die to do sacrifice for you. They have seen how faithfully he has served you ever since his illness, and now, when he is worn out and unable to work, they are resolved to reward him for his virtue. You likewise have been a good mother and shall receive the gift I am now bringing."

"What do you mean?" faltered Mrs. Wang, hardly believing her ears at hearing a priest speak of bestowing mercies. "Have you come here to laugh at our misfortunes?"

[4]"By no means. Here in my hand I hold a tiny golden beetle which you will find has a magic power greater than any you ever dreamed of. I will leave this precious thing with you, a present from the god of filial conduct."

"Yes, it will sell for a good sum," murmured the other, looking closely at the trinket, "and will give us millet for several days. Thanks, good priest, for your kindness."

"But you must by no means sell this golden beetle, for it has the power to fill your stomachs as long as you live."

The widow stared in open-mouthed wonder at the priest's surprising words.

"Yes, you must not doubt me, but listen carefully to what I tell you. Whenever you wish food, you have only to place this ornament in a kettle of boiling water, saying over and over again the names of what you want to eat. In three minutes take off the lid, and there will be your dinner, smoking hot, and cooked more perfectly than any food you have ever eaten."

"May I try it now?" she asked eagerly.

"As soon as I am gone."

When the door was shut, the old woman hurriedly kindled a fire, [5]boiled some water, and then dropped in the golden beetle, repeating these words again and again:

Would those three minutes never pass? Could the priest have told the truth? Her old head was nearly wild with excitement as clouds of steam rose from the kettle. Off came the lid! She could wait no longer. Wonder of wonders! There before her unbelieving eyes was a pot, full to the brim of pork dumplings, dancing up and down in the bubbling water, the best, the most delicious dumplings she had ever tasted. She ate and ate till there was no room left in her greedy stomach, and then she feasted the cat and the dog until they were ready to burst.

"Good fortune has come at last," whispered Blackfoot, the dog, to Whitehead, the cat, as they lay down to sun themselves outside. "I fear I couldn't have held out another week without running away to look for food. I don't know just what's happened, but there's no use questioning the gods."

[6]Mrs. Wang fairly danced for joy at the thought of her son's return and of how she would feast him.

"Poor boy, how surprised he will be at our fortune—and it's all on account of his goodness to his old mother."

When Ming-li came, with a dark cloud overhanging his brow, the widow saw plainly that disappointment was written there.

"Come, come, lad!" she cried cheerily, "clear up your face and smile, for the gods have been good to us and I shall soon show you how richly your devotion has been rewarded." So saying, she dropped the golden beetle into the boiling water and stirred up the fire.

Thinking his mother had gone stark mad for want of food, Ming-li stared solemnly at her. Anything was preferable to this misery. Should he sell his last outer garment for a few pennies and buy millet for her? Blackfoot licked his hand comfortingly, as if to say, "Cheer up, master, fortune has turned in our favour." Whitehead leaped upon a bench, purring like a sawmill.

Ming-li did not have long to wait. Almost in the twinkling of an eye he heard his mother crying out,

"Sit down at the table, son, and eat these dumplings while they are smoking hot."

[7]Could he have heard correctly? Did his ears deceive him? No, there on the table was a huge platter full of the delicious pork dumplings he liked better than anything else in all the world, except, of course, his mother.

"Eat and ask no questions," counselled the Widow Wang. "When you are satisfied I will tell you everything."

Wise advice! Very soon the young man's chopsticks were twinkling like a little star in the verses. He ate long and happily, while his good mother watched him, her heart overflowing with joy at seeing him at last able to satisfy his hunger. But still the old woman could hardly wait for him to finish, she was so anxious to tell him her wonderful secret.

"Here, son!" she cried at last, as he began to pause between mouthfuls, "look at my treasure!" And she held out to him the golden beetle.

"First tell me what good fairy of a rich man has been filling our hands with silver?"

"That's just what I am trying to tell you," she laughed, "for there was a fairy here this afternoon sure enough, only he was dressed like a bald priest. That golden beetle is all he gave me, but with it comes a secret worth thousands of cash to us."

[8]The youth fingered the trinket idly, still doubting his senses, and waiting impatiently for the secret of his delicious dinner. "But, mother, what has this brass bauble to do with the dumplings, these wonderful pork dumplings, the finest I ever ate?"

"Baubles indeed! Brass! Fie, fie, my boy! You little know what you are saying. Only listen and you shall hear a tale that will open your eyes."

She then told him what had happened, and ended by setting all of the left-over dumplings upon the floor for Blackfoot and Whitehead, a thing her son had never seen her do before, for they had been miserably poor and had had to save every scrap for the next meal.

Now began a long period of perfect happiness. Mother, son, dog and cat—all enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. All manner of new foods such as they had never tasted were called forth from the pot by the wonderful little beetle. Bird-nest soup, shark's fins, and a hundred other delicacies were theirs for the asking, and soon Ming-li regained all his strength, but, I fear, at the same time grew somewhat lazy, for it was no longer necessary for him to work. As for the two animals, they became fat and sleek and their hair grew long and glossy.

But alas! according to a Chinese proverb, pride invites sorrow. [9]The little family became so proud of their good fortune that they began to ask friends and relatives to dinner that they might show off their good meals. One day a Mr. and Mrs. Chu came from a distant village. They were much astonished at seeing the high style in which the Wangs lived. They had expected a beggar's meal, but went away with full stomachs.

"It's the best stuff I ever ate," said Mr. Chu, as they entered their own tumble-down house.

"Yes, and I know where it came from," exclaimed his wife. "I saw Widow Wang take a little gold ornament out of the pot and hide it in a cupboard. It must be some sort of charm, for I heard her mumbling to herself about pork and dumplings just as she was stirring up the fire."

"A charm, eh? Why is it that other people have all the luck? It looks as if we were doomed forever to be poor."

"Why not borrow Mrs. Wang's charm for a few days until we can pick up a little flesh to keep our bones from clattering? Turn about's fair play. Of course, we'll return it sooner or later."

"Doubtless they keep very close watch over it. When would you find them away from home, now that they don't have to work any more? As their house only contains one room, and that no bigger [10]than ours, it would be difficult to borrow this golden trinket. It is harder, for more reasons than one, to steal from a beggar than from a king."

"Luck is surely with us," cried Mrs. Chu, clapping her hands. "They are going this very day to the Temple fair. I overheard Mrs. Wang tell her son that he must not forget he was to take her about the middle of the afternoon. I will slip back then and borrow the little charm from the box in which she hid it."

"Aren't you afraid of Blackfoot?"

"Pooh! he's so fat he can do nothing but roll. If the widow comes back suddenly, I'll tell her I came to look for my big hair-pin, that I lost it while I was at dinner."

"All right, go ahead, only of course we must remember we're borrowing the thing, not stealing it, for the Wangs have always been good friends to us, and then, too, we have just dined with them."

So skilfully did this crafty woman carry out her plans that within an hour she was back in her own house, gleefully showing the priest's charm to her husband. Not a soul had seen her enter the Wang house. The dog had made no noise, and the cat had only blinked her surprise at seeing a stranger and had gone to sleep again on the floor.

Great was the clamour and weeping when, on returning from the [11]fair in expectation of a hot supper, the widow found her treasure missing. It was long before she could grasp the truth. She went back to the little box in the cupboard ten times before she could believe it was empty, and the room looked as if a cyclone had struck it, so long and carefully did the two unfortunates hunt for the lost beetle.

Then came days of hunger which were all the harder to bear since the recent period of good food and plenty. Oh, if they had only not got used to such dainties! How hard it was to go back to scraps and scrapings!

But if the widow and her son were sad over the loss of the good meals, the two pets were even more so. They were reduced to beggary and had to go forth daily upon the streets in search of stray bones and refuse that decent dogs and cats turned up their noses at.

One day, after this period of starvation had been going on for some time, Whitehead began suddenly to frisk about in great excitement.

"Whatever is the matter with you?" growled Blackfoot. "Are you mad from hunger, or have you caught another flea?"

"I was just thinking over our affairs, and now I know the cause of all our trouble."

"Do you indeed?" sneered Blackfoot.

[12]"Yes, I do indeed, and you'd better think twice before you mock me, for I hold your future in my paw, as you will very soon see."

"Well, you needn't get angry about nothing. What wonderful discovery have you made—that every rat has one tail?"

"First of all, are you willing to help me bring good fortune back to our family?"

"Of course I am. Don't be silly," barked the dog, wagging his tail joyfully at the thought of another good dinner. "Surely! surely! I will do anything you like if it will bring Dame Fortune back again."

"All right. Here is the plan. There has been a thief in the house who has stolen our mistress's golden beetle. You remember all our big dinners that came from the pot? Well, every day I saw our mistress take a little golden beetle out of the black box and put it into the pot. One day she held it up before me, saying, 'Look, puss, there is the cause of all our happiness. Don't you wish it was yours?' Then she laughed and put it back into the box that stays in the cupboard."

"Is that true?" questioned Blackfoot. "Why didn't you say something about it before?"

"You remember the day Mr. and Mrs. Chu were here, and how [13]Mrs. Chu returned in the afternoon after master and mistress had gone to the fair? I saw her, out of the tail of my eye, go to that very black box and take out the golden beetle. I thought it curious, but never dreamed she was a thief. Alas! I was wrong! She took the beetle, and if I am not mistaken, she and her husband are now enjoying the feasts that belong to us."

"Let's claw them," growled Blackfoot, gnashing his teeth.

"That would do no good," counselled the other, "for they would be sure to come out best in the end. We want the beetle back—that's the main thing. We'll leave revenge to human beings; it is none of our business."

"What do you suggest?" said Blackfoot. "I am with you through thick and thin."

"Let's go to the Chu house and make off with the beetle."

"Alas, that I am not a cat!" moaned Blackfoot. "If we go there I couldn't get inside, for robbers always keep their gates well locked. If I were like you I could scale the wall. It is the first time in all my life I ever envied a cat."

"We will go together," continued Whitehead. "I will ride on your back when we are fording the river, and you can protect me from strange animals. When we get to the Chu house, I will climb over [14]the wall and manage the rest of the business myself. Only you must wait outside to help me to get home with the prize."

No sooner arranged than done. The companions set out that very night on their adventure. They crossed the river as the cat had suggested, and Blackfoot really enjoyed the swim, for, as he said, it took him back to his puppyhood, while the cat did not get a single drop of water on her face. It was midnight when they reached the Chu house.

"Just wait till I return," purred Whitehead in Blackfoot's ear.

With a mighty spring she reached the top of the mud wall, and then jumped down to the inside court. While she was resting in the shadow, trying to decide just how to go about her work, a slight rustling attracted her attention, and pop! one giant spring, one stretch-out of the claws, and she had caught a rat that had just come out of his hole for a drink and a midnight walk.

Now, Whitehead was so hungry that she would have made short work of this tempting prey if the rat had not opened its mouth and, to her amazement, begun to talk in good cat dialect.

"Pray, good puss, not so fast with your sharp teeth! Kindly be careful with your claws! Don't you know it is the custom [15]now to put prisoners on their honour? I will promise not to run away."

"Pooh! what honour has a rat?"

"Most of us haven't much, I grant you, but my family was brought up under the roof of Confucius, and there we picked up so many crumbs of wisdom that we are exceptions to the rule. If you will spare me, I will obey you for life, in fact, will be your humble slave." Then, with a quick jerk, freeing itself, "See, I am loose now, but honour holds me as if I were tied, and so I make no further attempt to get away."

"Much good it would do you," purred Whitehead, her fur crackling noisily, and her mouth watering for a taste of rat steak. "However, I am quite willing to put you to the test. First, answer a few polite questions and I will see if you're a truthful fellow. What kind of food is your master eating now, that you should be so round and plump when I am thin and scrawny?"

"Oh, we have been in luck lately, I can tell you. Master and mistress feed on the fat of the land, and of course we hangers-on get the crumbs."

"But this is a poor tumble-down house. How can they afford such eating?"

[16]"That is a great secret, but as I am in honour bound to tell you, here goes. My mistress has just obtained in some manner or other, a fairy's charm——"

"She stole it from our place," hissed the cat, "I will claw her eyes out if I get the chance. Why, we've been fairly starving for want of that beetle. She stole it from us just after she had been an invited guest! What do you think of that for honour, Sir Rat? Were your mistress's ancestors followers of the sage?"

"Oh, oh, oh! Why, that explains everything!" wailed the rat. "I have often wondered how they got the golden beetle, and yet of course I dared not ask any questions."

"No, certainly not! But hark you, friend rat—you get that golden trinket back for me, and I will set you free at once of all obligations. Do you know where she hides it?"

"Yes, in a crevice where the wall is broken. I will bring it to you in a jiffy, but how shall we exist when our charm is gone? There will be a season of scanty food, I fear; beggars' fare for all of us."

"Live on the memory of your good deed," purred the cat. "It is splendid, you know, to be an honest beggar. Now scoot! I trust you completely, since your people lived in the home of Confucius. [17]I will wait here for your return. Ah!" laughed Whitehead to herself, "luck seems to be coming our way again!"

Five minutes later the rat appeared, bearing the trinket in its mouth. It passed the beetle over to the cat, and then with a whisk was off for ever. Its honour was safe, but it was afraid of Whitehead. It had seen the gleam of desire in her green eyes, and the cat might have broken her word if she had not been so anxious to get back home where her mistress could command the wonderful kettle once more to bring forth food.

The two adventurers reached the river just as the sun was rising above the eastern hills.

"Be careful," cautioned Blackfoot, as the cat leaped upon his back for her ride across the stream, "be careful not to forget the treasure. In short, remember that even though you are a female, it is necessary to keep your mouth closed till we reach the other side."

"Thanks, but I don't think I need your advice," replied Whitehead, picking up the beetle and leaping on to the dog's back.

But alas! just as they were nearing the farther shore, the excited cat forgot her wisdom for a moment. A fish suddenly leaped out of the water directly under her nose. It was too great a temptation. [18]Snap! went her jaws in a vain effort to land the scaly treasure, and the golden beetle sank to the bottom of the river.

"There!" said the dog angrily, "what did I tell you? Now all our trouble has been in vain—all on account of your stupidity."

For a time there was a bitter dispute, and the companions called each other some very bad names—such as turtle and rabbit. Just as they were starting away from the river, disappointed and discouraged, a friendly frog who had by chance heard their conversation offered to fetch the treasure from the bottom of the stream. No sooner said than done, and after thanking this accommodating animal profusely, they turned homeward once more.

When they reached the cottage the door was shut, and, bark as he would, Blackfoot could not persuade his master to open it. There was the sound of loud wailing inside.

"Mistress is broken-hearted," whispered the cat, "I will go to her and make her happy."

So saying, she sprang lightly through a hole in the paper window, which, alas! was too small and too far from the ground for the faithful dog to enter.

A sad sight greeted the gaze of Whitehead. The son was lying on the bed unconscious, almost dead for want of food, while his [19]mother, in despair, was rocking backwards and forwards wringing her wrinkled hands and crying at the top of her voice for some one to come and save them.

"Here I am, mistress," cried Whitehead, "and here is the treasure you are weeping for. I have rescued it and brought it back to you."

The widow, wild with joy at sight of the beetle, seized the cat in her scrawny arms and hugged the pet tightly to her bosom.

"Breakfast, son, breakfast! Wake up from your swoon! Fortune has come again. We are saved from starvation!"

Soon a steaming hot meal was ready, and you may well imagine how the old woman and her son, heaping praises upon Whitehead, filled the beast's platter with good things, but never a word did they say of the faithful dog, who remained outside sniffing the fragrant odours and waiting in sad wonder, for all this time the artful cat had said nothing of Blackfoot's part in the rescue of the golden beetle.

At last, when breakfast was over, slipping away from the others, Whitehead jumped out through the hole in the window.

"Oh, my dear Blackfoot," she began laughingly, "you should have been inside to see what a feast they gave me! Mistress was so delighted at my bringing back her treasure that she could not give me [20]enough to eat, nor say enough kind things about me. Too bad, old fellow, that you are hungry. You'd better run out into the street and hunt up a bone."

Maddened by the shameful treachery of his companion, the enraged dog sprang upon the cat and in a few seconds had shaken her to death.

"So dies the one who forgets a friend and who loses honour," he cried sadly, as he stood over the body of his companion.

Rushing out into the street, he proclaimed the treachery of Whitehead to the members of his tribe, at the same time advising that all self-respecting dogs should from that time onwards make war upon the feline race.

And that is why the descendants of old Blackfoot, whether in China or in the great countries of the West, have waged continual war upon the children and grandchildren of Whitehead, for a thousand generations of dogs have fought them and hated them with a great and lasting hatred.

股溝翻譯：金甲蟲或為什麼狗討厭貓/The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat

 作者： 諾曼·辛德戴爾·皮特曼 繪圖：李楚棠

明天我們要吃什麼，我沒有絲毫念頭！

「哦，上帝會提供的。我會在附近找到一些銅線。」男孩回答，試圖高興地說話，儘管他內心深處也不知道該朝哪個方向走。

冬天是一個艱難的冬天：極度寒冷，深雪和狂風。王家遭受了很大的痛苦。屋頂掉了下來，被大雪壓倒了。然後，颶風把牆炸了，兒子明麗整夜通宵暴露在[2]苦冷的風中，得了肺炎。疾病漫長的日子隨之而來，並花費了額外的醫藥費用。他們所有的少量積蓄很快就消失了，在明麗受雇的那家商店裡，他的住處被另一個人填補。終於他從病床上復活了，他太虛弱了，無法勞累，在附近的村莊里似乎沒有工作可做。一夜又一夜，他回到家中，試圖不灰心，但他的內心深感悲傷的痛苦降臨在好兒子身上，他看到母親因缺乏食物和衣服而受苦。

「祝福他的好心！」可憐的寡婦離開后說。 「沒有一個母親有一個更好的男孩。我希望他說上帝會提供的是對的。過去幾周情況變得越來越糟，現在看來我的肚子就像有錢人的大腦一樣空虛。為什麼，甚至老鼠都把我們的小屋都拋棄了，可憐的虎斑貓也一無所有，而老布萊克富特卻幾乎餓死了。」

當老婦人提到寵物的悲傷時，她的話被可憐的割草聲和嗚嗚嗚嗚嗚叫著，這兩個未餵食的動物were縮在一起試圖保暖。

就在這時，大門口傳來一聲巨響。 [3]寡婦王大喊：「進來！」她驚訝地看到一位老禿頭的牧師站在門口。 「對不起，但是我們什麼都沒有。」她繼續說，確定來訪者是來找食物的。 「這兩個星期，我們已經吃完了殘渣（包括殘渣和碎屑），現在我們正在回憶起我兒子父親生活時的往事。我們的貓太胖了，她無法爬上屋頂。現在看她。你幾乎看不到她，她是如此瘦弱。不，對不起，我們不能幫助你，朋友牧師，但你知道如何。」

「我不是來施捨的，」那位剛刮過鬍子的人親切地看著她，說道，「但是只是看我能為您做些什麼。眾神早已聽了您虔誠兒子的祈禱。他們很榮幸他是因為他沒有等到你死為你做犧牲時，他們才知道他自從他生病以來對你的忠實服務，現在，當他疲憊不堪，無法工作時，他們下定決心要為他獎勵你同樣是一個好母親，將得到我現在帶來的禮物。」

「你什麼意思？」王太太搖搖欲墜，幾乎不相信她的耳朵在聽牧師講授慈悲的話。 「你來這裡是為了嘲笑我們的不幸嗎？」

「絕對不行。我手裡拿著一隻小金甲蟲，您會發現它具有比您夢dream以求的強大的魔力。我會把這個珍貴的東西留給您，這是孝順之神的禮物。」

「是的，它將賣出高價，」另一個人低聲看著小飾品，「將給我們小米幾天。謝謝你，好牧師。」

「但是你絕不能賣掉這隻金甲蟲，因為只要你活著，它就有能力填飽肚子。」

寡婦瞪大了眼睛，驚訝於神父的令人驚訝的話。

「是的，您一定不要懷疑我，但是請認真聽我說的話。每當您想要食物時，您只需將這種裝飾品放在沸水壺中，一遍又一遍地說出您想吃的東西的名字。只需三分鐘即可取下鍋蓋，晚餐便會熱騰騰，煮得比您以前吃過的任何食物都要完美。」

「我現在可以嘗試嗎？」她熱切地問。

「我走了。」

關門時，老婦人急忙生火，[5]燒開水，然後掉入金甲蟲，一次又一次地重複這些話：

「餃子，餃子，來找我，

我很瘦。

餃子，餃子，熱煙熏，

餃子，餃子填滿鍋。」

那三分鐘永遠不會過去嗎？牧師能說出真相嗎？當水壺裡冒出一團團蒸汽時，她的老頭幾乎激動得發狂。蓋子掉了！她不能再等了。奇迹的奇迹！在她那難以置信的目光之前，那是一個裝滿豬肉餃子的鍋，在冒泡的水中上下跳動，這是她品嘗過的最好，最美味的餃子。她吃了又吃，直到貪婪的肚子里沒有空了，然後她宴請了貓和狗，直到它們準備爆發。

當他們躺下來在外面曬日光浴時，「好運終於來了。」狗Blackfoot向貓Whitehead輕聲說。 「我擔心如果不能逃跑去找食物，我不可能再堅持一個星期。我不知道發生了什麼，但是對眾神提出質疑是沒有用的。」

王太太想到兒子的歸來以及如何宴請他，為她歡欣鼓舞。

「可憐的男孩，他對我們的命運會感到多麼驚訝-這全都歸功於他對老母親的善良。」

明禮來時，烏雲懸在額頭上，寡婦清楚地看到那裡寫滿了失望。

「來吧，夥計！」她興高采烈地哭著說：「清理你的臉和微笑，因為神對我們有益，我將很快向你展示你的奉獻有多麼豐富。」如此說來，她把金甲蟲掉進了沸水中，激起了大火。

明麗以為他的母親因缺少食物而瘋了，於是鄭重地凝視著她。沒有什麼比這痛苦更可取了。他是否應該以幾美分的價格賣掉他的最後一件外衣並為她買小米？布萊克富特安撫地舔了舔他的手，好像在說：「振作起來，主人，財富對我們有利。」懷特海跳上了長凳，像鋸木廠一樣發出嘶啞的聲音。

銘莉沒有多久等待。幾乎轉瞬之間，他聽到母親在哭泣，

「兒子，坐在桌子旁，一邊吃這些餃子，一邊趁著他們抽煙。」

[7]他能正確聽到嗎？他的耳朵欺騙了他嗎？不，桌子上放著一大盤，裡面盛滿了他美味的豬肉餃子，他當然比世界上其他任何人都喜歡，除了他的母親。

「吃飯，不問任何問題，」王寡婦建議。 「當您滿意時，我會告訴您一切。」

明智的建議！很快，年輕人的筷子像經文中的小星星一樣閃爍。當他的好媽媽看著他時，他吃得很飽很開心，她的心因看到他終於能夠滿足他的飢餓而欣喜若狂。但是，這位老婦人仍然迫不及待地想要完成他的工作，她非常渴望告訴他她的絕妙秘密。

「這裡，兒子！」當他開始在兩口之間停頓時，她終於哭了起來，「看看我的寶貝！」她向他伸出金甲蟲。

「首先告訴我，一個有錢人的好仙子一直在給我們注滿銀？

「這就是我想告訴你的，」她笑著說，「因為今天下午這裡肯定有一位仙子，只有他像禿頭的牧師一樣打扮。他給我的那隻金甲蟲，但隨之而來的是對我們來說價值數千現金的秘密。」

青年人懶散地指著小飾品，仍然懷疑他的感官，不耐煩地等待著他美味的晚餐的秘密。 「但是，媽媽，這個黃銅擺設與餃子，這些美味的豬肉餃子有什麼關係，是我吃過的最好的？」

「確實是小玩意！黃銅！兄弟，兄弟，我的男孩！你幾乎不知道你在說什麼。只聽，你會聽到一個會睜大你的眼睛的故事。」

然後她告訴他發生了什麼事，最後將所有剩下的餃子放在地板上給布萊克富特和懷特黑德，這是她兒子以前從未見過的事情，因為他們很窮，不得不救下每一個下一頓飯吃掉。

現在開始了一段長久的完美幸福。母親，兒子，狗和貓-都盡其所能。美妙的小甲蟲從鍋中召喚出了從未嘗過的各種新食物，例如它們從未嘗過的食物。鳥巢湯，魚翅和其他一百種美味佳肴都是他們要的，而明禮很快就恢復了他的全部力量，但是，我擔心，與此同時，他變得有些懶惰，因為不再需要他了去工作。至於兩隻動物，它們變得肥胖而光滑，頭髮長而有光澤。

可惜！根據中國的諺語，驕傲引來悲傷。 [9]這個小家庭為自己的好運感到​​驕傲，以至於他們開始請親朋好友共進晚餐，以致他們可以炫耀自己的美餐。一天，朱先生和太太來自一個遙遠的村莊。看到王氏一家人的高尚風範，他們大為驚訝。他們原本以乞g的飯為食，但飽肚子就走了。

當他們走進自己的房子時，朱先生說：「這是我吃過的最好的東西。」

「是的，我知道它從哪裡來。」他的妻子喊道。 「我看到王寡婦從鍋里拿出一點金飾，把它藏在柜子里。這一定是一種魅力，因為我聽到她在煽動大火時對豬肉和餃子的喃喃自語。」

「一種魅力，是嗎？為什麼別人的運氣這麼好？看來我們永遠註定要貧窮。」

「為什麼不借用王太太的魅力幾天，直到我們能撿起一點肉來防止骨頭碎裂？轉身是公平的。當然，我們遲早會歸還它。」

「毫無疑問，他們會密切注視著它。既然他們不必再工作了，您什麼時候會發現他們離開家了？因為他們的房子只有一個房間，而且沒有比我們大的房間[10]，借用這個金色的小裝飾品將很困難。出於一個多方面的原因，從乞g那裡竊取而不是從國王那裡竊取是更難的。」

「太幸運了。」朱太太拍了拍手。 「他們今天正去參加廟會。我聽見王太太告訴兒子，他一定不要忘記他要在下午中旬帶她去。我會溜回去，從盒子里借一點魅力。她藏在那裡。」

「你不怕黑腳怪嗎？」

「 Po！他太胖了，他只能滾來滾去。如果那個寡婦突然回來，我會告訴她我來找我的大髮夾，因為我在晚餐時丟了它。」

「好吧，繼續吧，當然，我們當然必須記住，我們是在借東西，而不是偷東西，因為王氏一直是我們的好朋友，然後我們也和他們一起吃飯了。」

這位狡猾的女人巧妙地執行了自己的計劃，以至於一個小時后，她回到了自己的房子里，向丈夫展示了牧師的魅力。沒有一個靈魂看見她進入王家。狗沒有發出聲音，貓只看見一個陌生人時眨了眨眼，然後又在地板上睡覺。

當從[11]集市回來后，一個寡婦期待著一個炎熱的晚餐時，叫囂和哭泣真是太好了，寡婦發現她的寶貝不見了。她了解真相很久了。她十次回到柜子里的小盒子，以至於她無法相信它是空的，房間看起來好像是旋風襲擊了它，所以兩個不幸的人經過了這麼長時間仔細地尋找著丟失的甲蟲。

然後是飢餓的日子，這是自最近一段時間的好食物和豐收以來更加難以承受的。哦，如果他們只是不習慣這樣的精緻！回到報廢和報廢工作有多困難！

但是，如果寡婦和她的兒子為失去好飯而感到難過，那麼這兩隻寵物就更是如此。他們淪為乞gg，不得不每天走上街頭尋找流浪的骨頭，並拒絕體面的貓狗抬起鼻子。

一天，在這段飢餓狀態持續了一段時間之後，懷特海開始突然興奮起來。

「你怎麼了？」黑腳咆哮。 「你是因為飢餓而生氣，還是抓住了另一跳蚤？」

「我只是在考慮我們的事務，現在我知道了我們所有麻煩的原因。」

「你確實嗎？」黑腳冷笑。

[12]「是的，的確如此，在嘲笑我之前，您最好三思，因為我將您的未來牢牢抓住，很快您就會看到。」

「好吧，您不必為一無所獲而生氣。您做了什麼奇妙的發現-每隻老鼠都有一條尾巴？」

「首先，您願意幫助我把好運帶回我們的家人嗎？」

「我當然是。別傻了。」那隻狗叫著，高興地搖著尾巴，想著再吃一頓美味的晚餐。 「當然！肯定！如果它再次帶回Dame Fortune，我會做任何您喜歡的事情。」

「好的。這是計劃。房子里有一個小偷，偷了我們情婦的金甲蟲。你還記得我們從鍋里拿來的所有大晚餐嗎？好吧，每天我看到我們的情婦帶著一隻小金甲蟲從黑匣子中取出並放入鍋中。有一天，她在我面前舉起它，說：「看，對，這是我們幸福的原因。你不希望那是你的嗎？」然後她笑了起來，放回柜子里的盒子里。」

「真的嗎？」質疑黑腳。 「你為什麼以前不說什麼？」

「您還記得朱先生和夫人在這裡的那天，以及[13]朱先生是如何在主人和情婦參加博覽會後下午回來的？我看見了她，從我的尾巴中走了出去那個非常黑的盒子，取出金色的甲蟲，我以為很好奇，但從未夢想過她是個小偷。.！我錯了！她拿了甲蟲，如果我沒記錯的話，她和丈夫現在正在享受屬於我們的盛宴。」

「讓他們抓他們。」黑腳咆哮著咬了咬牙。

另一人建議說：「那樣做是沒有用的，因為他們肯定會最終表現最好。我們想要甲蟲回來-那是主要的事情。我們會向人類報仇；這與人類無關」我們的業務。」

「你有什麼建議？」黑腳說。 「我與你同甘共苦。」

「讓我們去朱家，並把甲蟲趕走。」

「 A，我不是貓！」黑腳an吟。 「如果我們去那裡，我就無法進入屋子，因為強盜總是要把他們的門鎖好。如果我像你一樣，我可以把牆夷為平地。這是我一生中第一次羨慕貓。」

懷特海繼續說：「我們將一起努力。」 「當我們在河上穿行時，我會騎在你的背上，你可以保護我免受奇怪的動物的侵擾。當我們到達楚家時，我將越過[14]牆，自己負責其餘的事務。您必須在外面等我，以幫助我獲得獎金。」

安排不早於完成。當天晚上，同伴們開始了他們的冒險之旅。他們按照貓的建議過了河，布萊克富特（Blackfoot）真的很喜歡游泳，因為正如他所說，它把他帶回了小狗時代，而貓的臉上沒有滴一滴水。他們到達楚家時已是午夜。

「只要等我回來，」懷特黑德在黑腳的耳朵里怒氣沖沖。

春暖花開的時候，她到達了泥牆的頂部，然後跳到了內部球場。當她在陰影下休息時，試圖決定如何進行她的工作時，輕微的沙沙聲吸引了她的注意，併流行起來！一個巨大的春天，伸出一隻爪子，她抓到一隻剛從他洞里出來的老鼠去喝酒和午夜散步。

現在，懷特海非常餓，如果老鼠沒有張開嘴，並且令她驚訝的是，她開始用好貓方言說話，她會把這個誘人的獵物做得很短。

「求你了，好大驚小怪，不要那麼快地用尖銳的牙齒！請小心用你的爪子！你不知道現在把囚犯尊敬的風俗是[15]嗎？我保證不會逃跑。」

「 Po！老鼠有什麼榮譽？」

「我們大多數人還沒有，我答應了你，但是我的家人是在孔子的屋頂下長大的，在那裡我們拾起了很多碎屑，這是我們的例外。如果你能饒恕我，我永遠服從你，事實上，它將成為你謙卑的奴隸。」然後，他急忙地鬆開了自己，「看，我現在很放鬆，但是榮譽使我像被綁住了一樣，所以我沒有再嘗試逃脫。」

「這對你有好處。」懷特黑德放聲大叫，她的皮毛fur啪作響，令人垂涎欲滴，嘗嘗老鼠牛排。 「但是，我很願意接受考驗。首先，回答幾個禮貌的問題，我會看看你是否是一個誠實的傢伙。你的主人現在正在吃哪種食物，所以你應該如此全面，當我瘦而骨瘦如柴的時候會豐滿嗎？」

「哦，我最近能走運，我可以告訴你。主人和情婦以土地的肥肉為食，當然，我們把麵包屑掛了起來。」

「但是這是一棟破敗不堪的房子。他們怎麼負擔得起這樣的食物？」

[16]「這是一個很大的秘密，但正如我榮幸地告訴你的那樣，我的情婦剛剛以某種方式獲得了仙子的魅力-」

「她從我們家偷走了，」貓嘶嘶地說，「如果有機會，我會把她的眼睛睜開。為什麼，我們一直都在餓死那隻甲蟲。她剛從我們那裡偷了它。拉特爵士，您如何看待這一榮譽？您的情婦的祖先是聖賢的追隨者嗎？」

「Zhè duì nǐ yǒu hǎochù.」

「哦，哦，哦！為什麼，這說明了一切！」哭了。 「我經常想知道它們是怎麼得到金甲蟲的，但是我當然不敢問任何問題。」

「不，當然不是！但是，請打擾你，朋友鼠-你會把金色的小飾品還給我，我會立刻讓你擺脫所有義務。你知道她把它藏在哪裡嗎？」

「是的，在牆被打碎的縫隙中。我會輕率地把它拿給你，但是當我們的魅力消失時，我們將如何生存呢？我恐怕會有一個食物匱乏的季節；乞g們的票價我們。」

「活在你的美好記憶中，」貓叫道。 「成為一個誠實的乞g真是太好了。現在，小隊！我完全信任你，因為你們的人民住在孔子的家中。[17]我將在這裡等你回來。啊！」懷特海對自己笑道，「好運似乎又來了！」

五分鐘后，老鼠出現，嘴裡掛著小飾品。它把甲蟲傳給了貓，然後用拂塵永遠消失了。它的榮譽是安全的，但它卻害怕懷特海。它已經看到了她綠色的眼睛中閃爍著慾望的光芒，如果貓不那麼急於回家，她的情婦可以再次指揮美妙的水壺來帶來食物，那隻貓可能會毀了她的話。

就像太陽升起在東部山丘上一樣，兩位冒險家到達了河。

「當心，」黑腳警告說，當貓在他的背上躍過溪流時，「要注意不要忘記寶藏。總之，請記住，即使你是雌性，也必須保持嘴巴直到我們到達另一邊為止。」

懷特海德說：「謝謝，但我認為我不需要你的建議。」撿起甲蟲，跳到狗的背上。

可惜！就在他們靠近更遠的海岸時，這隻興奮的貓暫時忘記了她的智慧。一條魚突然從她的鼻子正下方跳出水面。太過誘惑了。 [18]快點！徒勞地努力去掉鱗狀的寶藏，金甲蟲沉入河底。

「那裡！」那隻狗生氣地說道：「我告訴你了什麼？現在我們所有的麻煩都白費了-全都是因為你的愚蠢。」

一時間有一場激烈的爭執，同伴們互相取了很不好的名字，例如烏龜和兔子。正當他們從河裡出發時，他們感到失望和沮喪，他們是一隻友善的青蛙，偶然地聽到了他們的談話願意從溪流底部取走寶藏。隨即說了做，在對這隻可容納的動物大加感謝之後，他們又回到了家。

當他們到達小屋時，門被關閉了，而布萊克富特卻像他一樣吠叫著，無法說服主人打開門。裡面傳來大聲的哀號聲。

貓說：「情婦很傷心。我會去找她，讓她開心。」

可以這麼說，她從紙窗上的一個洞里輕輕地彈了一下，a！太小了，離地面太遠，無法讓忠實的狗進入。

悲慘的景象迎接了懷特海的目光。兒子躺在床上昏迷不醒，幾乎快要餓死了，而他[19]的母親在絕望中搖來晃去，向前彎曲著皺著的手，在嗓音的頂部哭了起來，一個人來救了。他們。

懷特海德喊道：「情婦，我在這裡，這是你在哭泣的寶藏。我已將它救出來並將其帶回給你。」

寡婦看到甲蟲時高興極了，把貓抓在她瘦弱的手臂上，緊緊地把寵物抱在懷裡。

「早餐，兒子，早餐！從你的愚蠢中醒來！財富又來了。我們從飢餓中得救了！」

很快就準備好了一頓熱氣騰騰的熱飯，您可以想像這老太太和兒子如何讚美懷特海，如何用好東西填滿了這隻野獸的盤子，但他們卻絲毫沒有說出忠實的狗，那條狗一直在外面嗅芬芳的氣味和令人難過的奇怪等待，在這整個過程中，這隻狡猾的貓一直沒有說過黑腳怪在拯救金甲蟲中的角色。

很快就準備好了一頓熱氣騰騰的熱飯，您可以想像這老太太和兒子如何讚美懷特海，如何用好東西填滿了這隻野獸的盤子，但他們卻絲毫沒有說出忠實的狗，那條狗一直在外面嗅芬芳的氣味和令人難過的奇怪等待，在這整個過程中，這隻狡猾的貓一直沒有說過黑腳怪在拯救金甲蟲中的角色。

最後，當早餐結束時，懷特海從其他地方溜走了，從窗戶上的洞里跳了出來。

「哦，親愛的布萊克富特，」她笑著說，「你應該去裡面看看他們給我帶來的盛宴！情婦對我帶回她的寶貝感到非常高興，以至於她無法給我[20]足夠的食物，也不要對我說足夠多的好話。太可惜了，老傢伙，你餓了。你最好跑到街上撿骨頭。」

憤怒的狗被他的同伴的可恥的背叛所震撼，在那隻貓身上飛來飛去，在短短几秒鐘之內就把她搖了搖致死。

「這樣一個忘記了朋友卻失去榮譽的人死了。」當他站在同伴的身體上時，他悲傷地哭了。

他衝到大街上，向他的部落成員宣告懷特黑德的背叛，同時建議從那時起，所有自重的狗都應該對貓科動物發動戰爭。

這就是為什麼古老的黑腳怪的後代，無論是在中國還是在西方的大國，都對懷特海的子孫不斷發動戰爭，因為有一千代的狗與他們戰鬥並恨死了他們。持久的仇恨。