The Wall
A lazy young man climbs a magic mountain to learn one spell — and one hard lesson.
从前有一个姓王的年轻人，家里很有钱。Once upon a time there was a young man named Wang, from a very rich family.他从小什么都不用做，大家都叫他小王。Since childhood he had never had to do anything; everyone called him Xiao Wang.小王听说崂山上住着一位道士，会真正的法术。Xiao Wang heard that on Mount Lao lived a Taoist who knew real magic.他就离开家，走了很多天，来到山上的一座庙里。So he left home, walked for many days, and arrived at a temple on the mountain.
道士看了看他，说：“你怕吃苦，学不了法术。”The Taoist looked him over and said, "You are afraid of hardship. You cannot learn magic."小王马上说：“我不怕！什么苦我都能吃！”Xiao Wang said at once, "I'm not afraid! I can bear any hardship!"于是道士给了他一把斧头，让他每天上山砍柴。So the Taoist gave him an axe and had him go up the mountain every day to chop firewood.一个月过去了，小王的手上全是伤口。A month passed, and Xiao Wang's hands were covered in cuts.他心里想：“我是来学法术的，不是来干活的！”He thought to himself, "I came to learn magic, not to do chores!"
他想回家，可是那天晚上，他看见了一件奇怪的事。He wanted to go home — but that night, he saw something strange.道士和两位客人坐在屋里喝酒，屋里没有灯。The Taoist sat drinking wine with two guests, and there was no lamp in the room.道士把一张纸剪成月亮的样子，贴在墙上。The Taoist cut a piece of paper into the shape of the moon and stuck it on the wall.那张纸忽然亮了起来，像真的月亮一样，照亮了整个屋子。The paper suddenly began to glow like a real moon, lighting up the whole room.小王吓了一跳：“这是真的法术！”Xiao Wang was startled: "This is real magic!"他决定留下来，继续砍柴。He decided to stay and keep chopping firewood.
又过了一个月，他实在受不了了，就去找道士。Another month passed. He truly couldn't take it anymore, so he went to the Taoist.“师父，我不能再等了，请教我一个小法术吧。”"Master, I can't wait any longer. Please teach me just one small spell."道士笑着问他：“那你想学什么？”The Taoist asked with a smile, "Then what do you want to learn?"小王说：“我想学穿墙。墙挡不住我，多好啊！”Xiao Wang said, "I want to learn to walk through walls. No wall could stop me — how great would that be!"道士教了他几句话，让他对着墙慢慢走过去。The Taoist taught him a few words and told him to walk slowly toward the wall.
小王闭上眼睛，一步一步走——真的穿过去了！Xiao Wang closed his eyes and walked step by step — and he really passed through!他高兴得跳了起来，马上就要回家。He jumped for joy and wanted to go home right away.道士说：“记住，心不干净，法术就没有用。”The Taoist said, "Remember: if your heart is not clean, the magic will not work."
小王回到家，第一件事就是叫妻子来看。When Xiao Wang got home, the first thing he did was call his wife to watch.“你看好了！我现在会法术了！”他得意地说。"Watch closely! I know magic now!" he said proudly.他闭上眼睛，向墙跑了过去——砰！He closed his eyes and ran at the wall — BANG!他撞在墙上，倒在了地上。He crashed into the wall and fell to the floor.他的头上起了一个大大的包。A big bump rose up on his head.
妻子笑得站不起来：“这就是你学的法术吗？”His wife laughed so hard she couldn't stand up: "So this is the magic you learned?"小王摸着头，心里非常后悔。Xiao Wang rubbed his head, full of regret.
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