In former days, there was a wealthy merchant, who owned billion acres of fertile land, a considerable sum of property, and multiple compounds (estates). He was the acknowledged leader at home and had four wives.

從前，有一位富有的商人，家有良田萬頃，大量財富和多處莊園。在家里，他說一不二。他有四位愛人。

He had the greatest affection on the fourth wife, who enjoyed the beautiful brows and face---a fairy in his eyes. To amuse her, the merchant gave her a life of luxury, bought her fashionable blouses and boots, and took her out to dine on delicious food. Each of their marriage anniversary, he would celebrate.

他最鐘愛他最小的妻子，她有著姣好的面容，在他眼里簡直就是個仙女。為了討好她，商人給她最奢華的生活，給她買時髦的衣裳，吃美味的佳肴。他們的每個結婚紀念日都要慶祝。

He was also fond of his third wife very much. She was amateur poet with great literacy and dignity. To approve of her, he gave her prevailing poetry as a present, visited the museum with her to see the antiques and went to the concert to enjoy the music of great musicians and pianists. He was very proud of her and introduced her and showed her to his friends. Nevertheless, he was always in great fear that she might go elsewhere with some other guys.

商人也很愛第三們妻子。她是一位業余詩人。她喜歡風雅，知書達理，端莊典雅。為了滿足她的個人愛好，商人送她流行詩集，陪她參觀博物館的古董，聽著名音樂愛的音樂會。他為她感到驕傲，把她介紹給朋友們，并常把好作為在朋友面前炫耀的資本。但他同時也憂心忡忡，怕她跟其他男人跑了。

His second spouse too, won his preference. As a cashier, she was keen and capable and energetic in commercial issues. Wherever he faced critical problems, he always turned to his second wife. And she’d always attempted to help him cope with the problems such as ash collection or conflicts with clients. Hence, to thank his second wife, he went to excursion with her for entertainment every several years.

當然，商人也愛第二位妻子。她是個管賬的。生意上的事，她既熱心又能干。每每遇到棘手的問題，他就會向她求助，而她也總能盡力幫他解決諸如籌錢，或與顧客之間的爭執等事情。因此，作為答謝，商人每隔幾年都會跟她出去游玩消遣。

His first wife was a very conservative and faithful partner. She was a woman of goodness and honesty. As a housewife, she made a great contribution to nourishing children and caring husband and doing homework. Accidentally, she appeared to be little clumsy and ignorant. Although the merchant had prejudice towards her, she maintained her patience to wait for him to come back to her. She was a woman of great breadth of mind.

商人的第一個妻子是一個保守的人，也是一位忠誠的伴侶。她善良誠實。作為一個家庭主婦，她照顧丈夫，養育兒女，做家務活。偶爾，她略有些笨拙和木訥。盡管商人對她有成見，她也不惱，很有耐心地等丈夫回心轉意。看來，她是一個胸懷寬廣的女子。

After many years, the merchant felt deadly ill of abusing alcohol. He knew it couldn’t cure. He was pale and stiff. When he reelected on his life-time, he couldn’t help yelling, “Now, I have four wives . But when I die I’ll be solitary. How lonely I will be!”

幾年以后，商人因酗酒病重，他自知無法治愈，將不久于人世。他臉色蒼白，身體僵硬。當他回顧自己的一生，不禁叫道：“現在我雖然有四個妻子相伴，但死后卻要孤零零一人。多寂寞啊!”

Suffering from the sting of the body, he asked the fourth wife, “I have attached to you the most affection, and bought pretty clothes to you and spent every festival with you. Now I am dying, will you follow me?” “Pardon? I am not a self- sacrificing saint. No way!” The fourth wife who was sipping tea idly in her fur coat, defied him The answer made the merchant fiercely disappointed on her conscience.

忍著劇痛，他問小老婆：“我最疼你，給你買最漂亮的衣服，每個節日都陪你過。現在我就要離開這個世界了，你愿意陪我而去嗎?”“什么?我又不是圣人!絕對不可能!”此刻，她正身穿裘皮大衣，悠閑地喝著茶。商人對小老婆的回答非常地失望。

Then he asked the third wife, “Do you remember our romantic experience? Now that I am dying, will you follow me?” the third wife glimpsed against him, “No” she denied. “I couldn’t bear the tedious life in hell. I deserve a better life. Consequently, it is of necessity that I marry other guys afterwards.” Then she was calculating the route of other millionaire’s home.

傷心的商人繼而問第三個妻子：“你記得我們的浪漫經歷嗎?如今，我將不久于人世，你愿意陪我而去嗎?”“不!”她拒絕道，“我無法忍受乏味的生活，我有權享受好的生活。因此，不久以后我會改嫁他人。”此刻，她正考慮著去其他富翁家的路線呢。

The answer also hurt the merchant, and then he resorted to his second life. “You’ve always facilitated me out. Now I barely beg you once more. When I die, will you follow me?” “I am sorry” she frowned, claiming, “I can only attend your funeral ceremony” the answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant felt like being discarded. Then she was modifying the items of business contract.

第三位妻子的回答也傷害了他，他再轉向第二位妻子，問道：“你過去常常為我排憂解難。現在我想再請你幫一次忙。我死后，你愿意隨我而去?”她皺了皺眉說道，“我只能參加你的葬禮儀式。”這句話猶如晴天霹靂，商人徹底覺得被拋棄了。此刻，她正在修改一個商業合同的條款。

Then voice wept: “we are bound couple. I will go alongside wherever you go” the merchant awoke, stoking his wife’s coarse palm. She was so lean. Thinking of her fatigue year after year, he was greatly touched and said miserably. “I should have treasured you before!” she was doing the laundry for rim,

這是時，一個聲音哭泣道：“我愿意隨你一同離去。無論你到哪里，我都跟著你。”商人猛然驚醒，撫摸著大老婆粗糙的手掌。她是那么消瘦，又想到她年復一年，日夜操勞，一時心痛不已。商人悲痛地說：“我以前應該好好地珍惜你啊!此刻，大老婆正在為他洗衣服。

Virtually, we all respectively have four wives in our lives. The fourth tender wife represents our body. Despite the fact we spend time making it look good, it will distract from us when we die. Our third wife is our possessions, remarkable fame or noble status. When we die, they all go to eternal collapse. The second wife is out family, friends, college and acquaintance. Regardless how code we have relied on them, when we are alive, what can do for us is coming to the funeral at the almost. The first wife in fact is our holy soul, which is often neglected in our pursuit of material and welt. It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. We should cultivate it now, otherwise, we will possibly feel regret in the end.

其實，我們每個人的一生都有四位妻子相伴。最小的嬌弱的妻子代表我們的軀體。即使我們花時間去裝扮她，我們死后它終會棄我們而去。第三位妻子代表我們的財產、顯赫的名聲或尊貴的地位。一旦我們撒手西去，它終究會煙消云散。第二位妻子代表我們的家人、朋友、同事或熟人。我們活著的時候，無論多么親近，他們最多也只能到幕前送我們最后一程。第一位妻子則是我們的圣潔的靈魂。當我們沉迷于追求物質、金錢或感官享受的時候，她常常會被遺忘在一旁。實際上，她才是唯一與我們永遠相伴的。我們就應該從現在開始悉心照顧好她，而不是等到臨終之際才悔恨不已。

In former days, there was a wealthy merchant, who owned billion acres of fertile land, a considerable sum of property, and multiple compounds (estates). He was the acknowledged leader at home and had four wives.

從前，有一位富有的商人，家有良田萬頃，大量財富和多處莊園。在家里，他說一不二。他有四位愛人。

He had the greatest affection on the fourth wife, who enjoyed the beautiful brows and face---a fairy in his eyes. To amuse her, the merchant gave her a life of luxury, bought her fashionable blouses and boots, and took her out to dine on delicious food. Each of their marriage anniversary, he would celebrate.

他最鐘愛他最小的妻子，她有著姣好的面容，在他眼里簡直就是個仙女。為了討好她，商人給她最奢華的生活，給她買時髦的衣裳，吃美味的佳肴。他們的每個結婚紀念日都要慶祝。

He was also fond of his third wife very much. She was amateur poet with great literacy and dignity. To approve of her, he gave her prevailing poetry as a present, visited the museum with her to see the antiques and went to the concert to enjoy the music of great musicians and pianists. He was very proud of her and introduced her and showed her to his friends. Nevertheless, he was always in great fear that she might go elsewhere with some other guys.

商人也很愛第三們妻子。她是一位業余詩人。她喜歡風雅，知書達理，端莊典雅。為了滿足她的個人愛好，商人送她流行詩集，陪她參觀博物館的古董，聽著名音樂愛的音樂會。他為她感到驕傲，把她介紹給朋友們，并常把好作為在朋友面前炫耀的資本。但他同時也憂心忡忡，怕她跟其他男人跑了。

His second spouse too, won his preference. As a cashier, she was keen and capable and energetic in commercial issues. Wherever he faced critical problems, he always turned to his second wife. And she’d always attempted to help him cope with the problems such as ash collection or conflicts with clients. Hence, to thank his second wife, he went to excursion with her for entertainment every several years.

當然，商人也愛第二位妻子。她是個管賬的。生意上的事，她既熱心又能干。每每遇到棘手的問題，他就會向她求助，而她也總能盡力幫他解決諸如籌錢，或與顧客之間的爭執等事情。因此，作為答謝，商人每隔幾年都會跟她出去游玩消遣。

His first wife was a very conservative and faithful partner. She was a woman of goodness and honesty. As a housewife, she made a great contribution to nourishing children and caring husband and doing homework. Accidentally, she appeared to be little clumsy and ignorant. Although the merchant had prejudice towards her, she maintained her patience to wait for him to come back to her. She was a woman of great breadth of mind.

商人的第一個妻子是一個保守的人，也是一位忠誠的伴侶。她善良誠實。作為一個家庭主婦，她照顧丈夫，養育兒女，做家務活。偶爾，她略有些笨拙和木訥。盡管商人對她有成見，她也不惱，很有耐心地等丈夫回心轉意。看來，她是一個胸懷寬廣的女子。

After many years, the merchant felt deadly ill of abusing alcohol. He knew it couldn’t cure. He was pale and stiff. When he reelected on his life-time, he couldn’t help yelling, “Now, I have four wives . But when I die I’ll be solitary. How lonely I will be!”

幾年以后，商人因酗酒病重，他自知無法治愈，將不久于人世。他臉色蒼白，身體僵硬。當他回顧自己的一生，不禁叫道：“現在我雖然有四個妻子相伴，但死后卻要孤零零一人。多寂寞啊!”

Suffering from the sting of the body, he asked the fourth wife, “I have attached to you the most affection, and bought pretty clothes to you and spent every festival with you. Now I am dying, will you follow me?” “Pardon? I am not a self- sacrificing saint. No way!” The fourth wife who was sipping tea idly in her fur coat, defied him The answer made the merchant fiercely disappointed on her conscience.

忍著劇痛，他問小老婆：“我最疼你，給你買最漂亮的衣服，每個節日都陪你過。現在我就要離開這個世界了，你愿意陪我而去嗎?”“什么?我又不是圣人!絕對不可能!”此刻，她正身穿裘皮大衣，悠閑地喝著茶。商人對小老婆的回答非常地失望。

Then he asked the third wife, “Do you remember our romantic experience? Now that I am dying, will you follow me?” the third wife glimpsed against him, “No” she denied. “I couldn’t bear the tedious life in hell. I deserve a better life. Consequently, it is of necessity that I marry other guys afterwards.” Then she was calculating the route of other millionaire’s home.

傷心的商人繼而問第三個妻子：“你記得我們的浪漫經歷嗎?如今，我將不久于人世，你愿意陪我而去嗎?”“不!”她拒絕道，“我無法忍受乏味的生活，我有權享受好的生活。因此，不久以后我會改嫁他人。”此刻，她正考慮著去其他富翁家的路線呢。

The answer also hurt the merchant, and then he resorted to his second life. “You’ve always facilitated me out. Now I barely beg you once more. When I die, will you follow me?” “I am sorry” she frowned, claiming, “I can only attend your funeral ceremony” the answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant felt like being discarded. Then she was modifying the items of business contract.

第三位妻子的回答也傷害了他，他再轉向第二位妻子，問道：“你過去常常為我排憂解難。現在我想再請你幫一次忙。我死后，你愿意隨我而去?”她皺了皺眉說道，“我只能參加你的葬禮儀式。”這句話猶如晴天霹靂，商人徹底覺得被拋棄了。此刻，她正在修改一個商業合同的條款。

Then voice wept: “we are bound couple. I will go alongside wherever you go” the merchant awoke, stoking his wife’s coarse palm. She was so lean. Thinking of her fatigue year after year, he was greatly touched and said miserably. “I should have treasured you before!” she was doing the laundry for rim,

這是時，一個聲音哭泣道：“我愿意隨你一同離去。無論你到哪里，我都跟著你。”商人猛然驚醒，撫摸著大老婆粗糙的手掌。她是那么消瘦，又想到她年復一年，日夜操勞，一時心痛不已。商人悲痛地說：“我以前應該好好地珍惜你啊!此刻，大老婆正在為他洗衣服。

Virtually, we all respectively have four wives in our lives. The fourth tender wife represents our body. Despite the fact we spend time making it look good, it will distract from us when we die. Our third wife is our possessions, remarkable fame or noble status. When we die, they all go to eternal collapse. The second wife is out family, friends, college and acquaintance. Regardless how code we have relied on them, when we are alive, what can do for us is coming to the funeral at the almost. The first wife in fact is our holy soul, which is often neglected in our pursuit of material and welt. It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. We should cultivate it now, otherwise, we will possibly feel regret in the end.

其實，我們每個人的一生都有四位妻子相伴。最小的嬌弱的妻子代表我們的軀體。即使我們花時間去裝扮她，我們死后它終會棄我們而去。第三位妻子代表我們的財產、顯赫的名聲或尊貴的地位。一旦我們撒手西去，它終究會煙消云散。第二位妻子代表我們的家人、朋友、同事或熟人。我們活著的時候，無論多么親近，他們最多也只能到幕前送我們最后一程。第一位妻子則是我們的圣潔的靈魂。當我們沉迷于追求物質、金錢或感官享受的時候，她常常會被遺忘在一旁。實際上，她才是唯一與我們永遠相伴的。我們就應該從現在開始悉心照顧好她，而不是等到臨終之際才悔恨不已。