2019-11-06 09:46:43 閣香書院

正文

There was once a boatman who earned his living by transporting passengers from one side of the riverbank to the other.

從前，有一個船伕靠擺渡為生，專門把乘客從河的一邊送到對岸去。

One particular day, while he was resting, a businessman came and asked impolitely, “Transport me to the opposite side of the river.” “Yes, please come aboard,” answered the boatman. “How much do you charge for the trip?” asked the businessman.

有一天，船伕正在休息，來了一個生意人，這個人很沒禮貌地命令道：“把我送到對岸去。” “好嘞，請上船。”船伕應道。 “你這跑一趟要多少錢？”生意人問。

“Eight coins each way,” answered the boatman. “Eight coins!” exclaimed（大叫） the businessman. “That is too expensive! I will pay you six coins.” The boatman then began the journey without saying a word.

“單程八塊。”船伕回答。 “八塊？”生意人嚷嚷起來。“太貴了！我最多給你六塊。” 船伕二話沒說開船了。

He rowed（划船） and rowed towards the opposite bank. When he was about to reach the other side, he stopped and said, “You may get down here.” The businessman was shocked, “You expect me to get off here, right into the river?”

他朝著對岸劃呀劃呀，眼看就快到了，他突然停下說：“您可以下船了。” 生意人驚呆了：“你讓我就在這兒下船？下到河裡？”

The boatman replied politely, “Six coins will only take you here, and eight coins will take you to the riverbank.” The businessman then said, “Well then, take me back to where we came from.” He thought the boatman would think it troublesome to send him back and would just send him to the other side.

船伕禮貌地回答：“花六塊就只能送到這兒，八塊才能送上岸。” 這時，生意人說：“行了行了，那你把我送回剛才出發的地方吧。”他想著船伕肯定嫌這麼做太麻煩，說不定就答應送他到對岸了。

The boatman just replied, “Sure!” He then began to row back to where they began their journey. When they arrived, the boatman said, “Altogether twelve coins, six coins each way.”

船伕卻回答道：“行啊！”他開始把船往回劃。到岸的時候，船伕說：“一共是十二塊，單程算你六塊。”

The businessman then realized that the boatman was really serious about it. Then he said, “I am sorry, I will pay you the full fare. Please send me over to the other side now.” The boatman began to row towards the opposite riverbank.

生意人這才意識到船伕是來真的，於是他說：“對不起啊，我給你全款，麻煩你再把我送到對岸去。” 船伕開始朝對岸劃去。

So how much did the businessman have to pay finally? Well, twelve coins plus eight coins, a total of twenty coins!

這樣生意人最後得付多少船費呢？十二塊加上八塊，足足二十塊呢！