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从前，一个富有的商人有四个妻子。他最爱第四个妻子,给她穿绫罗绸缎，吃山珍海味。 他也很爱第三个妻子，总喜欢带着她在朋友面前炫耀。不过，他总是非常担心她会跟别的男人私奔。同样,他也爱第二个妻子。她非常体贴周到又很有耐心，是商人的知己。只要一遇到难题，商人就会向她求助，而她也总是能帮助他度过难关。商人的第一个妻子对他非常忠诚,并为他操持家务为他照看财产和生意,付出了很多。虽然她深爱着商人，商人却并不怎么喜欢这第一个妻子,几乎不怎么理睬她。 一天，商人病了。他知道自己将不久于人世。他想到了自己奢华的一生，自言自语地说: "现在我有四个妻子和我在一起,可是等我死后，我就是一个人了，那会多么孤独啊！" 因此，他就问第四个妻子：“我最爱你了，给你穿最好的衣服,给你最无微不至的关怀。现在我就要死了，你会随我而去永远陪伴我吗？”"没门！ ”第四个妻子二话没说就走了。她的话像一把尖刀刺进了商人的心里。 伤心的商人又问第三个妻子：“我这一生给了你那么多的爱。现在我快要死了，你会随我而去永远陪伴我吗？” "不！ ”第三个妻子回答道，“这里的生活多么好啊！等你死后我会再嫁丨”商人非常失望，心灰意冷。 他又问第二个妻子：“在我有困难的时候我总是向你求助，而你也总能帮我走出困境。现在我又需要你的帮助了。等我死了，你会随我而去永远陪伴我吗？” "非常抱歉,这次我不能帮你了！ ”第二个妻子回答，“我最多只能把您送到墓地。”她的回答像晴天霹雳一样，商人彻底崩溃了。 这时一个声音喊道：“我和你一起走！不论你走到哪里，我都会跟着你! ”商人抬眼一看， 是他的第一个妻子。她骨瘦如柴，看起来有些营养不良。商人伤心欲绝，说我以前怎么没有好好照顾你啊！" 实际上，我们每个人在一生中都有四个妻子。 第四个妻子是我们的身体。无论我们浪费多少时间和精力 打扮它，在我们死去的时候，它都会离我们而去。 第三个妻子呢？那是我们的财产、地位和财富。当我们死去的时候，它们都会落到别人的手里。 第二个妻子是我们的家人和朋友。在我们活着的时候，无论他们和我们有多么亲密，在一起的最长期限也就是陪伴我们 走到墓地。 第一个妻子实际上就是我们的灵魂。我们常常因为追求物质、财富以及身体的享乐而忽视了自己的灵魂。 The Four Wives There was a rich merchant who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant was always in great fear that she might run away with some other men. He too, loved his second wife. She was a very considerate person, always patient and in fact was the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems ,he always turned to his second wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's first wife was a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, " Now I have four wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!” Thus, he asked the fourth wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" " No way!B replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the third wife, " I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” " No!" replied the third wife. " Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant's heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the second wife, " I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” "I’m sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the second wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave. ’，The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated. Then a voice called out ： " I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have ! ” Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives. a. The fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die. b. Our third wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others. c. The second wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive，the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. d. The first wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure. |
