HOW THE TENTH BECAME THE FIRST

　　從第十到第一

　　In the old days， few people anywhere in the world could read or write. In China， parents hoped they could make a little bit more money so they could send their sons to a teacher to learn how to read and write. If they studied very， very hard and passed the Imperial Examinations， they could win posts in the government.This brought respect， glory， and power to the whole family. However， the examinations were extremely difficult. Many students took the examinations over and over until they were old men， but never passed.

　　過去，世界上很少有人能夠讀書識字。在中國，家長們都希望他們能多賺一些錢好讓他們的兒子們跟隨老師學習讀寫。如果他們用功讀書，通過科舉考試，還能在朝廷中謀得職位。這將給全家帶來尊嚴、榮譽和權力。但是，科舉考試非常難。很多人從少年到白頭，考了一遍又一遍，還是沒能通過考試。

　　One year， the brothers Song Jiao and Song Ji went to the capital together to take the examinations. On the way， they met a monk， who looked carefully at Song Jiao and exclaimed， "I can tell by looking at your features that you have saved many， many lives. According to your original fortune， you should fail in the imperial examinations， but because you have saved so many lives， this year you will win the highest place in the entire empire. Let this poor monk be the first to congratulate this future official."

　　有一年，宋（人名待議）交和宋吉兩兄弟一同上京趕考。在路上，他們碰到了一個和尚。和尚打量了宋交一下，說，"我能從你的面相上看出，你曾經救過很多動物。你本來是注定要在科舉中落榜的，但是因為你救了那么多生命，今年你將高中榜首。讓貧僧做第一個向未來高官賀喜的人吧。"

　　Song Jiao thought this was strange. "When did I ever save many lives？"

　　宋交覺得這事很奇怪。"我什么時候救過很多生命呢？"

　　The monk said， "Once you saved ants in distress."

　　和尚答道，"你曾經救過困境中的螞蟻。"

　　"What？ You mean saving some measly ants means saving lives？"

　　"什么？你說我救了一些螞蟻就是救了許多生命？"

　　Exactly.All living creatures have lives and fates， even a bug as lowly as an ant. Your brother was originally destined to win the top score in these examinations， but you will not do worse than he."

　　"當然了。所有的生物都有生命和命運，即使是像螞蟻那么微小的蟲子。你的兄弟本來注定該一舉奪魁，但是你不會比他差的。"

　　The Sung brothers could hardly believe this. As they walked away， Chi asked Chiao， "Did you really save a bunch of ants？"

　　宋氏兄弟很難相信他的話。當他們走了以后，宋吉問宋交，"你真的救過一群螞蟻嗎？"

　　Yes，" his brother answered， "Once I saw some ants about to get drowned， so I made a little bridge out of a piece of bamboo and they got away."

　　"是的。"宋交回答，"有一次我看到一些螞蟻快要被淹死了，我就用一根竹子搭了一座橋，幫助它們離開了險境。"

　　The imperial examinations were more important to them than any ants or monk's predictions， and they forgot all about it as they made their way to the capital and did their last minute cramming.

　　科舉考試對他們倆來說比什么螞蟻或者和尚的預言要重要的多，他們很快就忘了這回事，繼續往京都趕去，繼續溫習。

　　When all of the test papers had been graded， the results were announced to the Emperor. Song Ji had won the highest score in the entire empire. Song Jiao was in tenth place ―― of course this was also a very high score. The Emperor examined the list of the highest scores.

　　卷子被評判后，結果被送到皇帝那里。宋吉得到了全國的最高分。宋交排在第十――當然，這樣的分數已經很高了。皇帝正在審核著高分者的名單。

　　"This will not do，" the Emperor said， "Song Ji has won first place， ranking higher than his elder brother Song Jiao. It is not natural for the younger brother to be exalted above the elder brother. Switch Song Jiao to the first place， and rank Song Ji tenth."

　　"這不應該，"皇帝說，"宋吉是第一，比他的哥哥宋交還高。弟弟比哥哥還高，這不正常啊。把宋交換成第一，把宋吉換成第十。"

　　The Emperor's command was carried out. When the brothers heard about the switch， they remembered what the monk had said， and burst out laughing. On their way home to tell their parents the wonderful news about the examination， they made a special trip to give their thanks to the old monk， and compliment him on his wisdom.

　　皇帝的命令被執行了。當兄弟倆聽到調換的消息后，他們想起了和尚說過的話，忍不住笑起來。在他們趕回家告訴父母這個好消息的路上，特地去向老和尚表達他們的謝意和對他智慧的欽佩。

　　Before long， the story spread all over China， and everyone knew about the brother who ants boosted to first place.

　　不久后，這件事就在中國傳開了， 所有人都知道了螞蟻助其奪魁的宋交 .

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