There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th 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.

從前，一位富有的商人娶了四個老婆。他最愛他的小老婆，給她華麗的衣裳和美味佳肴。他對她體貼入微，把最好的東西都給了她。

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

商人也很愛第三位老婆。他為她感到驕傲，并常把她作為在朋友面前炫耀的資本。但他同時也憂心忡忡，怕她與其他男人跑了。

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s connfidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

當然，商人也愛二老婆，她既善解人意又耐心。事實上，她是商人的紅顏知己。每每遇到困難，他就會找她，而她也總能幫助他走出困境，度過難關。

Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is 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.

至于大老婆，她是一位忠誠的伴侶，替他照料生意、打理家務，忙里忙外，可謂勞苦功高。然而，盡管她愛得這么深，商人卻偏不鐘情于她，甚至沒把她放在心上。

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 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”

一日，商人得了重病，他自知將不久于人世。當他回顧自己奢華的一生，不禁心中悵然：“現在我雖然有四個老婆相伴，但死后卻要孤零零一人。多寂寞啊!”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, and owed 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!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

于是，他問小老婆：“我最疼你，給你買最漂亮的衣服，還對你呵護備至。現在我就要離開這個世界了，你愿意隨我而去，與我相伴嗎?”“絕不可能!”她丟下一句話，徑自走開了。

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd 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 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.

小老婆的回答如一把尖刀插在商人心上。傷心的商人繼而問第三個老婆：“我一直對你寵愛有加。如今，我將不久于人世，你愿意隨我而去，與我相伴嗎?”“不!”她拒絕道，“人間的生活多么美好啊!你死后我會改嫁他人!”商人的心倏地下沉，漸漸變冷。

He then asked the 2nd 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 2nd 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.