The 4 Wives
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.
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 was always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
He too, loved his 2nd 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 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had 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 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”
Thus, he asked the 4th 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!” replied the 4th 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 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.
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.
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.
The 4th 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.
The 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
The 2nd 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.
The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.
从前，有一个富商拥有四个老婆。他最爱小老婆，他用漂亮的衣物装扮她，用美味佳肴滋养她。对她关怀备至，体贴入微，把最好的东西都赠予她。
他也很爱第三个老婆，因她而骄傲，并总喜欢向朋友炫耀。然而，他也很担心，怕她会和别的男人跑了。
当然他也爱二老婆。她不仅善解人意而且温柔耐心。事实上，她是商人的知己。遇到困难时，他就会去找她，而她也总能帮他渡过难关，走出困境。
至于大老婆，她可是一位忠贞的伴侣，忙里忙外，既帮他打理生意，又帮他照顾家。尽管她爱他至深，可他并不在意她。
一天，商人病倒了，他知道自己将不久于人世。回望自己奢华的一生，他慨叹：“虽然现在有四个老婆陪我，可是我死后却还是孤苦伶仃一个人，多孤单啊！”
于是，他对小老婆说：“我最疼爱你，给你买最漂亮的衣服，对你呵护有加。如今我就要离开人世了，你愿意陪我一起走吗？”“决不！”她只留下这一句话便走开了。
小老婆的回答像一把利刃插到商人心上。他伤心极了，接着问第三个老婆：“我一直都非常宠爱你。不久我就要离世了，你愿陪我一起去吗？”“不！”她答道，“生活多美好啊！你死后我会改嫁！”商人伤透了心。
他又问二老婆：“过去我常向你求助，你也总能为我排忧解难。现在我想请你再帮我一次。我要死了，你会陪我一起走吗？”“对不起，这次我无能为力，”她说，“我只能让你入土为安。”这话犹如晴天霹雳，商人彻底绝望了。
这时，一个声音从旁边传来：“我愿随你同去。不管你到哪里，我都会陪伴你。”商人抬头看到了自己的大老婆。她是那么削瘦，像是营养不良。商人悲痛万分地说：“以前我真该好好珍惜你啊！”
其实，我们每个人的一生都有四位爱人。
小老婆是我们的躯体。无论我们投入多少时间和精力去精心装扮她，死后它终会弃我们而去。
第三位老婆是财产、地位和金钱。一旦我们死去，它们也终会转投他人。
二老婆则是我们的家人和朋友。在我们有生之年，不论他们与我们多么亲近，最多也只能到墓前送我们最后一程。
至于大老婆，她则是我们的灵魂。当我们醉心于物质、金钱和其他感官享受时，她常常会被忽略一旁。
结果如何呢？她才是唯一能永远伴随我们的。或许，从现在开始，我们就该悉心照顾好她，而不要待到弥留之际才懊悔不已。
1. He also loved the 3rd_________very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to _______ off her to his friends. However, the merchant was always_________great fear that she might run away with some_________men.
2. Thus, he_________the 4th wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great_________over you. Now that I’m dying, will you_________me and keep me company?”“No way!” replied the 4th wife and she _________way without another word.
1. 遇到困难时，他就会去找她，而她也总能帮他渡过难关，走出困境。
2. 一天，商人病倒了，他知道自己将不久于人世。
3. 我们有生之年，不论他们与我们多么亲近，最多也只能到墓前送我们最后一程。
1. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends.
show off：卖弄；炫耀
2. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.
no matter how：不管怎样；无论如何