The Taoist in Mount Lao

A long time ago, there was a young man called Wang Qi. When he heard that there were many immortals² in Mount³ Lao, he went there at once.

从前，有一个年轻人名叫王七，听说崂山上有很多仙人，就前往崂山访道。

 

There was a Daoist who still looked young although he was very old. Wang Qi became one his pupils. During the first month, Wang Qi went to the hills for woods with others every day and listened to the instructions of his teacher patiently. In the second month, he felt that he could not stand the hard and tiring life, but he still waited for the teacher to teach him the magical skills. In the third month, he could not bear the suffering any longer. He went to see his teacher and said, " I've been working hard for so many days. Now would you please teach me some skills, or it'll be a waste of time for me to be here."

在崂山上，王七拜一位鹤发童颜的老道士为师。第一个月王七每天跟着众人去山上坎柴，认真地听师傅讲道。可是第二个月他就难以忍受山上清贫辛苦的生活了，英语小故事但是为了学到仙术，他只得耐心等待。到了第三个月，他实在忍无可忍了，于是找到老道，对师傅说：“弟子操劳多日，请师傅传授弟子一些仙术，也不妄弟子在这里所受的辛苦。”

 

"What do you want to learn?"

老道问他：“那你想学什么呢？”

 

"Whatever."

“什么都可以。”

 

"Then I'll teach you how to go through a wall." Then the Daoist told Wang Qi the incantations. After reciting the incantations of the magic, Wang Qi made it. With great pleasure, Wang Qi said goodbye to his teacher and went back home.

“那我就教给你穿墙术吧。”老道答应了他。然后就把穿墙术的咒语告诉了王七。王七念过咒语后，果然能够穿墙而过，他非常高兴，谢过师傅就下了山。

 

Back at home, he told his family and neighbors that he had met with an immortal¹ and learned how to go through a wall magically, but no one believed in him. So Wang Qi recited the incantations and ran towards a wall to prove his point. However, his head hit wall with a "Bang", and he was knocked heavily. His wife helped him to his feet and found that there was a large bump⁴ on his forehead.

王七回到家后，向家里人和左邻右舍吹嘘他在崂山上遇到了神仙，学会了穿墙术。众人不相信，于是王七就念动咒语，然后奔向一堵墙壁。只听“嘭”的一声，王七的头重重地撞到了墙上，由于太用力，他一下子坐到了地上。他的妻子连忙上前把他扶起来。王七不但没有穿墙而过，反而把头撞了一个大包。

 

The story means that, speculation⁵ and claptrap will only lead to failure.

这个故事带给我们的反思就是：投机取巧、哗众取宠的人注定要吃苦头。

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