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There lived a rich man named Guo in the State of Qi and a poor man named Xiang in the State of Song.
齐国有个姓“国”的富人，宋国有个姓“向”的穷人。
The poor man came to the State of Qi to visit the rich man, and asked him about the way to get rich.
穷人到齐国去拜访那位富人，向他请教致富的方法。
The rich man in the State of Qi told him: "I was also very poor before, but now I am quite well-off.
齐国富人告诉他: “我原来也很贫穷，可是现在日子过得很好。
The only reason is that I can steal and rob.
原因只是我会偷、会抢罢了。
But it is very painstaking.
不过太辛苦了。
By stealing and robbing, I could make a living in the first year, and in the second year I had more than enough to eat and wear.
我偷呀抢呀，第一年生活就够维持了，第二年就已经吃不完穿不完了。
In the third year, my family's storehouse was truly filled with grain and millet."
第三年我家里真是粮满囤、谷满仓。”
The man of Song only heard him talk profusely about stealing and robbing, but did not find out clearly how to steal and rob.
宋国人只听见他满口的偷呀抢呀，却没有问清楚究竟怎么个偷法、怎么个抢法。
The minute he returned home, he got dizzy with imagined success and started to steal and rob.
他一回到家就得意忘形地动手去偷、去抢。
As soon as it was dark, he climbed over the wall of the family on the east, and dug a hole in the wall of the family on the west.
天一黑，他就翻东家的墙，挖西家的洞。
He stole whatever he saw.
看到什么偷什么。
After some time, his family actually began getting rich.
时间一长，家里居然也富起来了。
But just when he was immensely proud of himself, the bailiffs from the yamen (government office) came and arrested him.
可是，正当他洋洋自得的时候，衙门差人到他家里，将他捉拿归案。
He was declared guilty and put in prison.
判了罪，坐了牢。
All the things he had stolen and robbed, together with his own old and worn-out stuff, were confiscated.
他偷来抢来的一切，连同他原有的破旧东西，全部被没收了。
As soon as the thief was released upon completion of his prison term, he went to Guo's home in the State of Qi to blame him.
这个小偷刑满之后从监牢里一出来就跑到齐国姓“国”的家里责怪他。
The rich man asked him in haste: "How are you doing?"
富人连忙问他:“你干得怎么样了?”
The thief told him what had happened and sighed: "I am now even poorer than before."
小偷将经过诉说了一遍，唉声叹气地说: “我比以前更穷了。”
The rich man was astonished at first, then said regretfully: "How can you be in reduced circumstances?
富人先是大吃一惊，接着惋惜地说:“你怎么会弄到这个地步呢?
Alas, you completely misunderstood what I meant by stealing and robbing."
哎呀!你把我说的偷、抢的意思完全误会了。”
He continued: "By stealing and robbing, I meant seeking for the resources of the earth, and racing against the seasons of the heavens.
又说: “我说的偷、抢是向土地要资源，与老天抢时间。
Dense forests, broad land, sunshine, rain and dew, wind and cloud, all these are my targets for robbing.
茂密的山林、广阔的土地、阳光、雨露、风云等都是我抢夺的对象。
I approach them, make friends with them, and rely on them to plant crops and build houses.
我接近它们，同它们交朋友，依靠它们，种庄稼、建房屋。
Birds in the sky, beasts on land, fish and shrimp in the river…all these don't belong to me by nature.
空中的飞禽，陆上的走兽，河里的鱼虾，这些东西原来都不属于我。
But I, fearing neither hardship nor toil, use my brains and think up ways to steal them and rob them.
但是我动脑筋，想办法，不怕苦，不怕累，把它们偷了过来，抢了过来。
This is stealing and robbing in an open and aboveboard way.
这是光明正大的偷、抢。
It is by no means committing a crime.
并不是犯罪呀!
As to the clothing, food and articles of individuals, they are obtained through people's own labour, and can only belong to these people.
至于那些属于私人的衣物、食品都是人们用自己的劳动取得的，只能属于他们自己。
I have never encouraged you to steal and rob other people's private property.
我从来没有叫你去偷、去抢人家的东西呀!
But you have actually done so, which does break the law.
可是你竟然去偷、去抢别人家的东西，这是犯法的行为。
Who is to blame for your being found guilty and put in prison?"
你被判罪坐牢，这到底应该怪谁呢?”
