渔夫和金鱼

Once upon a time, there lived a fisherman and his wife in a shabby hut near the sea. Every morning, the fisherman went out fishing in the sea, while his wife stayed home and weaved all day long. They lived a poor life. Fortunately, the fisherman was very good at fishing, so they didn't have to suffer from hunger. Days went by. They led an ordinary life, without any change.

One day, the fisherman went fishing as usual. He cast his net into the sea but caught only one golden fish. However, this was no ordinary fish! It could talk. " Please let me go, " the fish said. " I will give you whatever you want. " The fisherman had never seen a talking fish. " Thank you, but I don't want anything, " he replied and then put the golden fish back into the sea. The golden fish flapped its tail and soon disappeared.

The fisherman went home and told his wife about the golden fish. His wife was angry. " At least you should have asked for a wooden basin. Ours is falling into pieces! " she shouted. So the fisherman went to the seaside and called the golden fish. " What can I do for you?" the golden fish swam up and asked. " Dear golden fish, my wife wants a new wooden basin. " The golden fish replied, " Don't worry. She's already got a new basin. "

The fisherman returned home and found a new wooden basin there. But his wife was even angrier. " How much can a basin cost? Go back and ask the fish for a wooden house! " The fisherman went back to the seaside and called the golden fish again. The fish soon swam up to him. " Dear golden fish, my wife wants a wooden house. " The fisherman felt ashamed when he said this to the golden fish. " Don't worry. She already has a wooden house, " the golden fish replied.

The fisherman was shocked when he returned home. Their shabby hut was gone; it was replaced by a wooden cabin. The house was solid and nice, much better than the hut. His wife shouted out as soon as she saw the fisherman, " Why did you only ask for a wooden cabin? I don't want to live in a small cabin. I'm tired of being a poor country woman. I want to be a noble lady with a large house! "

The fisherman sighed and went back to the seaside. The peaceful sea had turned rough. Hearing the fisherman's call, the golden fish showed up again. " Dear golden fish, " the fisherman said with embarrassment, " I know this is rude, but my wife got angrier. This time she wants to live in a big house like a noble lady. " " Don't worry. She's already got a large house and become a noble lady! " the golden fish replied.