The Empty Pot

The Empty Pot. Retold by Betty Ye. Illustrated by Jinwoo Kim. Focus Question. What lesson does Chen learn?

《空花盆》，贝蒂·叶 改写，金镇佑 绘。 核心问题：陈学到了什么道理？

A long time ago, there was a boy named Chen. He lived in China with his mother. They lived in a house full of beautiful flowers and other plants from their garden.

很久很久以前，有个叫陈的小男孩。 他和妈妈住在中国， 他们住在一座满是漂亮鲜花和其他自家花园种植的植物的房子里。

The emperor of China was a very old man. He didn't have any children. He worried about who would become the next emperor.

中国的皇帝是个年纪很大的老人。 他没有子嗣。 他很担心谁会成为下一任皇帝。

The emperor decided to choose the next emperor from among the children of his country. He told his people, I will give a flower seed to every child. In a year's time, come back to the palace with your pots.

皇帝决定从本国的孩子们当中挑选下一任皇帝。 他对百姓们说："我会给每个孩子发一粒花种。" 一年之后，带着你们的花盆回到皇宫来。

Chen carefully planted his seed in a little clay pot and gave it water. Days passed, but the little seed didn't sprout.

陈小心翼翼地把种子种进一个小小的陶土花盆里，还给它浇了水。 日子一天天过去，可这粒小种子一点都没发芽。

Chen moved the seed into a bigger, nicer pot. He placed the pot in the sunniest corner of his garden. Weeks passed, but the little seed didn't sprout.

陈把种子移到了一个更大、更好的花盆里， 把花盆放到了自家花园里阳光最充足的角落。 好几周过去了，可这粒小种子还是没发芽。