The Five Brothers

The Five Brothers. Retold by Betty Yee. Illustrated by Julie Kim. Focus Question. How do the brothers trick the magistrate?

《五兄弟》。贝蒂·伊改写。朱莉·金绘。 核心问题：兄弟们是怎么骗过县官的？

Long ago in China, there lived five brothers who looked exactly alike. The only way to tell them apart was by their amazing abilities. First brother was as strong as ten water buffalo. Second brother could fly in the sky like a bird. Third brother could hear an ant sneeze. Fourth brother could make his body iron hard. Fifth brother could hold his breath for hours. Fifth brother also had another ability that happened when he cried. His tears flowed so quickly that they turned into a river.

很久很久以前的中国，住着五个长得一模一样的兄弟。 区分他们的唯一方法，就是看各自拥有的神奇能力。 大哥力大无穷，抵得上十头水牛。 二哥能像鸟儿一样在天空中飞翔。 三哥能听见蚂蚁打喷嚏的声音。 四哥能让自己的身体变得像铁一样坚硬。 五哥可以屏住呼吸好几个小时。 五哥还有另一种能力，只有在他哭的时候才会触发。 他的眼泪流得极快，一下子就能汇成一条河。

One day, Fifth Brother came across a strange garden. He decided to rest and enjoy a delicious apple. Suddenly three soldiers appeared and seized him. This garden belongs to the magistrate. Nobody may eat his fruit, a soldier shouted.

有一天，五哥路过一个陌生的园子。 他决定停下来歇会儿，吃个香甜的苹果。 突然三个士兵冒了出来，把他抓住了。 这个园子是县官大人的。 “谁都不许吃他种的果子！”一个士兵大喊道。

They dragged Fifth Brother to the court of the magistrate. Enraged, the magistrate declared that Fifth Brother should be locked away forever in his deepest dungeon. Please take pity, magistrate, Fifth Brother begged. I didn't know it was your garden. I didn't notice any warning signs to stay out of the garden. Please, I will do anything to stay free.

他们把五哥拖到了县官的公堂上。 县官气得大发雷霆，宣布要把五哥永远关在他最深的地牢里。 "县官大人，求您开开恩啊！"五哥苦苦哀求。 我不知道这是您的园子。 我没看到任何禁止进入园子的警示标识。 求您了，只要能放我自由，我什么都愿意做。

The magistrate was an evil, greedy man. He announced his decision. I will let you go. Fifth brother interrupted him with a shout of joy. The magistrate continued. I will let you go if you bring me the treasure of Fire Island. Fifth brother sighed deeply. Fire Island was in the middle of a nearby lake. A dragon lived there, guarding its treasure. Stealing it seemed like an impossible task. But Fifth brother agreed to try.

县官是个心肠歹毒、贪得无厌的人，他公布了自己的决定。 “我可以放你走。”五哥高兴得大叫，一下子打断了他的话。 县官接着说：“只要你把火岛的宝藏给我带回来，我就放你走。” 五哥深深叹了口气，火岛就在附近一个湖的正中央。 岛上住着一条龙，守护着宝藏，要偷走宝藏看起来根本不可能。 但五哥还是答应去试一试。

That night, as he sat in his prison cell, Fifth Brother felt frightened. He dared not cry, for he knew what would happen if he did. Instead, he whispered, Third Brother, help me! Far away, Third Brother put a hand to his ear. Fifth Brother is in trouble, he declared. After listening to Fifth Brother's story, Third Brother told his other brothers what had happened. They decided to go help their brother get the treasure.

那天晚上，五哥坐在牢房里，心里害怕极了。 他不敢哭，因为他知道自己一旦哭了会发生什么事。 于是他小声喊道： “三哥，救我！” 远在别处的三哥抬手贴在耳边。 “五弟有麻烦了。”他立刻说道。 听完五哥的遭遇之后， 三哥把发生的事原原本本告诉了其他几个兄弟。 他们决定一起去帮弟弟拿到宝藏。