The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf 牧童与狼


A Shepherd Boy tends his master’s Sheep every day. He takes the Sheep to a hill not far from the village. There the Sheep eat the grass.
Boy: We’re here. Go ahead and eat.
Sheep: Baaa…Baaa…

While the Sheep enjoy their meal, the Shepherd Boy lies down on the grass and looks up at the sky.
Boy: What a beautiful day!
It’s so peaceful here.

The Shepherd Boy is alone on the hill. He has nothing else to do.
Boy: I’m getting bored.
There is no one to talk to.
And there’s nothing to do.
What can I do for fun?

The Shepherd Boy is famous for playing tricks. Suddenly, he comes up with an idea.
Boy: Ah ha! I got it!
I will play a trick on the villagers.
It will be fun.

The Shepherd Boy goes running down the hill to the village.
Boy: A Wolf! A Wolf!
It’s a wolf! Please help me!
Please save my Sheep!
Villager: What?! Did you say ’a Wolf’?
Boy: Yes, please help me!
Villager1: Where’s the Wolf?
I’ll help.
Boy: Follow me!
Villager2: I’ll help, too.
Villager3: Wait for me!

The three villagers follow The Shepherd Boy up the hill. They all carry sticks to drive away the Wolf.
Villager3: Where is it?
Villager2: Yes, where is the Wolf?
Villager1: Did it go away?
Boy: Perhaps.
Villager1: Did you really see it?
Boy: Perhaps.
Villager1: You’re not sure?
Boy: Perhaps.
Villager3: What are you saying?
Boy: Ha!Ha!Ha! There is no Wolf!
I was just bored.
Villager3: What?! You tricked us?
Villager2: We come here for nothing?
Villager1: How can you play such a terrible trick?
You should be punished!

The three angry villages return to the village. The Shepherd Boy just keeps on laughing.
Boy: (chuckle)Ha, ha, ha. I can’t stop laughing.
How funny they looked!

A few days later, The Shepherd Boy gets bored again.
Boy: What a boring day!
What can I do for fun this time?
I know.
I’ll play the same trick one more time.

The Shepherd Boy again runs down to the village screaming.
Boy: Please, help me! It’s a Wolf!
It’s really there! I’m not fooling you!
Villager1: Are you sure this time?
Boy: Of course. I saw it with my own two eyes.
Villager2: How big was it?
Boy: It was very big. Bigger than you.
Villager3: you better be telling the truth.
Boy: Would I lie again?
Villager1: Okay, let’s drive away the Wolf.

Again the three villagers run quickly up to the hill, but there is no Wolf. Only the Sheep are there peacefully eating the grass.
Villager1: Where is it, boy? Where’s the Wolf?
Boy: I don’t know. It was here before.
Villager2: Be careful everyone. It may be hiding behind a tree.

The Shepherd Boy cannot help laughing.
Boy: You are all so foolish. There is no Wolf.
Villager1: What?! You tricked us again?
Boy: Yes. I’m sorry, but I was too bored.
Villager2: You said it was a big Wolf.
Boy: I just made it up.
Villager1: How can you do this to us?
Boy: But it was just a joke.
You understand, don’t you?
Villager3: You will be sorry someday.
Villager2: If you keep lying, no one will every believe you.
Villager1: From now on stop lying.
Boy： All right. I said I was sorry.
Villager3: Let’s go everyone.

The three villagers are even more angry the second time.
Boy: What fun! They were all fooled again.
Ha, ha, ha. I will try it again later.

A few days pass and The Shepherd Boy is on the hill. As usual he is lying down on the grass looking up at the sky. He hears a strange cry.
Wolf: A-whooo!
Boy: What’s that?! It sounds like a Wolf.
I’m so scared. What shall I do?

Just then a big Wolf jumps out from behind a tree and starts eating all of the Sheep. The Shepherd Boy runs down the hill to the village.
Boy: Wolf! Wolf! Everyone come quickly!
Please! Help me!
All my Sheep are dying!
Villager1: Oh, hi there, boy. Playing tricks again today?
Boy: No, I’m not!
This time I’m really telling the truth!
Villager1: Sure. You can’t fool me again.
Go along, boy.
Villager2: What’s the matter, boy?
Boy: A Wolf really came today!
Please come with me!
Villager2: I don’t believe you. Go along, boy.
Boy: No! Please believe me!
Villager3: I won’t be fooled three times.
Go along, boy.
Boy: Boo-hoo! Now no one believes me.
All my Sheep will be killed.

MORAL
No one believes a liar even when he tells the truth.