我很小的时候曾经听祖母讲过这么一个故事：传说在很久以前，在遥远的长白山下生长着一处湖水。这处湖水有一个特点就是四季都保持着同一个水温，很适合人们游泳或者洗澡。因此，这里也吸引了许多游客前来光顾。这年冬天，湖水迎来了三个比较特殊的顾客。说他们特殊是因为他们的个子的高低成阶梯状。他们很瘦，但是热情很高，一到湖边，他们就扒光了衣服，扑通扑通扑通，有秩序地跳进了湖里。
When I was very young, I heard a story told by my grandmother: it is said that a long time ago, there was a lake growing under the distant Changbai Mountain. One of the characteristics of this lake is that it has the same water temperature all the year round, which is very suitable for people to swim or take a bath. Therefore, it also attracts many tourists. This winter, the lake welcomed three special customers. They are special because their height is like a ladder. They are very thin, but they are very enthusiastic. As soon as they get to the lake, they strip off their clothes, plop, plop, and orderly jump into the lake.
等他们洗完澡，享受完湖水带给他们舒服时，他们发现扔在湖边的衣服和裤子不见了，三个都不约而同地互相注视着。这时，在湖的一边出现了一个白胡须的老者。老者穿的一件白衫，腰上配着一把长剑。老者的出现使他们都格外的兴奋。高个子首先打开了话题：老人家，给我们一些衣服和裤子吧。老者抚摸着下巴的长须：衣服和裤子是有的，但是。中个子急了：但是什么呢？老者呼了口气：你们只能在衣服和裤子上任选一件。为什么？矮个子不明白。没有为什么，要不要选择你们自己决定，我不会强求。老者说完转身想离开，高个子说：老人家，先别走，让我们考虑一下。老者回过头来：给你们五分钟时间。
When they finished taking a bath and enjoying the lake water to make them comfortable, they found that the clothes and pants thrown at the lake were missing, and all three watched each other. At this time, an old man with white beard appeared on one side of the lake. The old man wore a white shirt with a long sword on his waist. The appearance of the old people excited them all. The tall man first opened the topic: old man, give us some clothes and pants. The old man stroked the beard of his chin: there were clothes and trousers, but. The middle man is in a hurry: but what? The old man breathed: you can only choose one on the clothes and pants. Why? The short man didn't understand. There's no reason why. I won't force you to choose your own decision. The old man said, turning to leave, the tall man said: old man, don't go, let's think about it. The old man turned around: give you five minutes.
他们三个人开始商量，由于意见不同，没有达成一致。
The three of them began to discuss, but due to different opinions, they did not reach an agreement.
五分钟很快就过去了，三个人也分别作出了选择。高个子首先作出了决定，他选择了衣服，他披着老者的衣服，光着屁股，离开了湖边。高个子走后，中个子也作出了决定，他选择了裤子，他穿上裤子，光着膀子，踉跄地离开了湖边。只有矮个子还浸在湖里。老者问矮个子为什么还不作出选择，矮个子笑着说：我还想在水里多待一会儿。过了一段时间，矮个子走上岸来，他微笑地注视着老者，老者不知道这是什么缘故。矮个子指着一个方向对老者说：老人家，您看。老者朝矮个子所指的方向看。矮个子迅速地夺取了老者腰上地长剑，当老者回过头来时，长剑的尖端已经对准老者的脖子。老人家，得罪了。说完，矮个子从老者手里拿回了衣服和裤子。等矮个子穿好衣服和裤子时，老者已经不见了。矮个子向四周寻找，没有看到老者的踪影。矮个子仰视天空，只见天空中的一朵白云飞速地向另一边驶去。
Five minutes passed quickly, and the three made their own choices. The tall man made the decision first. He chose the clothes. He left the lake in the old man's clothes and naked buttocks. After the tall man left, the middle man also made a decision. He chose pants. He put on his pants and left the lake barehanded. Only the short man is still in the lake. The old man asked the short man why he didn't make a choice. The short man smiled and said, "I want to stay in the water a little longer.". After a while, the short man came ashore. He smiled at the old man, who didn't know why. The short man pointed in one direction and said to the old man: old man, look. The old man looked in the direction of the short man. The short man quickly seized the long sword on the old man's waist. When the old man turned around, the tip of the long sword had been aimed at the old man's neck. Old man, I'm offended. Then the short man took back his clothes and trousers from the old man. When the short man got dressed and trousers on, the old man was gone. The short man looked around and saw no sign of the old man. The short man looked up at the sky, only to see a white cloud in the sky flying to the other side.
对于这个故事，我当时还小不理解其中的含义。但是，随着年龄的增长，阅历的增多，我开始懂得了其中所包含的内涵。
I didn't understand the meaning of this story at that time. But as I grew older and experienced more, I began to understand what it contained.
在我们的现实生活中有许多象故事中的高个子那样为了苟活着，而不惜出卖自己的尊严。也有许多象故事中的中个子那样好面子，过分的强调自尊，而不惜牺牲自己的生命。很少有人象故事中的矮个子那样，面对困难不妥协，以乐观的态度积极地去和一切困难作斗争。从而维护自己的尊严，维持自己的生命。
In our real life, there are many tall people like the story who are willing to sell their dignity in order to survive. There are also many good faces like the middle man in the story. They overemphasize self-esteem and sacrifice their lives. Few people, like the short man in the story, do not compromise in the face of difficulties and actively fight against all difficulties with an optimistic attitude. So as to maintain their own dignity and life.
其实，困难和挫折并不可怕，关键是我们是否有乐观的态度，是否能够敢于与一切困难和挫折作斗争。
In fact, difficulties and setbacks are not terrible. The key is whether we have an optimistic attitude and dare to fight against all difficulties and setbacks.
