In the past, an official celebrated1 his birthday.
A small official under him heard that he was born in the year of "the rat". To curry2 the official's favour, he had a gold rat cast as a birthday present and went to the official's house to congratulate him on his birthday.
The official was very pleased at the sight of the gold rat and said: "Do you know? In a few days my wife will celebrate her birthday too. She was born in the year of 'the ox'".
从前,有个官员过生日。
他手下的一个小官听说他属“鼠”,为了巴结他,铸了一只金鼠作为寿礼,登门祝寿。
这个官员一见金鼠,很是高兴,说:“你们知道吗?过几天,我的夫人也要过生日了,她是属‘牛’”。