English Original
Qian Meixi recorded the story of Xue Qingguan, the goat butcher. He ran a small shop selling mutton and mutton soup. The fame of his delicious soup spread far and wide, attracting many customers. Some traveled for days to taste it, and all left satisfied. With such success, Xue quickly became wealthy.
Some of his Buddhist friends advised him to stop killing goats. "You've earned enough. Don't be greedy. We are not beasts in the jungle. Killing animals is a grave sin against the universe. You cannot escape the consequences. Sooner or later, your misdeeds will catch up with you, and then all your money will be useless."
"Xue," they continued, "why not invest your money in another business? You can still prosper while repenting and doing good deeds to atone for your sins. Otherwise, you will face great trouble, and even your descendants may suffer."
Xue dismissed their advice with a snort and a sneer. "I'm too clever to believe such old wives' tales. Don't try to spook me with fairy tales! Crimes against the universe? What nonsense!"
Around the age of forty, Xue contracted a strange illness. His mouth began to jut out, his jaw elongated, and his eyes took on a vacant look. In fact, he came to resemble a goat.
Soon, the locals all knew about Xue's transformation. Crowds came daily to stare, whispering and nodding among themselves. Xue grew weary of the spectacle. Doctors could offer no cure, though they agreed he looked remarkably like a goat.
Frustrated nearly to madness, Xue remained too stubborn to admit any wrongdoing or reconsider his trade.
Finally, on a business trip to Anhui, he fell into a river and drowned. His body was never recovered.
The tragedy is that Xue need not have suffered such humiliation and a sudden end. Had he been less greedy and more heedful of his conscience, he could have lived a long, happy life. But to him, money, stupidity, and stubbornness held greater value than happiness, health, and wisdom.
中文翻译
钱美西记录了屠羊者薛清官的故事。薛清官经营一家小店，售卖羊肉和羊汤。他美味的羊汤声名远播，吸引了众多顾客。有人甚至跋涉数日前来品尝，且都满意而归。生意如此兴隆，薛很快就富了起来。
他的一些佛教徒朋友劝他别再杀羊。"你赚的钱已经够了。别太贪婪。我们不是丛林里的野兽。杀生是违背天理的严重罪过。你逃不过报应的。迟早，你的恶行会追上你，到那时你有再多钱也没用。"
"薛，"他们接着说，"你何不用你的钱投资别的生意？你依然可以发财，同时忏悔并行善以弥补罪过。否则，你会惹上大麻烦，连你的子孙后代都可能遭殃。"
薛嗤之以鼻，嘲笑着拒绝了他们的建议。"我聪明得很，才不信这些无稽之谈。别想用这些鬼故事吓唬我！违背天理？真是胡说八道！"
大约四十岁时，薛得了一种怪病。他的嘴巴开始凸出，下巴变长，眼神变得呆滞。实际上，他变得像一只山羊。
很快，当地人都知道了薛的变化。每天都有成群的人前来围观，彼此交头接耳、点头示意。薛对此厌烦透顶。医生们束手无策，但都承认他看起来确实像只山羊。
薛沮丧得几乎发疯，却固执地不肯承认自己可能有错，也拒绝反思他的营生。
最终，在去安徽出差途中，他坠河溺亡，尸体始终未能找到。
可悲的是，薛本不必遭受这般羞辱与横死。倘若他少些贪婪，多听听良心的呼唤，本可以度过长寿幸福的一生。但对他而言，金钱、愚昧和固执比幸福、健康和智慧更为重要。