English Original
Long, long ago, rain ceased to fall across China. The people prayed fervently to the Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler of heaven, earth, and sea, but their pleas went unanswered.
Four dragons dwelling in the East China Sea swam ashore to investigate. They witnessed people scraping grass from the parched, cracked earth, having nothing else to eat.
"We must do something," declared Long Dragon, with Yellow Dragon nodding in agreement. "We must help them ourselves," added Pearl Dragon, "for the Jade Emperor will never heed their prayers."
Suddenly inspired, they devised a plan. The dragons swam vigorously, gathering vast quantities of water with their bodies. Then, as one, they soared into the sky. Black Dragon flew north, Long Dragon west, Pearl Dragon to the southernmost reaches, and Yellow Dragon to the heart of the land. Simultaneously, they released the water from their mouths, limbs, and tails.
The people below looked up, not seeing the dragons but only glorious rain falling from the heavens—each drop more precious than any jewel. "Rain!" they cried out joyfully, and all creatures rushed out to dance in the life-giving shower.
Witnessing this, the Jade Emperor was enraged. "Who dares to tamper with my domain?" he roared, spotting the four dragons circling above. "You will not escape!" Summoning the Mountain God, he commanded the dragons' execution.
The Mountain God hurled four mighty mountains onto the dragons the moment they touched ground, crushing them. Then, a wondrous transformation occurred: four great rivers sprang forth from beneath the mountains, coursing across the entire country.
Thus, it is said, China's four great rivers were born: the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Pearl, and the Heilongjiang—the eternal legacy of the four noble dragons who once saved the people.
中文翻译
很久很久以前，雨水在中国大地上停止了降落。人们向掌管天、地、海万物的玉皇大帝虔诚祈雨，但无论他们如何祈祷，甘霖始终未至。
当时，有四条龙居住在东海。它们游到岸边查看情况，看到人们正从干裂结块的土地上扯草充饥，因为已别无食物。
"我们必须做点什么，" 龙龙说道，黄龙点头赞同。"我们必须亲自帮助他们，" 珠龙说，"因为玉帝永远不会回应他们的祈祷。"
它们突然想到了一个办法。龙们开始来回游动，用身体汲取海水。随后，四条龙一齐跃入空中。黑龙飞往北方，龙龙飞往西方，珠龙飞往中国的最南端，黄龙则飞往这片辽阔国度的中心。它们同时让水从口中、臂膀、腿脚乃至尾巴倾泻而下。
下方的人们抬头仰望，却看不见龙的身影，只能看见雨水从天而降——每一滴雨珠都比任何宝石更加美丽。"下雨了！" 他们欢欣地呼喊，所有的人和动物都跑到雨中，开始起舞。
玉帝看到降雨，勃然大怒。"谁敢干预我的世界？" 他怒吼道，随即发现了在空中盘旋的四条龙。"你们休想逃脱！" 他声如雷霆，召来山神，命令他杀死这些龙。
山神驱使四座大山压向降落的龙，将它们镇在了山下。接着，奇异的事情发生了：四条河流突然从山底涌出，蔓延至全国各地。
人们说，中国的四大河流便是由此诞生：长江、黄河、珠江和黑龙江，它们正是那四条曾拯救中国人民的伟大巨龙所留下的永恒印记。