English Original
There was once a farmer whose land was hilly and the soil was not the best. He had a cow that gave little milk and chickens that laid few eggs. The farm looked run-down, with the barn and fences in need of repair. The farmer and his wife were so dejected that they could not manage to get the farm back on its feet.
One stormy evening, a poorly dressed man knocked on their door, asking for shelter for the night. They shared their modest meal and talked at length about the sad state of the farm.
When the stranger left the next morning, he thanked them for their hospitality. At the door, he pulled a small bag of gold pieces from his pocket, saying it might help them. He added that he would return the following year, hoping to find a revived farm.
Afterward, the farmer and his wife often discussed whether to buy a more promising cow or better-laying chickens. However, each conversation ended with the farmer simply trusting that the farm would improve. He found himself fixing the barn and fences, caring for the animals, and planting crops for themselves, their livestock, and to sell at market.
A year later, the stranger returned. The farm looked much better. "What did you use the gold for?" the stranger asked.
"Why," the farmer replied, "we hid the gold under a kitchen tile. Though we often thought of it, we never found anything we truly needed it for."
The farmer then looked the stranger in the eye and added thoughtfully, "I thank you ever so much. You gave us what we really needed to keep going—you lifted our spirits."
With that, the farmer dug up the tile and cheerfully returned the gold to the stranger.
中文翻译
从前有一位农夫，他的土地多山，土壤贫瘠。他有一头产奶很少的牛和几只下蛋不多的鸡。农场看起来破败不堪，谷仓和栅栏都需要修理。农夫和他的妻子心灰意冷，无法让农场恢复生机。
一个暴风雨的夜晚，一个衣衫褴褛的男子敲响了他们的门，请求借宿一晚。他们分享了简单的食物，并详细谈论了农场的惨淡状况。
第二天早上，陌生人离开时，感谢了他们的款待。在门口，他从口袋里掏出一个小袋金币，说这或许能帮助他们。他还说，他明年会再来，希望能看到一个重获新生的农场。
此后，农夫和妻子经常讨论是否要买一头更有希望的牛或更能下蛋的鸡。然而，每次谈话都以农夫相信农场会自己好起来而结束。他发现自己开始修理谷仓和栅栏，照料动物，并种植庄稼供自家食用、喂养牲畜以及出售。
一年后，陌生人真的回来了。农场看起来好多了。"你们用那些金币做了什么？"陌生人问道。
"哎呀，"农夫回答说，"我们把金币藏在了厨房的一块地砖下面。虽然我们常常想起它，但从没找到真正需要用它来买的东西。"
农夫然后直视着陌生人的眼睛，若有所思地补充道："不过，我真的非常感谢你。你给了我们坚持下去真正需要的东西——你鼓舞了我们的精神。"
说完，农夫挖出地砖，高兴地把金币还给了陌生人。