One day, a high official wanted to amuse himself in a temple.

一天，有一个大官，要到寺院里去游玩。

His subordinates notified the monks¹ in the temple three days in advance to prepare a good meal on time. So all the monks in the temple busied themselves with the preparation.

他的手下人便在三天前就通知寺院里的和尚，准时备好饭菜。于是，寺院里所有的和尚，都忙着张罗了起来。

The temple was situated³ in a remote mountain, surrounded by bamboo groves⁴, and very tranquil⁵. After the high official had strolled about for a while, he was very pleased. While dining, he recited lines from a poem of the Tang Dynasty:

寺院坐落在深山里，四面都是竹林，的确非常清静。大官游玩了一番之后，非常高兴，一面吃饭，一面吟起了唐人的诗句:

"Passing through the bamboo courtyard and meeting a monk²,A half day's leisure is gained in this fleeting⁶ life."

“因过竹院逢僧话，又得浮生半日闲。”

When the old monk heard these lines of the poem, he couldn't help laughing.

老和尚听了诗句，不觉笑了起来。

The high official asked hastily:

大官连忙问道:

"What are you laughing about?"

“你笑什么?”

The old monk replied:

老和尚回答道:

"Your Honour have indeed gained a half day's leisure, but I have been busy for three whole days."

“您老人家固然清闲了半天，可是我老和尚却已经忙了整整三天!”