Zeng Zi was one of Confucius¹' disciples².

曾子是孔子的一个学生。

One day, Zeng Zi's wife wanted to go to market.

有一天，曾子的妻子要上街。

Their son wanted to go together with her.

儿子吵着要跟妈妈一起去。

He made a row, crying and fussing³ without stop.

又哭又闹，吵个不停。

His wife could do nothing but bend down to humour⁴ him, saying:

妻子没有办法，只好弯腰哄他，说:

"My darling, go home now. Mama will be back soon.

“我的小宝贝，回家去吧!

When I'm back, I'll kill the pig to make a meal for you."

妈妈去了就回来，一回来就杀猪给你吃。”

When the son heard this, he went home happily.

儿子听了，高高兴兴地回家去了。

Not long after, the wife returned home from the market.

过了不久，妻子从街上回到了家。

Zeng Zi tied up their fat pig, took out a shining sharp knife and prepared to kill it.

曾子就把家里的肥猪捆住，拿出雪亮的尖刀，准备杀猪。

When his wife saw this, she hurriedly held Zeng Zi by the hand and said:

妻子看见了就急忙拉住曾子的手，说:

"What's the matter with you? I was only trying to humour the child."

“你这是怎么了?我只不过是哄哄小孩的。”

Zeng Zi said seriously: "How can you cheat a child?

曾子严肃地说:“你怎么能够哄骗孩子呢?

The child is still small and doesn't understand things.

现在，孩子还小，不懂事。

He only follows the example of his parents.

他只会照着父母的样子去做。

Now you cheat him, then he will follow your example and cheat others.

你现在哄骗孩子，孩子就会学你的样子，去哄骗别人。

Furthermore⁵, when a mother cheats her child, the child will no longer trust his mother.

做母亲的哄骗儿子，做儿子的就不会再信任母亲。

Then, how can you educate the child well?"

这样，怎么能教育好孩子呢?”

Having said this, Zeng Zi raised his knife and killed the fat pig.

曾子话一说完，就一刀宰了肥猪。