Wealth

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Wealth

翻译：北京外国语大学北戴河外语培训基地副校长张宝丹

The word wealth always reminds people of money and

the sayings or concepts related to money. For example,

“money talks”; “money makes the ghosts turn the

mill”; “as birds die for food, so men die for wealth”;

“the poor have no friends even though they live in the

noisy downtown, while the rich have remote kinsfolk even

if they live in the deep mountains”; “poverty chills

ambition” “one cent short may put a hero in an awkward

situation” etc, etc..

In the 1980' s, all shops were state-owned with

marked prices. You couldn't buy what you wanted with even

one cent short, so one cent could indeed embarrass a

hero. A popular song at that time started “I picked up

one cent at the roadside, and I handed it over to the

policeman…” But now no one cares to pick it up even if

it were ten cents.

People's reverence for money is expressed in varied

ways. The names of companies or stores are often “Beer

of Wealth and Honor”, “Restaurant of Wealth and Rank”

“Store of the Aristocrats” “Hotel of Fame and

Prestige” etc. (even some people's names have the

meanings of “full of gold” or “great fortune”). At

New Year's time, the god of wealth is worshiped and the

picture of the god is covered with signs of money. When a

millionaire is walking in the street, people will show

their profound respect even though they know very well

that they can not get a cent from him. The English film

“the Million-Pound Note” makes a most vivid revelation

of this situation. With the million pound note in hand,

the hero has the privilege to buy on credit, or on loan

and is even presented money from others. It's an

idealized end of the story that the hero is still loved

by his girl friend even after he lost his million-pound

note. However, without the million-pound note, they

couldn't have known each other. It's very difficult for

people to make friends directly with beggars.

The song of “All Good Things Must End” in A Dream

of the Red Mansions attacks the money worshipers by

saying:

“All men long to be immortals

yet silver and gold they prize

And grub for money all their lives

Till death seals up their eyes”

But when Chen Shih-yin tries to expound this song by

analyzing the inconstancy of human relationships and the

incomprehensible human heart, he has to say:

“While men with gold and silver by the chest

Turn beggars, scorned by all and dispossessed”

The conclusion is that it doesn't work without money.

In spite of the human civilizations over thousands of

years, people can not deny the function of money. This

shows how important money is. Money plays a decisive role

to individuals, to families and even to countries or

nationalities. Otherwise, why is everyone, from

doorkeepers to presidents, trying to earn as much as

possible? Why does every country need Chancellors of the

Exchequer, who keep formulating and revising financial

laws and regulations? How different it is to be a

creditor nation and a debtor nation! The United States is

playing the tyrant just because it is wealthy enough. A

poor man may cherish lofty aspirations, but will probably

be beaten because of his poverty. The Afghanistan may

have won a lot of sympathy, but how difficult it would be

to live solely on charity. 123456

Wealth

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