中国成语寓言故事142:Prudent Reserve Between Men and Women男女有别(双语)
A man named Fu Xian was fond of reading books. Though proficient in literature and etiquette, he was stubbornly adherent to outworn rules. Being impractical and dull, he looked just like an old pedant.
有个叫傅显的人喜欢读书。他对文章礼仪也很精通，只是性情迁腐迟钝，看上去就像个老学究。
One day, Fu Xian strolled on the street with measured strides and asked whomever he met:
一天，傅显踱着四方步上街，见人就问:
"Have you seen Wei San?"
“看见魏三了吗?”
Someone pointed to the direction and he walked on unhurriedly with measured strides. When he saw Wei San, he panted for a while, then said:
有人给他指点方向，他就踱着方步走去。等见到魏三，他喘了几口气之后才说:
"I just saw your wife doing needlework under a tree. She was tired and taking a nap. Your child was playing beside a well, only 3 to 5 chi away from it. It seemed to me that some accident might happen. As there is prudent reserve between men and women, it was not convenient for me to awaken your wife in person. That's why I have come all the way here to tell you."
“我刚才看见三嫂，她在树下做针线活儿，疲倦了，就在那儿打吨。您家的小孩儿，在水井旁边玩耍，离井口不过三五尺远，看上去好像要出事。因为男女有别，不便直接叫醒三嫂，所以特地跑来告诉你。”
Upon hearing this, Wei San was panic-stricken and hurried home. When he got home, his wife was bending over the well, wailing bitterly for their son.
魏三听了，惊恐万分，急忙跑回家去。等他赶到家，他的妻子已经趴在井口，在痛哭自己的儿子了!
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