One evening, at the quiet ferry came four people — a rich man, an officer, a warrior and a poet. They asked the old boatman to ferry them. The old boatman stroked his beard and said, “Tell me your strengths and I will ferry you.”
The businessmen said, “I have a lot of money.”
The official said, “If you ferry me across the river, I can let you be a magistrate.”
The warrior raised his clenched fist and said, “I want to cross the river, or...”
“And you?” the old boatman asked the poet.
“Alas, I have nothing, but if I don't go back, my wife and children will be anxious about me at home.”
“Get on board!” the old boatman waved his hand, “You have shown your strength, which is the most valuable wealth.”
The poet got on the boat suspiciously, “Sir, can you tell me the answer?”
“The anxiety on your face is your best expression,” the old man said as he was rowing, “The true feeling you showed is the most precious among the four people.”
一天晚上，安静的渡口来了四个人——一个有钱人、一个当官的、一个当兵的和一个诗人。他们想让老船夫把自己送到对岸去。老船夫捋着胡须说：“给我说说你有什么本事，我就把你们渡过去。”
做买卖的说：“我家财万贯。”
当官的说：“你把我渡过河去，我就能给你安排个差事干干。”
当兵的举起握紧的拳头说：“我就是要过河去，否则……”
“那你呢？”老船夫转而去问诗人。
“哎呀，我一无所有，可如果我回不了家的话，我妻子和孩子都会担心的。”
“上船！”老船夫一招手说，“你已经让我看到了你的本事，那才是最有价值的财富。”
诗人上了船，不解地问道：“老先生，能告诉我原因吗？”
“你脸上写着的焦虑就是最好的答案，”老人家边划桨边说，“你们四个人里你表现出的真情实意才是最最难得的。”
-ferry [ˈferɪ] n. 渡船；渡口
-stroke [strəʊk] v. 轻抚
-clench [klentʃ] v. 紧握
有钱有势难买人心的牵挂。