极好的买卖
导读
这则格林童话在民俗学上编号为 ATU 1642，讲的是一位总在“听岔话”的农夫。我们把它的讲述口吻改成了中国寓言体：开篇用“古时候”，行文用短句，人物的心思一句话说透，结尾再轻轻点一句道理——这正是寓言讲故事的老法子。其实这样的故事中国人并不陌生：塞翁失马，焉知非福；傻人有傻福，吃亏是福。农夫把牛钱扔进池塘，把整车的肉留给狗，桩桩看着都是“大亏”，偏偏每一回都阴差阳错地成了“大福”。读的时候不妨提醒孩子：误会和诚实，哪一个更靠得住？到了后半段，农夫靠谎话赢了外套和金子，故事让他赢了，可它并没有说他做得对。笑过之后，这一层值得一家人好好聊一聊。
《极好的买卖》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
Making the deep rough sound that frogs make.
（青蛙）呱呱地叫。
On the way home he passed a pond, and from far away he heard the frogs croaking, "Aik, aik, aik, aik."
回家的路上要路过一口池塘，他老远就听见青蛙在叫：“呱，呱，呱，呱。”
Killed an animal for its meat.
宰杀（牲畜）。
After a while, the farmer bought another cow and slaughtered her.
过了些日子，农夫又买来一头牛，宰了。
A tall, thin dog that can run very fast.
灵缇犬（一种腿长、跑得极快的猎犬）。
At the town gate a great pack of dogs was waiting, and a big greyhound stood at the front.
城门口蹲着一大群狗，为首的是一条高大的灵缇。
The ability to wait calmly without getting angry.
耐心；耐性。
At last his patience ran out, and he went into town to ask the butcher for his money.
他失了耐性，进城找那屠夫讨钱。
Made a serious promise.
发誓；郑重许下承诺。
She has never laughed like that in all her life, and I swore to marry her to the man who could make her laugh.
她这辈子还没这样笑过，我早发过誓：谁逗笑她，谁就是她的丈夫。
A polite word used to address a king or queen.
陛下（对国王、王后的尊称）。
Your majesty, that money is no longer mine.
陛下，那些钱已经不属于我了。
A soldier who stands guard at a gate or door.
哨兵；卫兵。
As the farmer left the palace gate, the sentry stopped him and said, "You made the princess laugh, so you are sure to get a fine reward."
农夫走出宫门，守门的卫兵拉住他说：“你把公主逗笑了，准能得到好处。”
Extremely happy, full of joy.
欣喜若狂；高兴极了。
The money-changer was overjoyed at the profit and brought the sum in poor coins, three of which were worth only two good ones.
换钱商贪这笔白赚的钱，乐得合不拢嘴，掏出一把成色不足的格罗申，三枚才顶两枚好的用。
Cried out loudly in pain or sadness.
哀号；哭喊。
The money-changer wailed, "Oh no, oh no! So these are the heavy thalers, are they?"
换钱商却哭丧着脸叫苦：“哎哟，这就是那沉甸甸的塔勒吗？”
Spoke quietly and unclearly, usually in complaint.
嘟囔；低声抱怨。
As he counted, he muttered, "That sly king got the better of me after all. Why did he not hand me the money himself, so that I should know the amount?"
他一边数一边嘟囔：“这个刁滑的国王，到底还是骗了我。他要是亲手把钱交给我，我何至于连个数都闹不清？”
Old, torn, and worn out, said of clothes.
破旧的；褴褛的（指衣物）。
Do you think a man with so much money in his pocket can enter the palace in a ragged old coat?
一个口袋里揣着这么多钱的人，能穿着破旧衣裳进宫吗？
A dishonest or mischievous person.
无赖；坏家伙。
Why, that rascal would even swear that the coat on my back is his own!
你看，这个无赖，连我身上穿着的这件外衣，他都敢一口咬定是他的。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
吃亏未必是真亏，福气常藏在误会里。可占便宜若靠说谎，占来的终究只是一个笑话。
教育价值
这个故事让孩子看到，误会能带来幽默，也能带来意想不到的转机；同时可以借农夫与换钱商的言行，和孩子聊聊诚实与谎言的界限——占了便宜，不等于做得对。
家长共读提示
读前半段（青蛙、狗、逗笑公主）时，陪孩子一起笑那些“听岔了”的误会，问问他们：换作是你，会把青蛙的叫声听成什么？读到后半段，不妨放慢些，问一问：农夫靠谎话赢了外套和金子，故事让他赢了，可故事在夸他吗？还可以联系生活，和孩子聊聊“占便宜”和“守信用”，哪一样更长久。
和孩子聊一聊
- 农夫这一路上，哪一笔买卖看着最“亏”？可每一笔亏，最后都变成了赚。你觉得是他运气好，还是他自己有本事？
- 换钱商为了赏钱去告发农夫，最后连自己的外套也赔了进去。他要是当初不起贪心，结局会不会不一样？
- 国王发过誓：谁逗笑公主，就把公主嫁给谁。可农夫已经有了妻子。你觉得国王的许诺和农夫的拒绝，谁更有道理？
- 农夫说换钱商“嘴里吐不出半句实话”，可他自己也当着国王的面说了谎。为什么看别人的谎话容易，看自己的难？
- 如果让你把这故事讲给没听过的人，你会把它讲成“聪明的农夫”，还是“走运的农夫”？为什么？
