目錄 Catalog：1. 女媧劇組的演出 Nuwa Troupe's Performance；2. 刺客和牛郎打架 Assassin Fights Cowboy；3. 刺客威脅牛郎 Assassin Threatens Cowboy

此時在海南，牛郎成為政治犯監獄裡的紅人了。南海龍王發動了所有政治犯教牛郎生活常識，進行政治，歷史，和文化教育。據說牛郎非常喜歡那些見多識廣的原龍國貴族，知識水平不斷提高。

At this time in Hainan, Cowboy had become a prominent figure among the political prisoners in the prison. Dragon King of the South Sea mobilized all the political prisoners to teach Cowboy life skills and provide him with education in politics, history, and culture. It was said that Cowboy greatly admired those well-traveled former nobles of Dragon Kingdom, and his knowledge level steadily improved.

這天女媧劇組來慰問海南的政治犯了，為政治犯們表演龍王創作的《牛郎織女的傳說》（參見3.3.7-6）。表演完後，演員們還為政治犯們分發劇情中的禮物。劇團的團長還拿着禮物找牛郎和孩子，說：“這是西王母讓我轉交給她的外孫子塵香和塵凡的禮物！”

On this day, Nuwa’s Troupe visited political prisoners in Hainan to perform the Dragon King's creation, The Legend of Cowboy and Weaver Girl (see 3.3.7-6). After the performance, the actors distributed gifts featured in the play to the political prisoners. The troupe leader even sought out Cowboy and the children with gifts, declaring, “These are presents from Western King Mother for her grandsons Dust Scent and Dust Mortal!”

政治犯們更驚訝了：“原來這表演是西王母派來表演給她的倆外孫子看的。嗨！那老太太也心難受啊！把孩子送到了這麼遠的地方！”

南海龍王也高興了，感嘆道：“我這輩子，值了！雖然我不能回到大陸，親眼看看20年沒有戰爭的家鄉！但我知道他們沒有我，都活得更好了。我看見了夏國皇家劇團表演我寫的劇本！我已經生無可戀了。”

The political prisoners were even more astonished: “So this performance was sent by King Mother of the West to entertain her two grandsons! Oh my! That old lady must be heartbroken too, sending her children so far away!”

Dragon King of the South Sea was overjoyed, exclaiming, “My life has been worth it! Though I cannot return to the mainland to see my homeland, untouched by war for twenty years, I know they've all thrived better without me. I've witnessed the Xia Kingdom's royal troupe perform the play I wrote! I have nothing left to live for.”

2. 刺客和牛郎打架 Assassin Fights Cowboy

話說刺客由兩名醫生和兩名士兵陪伴着從福建登上了去往南海的貨船。途中遇到了風暴，他們偏離了航線，脫離了船隊。他們兩艘貨船中的一艘遭到了損壞，不得不就近靠岸，等待救援。刺客和兩名醫生患了水土不服病。兩個士兵衣不解帶，輪流守候他們。兩位醫生都診斷說： “如果不及時讓刺客退燒，他有生命危險！” 但他們的人員太少，不敢去大陸內地買藥或找醫生。兩位醫生被兩位士兵忠於職守的行為感動了，決定自己採藥配製退燒藥；那藥物有毒。一位醫生在試驗藥物時，犧牲了。最終，他們搭上了另一艘貨船，及時趕到了海南的政治犯監獄。

Assassin, accompanied by two doctors and two soldiers, boarded a merchant ship bound for the South China Sea from Fujian. During the voyage, they encountered a storm that blew them off course, separating them from the convoy. One of their two merchant ships sustained damage, forcing them to seek shelter at the nearest shore and await rescue. The assassin and the two doctors fell ill with seasickness. The two soldiers remained vigilant, taking turns guarding them without resting. Both doctors diagnosed: “If Assassin's fever isn't broken promptly, his life is in grave danger!” But with too few men, they dared not venture inland to procure medicine or seek a physician. Moved by the soldiers' unwavering devotion, the doctors resolved to gather herbs themselves and concoct a fever-reducing remedy—a concoction that proved toxic. One doctor perished while testing the potion. Ultimately, they boarded another merchant ship and arrived in time at the political prison on Hainan Island.

一天，龍王熬欽來到了政治犯歡迎新犯人的儀式。老政治犯們問龍王：“您把我們都招呼來幹什麼？”

龍王回答：“看戲呀！今天有人來找那位（即牛郎）打架；這將是流傳千年茶餘飯後的家常話。我們怎麼能錯過這樣的好戲！” 牛郎正安靜地獨自坐在會議室的最後排。

One day, Dragon King Aoqin arrived at the ceremony welcoming new political prisoners. The veteran political prisoners asked the Dragon King, “Why did you summon us all here?”

Dragon King replied, “To watch the show! Today someone came looking for that fellow (meaning Cowboy) to fight; this will become a tale passed down for millennia over tea and meals. How could we miss such a spectacle!” Cowboy sat quietly alone in the back row of the conference room.

這時幾位士兵押着刺客進來了，讓他站在了會議室的講台上。士兵讓他自我介紹，然後問：“你自己說，犯了什麼罪？”

刺客回答：“刺殺黃帝大禹！”

會議室立刻變得躁動不安，有人笑着問：“殺佛！這事中國歷史上以前沒有過，以後可能也不會有！他一個普通農民怎麼得罪你了？你要殺他！”

At that moment, several soldiers escorted Assassin into the room and made him stand on the podium in the conference hall. The soldiers ordered him to introduce himself, then demanded, “Speak for yourself—what crime have you committed?”

Assassin replied, “Assassinating Yellow Creator Big Yu!”

The conference room erupted in commotion. Someone laughed and asked, “Killing Buddha! This has never happened in Chinese history, and likely never will! How did an ordinary farmer offend you that you would kill him?”

刺客被問得哭笑不得，說道：“我跟隨伏羲和女媧20多年了，都已經被提名成為下一任皇宮衛隊的隊長了；結果全毀了。你們想知道我為什麼要刺殺黃帝嗎？”他指着後排的牛郎說：“你想知道嗎？來，過來，到前面來！”

Assassin was left speechless, then said with a mix of laughter and tears, “I've served Fuxi and Nuwa for over twenty years and was even nominated to be the next captain of the imperial guard—only to have it all ruined. You want to know why I tried to assassinate Yellow Creator?” He pointed to Cowboy in the back row. “You want to know? Come on, come over here! Step forward!”

人們都看牛郎！牛郎也不明白啊，就走到了屋子的前面。

刺客指着牛郎說：“都是因為他！”說着刺客就要跳過桌子，打牛郎。士兵們把刺客推到了會議室的外面，和刺客爭吵了一會兒。隨後士兵們決定讓他完成新犯人進入集中營的儀式。”

All eyes turned to Cowboy! Confused, he walked to the front of the room.

Assassin pointed at Cowboy and shouted, “It's all his fault!” He lunged across the table to strike Cowboy. Soldiers pushed Assassin out of the conference room, where they argued with him for a while. Eventually, the soldiers decided to let him complete the ritual for new prisoners entering the concentration camp.

刺客再次進入會議室後，沒說幾句，就開始罵牛郎：“你這個奴隸崽子！裝什麼冤枉！這屋裡的人都明白；我的地位是靠我自己一步一步地干出來的；不像你這個吃軟飯的！遇到你，我倒了八輩子的霉！”

士兵們又把刺客推到了屋外。爭吵了一會兒後，士兵們決定把刺客送到另一個政治犯集中營，把他和牛郎分開了。

After re-entering the conference room, Assassin barely spoke before hurling abuse at Cowboy: You slave-bastard! Stop pretending to be wronged! Everyone here knows my position was earned through hard work, step by step—unlike you, a freeloader! Meeting you has been my worst misfortune in eight lifetimes!"

The soldiers pushed Assassin outside again. After another argument, they decided to transfer him to another political prisoner camp, separating him from Cowboy.

3. 刺客威脅牛郎 Assassin Threatens Cowboy

這天牛郎正在家裡幹活呢，忽然發現刺客從另外一個集中營跑出來找他了。牛郎着實被嚇了一跳，他的體力不濟，可能不是刺客的對手。

刺客說：“牛郎！你別害怕，今天我不是來打你的。我聽說就要去和你的那位情人會面了。我知道，女嬰也會跟着她來。你告訴女嬰。在你回來這裡之前，如果她不把我弄回去，我就舉報她。我看見了，她也去刺殺大禹了。那時，我走在她的後面。”

One day, while Cowboy was working at home, he suddenly discovered that Assassin had escaped from another concentration camp and was coming for him. Cowboy was genuinely startled—his physical strength was failing him, and he might not be a match for Assassin.

Assassin said, “Cowboy! Don't be afraid, I’m not here to beat you up today. I heard you’re going to meet your lover. I know Heroine will come with her. Tell Heroine that if she doesn’t bring me back before you return, I will report her. I saw her go to assassinate Big Yu. I was walking behind her then.”

返回大禹治水的目錄 Return to Catalog of Yu’s Water Treatment