One day, the peachwood charm against evil hung on the door turned its face upward to curse the figure made of Chinese mugwort: "Who do you think you are to dare to set yourself over my head?

"　　The figure of Chinese mugwort, unwilling1 to be outdone, looked down and retorted: "It is summer now.

You have only half a year to go, and can't live long.

Why squabble over who is higher or who is lower?

"　　The peachwood charm was beside itself with rage, and answered back sarcastically2.

Both sides refused to give in, and squabbled endlessly with a stream of abuse against each other.

　　At this moment, the deity3 of the door came to mediate4: "It is only because we have no ability that we have to attach ourselves to the door of others.

What's the point of quarrelling with each other?

"　　一天，挂在门上的桃符仰起了脸，大骂艾草人：你这个艾草人算什么东西，胆敢高踞在我的头上!

”　　艾草人不甘示弱，低头还嘴，说道：现在已经是夏天了，你只有半年了，活不了多长时间了，还争什么高低呢?

”　　桃符怒不可遏，反唇相讥。

它们互相不服气，彼此骂不绝口，争吵不休。

　　这时候，门神出来劝解说：我们都是因为没有什么本事，才依附在别人的门下，还争什么强，斗什么气呢?

”　　点击　　收听单词发音　　1 unwilling　　adj.

不情愿的　　参考例句：　　The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.

土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。

　　His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.

他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

　　2 sarcastically　　adv.

挖苦地，讽刺地　　参考例句：　　'What a surprise!

' Caroline murmured sarcastically.

太神奇了!

”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。

　　Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically.

皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。

　　3 deity　　n.

神，神性;被奉若神明的人(或物)　　参考例句：　　Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.

许多动物被看作神的化身。

　　The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.

神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

　　4 mediate　　vi.

调解，斡旋;vt.

经调解解决;经斡旋促成　　参考例句：　　The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.

政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。

　　They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.

他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

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