98.TURTLE MAIL

　　During the 1850's, there was a lot of unrest in Taiwan, so the Emperor sent Xu Shuyan with soldiers to calm everything down. Tang Yian was sent along with him. Tang was anxious to find out how things were with his little brother, Tang Shengan, who was leading troops in Xiamen, across the Taiwan Strait on the mainland. But communications in those days were poor at best, and during wartime,it was almost impossible to get letters through.

　　One day four coolies came with a huge sea turtle for sale. It was gigantic, and the price they were asking was, also. Tang's subordinate Chang thought of buying it, but balked at the price they asked.

　　The coolies asked Mrs. Tang, but she thought the price was too high, too. Just as the coolies were about to take it away, Mrs. Tang saw the turtle looking at her with a sad expression in its eyes. It was crying. She felt sorry for it, so even though the price was high, she bought it. She talked it over with her husband, and he decided to set it free in the ocean the next day.

　　The turtle was so huge that it took four coolies to bring it in, but when Tang happened to move it the next morning, he found it was so light that he could carry it himself.

　　'This is no ordinary turtle,' he thought. Silently, he sent a message to the turtle. 'I believe that you must be a supernatural turtle. Whether or not you are, I am going to set you free in the ocean today, the eighth of September. If you do have powers, I would appreciate it very much if you could have my brother, Tang Shengan, now leading troops in Xiamen, write a letter to me. Have you got that?'

　　Then he set the turtle free. It seemed happy to be back in the water! It frolicked in the waves. As it swam away, it looked back over its shoulder and nodded at Tang three times. It seemed to be saying Thank you.

　　A month later, a letter came from Tang Shengan, saying that everything was all right. The letter was dated September 8.

　　Could it be a coincidence? Or had the turtle understood Yian's telepathic message and somehow passed it on to Shengan? Perhaps this was how the turtle expressed its gratitude for its life.

　　The Wang brothers had done their country a great service during those troubled times, but they had had enough of fighting and military glory. They retired to lead quiet lives in the country. They often told their neighbors this story, to remind people that animals love their lives, and that by helping animals, sometimes you can help yourself, too.

98.海龟传信

　　十九世纪五十年代，台湾动荡不安，因此皇上派遣徐书炎带领军队前去平乱。唐易安随军同往。他的弟弟唐盛安驻扎在海峡对岸的厦门，易安非常想知道弟弟的情况。但是那个年代通讯并不发达，特别是在战乱时期，通信是根本不可能的。

　　一天，四个苦力抬来一只巨大的海龟出售。这只海龟体形庞大，售价也高得惊人。唐易安的属下常副官想把它买下来，可是高昂的价格使他望而却步。

　　几个苦力向唐太太兜售，可是唐太太也觉得价钱太贵了。正当苦力准备把海龟抬走时，唐太太看到海龟正用一种悲哀的眼神看着她。它分明是在哭泣。唐太太觉得它太可怜了，于是尽管价钱很高，她还是把海龟买下来了。她把这件事告诉了丈夫，唐易安决定第二天把海龟放归大海。

　　那只海龟大得需要四个苦力才能抬动，可是第二天早上，当唐易安碰巧要挪动它，他发现海龟很轻，只要自己一个人就可以带走。

　　‘这一定不是普通的海龟，’他想。于是他在心里默默地对海龟说道， ‘我相信你一定是只神龟。不管是不是这样，今天，九月初八，我要把你放归大海。如果你真有神通，就请你让驻扎在厦门的我的弟弟唐 盛安给我写封信来，我会感激不尽的。你明白了吗？’

　　然后他便把海龟放生了。海龟重归大海，显得异常高兴。它在波涛中尽情地嬉戏。当它游走时，它回过头来向着唐易安点了三点，似乎是在向他道谢。

　　一个月后，易安收到了盛安的家信，信中说他一切都好。而信尾的日期正是九月初八。

　　难道这是巧合吗？还是海龟感应到了易安的心里的想法并把它传达给了盛安？也许那只海龟想这样做来报答易安的救命之恩。

　　王氏兄弟为国家效力多年，在战乱时期屡立战功，但是他们对征战功名感到了厌倦。于是他们解甲归田，过起了平静的生活。他们经常给邻里讲这个故事，告诉人们动物也是热爱生命的，而且当你救助动物时，你自己也会得到帮助的。