24. LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS, AND HONOR

　　 Zhang was a minor official in the county government. He was upright and righteous. He had a kind heart and did merciful deeds. Even though his post didn't pay much, he often went to the butcher's shops and bought animals bound for the slaughter. He took them home and raised them.

　　He had lots of children and grandchildren, which for Chinese people is the best luck possible. He never wasted any money, so as the years went by, he saved quite a bit of money. Whenever he could, he bought doomed animals from the butcher's and took them home to raise. When these animals died of old age, he always buried them carefully.
　
　　Zhang grew old, too, and retired. He spent his old age taking care of his children, his grandchildren, and his animals. The neighbors thought he was nuts, but he didn't mind. He taught his children to respect all life. He never let them kill any animal. The whole family was vegetarian.
　
　　Because he was a vegetarian and had saved many lives, when he was very old, Zhang was still as healthy and lively as a person much younger.
　　
　　When he was over one hundred years old, he was still radiantly healthy. His eyes were clear. His skin was bright. His hair was black and shiny. One day he called the whole family together. When his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren had all gathered before him, he told them, "During my lifetime, I have saved many animals, so I have accumulated much merit for you. Today the Palace of Heaven has sent for me. In the future,the Zhang family will prosper. You will all live long lives. After I leave you, always remember my teaching: never kill any living creature."
　
　　When he finished, the whole family heard music that seemed to be coming down from heaven. They had never heard such beautiful music. It sounded so glorious that it must not have come from this earth, but it seemed to be coming closer.
　
　　All of Zhang's children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren looked up to see where the music was coming from, but they didn't see anything. When they looked down again, Zhang was sitting in his favorite chair, looking happy, but he was not breathing anymore. He had died peacefully, without any illness.
　
　　Local officials heard this amazing story. When they had authenticated it, they reported to the Emperor, who honored Zhang's spirit by promoting him to a higher rank.
　　
　　Zhang's descendants never forgot his teaching. They lived long, happy lives, and never killed a living creature or ate a bite of meat.

24. 长寿、快乐和荣誉

　　张是县衙里的一个小官吏。他是一个诚实正直的人。他非常善良，经常做善事。尽管他的俸禄不多，他还是经常去肉店里买一些将要被宰杀的动物。他把它们带回家养着。

　　他儿孙满堂，这在中国人看来是最大的福气。他很节约，在很多年后，他已经存起了一大笔钱。 只要有机会 ，他都从屠夫手中买下动物带回家去养。当这些动物老死后，他就细心地把它们埋葬。
　
　　张年纪越来越大，他也退休了。他把他的时间花在照顾他的儿子、孙子和他的动物上。他的邻居都说他疯了，但是他一点也不介意。他教育他的孩子们要尊重所有的生命。他从不让他们杀生。全家人都是素食。

　　因为他是个素食者，又救过很多生命，所以尽管他很老了，他还是像一些比他年轻得多的人一样健康有活力。

　　当他活到一百多岁时，还是很健康，看起来容光焕发。他的眼睛明亮，皮肤有光泽 ，头发乌黑 发亮。有一天他把他全家叫来。当他的孩子、孙子、曾孙、玄孙都在他面前时，他对他们说：“我这一生，救过很多动物，给你们积了德。今天上苍在召唤我了。将 来，咱们张家会很兴旺，你们都会长寿。当我离开你们后，记得我的教诲：永远不要杀害生命。”

　　他说完以后，全家人都听到空中传来一阵乐声。他们从来没听到过这么好听的音乐。它是那么悦耳，肯定不是人间的音乐。但是它听起来越来越近了。

　　张的子孙们全抬起头来，想看看这音乐到底是从哪里来的，但是他们什么都没看见。当他们低下头来时，发现张坐在他最喜欢的椅子里，看起来非常快乐，但是他已经停止了呼吸。他安详离去，无病而终。

　　这件奇事传到了地方官的耳中，他们核实后，报告给了皇帝。皇帝追封了张。

　　张的后代都牢记着他的教诲。他们都长寿、幸福，从来不杀生或者吃肉。