Once upon a time, there was a poor boy named Ma Liang who loved to draw.
从前，有一个贫穷的少年叫马良，他非常喜欢画画。
Although he didn’t have money to buy a brush, he used sticks to draw in the dirt.
虽然他买不起画笔，但他用树枝在地上画画。
One night, Ma Liang dreamed of an old man giving him a magical brush.
一天晚上，马良梦见一位老人送给他一支神奇的画笔。
When he awoke, the brush was in his hand!
醒来后，那支画笔竟真的在他的手中！
He soon discovered that anything he drew with the brush became real.
他很快发现，用这支画笔画出来的东西都会变成真的。
Ma Liang used his talent to help poor villagers by drawing food, tools, and animals.
马良用他的才能帮助穷苦的村民，画出食物、工具和动物。
One day, a greedy official heard about the magical brush and demanded it from Ma Liang.
一天，一个贪婪的官员听说了神笔的事情，强迫马良交出画笔。
Ma Liang refused, so the official had him imprisoned.
马良拒绝了，官员便把他关进了监狱。
In jail, the official forced Ma Liang to draw treasures, but Ma Liang tricked him.
在狱中，官员逼马良画宝物，但马良设计骗了他。
He drew a river and a boat for the official to cross, but the boat sank, taking the official with it.
他画了一条河和一条船让官员过河，结果船沉了，官员也掉进了河里。
After escaping, Ma Liang continued to use the brush to help the poor and punish the wicked.
逃出后，马良继续用神笔帮助穷人，惩治恶人。
The story of Ma Liang teaches that talent should serve kindness and justice, not greed.
马良的故事告诉我们，才能应该服务于善良与正义，而非贪婪。
