In a quiet countryside, a young farmer named Jack worked tirelessly on his small piece of land.
在宁静的乡村，一位名叫杰克的年轻农夫在他的小块田地上辛勤劳作。
Despite his hard work, his crops barely grew, and his family often went hungry.
尽管他努力工作，他的庄稼几乎不长，家人常常挨饿。
One evening, while walking through the woods, Jack heard a faint cry for help.
一天傍晚，杰克在树林里散步时，听到了一阵微弱的呼救声。
Following the sound, he discovered a tiny gnome trapped under a fallen branch.
顺着声音，他发现了一位被树枝压住的小侏儒。
“Please help me!” the gnome pleaded.
“请帮帮我！”侏儒恳求道。
Without hesitation, Jack lifted the branch, freeing the small creature.
杰克毫不犹豫地抬起树枝，解救了这个小生物。
Grateful, the gnome said, “You have saved my life. For your kindness, I will give you a gift.”
侏儒感激地说：“你救了我的命。为了感谢你的善良，我将送你一件礼物。”
The gnome handed Jack a golden pot, small but radiant.
侏儒递给杰克一个小小的金壶，光彩夺目。
“This is no ordinary pot,” the gnome explained.
“这不是一个普通的壶，”侏儒解释道。
“Speak your wish while holding it, and it will be granted. But use it wisely.”
“握着它说出你的愿望，它就会实现。但要明智地使用它。”
Jack was astonished and skeptical but thanked the gnome and returned home.
杰克既惊讶又怀疑，但他感谢了侏儒后回到了家。
That night, with his family hungry, he held the pot and said, “I wish for food.”
那天晚上，他的家人正挨饿，他握着金壶说：“我希望有食物。”
To his amazement, the pot filled with delicious bread, fruits, and cheese.
让他惊讶的是，壶里装满了美味的面包、水果和奶酪。
The family feasted and celebrated their unexpected fortune.
全家人享用了一顿大餐，并庆祝这意外的好运。
Jack’s life improved as he used the pot sparingly to grow his farm and help his neighbors.
杰克的生活改善了，他谨慎使用金壶来发展农场和帮助邻居。
But news of the magical pot spread, reaching the ears of a greedy merchant.
但金壶的消息传开了，传到了一个贪婪商人的耳中。
The merchant visited Jack, pretending to be a wealthy benefactor.
商人拜访了杰克，假装成一个富有的恩人。
He tricked Jack into trading the pot for a bag of gold.
他用一袋金子骗取了杰克的金壶。
Once the merchant had the pot, he used it recklessly, making extravagant wishes.
商人得到了金壶后，肆意挥霍，许下奢侈的愿望。
But the pot, sensing greed, began to curse its owner.
但金壶感知到贪婪，开始诅咒它的主人。
The merchant’s wishes turned against him—his riches crumbled, and his mansion collapsed.
商人的愿望反噬了他——他的财富崩塌，豪宅倒塌。
Desperate, the merchant returned the pot to Jack, begging for forgiveness.
绝望的商人把金壶还给了杰克，乞求他的原谅。
Jack, remembering the gnome’s warning, vowed to use the pot only for good.
杰克记住了侏儒的警告，发誓只用金壶做好事。
He helped his village prosper, sharing his fortune and living humbly.
他帮助村庄繁荣起来，分享他的财富并过着简朴的生活。
The golden pot became a symbol of kindness and wisdom, its legend passed down for generations.
金壶成了善良和智慧的象征，它的传说代代相传。
