Once upon a time, a merchant was traveling by boat to a distant place.
从前，有个商人要乘船去远方。
He carried a chest of precious jewels and carefully placed it on the boat.
他带着一箱珍贵的珠宝，小心地放在船上。
As the boat reached the middle of the river, it suddenly rocked.
船行到河中央，突然晃动了一下。
The chest was not stable and fell into the river.
箱子没放稳，掉进了河里。
The merchant was very anxious and immediately asked the boatman to dive in and retrieve it.
商人非常着急，立刻让船夫下水找。
But the river was deep and fast-flowing, and nothing could be seen.
可河水又深又急，什么都看不见。
The boatman shook his head and said, “We can’t find it now; we must wait.”
船夫摇摇头说：“现在找不到，只能等。”
The merchant didn’t understand, “Wait for what? Will the jewels float back up?”
商人不理解：“等什么？珠宝会自己浮上来吗？”
The boatman pointed into the distance and said, “When the water recedes, the chest will appear.”
船夫指着远方说：“等水退了，东西就会出现。”
Though unwilling, the merchant decided to wait patiently.
商人虽然不甘心，但还是决定耐心等待。
A few days later, the river water became shallower.
过了几天，河水渐渐变浅了。
The merchant returned to the riverbank and saw many stones appearing on the riverbed.
商人回到河边，看到河底露出了许多石头。
To his surprise, his chest was stuck behind a large rock!
他惊喜地发现，自己的珠宝箱正卡在一块大石头后面！
He happily pulled it out, and all the jewels were safe.
他高兴地捞起箱子，珠宝完好无损。
He sighed, “So it’s true, when the water recedes, everything is revealed.”
他感叹道：“原来，水退了，东西真的就出来了。”
The boatman smiled and said, “Some things can’t be rushed. If you wait, the truth will come to light.”
船夫笑着说：“有些事情，急也没用，等一等，自然会明白。”
The merchant nodded, understanding the meaning of "the truth will emerge."
商人点点头，明白了水落石出的道理。
