The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
Did you know that mice can be 'immigrants' too?
In Aesop's fables from the 6th century BC, the city mouse and the country mouse were actually 'relatives'! Ancient Greeks believed that mice ran from the countryside to the city in search of food, just like humans seeking a better life. But did you know? Back then, a 'city' might have been just a few streets, while the 'countryside' had endless wheat fields. This story has been passed down for over two thousand years, reminding us: safety and freedom are sometimes more precious than rare delicacies.
In the wide, open countryside, golden grains swayed gently in the wind, giving off a fresh, sweet smell. The country mouse wore simple cloth clothes, and his gray fur shone softly in the sunlight. He was happily eating grains off the ground, one by one, enjoying every bite. Just then, his good friend the city mouse came to visit from far away. The city mouse wore a fancy vest, his fur was glossy, and he looked very proud. The country mouse greeted him warmly: "Welcome! Come and taste our fresh country grains!" The city mouse looked down at the grains on the ground, wrinkled his nose, but still sat down politely. The two mice enjoyed a simple lunch in the field.
The city mouse forced himself to eat a few bites of grain, then couldn't help shaking his head and said, "Oh my, these grains are too coarse—how can they be considered delicious? In the city, we have soft cakes, sweet jam, and rich cream—that's what real food is!" As he spoke, he licked his lips proudly. The country mouse was stunned; he had never seen such things. The city mouse patted his chest and invited warmly, "Why don't you come with me to the city and see for yourself! I promise it will open your eyes." The country mouse hesitated for a moment, but curiosity drove him, and finally he nodded, deciding to go to the city with the city mouse.
The two mice set off on a long journey, through fields and across a stream, until they finally arrived at the bustling city. The city was full of traffic and tall buildings, and the country mouse was dazzled. The city mouse proudly led him into a grand mansion. The mansion's doors and windows sparkled, with soft carpets inside and exquisite furniture. The country mouse followed cautiously, afraid of dirtying the floor. The city mouse said proudly, "This is where I live—what do you think? Not bad, huh?" The country mouse's eyes went wide, and he nodded again and again, feeling both envious and nervous.
The city mouse led the country mouse to the dining room, where a long table was filled with abundant food: soft cakes, sweet jam, rich cream, and all kinds of delicious things the country mouse couldn't even name. The country mouse was dumbfounded, his mouth watering. He had never seen so many tasty things, and he was secretly amazed. The city mouse said generously, "Don't be shy, eat as much as you like!" The country mouse couldn't wait to reach out, ready to feast. He picked up a piece of cream and was about to put it in his mouth when suddenly—
Suddenly, a loud meow rang out: "Meow—!" The two mice were scared out of their wits. The city mouse shouted, "Run!" They scrambled off the dining table and dashed away as fast as they could. The country mouse's heart pounded; he had never been so frightened. They hid here and there, and finally squeezed into a crack in the wall, huddling together and trembling all over. The crack was dark and narrow, but they didn't dare move. They could hear the cat's footsteps coming closer and closer, then gradually fading away. The country mouse hardly dared to breathe. He thought to himself: What a scary place this is!
After the cat's meows had completely faded, the two mice cautiously crawled out of the crack. They returned to the dining table. The city mouse brushed the dust off himself and said, pretending to be calm, "It's all right now, the cat has gone. Come on, let's keep eating!" But the country mouse had lost his appetite. He looked at the table full of delicious food but had no desire to eat; the frightening scene kept replaying in his mind. He worried that danger could appear again at any moment, and even his hands trembled as he reached for the food. The city mouse, however, acted as if nothing had happened and began to gobble down cake again.
Just then, human footsteps sounded again, thump thump thump, approaching the dining room. The city mouse immediately put down his food and whispered, "Hide quickly!" He grabbed the country mouse and dashed back into the crack. The country mouse's heart leaped into his throat; he felt exhausted, his body stiff with tension. The footsteps moved back and forth in the dining room, as if searching for something. The country mouse closed his eyes and prayed silently. After a long while, the footsteps finally went away. The city mouse breathed a sigh of relief, but the country mouse was too tired to speak.
The country mouse crawled out of the crack and let out a deep sigh. He turned to the city mouse and said sincerely, "Friend, thank you for your hospitality, but I must tell you: you enjoy your fine food, but I would rather go back to the countryside and eat simple seeds, where at least I can have peace of mind." The city mouse looked puzzled and said, "But there are so many delicious things in the city! Why would you go back to hardship?" The country mouse shook his head and replied, "Delicious food is tempting, but if you have to live in constant fear all day, even the best food loses its taste. In the countryside, I may eat simply, but I can live freely and happily, without fear of danger at any moment."
The country mouse said goodbye to the city mouse and started on his journey home. He passed through busy streets, crossed a little stream, and finally reached the familiar fields. As soon as he stepped onto the country path, he took a deep breath. The air was filled with the sweet scent of green grass and fresh soil, and he felt completely relaxed. He watched the grain swaying in the wind and listened to the birds singing clearly. His heart was full of joy. He ran freely through the fields, no longer worried about cats or people. He thought to himself: There's no place like home!
Night fell, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, its silver light spilling over the fields. The country mouse sat at his door, eating a simple supper—a few grains of wheat. He chewed slowly and found them especially sweet and delicious. Thinking back on his scary adventures in the city, he cherished the peace he had now even more. He thought: Peace of mind is the greatest happiness. Though there was no cake or cream, being able to eat a meal without worry and breathe freely—that was the most precious thing. He smiled with contentment and decided he would never envy the city life again.
