Phu nhân chúc “Ngưu”
in the past, an official celebrated1 his birthday.
a small official under him heard that he was born in the year of "the rat". to curry2 the official's favour, he had a gold rat cast as a birthday present and went to the official's house to congratulate him on his birthday.
the official was very pleased at the sight of the gold rat and said: "do you know? in a few days my wife will celebrate her birthday too. she was born in the year of 'the ox'".
Tòng tiền, hữu cá quan viên quá sinh nhật.
Tha thủ hạ đích nhất cá tiểu quan thính thuyết tha chúc “Thử”, vi liễu ba kết tha, chú liễu nhất chỉ kim thử tác vi thọ lễ, đăng môn chúc thọ.
Giá cá quan viên nhất kiến kim thử, ngận thị cao hưng, thuyết: “Nhĩ môn tri đạo mạ? Quá kỉ thiên, ngã đích phu nhân dã yếu quá sinh nhật liễu, tha thị chúc ‘ ngưu ’”.