He was a little, wrinkled（有皱纹的）, all skin and bones, old man and lived all alone. No one knew much about him. One day he got a bad cold and he called for a doctor. While the doctor was examining the old man, he asked, “Haven't you a friend who could come in to look after you?” “No, I have no friends — never had any,” the old man replied.
有个身材矮小、皱巴巴、瘦得皮包骨头的老头儿常年一个人生活。没人了解他。有一天，老头儿得了重感冒，找来一位医生。 医生边给他检查边问：“您就没个朋友来照顾您吗？”“没有，我没朋友——从来没有过。”
“What! You've lived in this village all your life and never had a friend!”... “Well, I am not ashamed to say that I am past sixty-four years but I never met anyone I could call a friend for long. If it isn't one thing wrong with them, it's another.”
老头儿回答。“什么？一辈子自己过，一个朋友都没有！”……“不怕你笑话，我都六十四有余了，还没碰上过能称得上是朋友的人。他们不是有这个毛病，就是有那个毛病。”
“Come, come! Our village headman, Mr. Li, will surely come to your aid if he knows you are sick. I am sure you too know him.” “Of course, I know him,” replied the old man, “but he is such a bore. To hear him talk, you'd imagine the world had nothing in it but his wheat field and how wonderful and healthy his pigs are.”
“哪儿那么严重啊!咱们村长老李要是知道您病了，肯定会来照顾您的。您肯定认识他。”“我当然认识了。”老头儿回答，“可是他可无聊啦，听他说话，就好像这世界上除了他家的麦田、他家养的猪又肥又壮就没别的东西了。”
“Then what about Mr. Ma who lives down the road?” “A more selfish fellow I ever came across, though I admit he has got a head on him. He has traveled and read many books and he's mighty interesting to talk to. He used to come in here a lot at one time. But he would come only when he felt like doing so and he would stay away for long periods of time. I don't call that neighborly.”
“那住在路边的老马人怎么样？”“再没人比那家伙更自私了，不过我得承认他还算有脑子。他去过很多地方，读过很多书，说话可有意思了。他过去有一阵儿常来。现在只有想得起来的时候才来一下，大部分时间躲着不过来，算不上个邻居。”
The doctor laughed. “You can't bring up anything against Mr. Zhou? Everyone loves him.” “You're right,” agreed the old man. “Zhou would live on my doorstep if I let him. He's a bit of a wit（小智慧） and rattling（喋喋不休地说话 ） good company, but his noisy tongue makes my poor head ache.”
医生乐了：“老周您总挑不出毛病了吧？大家都喜欢他。”“那倒是，”老头儿同意，“老周这个人，我要是允许的话，他都愿意住在我门口儿，人有点儿小聪明，倒是个能陪着说话的伴儿，就是唠叨个没完，弄得我头疼。”
“I'm afraid you see so much of your neighbor's failings that you're blind to their virtues. You're a hard nut to crack, old man! Anyway, please call me if you need me.
“恐怕您光看见邻居的缺点了，都没看到人家的长处。老先生，您也太难相处了！总之，需要的话尽管给我打电话。
As a doctor I will attend to you regardless whether you like me or not!” the doctor remarked as he took up his bag and hat to leave. The door banged and not a word of “thank you” was heard.
我是医生，不管您喜不喜欢我，我都会照顾您的。”说完，医生拿起包，戴上帽子就离开了。只听见门砰地关上了，老头儿连句“谢谢”都没说。