Four beggars (乞丐) usually met at an old shack (小窝棚) at the end of the day. One day, they were very 1 because none of them had got much in 2 begging bowls.
"I only got this piece of 3 today," the first said. "I 4 got anything," the second said. "I just picked up these few vegetables outside the fruit and vegetable store." The 5 complained that all he had been given was a handful of herds (香草) 6 he couldn't eat on his own. The fourth beggar had not 7 much better. "I only got the handful of old, dried beans, 8 they aren't very nice!"
As they sat around the fire, one of them had a great idea. "Let's put all our bits together and boil them. 9, we can make a tasty dish and share it." They all agreed.
However, the first beggar thought, "I don't want to 10. I'll just pretend to throw my meat into the pot. They'll never know and I'll eat my meat 11." So he pretended to put the meat into the pot. Now the 12 idea had also hit the other beggars and the shack was so dark that 13 could see what the others were doing.
Finally, one of them 14 that the dish should now be ready and, in turn, each of them helped himself to a bowl. They drank the hot water in absolute (绝对) 15, learning that selfishness (自私) doesn't taste all that good.
