Once, an old man was waiting for a train, sitting at a bench. A young boy came to him and asked the time.

The old man refused to tell him.Looking around at the empty station, the boy couldn’t find anyone else to pose his question so he asked the old man again and again, but the latter refused him again and again.

The boy was confused and asked the old man the reason for his refusal.

The old man said: “If I tell you the time, then you will ask about me, my name, my job, etc. Then I will ask about you. Both of us will be frank. By chance, you may get a seat with me. Then you may get down at my station. My daughter will come to receive me. She will meet you. She is beautiful. You may fall in love with her. She, too. Then she may insist on your marriage. I am sorry I don’t want that.”

一个老头坐在火车站候车厅的长椅上候车。一个年轻人走过来，向他询问时间，但老头不告诉他。

小伙子见火车站没什么人，只好一遍又一遍地问这个老头，但老人就是不肯告诉他。

年轻人很纳闷，问他为什么。

老人说：“我要是告诉你时间了，你就会继续问我的姓名和工作。等我告诉你了，我们两个就会坦陈相见。有可能，我们会坐上同一辆火车，在同一个站台下车。我女儿来车站接我，就会看见你。她很漂亮，你可能会爱上她，她也可能会爱上你。然后她就可能非嫁你不可。我可不愿意那样。”