A CheCk of 500,000 dollArs

A businessman was deep in debt and could see no way out. He sat on the park bench, head in hands,seeking solutions to save his company.

Suddenly an old man appeared. “Are you in trouble now?” he asked. After he heard the businessman's stories,the old man said, “I believe I can help you.” He asked the businessman’s name, wrote a check, and handed it to the businessman, “Take this. Meet me here one year from today. At that time I believe you can pay me back with your efforts.” Then he left.

In his hand, the businessman saw a check of 500,000 dollars, signed by John D. Rockefeller, who was then one of the richest men in the world. “I can solve my problems now!” he exclaimed to himself. But he decided not to use the money, he put the check aside in his safe case, He took it as the source of hope pushing him to work hard to save his company.

Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. One year later, he returned to the park with the check of $500,000. At the agreed-on time, the old man appeared. Just as the businessman was about to hand back the check and share his successful story with him, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man.“I am so glad I caught him!” she cried, “I hope he hasn’t been bothering you. He’s always escaping from the mental institution and telling people he’s John D. Rockefeller.”And she took him away by the arm. The businessman stood there, dumbfounded. ◆

50万元支票

一生意人负债累累，投资者切断注资，供货商催收货款，他深感摆脱困境无望，坐在公园的长椅上，双手抱头，苦苦思索挽救公司避免破产之招。

这时一位老人突然出现在他面前，老人说：“你遇到麻烦了吗？”

听生意人道出原委后，老人说：“我能帮你。”

老人问生意人叫什么名字，然后开出了一张支票，塞到生意人手里，说：“把这钱拿着，一年后还在这儿，我想你一定能把这钱还给我的。”

说完，老人转身走了。生意人看着手里50万元的支票，签名是“约翰·D·洛克菲勒”，一位超级富翁。

“资金问题一下子就解决了。”生意人自言自语。

不过，生意人决定把这张支票放入保险箱，因为有了这张支票，他想，他很可能能找到挽救公司的方法。这样想着，他变得积极乐观起来，因此与合作者的谈判更为顺畅，并获得了延期付款的许可。随后，他成功地做了几宗大生意。数月之后，他终于摆脱债务危机，生意重新步入稳定赚钱的轨道。

一年之后，他遵照与老人的约定如期来到公园，手里拿着那张没有兑现的支票。没过多久，老人出现了，生意人刚想把支票交还给老人，并告诉其转机的经历时，一护士飞跑过来，一把抓住老人。

“我抓住他了。”护士叫着，“希望他没有打扰你。先生，他总是从休息室逃出来，遇到人就说他是约翰·D·洛克菲勒。”护士一边说，一边抓着老人的胳膊离开了。◆