《牧羊少年奇幻之旅》 39 水晶店生意兴隆（在线收听）

The men climbed the hill, and they were tired when they reached the top. But there they saw a crystal shop that offered refreshing mint tea.

人们爬上斜坡，往往会感到疲惫，而坡顶上有一家出售漂亮水晶制品的商店备有清凉的薄荷茶。

They went in to drink the tea, which was served in beautiful crystal glasses.

人们走进去喝茶，茶水都盛在漂亮的水晶杯子里。

"My wife never thought of this," said one, and he bought some crystal—he was entertaining guests that night, and the guests would be impressed by the beauty of the glassware.

我妻子从来没想到过这样做，有人突然想到，当即买了几只水晶杯，因为当晚将有客人造访他家，宾客们一定会对这些绮丽的水晶杯惊诧不已。

The other man remarked that tea was always more delicious when it was served in crystal, because the aroma was retained.

另一个人打包票说，用水晶杯喝茶永远都是最可口的，因为水晶杯能更好地留住茶香。

The third said that it was a tradition in the Orient to use crystal glasses for tea because it had magical powers.

第三个人又说，使用水晶杯来喝茶是东方的传统，因为水晶具有魔力。

Before long, the news spread, and a great many people began to climb the hill to see the shop that was doing something new in a trade that was so old.

没过多久，消息就传开了，很多人爬到斜坡顶上来，想见识一下这家在如此古老的行业里独出心裁的商店。

Other shops were opened that served tea in crystal, but they weren't at the top of a hill, and they had little business.

又有一些用水晶杯卖茶水的商店开张，不过由于不在斜坡顶部，生意十分冷清。

Eventually, the merchant had to hire two more employees.

不久之后，水晶店老板又雇用了两名店员。

He began to import enormous quantities of tea, along with his crystal, and his shop was sought out by men and women with a thirst for things new.

他在采购水晶制品的同时，购进大量的茶叶，供那些追求时尚的男女来店里消费。

And, in that way, the months passed.

六个月就这样过去了。