重播：房间里最聪明的人

嘿，听众朋友们。

Hey there, listeners.

我是艾丽卡·亨宁森，你们的导游，带你们沿着记忆的环形路走一趟。

I'm Erica Henningsen, your tour guide down circle round memory lane.

我们一直在回顾最精彩的《环形故事》。

We've been listening back to the best circle round stories together.

今天，我们又要讲一个经典故事，特别适合所有要返校的孩子们，因为故事讲的是聪明才智和动脑筋。

Today, we have another classic story for you, perfect for all you kids out there going back to school, because it's about smarts and using that noggin.

所以，朋友们，围坐过来，听听这个房间里最聪明的人的故事。

So circle round, friends, for the cleverest person in the room.

WBUR播客，波士顿。

WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

想想你遇到问题的时候，有人帮你解决。

Think about a time you had a problem, and somebody stepped in to help you solve it.

今天的故事里，我们会遇到一个相信自己能独自解决所有问题的人。

In today's tale, we'll meet a man who believes he can solve every problem on his own.

而事实证明，这正是问题的根源。

And that, it turns out, is the root of the problem.

我是丽贝卡·希尔，欢迎收听《围坐故事会》，在这里，故事时间随时都在发生。

I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.

今天的故事叫做《房间里最聪明的人》。

Today, our story is called the cleverest person in the room.

我们找到了这个故事的多个版本，一个来自波多黎各，那是加勒比海中的一个岛屿；另一个来自智利，那是南美洲西缘的一个国家。

We found versions of this tale from Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean Sea, and Chile, a country on the Western edge of South America.

为了给大家带来我们改编的这个故事，很多很棒的人聚在了一起，其中包括瓦内萨·阿斯皮拉加，小朋友们可能记得她，她在《朵拉拯救雪公主》里演过女巫。

Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this tale, including Vanessa Aspillaga, whom you kids might recognize as the witch in Dora Saves the Snow Princess.

大朋友们可能从Hulu的《大楼里只有谋杀》和Netflix的《断讯》里认识瓦内萨。

You grown ups may know Vanessa from Only Murders in the Building on Hulu and Leave the World Behind on Netflix.

所以，大家围坐过来吧，一起听《房间里最聪明的人》。

So circle around everyone for the cleverest person in the room.

从前，在海边有一座小镇。

Once upon a time, there was a town by the sea.

这个镇子由一位镇长管理，他每天忙着制定法律、撰写演讲稿和平衡财政预算。

The town was run by a mayor who spent his days creating laws, writing speeches, and balancing budgets.

他还兼任镇上的法官，审理案件并调解居民们提出的各种纠纷，这些居民正是他所代表和服务的百姓。

He also acted as the town judge, hearing cases and settling disputes brought forth by his constituents, the people he represented and served.

这位镇长是个大忙人，忙得常常要到晚上很晚才离开市政厅的办公室。

The mayor was a busy man, so busy that he often didn't leave his office in town hall until well into the evening.

有时候他甚至会在办公桌上累得睡着，结果就在办公室里过夜了。

Sometimes he even conked out at his desk and wound up spending the night.

我不能这么拼命地干活了。

I can't keep working myself to the bone like this.

我需要有人帮我分担工作，一个靠谱的副手，能帮我把所有任务都搞定。

I need someone who can assist me with my duties, a dependable second in command who can help me get all the jobs done.

我想招个副手。

I think I'll hire a deputy.

不过呢，事情是这样的。

But here's the thing.

市长一辈子都觉得自己是房间里最聪明的人。

All his life, the mayor had fancied himself to be the cleverest person in the room.

他是托儿所里最亮眼的宝宝，学校里最机灵的学生，镇里最精明的市民。

The brightest baby in the nursery, the sharpest student in school, the savviest citizen in town.

所以他决定，他雇的副手也一定要聪明。

So he decided that whoever he hired as deputy must also be clever.

我的副手必须能解决任何问题，回答任何问题，不管看起来有多难。

My deputy must be able to solve any problem, answer any question, no matter how impossible it may seem.

市长开始寻找副手的第一天，天一亮就醒了，穿上西装，打好领带，朝市政厅出发。

The first day of the mayor's search, he woke up at dawn, put on his suit, knotted his tie, and set off toward Town Hall.

时间还早，街上空无一人。

It was still early, and the streets were empty.

唯一一个在外面忙活的人是个女人，她正在一栋红砖房外的花园里辛勤劳作。

The only other person up and about was a woman, hard at work in a garden outside a red brick house.

她跪在一小片刚发芽的罗勒苗旁边，正用喷壶给那些小苗浇水。

She was kneeling by a patch of newly sprouted basil plants and was giving the tiny shoots a drink from a watering can.

突然，市长脑海中闪过一个念头。

All at once, a thought flashed through the mayor's mind.

如果他今天要花一整天来给可能的副手出难题，那为什么不现在就开始呢？

If he was going to spend the day posing impossible questions to possible deputies, why not start now?

他在女人的门前停下，清了清嗓子，然后喊了一声。

He paused by the woman's gate, then cleared his throat and called out.

勤劳的园丁，看到这些幼苗被照料得这么细心，真是太好了。

Hardworking gardener, it's good to see young plants cared for so tenderly.

我想请教一下，这些幼苗长大后，会长出多少片叶子呢？

I wonder if you could please advise how many leaves they'll have once they've grown full size.

女人没有回应。

The woman didn't respond.

她只是继续给罗勒浇水。

She just kept watering her basil.

但过了一会儿，她抬起头，用闪闪发亮的眼睛盯着市长。

But after a moment, she lifted her gaze and fixed the mayor with glittering eyes.

你问我我的罗勒能长多少片叶子？

You ask how many leaves my basil will grow?

这是你真正想知道的事吗？

Is that what you're really hoping to know?

那我告诉你，先生。

I'll tell you, Mr.

市长，如果你告诉我海里有多少条鱼？

Mayor, if you tell me how many fish swim in the sea?

说完，她调皮地咧嘴一笑，跳起身来，一扭一扭地走进了红砖房子。

And with that, she grinned a mischievous grin, sprang to her feet, and flounced into the red brick house.

市长愣在原地，嘴巴和眼睛都张得大大的。

The mayor stood stock still, his mouth and eyes open wide.

这个机智的女人是谁？她竟然用另一个不可能的问题回答了我的不可能问题。

Who was this witty woman who had answered his impossible question with an impossible question of her own?

他很想敲门去问个明白，但他还得赶去办公室。

He was tempted to knock on the door and ask, but he was expected at the office.

于是，他最后看了一眼那座红砖房，然后匆匆赶往市政厅。

So he took one last look at the red brick house, then hurried to town hall.

他那天剩下的时间都在做日常事务，制定法律、写演讲稿、平衡预算、调解纠纷。

He spent the rest of the day doing the usual, creating laws, writing speeches, balancing budgets, settling disputes.

他甚至面试了几位副手候选人，但没有一个让他觉得足够聪明。

He even interviewed some potential deputies, none of whom were nearly clever enough for his liking.

但整个过程中，他始终无法把心思从花园里的那个女人身上移开。

But all the while, he couldn't get his mind off the woman in the garden.

他一定要再见她一面。

He must see her again.

所以第二天早上，在上班的路上，他特意绕道经过那座红砖房。

So the next morning, on his way to work, he made sure to pass by the red brick house.

令他高兴的是，那个女人又出现在花园里，正在给她的罗勒幼苗除草。

To his delight, the woman was once again outside, weeding her baby basil plants in the garden.

市长深吸一口气，大声喊道。

The mayor drew in a breath and called out.

勤劳的园丁，看到这些幼苗被照料得这么细致，真是太好了。

Hard working gardener, it's good to see young plants cared for so tenderly.

我想请教一下，它们长成后会有多少片叶子呢？

I wonder if you could please advise how many leaves they'll have once they've grown full size.

他心跳加速，等待着那个女人的回应。

His heart raced as he awaited the woman's response.

当她终于开口时，她的眼睛像阳光一样闪闪发光。

When at last she spoke, her eyes sparkled like the sun.

你又来问我的小苗苗会长出多少片叶子了。

Again you inquire about my little sprouts and how many leaves will come popping out.

但先告诉我，狡猾的市长先生，天上有多少颗星星在闪烁。

But first tell me, oh mayor so sly, how many stars shine in the sky.

然后她仰头大笑，跳起来蹦蹦跳跳地跑进了红砖房。

Then she tossed back her head and laughed before jumping to her feet and prancing into the red brick house.

市长感觉自己的心在狂奔。

The mayor felt his heart gallop.

又是一个没法回答的问题。

Another impossible question.

他必须弄清楚这个女人到底是谁。

He must find out who this woman was.

当然，他也得准时上班。

Of course, he must also be on time for work.

和往常一样，他今天忙得不可开交。

As usual, he had a busy day ahead.

于是他匆匆赶往市政厅。

So he bustled off to town hall.

但在立法、写演讲稿、平衡预算、调解纠纷、面试副手这些事务中，他脑子里始终挥不去那个女人的身影。

But amidst all the law creating, speech writing, budget balancing, dispute settling, and deputy interviewing, couldn't get the woman out of his head.

于是第二天早上，他第三次来到红砖房，看到那女人又在照料罗勒时，他兴奋得心跳加速。

So the next morning, he paid the red brick house a third visit and tingled with excitement when he spied the woman tending her basil again.

勤劳的园丁，看到小苗被这么精心照料，真是太好了。

Hard working gardener, it's good to see young plants cared for so tenderly.

我想请教一下，这些叶子长到最大时会有多少片呢？

I wonder if you could please advise how many leaves they'll have once they've grown full size.

那个女人沉默了一会儿。

The woman was quiet.

然后她站起身来，朝那匹马走去，每一步都那么平稳缓慢，就像在空中滑行一样。

Then she rose to her feet and began walking toward the mare, each step so smooth and slow it was like she was gliding through the air.

我会回答你关于我的罗勒植物的小谜语。

I will answer your daily riddle about my basil plant so little.

但首先，请告诉我，我恳求你。

But first tell me, I do beseech.

海滩上有多少粒沙子？

How many grains of sand lie on the beach?

现在，女人和市长面对面了。

The woman and the mayor were face to face now.

她离他那么近，他能看到她棕色眼睛里闪烁的金色斑点。

She was so close to him he could see the shimmering flecks of gold dancing in her brown eyes.

突然间，市长觉得自己的内心像果冻一样软了，因为他恍然大悟。

All at once, the mayor felt his insides turn to jelly because suddenly it dawned on him.

他不仅仅找到了他的副手。

He hadn't just found his deputy.

他找到了他的灵魂伴侣。

He had found his soul mate.

告诉我，女士，你叫什么名字？

Tell me, ma'am, what is your name?

我叫妮娜，市长先生。

My name is Nina, mister mayor.

妮娜，很明显，你和我都有聪明的天赋。

Nina, it's clear that you and I share a gift for cleverness.

你愿意赏脸做我的副手吗？

Would you do me the honor of serving as my deputy?

你聪明的头脑正是市政厅所需要的。

Your brilliant mind is just what I need at the town hall.

市长屏住呼吸，等待着妮娜的回答。

The mayor held his breath as he awaited Nina's response.

她深深地凝视了他一会儿，然后绽放出灿烂的笑容。

She gave him a long, deep stare, then broke into a wide, bright smile.

能担任您的副手是我的荣幸，先生。

It would be my honor to serve as your deputy, Mr.

市长。

Mayor.

我期待能站在您身边。

I look forward to standing by your side.

而她确实做到了，而且不止一种方式。

And she did, in more ways than one.

在接下来的几个月里，妮娜和市长越来越迷恋彼此。

Over the months that followed, Nina and the mayor grew more and more enchanted with each other.

最终，市长向妮娜求婚，她答应了，但有一个条件。

Eventually, the mayor asked Nina to marry him, and she said yes on one condition.

如果有一天我被迫辞去副职，你必须答应我一个最后的请求。

If ever I am forced to step down from my position as deputy, you must grant me one last request.

你愿意答应我吗，亲爱的？

Will you do that, my darling?

市长完全想不通，像妮娜这么出色的人怎么会不得不放弃工作，但他没有多问。

The mayor hadn't the foggiest notion why someone as brilliant as Nina would ever have to give up her job, but he didn't ask any questions.

当然，亲爱的。

Of course, my sweet.

如果你真的被迫辞去副职，我保证，我会答应你一个最后的请求。

If you're ever forced to step down as deputy, I promise, I will grant you one last request.

谢谢你。

Thank you.

现在我要写下我的请求，把它藏起来，希望永远不需要你打开来看。

Now I shall write down my request and stash it away in hopes that you'll never have to read it.

妮娜拿起笔，在一张纸上潦草地写了几句话。

Nina picked up a pen and scrawled some words on a piece of paper.

然后她把纸折好，封进信封里，塞进了书桌最底层的抽屉。

Then she folded the paper, sealed it in an envelope, and tucked the envelope in the bottom drawer of her desk.

市长以为他再也不会见到那个信封了。

The mayor assumed he would never see that envelope again.

可他万万没想到，这只是时间问题。

Little did he know, it was just a matter of time.

你觉得妮娜在纸上写了什么？

What do you think Nina wrote on the paper?

接下来会发生什么？

And what will happen next?

我们稍作休息，马上回来揭晓。

We'll find out after a quick break.

一百年后，在一个很远很远的地方——等等。

One hundred years from now in a land far, far away hang on.

其实也不算远。

It's not so far away at all, actually.

嘿，大家围过来，聊聊家庭吧。

Hey, circle around families.

我们在这里分享来自WBUR的全新听觉体验，《午夜反抗》。

We're here to share a new listening experience from WBUR, The Midnight Rebellion.

这是一档面向八岁及以上孩子的气候冒险播客。

It's a climate podcast adventure for kids eight and up.

穿越时空、解决问题、欢笑连连，还有惊险刺激。

Time traveling, problem solving, laughs, and danger is here.

关注这个播客，随时收听。

Follow the feed to listen.

哦，别忘了带上你的护目镜和靴子。

Oh, and bring your goggles and boots.

这就是《午夜反抗》，在你的播客应用或任何收听平台都能找到。

That's The Midnight Rebellion in your feed or wherever you get podcasts.

欢迎回到《圆圈时间》。

Welcome back to Circle Round.

我是丽贝卡·希尔。

I'm Rebecca Scheer.

今天，我们的故事叫做《房间里最聪明的人》。

Today, our story is called the cleverest person in the room.

休息之前，市长聘请了妮娜做他的副手。

Before the break, the mayor hired Nina to be his deputy.

然后他向她求婚，希望她成为他的妻子。

He then asked her to be his wife.

她答应了，但有一个条件。

She said yes on one condition.

如果有一天我被迫辞去副手的职位，你必须答应我最后一个请求。

If ever I am forced to step down from my position as deputy, you must grant me one last request.

市长同意了，然后他和妮娜结了婚。

The mayor agreed, and he and Nina were wed.

妮娜和市长经常待在一起。

Nina and the mayor spent a ton of time together.

他们不在家里并肩待着的时候，就是在办公室里并肩工作。

When they weren't hanging out side by side at home, they were working side by side at the office.

尼娜是个非常明智、值得信赖的副手，市长越来越依赖她，尤其是在审理案件和解决纠纷的时候。

Nina was such a wise, trustworthy deputy that the mayor came to depend on her more and more, especially when it came to hearing cases and settling disputes.

但她从不做出任何裁决。

But she never issued any decisions.

那严格来说是市长的职责，不是副手的。

That was strictly the mayor's job, not the deputy's.

有一天，市长和尼娜遇到了一桩奇怪的案子。

One day, the mayor and Nina were presented with a curious case.

一对男女来到市政厅，每人怀里抱着一只成年虎斑猫。

A man and woman arrived at town hall, each one cradling a full grown tabby cat in their arms.

陪同他们的还有一名警察。

Accompanying them was a police officer.

他怀里抱着一只带条纹的小猫。

Nestled in his arms was a little striped kitten.

那对男女在陈述案情时，眼泪都快掉下来了。

The man and woman were near tears as they stated their case.

市长先生，您看到警官怀里那只可爱的小猫了吗？

Mister mayor, do you see that adorable kitten the officer is holding?

我的虎斑猫两个月前生了这只小猫，可我的邻居却说是她的。

My tabby cat gave birth to that kitten two months ago, yet my neighbor claims it's hers.

哦，不。

Oh, no.

不。

No.

不。

No.

我的虎斑猫生了这只可爱的小猫，可我的邻居却说是他的。

My tabby cat gave birth to that adorable kitten, yet my neighbor claims it's his.

市长的目光从男人移到女人，再移到小猫身上，最后落在了尼娜身上。

The mayor's eyes drifted from the man to the woman to the kitten, then they drifted to Nina.

她似乎皱了皱鼻子，然后给市长一个鼓励的点头。

She seemed to crinkle her nose before giving the mayor an encouraging nod.

好了，朋友们。

Alright, my friends.

虽然听到你们的困境我感到遗憾，但我可以向你们保证，你们来对地方了。

While I am sorry to hear about your predicament, I can assure you you've come to the right place.

作为本镇的市长，解决市民的纠纷是我的正式职责，我非常认真地对待这一职责。

As mayor of this town, it is my official duty to settle my constituents' disputes, and I take that duty very seriously.

那么，我们来试试看，好吗？

So let's try something, shall we?

市长从警察手中抱起了小猫。

The mayor scooped the kitten out of the police officer's arms.

我希望我们的邻居们把他们的虎斑猫放在房间的两侧。

I want our neighbors to place their tabby cats on either side of the room.

我会把小猫放在房间的中央。

I will place the kitten in the center of the room.

那我们就等着看小猫会选谁，因为它肯定会选它妈妈。

We'll then wait and see which cat the kitten goes to when given the choice, because obviously it will choose its mother.

邻居们把花猫放好后，市长向妮娜自信地笑了笑。

As the neighbors set their tabby cats in place, the mayor flashed Nina a confident grin.

他注意到她又皱起了鼻子。

He noticed she was wrinkling her nose again.

而且她还在吸鼻子吗？

And was she sniffling?

他的新婚妻子从没提过她对猫过敏。

His new wife had never mentioned she had cat allergies.

好了，各位。

Alright, everyone.

我们准备结案吧。

Let's get ready to close this case.

市长蹲下来，把小猫放在地板上。

The mayor knelt down and placed the kitten on the floor.

好的，小家伙。

Okay, little one.

去找妈妈吧。

Go to mommy.

小猫看看这只猫，又看看那只猫。

The kitten looked from one cat to the other.

然后它把鼻子往上一翘，嗅了嗅，就蹦蹦跳跳地跑向那个男人养的虎斑猫。

Then it stuck its nose in the air, took a sniff, and bounded over to the tabby cat owned by the man.

小猫在猫身边蹭来蹭去。

The kitten rubbed itself against the cat's sides.

接着它伸出舌头，开始舔猫的毛，小小的身体因为满足的呼噜声而微微颤动。

Then it stuck out its tongue and began licking the cat's fur, its tiny body vibrating with purrs of pleasure.

市长笑得合不拢嘴。

The mayor beamed.

果然不出我所料，这只小猫显然认得自己的妈妈。

Well, just as I suspected, this kitten clearly knows its own mother.

毕竟，是她用舌头给小猫洗澡，用奶喂它的。

After all, she's the one who bathes the creature with her tongue and feeds it with her milk.

当有选择的时候，小猫自然就朝她那边去了。

When given the choice, the kitten gravitated right toward her.

男人把小猫和虎斑猫抱在怀里，咧嘴笑了。

The man gathered the kitten and tabby cat into his arms and grinned.

而那个女人则沉下了脸。

The woman, on the other hand, glowered.

但是市长先生，

But mister mayor,

我跟你说，我的猫才是小猫的妈妈，不是他的。

I'm telling you, my cat is the kitten's mother, not his.

对不起，女士，但证据很清楚了。

I'm sorry, ma'am, but the evidence is clear.

这个案子没那么简单。

This case is not so fast.

市长猛地转向尼娜。

The mayor turned to Nina with a start.

你刚才说什么？

What did you say?

我说，别急着下结论。

I said, not so fast.

尼娜大步走到那个男人的虎斑猫面前，从头到尾仔细打量了一番。

Nina strided over to the man's tabby cat and peered at it from head to tail.

然后她弯下腰，把鼻子埋进猫毛里，使劲闻了一下。

Then she bent down, buried her nose in its fur, and took a big sniff.

当她抬起头时，忍不住笑了起来。

When she pulled away, she was laughing.

尼娜笑得前仰后合，捂着肚子直不起腰。

Nina laughed so hard, she doubled over and clutched her sides.

市长狠狠地瞪了她一眼。

The mayor shot her a stormy look.

尼娜，你怎么敢在这种时候笑？

Nina, how dare you laugh at a time like this?

我求求你，控制一下自己。

I beg you to get ahold of yourself.

尼娜深吸了一口气，笑声停了下来，但她还在微笑。

Nina took a breath and her giggles ceased, but she was still smiling.

市长先生，你得原谅我。

You'll have to forgive me, mister mayor.

只是，嗯，这只猫不可能是那只小猫的妈妈。

It's just, well, there's no way this cat can be the kitten's mother.

市长气得直点头。

The mayor's brow nodded with anger.

当然有。

Of course, there is.

你自己也看到了。

You saw it yourself.

小猫蹦蹦跳跳地跑到它妈妈身边，开始舔她的毛，肯定是在找干掉的奶滴。

The kitten went bounding over to its mother and began lapping at her fur, no doubt seeking dried up drops of milk.

但是，先生，

But Mr.

市长，这不可能。

Mayor, that's impossible.

这只猫不可能有奶。

This cat can't give milk.

为什么不可能？

And why not?

因为这只猫是公的。

Because this cat is a Tom.

什么？

What?

一只公猫。

A Tomcat.

是公的。

A male.

那公猫什么时候能产奶了？

And since when can a male cat give milk?

市长的嘴张得老大。

The mayor's mouth dropped open.

可是，可是如果那不是它妈妈，小猫为什么要跑过去呢？

But but why did the kitten run over to it if it wasn't its mother?

因为这个男人在他公猫的毛上撒了猫薄荷。

Because this man covered his tomcat's fur with catnip.

妮娜弯下腰，又闻了一下。

Nina leaned down and took another sniff.

没错。

Yep.

确实是猫薄荷。

That's catnip all right.

有点薄荷味，有点胡椒味，还有点柠檬味。

Sort of minty, sort of peppery, sort of lemony.

猫对这东西特别着迷。

Cats go wild for it.

所以，市长先生，那只小猫舔的可不是干奶渍。

So the kitten wasn't licking dried up milk, mister mayor.

它舔的是猫薄荷。

It was licking catnip.

现在所有人的目光都集中在市长身上。

All eyes were on the mayor now.

他两只脚来回倒换着重心。

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

脸上挂满了汗珠。

Beads of sweat glistened on his face.

看来，再聪明的人也有犯错的时候。

Well, it seems even the cleverest to make mistakes from time to time.

我在此命令我们的汤姆猫主人交出小猫，让它回到它真正的家。

I hereby order our Tomcat owner to relinquish the kitten so it may return to its proper home.

好了，这个案子结了。

Now, this case is closed.

那人不好意思地把小猫递给了那位女士。

The man sheepishly handed the kitten to the woman.

警察把镇上的人带出房间后，市长皱着眉头看着妮娜。

After the police officer had escorted the townspeople out of the room, the mayor looked at Nina with a frown.

妮娜，你知道我有多看重你的意见、你的洞察力、你那惊人的智慧。

Nina, you know how much I value your opinion, your insight, your astounding intelligence.

正因为如此，你才是一位出色的副手。

It's why you're such an extraordinary deputy.

但今天你越界了。

But today you overstepped your position.

越界？

Overstepped?

是的，你插手了我的案子。

Yes, you butted into my case.

而且，你还嘲笑我。

And what's more, you laughed at me.

但我不是嘲笑你，我是笑你让我在选民面前出丑了。

But I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing You made me look like a fool in front of my constituents.

我深爱着你，妮娜，我希望永远和你在一起。

I love you dearly, Nina, and I wish to live by your side forever.

但我不能再和你一起工作了。

But I can no longer work by your side.

你必须放弃副手的职位。

You will have to give up your position as deputy.

妮娜盯着市长，然后点了点头。

Ninos stared at the mayor, then nodded her head.

那好吧。

Very well then.

我会照你说的做。

I shall do as you say.

但你要记住，在我们结婚之前，你许下过一个承诺。

But remember, before we were wed, you made a promise.

你向我保证过，如果我被迫放弃副职，你会答应我最后一个请求。

You gave me your word that if I was forced to give up my position as deputy, you would grant me one last request.

她走到办公桌前，拉开最下面的抽屉。

She walked over to her desk and pulled open the bottom drawer.

她翻找了一下，然后拿出那封密封的信封，递给了市长。

She rummaged around, then plucked out the sealed envelope and handed it to the Mayor.

这就是我的请求。

Here is my request.

你能读一下吗？

Will you read it, please?

市长接过了信封。

The mayor took hold of the envelope.

尼娜能看到他的手指在发抖。

Nina could see his fingers were trembling.

他慢慢地拆开封口，展开纸张，开始读了起来。

Slowly, he undid the seal, unfolded the paper, and began to read.

读着读着，他脸上的怒气全都消失了。

And as he did, all traces of anger vanished from his face.

取而代之的是，他笑了，然后大笑起来。

Instead, he smiled and then he laughed.

市长笑得前仰后合，捂着肚子。

The mayor laughed so hard, he doubled over and clutched his sides.

你知道为什么吗？

And do you know why?

因为尼娜在纸条上写着，如果她被迫放弃副手职位，她的最后一个请求是——

Because as Nina wrote in her note, her last request if she was ever forced to give up her position as deputy

她的丈夫也必须放弃他的职位。

is that my husband must give up his position too.

市长把纸条扔下，扑进了妮娜的怀里。

The mayor threw down the note and threw himself into Nina's arms.

亲爱的，我真的很抱歉。

My darling, I am so sorry.

你能原谅我的愚蠢吗？

Can you ever forgive my foolishness?

那要看情况。

That depends.

你能告诉我海里有几条鱼，天上有几颗星星，或者沙滩上有多少粒沙子吗？

Can you tell me how many fish swim in the sea, or how many stars shine in the sky, or how many grains of sand lie on the beach?

市长咧嘴笑了，因为他心里和骨子里都明白，房间里最聪明的人是谁，反正不是他。

The mayor grinned, for he now knew in his heart and bones who the cleverest person in the room really was, and it wasn't him.

事实上，那天妮娜确实辞去了副手的职位。

As it happens, Nina did step down from her position as deputy that day.

然后她升任了法官。

She then stepped up to her position as judge.

市长高兴地把所有解决纠纷的职责都交给了妮娜，妮娜很快就成了全国公认的最聪明、最公正、最机智的法官。

The mayor happily handed over all of his dispute settling duties, and Nina quickly became known as the wisest, fairest, and cleverest judge in all the land.

现在轮到你了。

Now it's your turn.

著名发明家托马斯·爱迪生曾说过，我没有失败。

The famous inventor Thomas Edison once said, I have not failed.

我只是找到了一万种行不通的方法。

I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

下次你遇到问题，想弄清楚怎么解决时，试着按以下步骤来做。

Next time you have a problem and you want to figure out how to make it work, try taking the following steps.

第一步，明确你的问题。

First, state your problem.

你在纠结什么，或者想做什么？

What is it you're struggling with or trying to do?

第二步，尽可能多地想出各种可能的解决方案，不管它们看起来多古怪或多离谱。

Second, brainstorm as many possible solutions as you can, no matter how wacky or out there they may seem.

第三步，选一个看起来最靠谱的解决方案，然后试一试。

Third, choose what seems like the strongest solution and try it out.

第四步，回顾一下效果怎么样。

Fourth, review how it went.

你的方案管用吗？

Did your solution work?

如果不管用，想想你学到了什么，可以做什么调整，然后再试一次。

If not, think about what you learned and what changes you might make, then give it another try.

而且要永远记住“还没做到”的力量。

And always remember the power of yet.

不要总说“我做不到”，试着说“我还没做到”。

Instead of saying, I can't do this, think about saying, I can't do this yet.

但如果我继续努力，总有一天能做到。

But if I keep trying, I will.

本周的节目《房间里最聪明的人》是由我，丽贝卡·希尔改编的。

This week's episode, The Cleverest Person in the Room, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer.

编辑是苏菲·科德纳。

It was edited by Sophie Codner.

原创音乐和音效设计由埃里克·沙马洛尼斯负责。

Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shamalonis.

我们的插画师是萨宾娜·汉。

Our artist is Sabina Han.

萨宾娜为我们所有的“圆圈故事”创作了一张黑白涂色页，你可以打印出来涂上颜色。

Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our circle around stories, and you can print them out and color them in.

大人们，请访问我们的网站 wbur.org/circlearound，点击“涂色页”选项。

Grown ups, visit our website, wbur.org/circlearound, and click on coloring pages.

特别感谢本周的保罗·丹特、艾丽卡·罗斯、瑞安·P.

Special thanks to this week's Paul Dante, Erica Rose, Ryan P.

施雷姆，以及瓦内萨·阿斯皮拉加。

Schreim, and Vanessa Aspillaga.

瓦内萨·阿斯皮拉加是一位古巴和秘鲁裔的艺术家，你们大人可能从Netflix的《离开世界》和Hulu的《大楼里只有谋杀》中认识她。

Vanessa Aspillaga is an artist of Cuban and Peruvian descent whom you grown ups might know from Leave the World Behind on Netflix and Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

孩子们，注意听她的声音，她在《朵拉拯救雪公主》里扮演女巫。

And kids listen for her voice as the witch in Dora Saves the Snow Princess.

本周我们介绍的特色乐器是四弦琴。

Our featured instrument this week was the quattro.

你可以在我们的网站上了解更多关于这种来自波多黎各的弦乐器的信息，还能看到埃里克·希莫洛尼斯演奏它的照片。

You can learn more about this stringed instrument from Puerto Rico and see a photo of Eric Shimolonis playing it on our website.

再说一遍，网址是wbur.org/circleround。

Again, that's wbur.org/circleround.

而且，当你访问wbur.org/circleround时，你可以成为Circle Round Club的最新成员。

And while you're at wbur.org/circleround, you can become the newest member of the Circle Round Club.

这是一个超级有趣的方式，来支持你喜爱的公共广播播客，还能获得各种福利，包括无广告剧集、额外的睡前故事，以及Circle Round活动的优先购票权。

It's a super fun way to support the public radio podcast you love and get all sorts of perks, including ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, and first dibs on tickets to Circle Round events.

你还可以收到活动邮件、新闻简报，以及关于你在Circle Round上听到的乐器的教育视频。

You can also get activity emails, newsletters, and educational videos about the musical instruments you hear on Circle Round.

你还能独家访问Circle Round Club商店，在那里可以抢购超特别的额外福利，比如来自我——丽贝卡·希尔——的个性化生日祝福。

You'll also get exclusive access to the Circle Round Club store, where you can nab super special extras, like a personalized birthday message from me, Rebecca Scheer.

今天就加入会员，支持我们吧，访问 wbur.org/circleround。

Become a member and support us today at wbur.org/circleround.

大朋友们，如果你们喜欢 Circle Round 里的故事，请在你们最喜欢的播客应用上给我们留个五星好评。

Grown ups, if you enjoy the stories you hear on Circle Round, please leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app.

如果你喜欢用社交媒体，也请帮我们在 Facebook 和 Instagram 上宣传一下 Circle Round。

And if social media is your thing, please spread the Circle Round word by talking about us on Facebook and Instagram.

我们的账号是 Circle Round Podcast。

Our handle is at Circle Round Podcast.

Circle Round 是波士顿 NPR 新闻台 WBUR 制作的节目。

Circle round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.

我是 Rebecca Scheer。

I'm Rebecca Scheer.

感谢你和我们一起围坐听故事。

Thanks for circling round with us.

既然你已经听到了这一集 Circle Round 的结尾，我们想知道，你最喜欢哪个 Circle Round 故事？

Now that you've made it to the end of this circle round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite circle round story?

成千上万像你一样的粉丝一直在告诉我们他们最喜欢的圆环故事。

Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the circle round stories they like best.

来听一听吧。

Take a listen.

也许他们最喜欢的也是你喜欢的。

Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

嗨。

Hi.

我叫索耶，住在波多黎各。

My name is Sawyer, and I live in Puerto Rico.

我最喜欢的故事是《心与石》，因为我喜欢那个男的帮助动物，然后动物们帮他拿回巨魔的心。

My favorite story is Heart and Stone because I like when the guy helps the animals, and then the animals help him to get the troll's heart back.

我叫麦迪。

My name is Maddie.

我住在波多黎各。

I live in Puerto Rico.

我最喜欢的故事不是你们说的那些。

My favorite story is nothing that y'all.

我们在这里都很喜欢你，丽贝卡。

We love you Rebecca here.

我叫雷，住在加利福尼亚州的文图拉。

My name is Ray and I live in Ventura, California.

我最喜欢的圆圈故事是《亮黄色的帽子》。

And my favorite circle around story is the bright yellow hat.

我喜欢她治愈太阳的那部分。

And I like the part when she heals the sun.

我叫诺兰。

My name is Nolan.

我来自华盛顿州的斯诺夸尔米。

I'm from Snoqualmie, Washington.

我最喜欢的圆圈大陆故事是《今日椰子》。

My favorite Circle Land story is The Coconut of the Day.

我喜欢他抓住它但没变成金色的那部分。

I like the part when he grabbed it, it didn't turn golden.

然后当他把它还给主人时，它确实变成了金色。

Then when he gave it back to his owner, it did turn golden.

我叫朵拉。

My name is Dora.

我住在加利福尼亚，我最喜欢的《圆圈环游》故事是《命运之印》。

I live in California, and my favorite circle around Dora is the seal of Fate.

我最喜欢的部分就是国王发现法官从蜡烛匠那里拿走了那一千枚银币的时候。

My favorite part was when the king found out that the judge took the 1,000 silver coins from the candle maker.

我叫朵拉，住在费城。

My name's Dora, and I live in Philadelphia.

我最喜欢的一集是《拉奇基炖菜》，因为我喜欢她分享炖菜、大家聚在一起的那部分。

My favorite episode is Latchky Stue because I like the part when she shares stew and everyone comes together.

嗨，我叫伊斯拉。

Hi, my name is Isla.