成语故事 | Becoming Young

Liu An liked finding the way to live forever since he was a youth. So he was asking around about the elixir of life.

One day, eight old men told him that they had the medicine and wanted to give it to him. Liu An was so happy to hear that and invited them to his palace.

But when he saw the eight old men, he was unhappy and said: “You are such old men.

How can I believe that you can make me stay young and live forever?” The old men laughed: “Do you think we are too old? Then, look at us carefully.”

After saying this, they became eight children.

相传，刘安自年轻时代起，就喜好求仙之道。封淮南王以后，更是潜心钻研，四处派人打听却老之术，访寻长生不老之药。有一天，忽然有八位白发银须的老汉求见，说是他们有返老还童之术，并愿把长生不老药献给淮南王。刘安一听，知是仙人求见，真是大喜过望，急忙开门迎见，但一见那八个老翁，却不禁哑然失笑。原来八个老汉一个个白发银须，虽然精神矍铄，但毕竟是老了呀！哪会有什么防老之术呢？

“你们自己都那样老了，我又怎么可以相信，你们有防老之法术呢？这分明是骗人！”说完，叫守门人把他们撵走。

八个老汉互相望了一眼，哈哈笑道：“淮南王嫌我们年老吗？好吧！那么，再让他仔细地看看我们吧！”

说着，八个老翁一眨眼工夫，忽然全变成儿童了。

重点词汇：

youth：青年

elixir of life：长生不老药

invite：邀请