Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise--Sai Weng Shi Ma

The Chinese of This Chinese Idiom "Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise--Sai Weng Shi Ma" is 塞翁失马, Pin Yin （拼音）, sài wēng shī mǎ. This is a Taoist wisdom story.

There was once an old man who lived with his only son at the border of the state. They were fond of horses and often let them graze freely in the meadow.

One time a servant reported to the old man, "A horse is missing! It must have gone into the neighboring state."

His friends felt sorry for him, but the old man was not bothered at all by the loss. As a matter of fact, he said, "Who knows! The loss may bring us good fortune!"

A few months later, a strange thing happened. Not only did the missing horse return home safely, it also brought back with it a fine horse from the neighboring state.

When his friends heard the new, they congratulated the old man on his good luck. But the old man said, "Who knows! This may bring us ill fortune!"
One day, when the old man's son was riding the fine horse, he accidentally fell off the horse, broke his leg, and was crippled.

Many friends came to comfort the old man, but the old man was njot the least disturbed by the accident. "Who knows! This may bring us good fortune after all!" he said.

A year later, when the neighboring state sent troops across the border, all the young and strong men were drafted to fight the invaders, and most of them got killed. The old man's son was not drafted because he was crippled and so his life was spared.



从前在边界的地方，住了一个老人与他的独生子。他们喜欢马匹，常常让他们的马四处吃草。
有次，仆人回报老人说：「有匹马逃走了，相信是跑到邻国去。」
老人的朋友都替他感到可惜，但老人并没有为此事而烦恼。并说：「天晓得！说不定这会给我们带来好运。」
过了几个月，有件奇怪的事发生，老人失去的马不仅平安回家，而且带了一匹邻国的骏马回来。朋友知道了，都来道贺，但老人说：「天晓得！说不定这会给我们带来厄运。」
一天，当他的儿子骑著骏马到处驰骋时，不慎坠马断腿，成了跛子。
朋友都来慰问他，但老人一点也没有把此事放在心上，并说：「天晓得，说不定这会因祸得福呢！」
过了一年，邻国举兵入侵，所有壮丁都被徵去应战，十之八九都阵亡。老人的儿子，因为残废没有被徵，因而得以平安无事。