The King of Yue did not give up after losing to Wu in the war of Kuaiji. Instead, he restarted his life with his wife as the slaves for the King in Wu and at the same time accumulated their strengths. A sacrifice he paid for more than 20 years was finally paid off when Yue eventually defeated Wu. 两千多年前，在长江下游有两个国家，一个是吴国，一个是越国。他们都想征服对方，使自己的国家强大起来。 　　会稽一战，越国打了败仗。越王勾践万般无奈，只好派人向吴王夫差求和，表示愿意和夫人一起去吴国，给吴王当奴仆。吴国的谋臣们纷纷要求灭掉越国，免除后患。得胜的吴王非常骄傲，不听大家的建议，答应了勾践的请求。 　　勾践夫妇来到吴国，穿上了粗布衣，住进了石头房，给吴王养马驾车，舂米推磨，受尽了屈辱。他们在吴国整整干了三年，才回到自己的国家。 　　回国以后，越王勾践时刻不忘报仇雪恨。白天，他亲自下田耕种；晚上，就睡在柴草上。他还在屋子里挂了一只苦胆，每顿饭前，总要先尝尝它的苦味，提醒自己不忘兵败会稽的耻辱。 　　经过二十多年的努力，越国终于转弱为强，出奇兵灭掉了吴国。 ——转自苏教版语文教材三年级语文上册第十二课 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/iGzDQVYToF7Rivo42