in Interest
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
It was frigid outside, but Mike McCarthy didn’t notice.
但迈克·麦卡锡没有注意到。
He was so lost in thought that he walked nearly a mile before he looked up.
他迷了路,在抬头前走了近一英里。
When he did, he spotted a red cardinal, bright against the snow.
他看到红红红红红红红红红白的雪地
“Business is forever,” Mike told the bird.
“企业是永恒的”,迈克告诉鸟儿。
It was his new motto.
这是他的新座右铭。
“Business is forever,” he told a kid sledding in his front yard.
他告诉一个孩子,
Neither of them gave him any argument.
两人都没有给他任何争论。
Before Mike knew it, his feet had carried him to his friend Derek’s imposing front door.
在迈克知道之前,他的脚已经把他抬到他的朋友德里克所强加的正门上.
“What are you doing here?”
“你在这里做什么? “
Derek asked.
德里克问道.
“I don’t know,” Mike said, “but I think I need a loan.”
“我不知道,”迈克说,“但我需要贷款。 “
“What for?”
“为什么? “
Derek asked.
德里克问道.
“Do you want to buy my remote-control balloon shark?”
“你想买我的遥控气球鲨鱼吗? “
“No,” Mike said, “I need capital to start a business.”
“不,”迈克说,“我需要资本来创业。 “
Derek grinned.
德里克笑了起来。
“Step inside,” he said.
他说,“走进去,”
Mike and Derek talked terms for several hours, interspersed with generous breaks for playing video games and scarfing down assorted snacks.
Mike和Derek聊了好几个小时, 与慷慨的休息,
While sending Derek’s shark out over the back wall, Mike raised an important possibility.
麦克在将德里克的鲨鱼送出后墙的同时,提出了一个重要的可能性.
“Now, let’s say my business fails,” he began.
“现在,让我们说,我的生意失败了,”
“When has your business not failed?”
“你的生意什么时候没有失败? “
Derek asked.
德里克问道.
“Touché,” said Mike.
迈克说,“Touché,”
“If you know my track record, why invest in me?”
“如果你知道我的成绩,为什么要投资给我? “
Derek shrugged.
德里克·许克.
“I’m feeling generous.”
“我感到宽宏大量。 “
Mike handed the remote to Derek.
迈克把遥控器交给了德里克
“When have you ever been generous?”
“你什么时候慷慨过? “
Mike asked.
迈克问。
“Touché,” said Derek.
德里克说,“Touche,”
They couldn’t see the neighbors’ dog, but suddenly they heard barking erupt beyond the wall.
他们看不到邻居的狗,
Derek grinned and piloted the shark back toward his bedroom window.
德里克笑了一下 将鲨鱼引向了卧室的窗户
“Tell you what.
“告诉你什么。
If your business fails, I could garnish your wages, and you could pay me back that way.”
如果你的生意失败了 我可以扣你的工资 你也可以这样还我 “
“Garnish?”
“加纳? “
Mike asked, confused.
迈克问,困惑。
“Like.
“例如,
parsley?”
帕尔斯利? “
Derek rolled his eyes.
德里克卷起他的眼睛。
“Seriously, dude— can you talk business without thinking about food?
“真的,伙计,你可以不考虑食物就谈生意吗?
Answer: No, you cannot.”
回答:不,你不能这么做。 “
He handed the remote back to Mike, opened his bedroom window to let the shark float back inside, and continued talking over his shoulder.
他把遥控器交给了迈克,打开了卧室的窗户让鲨鱼漂回里面去,并肩上继续说话.
“I can’t exactly garnish your wages, because you don’t exactly have wages.
“我不能完全扣留你的工资,
Your allowance is your only steady stream of income.
你的津贴是你唯一的稳定收入。
If I garnish your allowance, I divert that stream.”
如果我扣下你的零用钱,我就会分道扬镳 “
Mike pictured mounds of parsley floating down a river.
迈克想象出一个浮在河边的帕斯利山丘
What the heck?
什么鬼东西?
“I don’t get it,” he said.
" 我不明白, " 他说。
“You get paid every Saturday, right?
"你每个星期六都得到报酬,对吧?
So instead your parents hand off part of your allowance to me, and in effect I’ve garnished your wages.”
因此你的父母将部分津贴交给我, “
Now Mike got the garnish part, at least.
现在迈克至少得到了衣物部分。
Derek would take part of his allowance before Mike could spend it and, in time, would be paid back in full.
德里克会参加他的津贴之前 迈克可以花掉它,并且,在时间, 将会得到全额还款。
“Where does the stream come in?”
“溪流从何而入? “
Mike asked.
迈克问。
“Your money stream,” Derek said.
德里克说,“你的钱流”。
“It’s, like, the steady money you can count on.”
“这是你能够依靠的稳定的金钱。 “
Describing his allowance as a “stream” might be generous, Mike thought.
迈克认为,将他的津贴描述为“流”也许是慷慨的。
At $2.
两块
50 a week, it was closer to a trickle.
一周50个,它更接近一滴。
“ And if my business does succeed?”
“...... 如果我的生意成功的话? “
“We share the profits.
“我们分享利润。
Whatever you make, I get half.”
无论你做什么,我得到一半。 “
Mike munched a corn chip reflectively.
麦克反射出玉米片
“Seems like a lot,” he said.
他说,“看似很多。”
Derek shrugged.
德里克·许克.
“I’m a reasonable guy.
“我是一个讲道理的人。
Make me an offer.”
开个价 “
When Mike returned from Derek’s house, he stopped by Aster’s bedroom.
麦克从德里克家回来后,他来到了阿斯特的卧室.
“Hey,” he said.
他说:“嘿,”
“I’ve got a question for you.”
我有一个问题要问你。 “
Aster smiled.
阿斯特笑了起来.
“I need to borrow capital—money—to start a business.
" 我需要借入资本——金钱——来创业。
Derek says he won’t charge me any interest.
德里克说他不会收我任何利息。
His terms seem generous, but I’m taking some time to consider them anyway.”
但我需要一些时间来考虑。 “
Mike felt rather pleased with himself.
迈克对自己很满意
Often impetuous, he felt in this case that he had shown great restraint.
他往往冲动地认为,在这种情况下,他表现出了极大的克制。
“You’ve got capital, too,” Mike continued.
「你也有资本」,
“If I borrowed from you, would you charge me interest?”
“如果我向你借款,你会收取利息吗? “
“Would you want me to?”
“你想让我吗? “
Mike laughed.
迈克笑了。
“What kind of question is that?”
“这是什么问题? “
“Well,” Aster said, “you’re a business guy now, right?”
“好吧,”阿斯特说,“你现在是商人了,对吧?” “
“Right,” said Mike proudly.
迈克自豪地说:“对,”
“So if we’re doing things all businesslike, then I’ d charge you interest.”
“所以,如果我们做的都是实事求是的,那么我就要向你们收取利息。 “
“You’re tough,” Mike said.
「你很坚强」,
“Only if you want to do things businesslike.
“只有你想做实事。
Otherwise I’ d lend you money the way Derek would, with no strings attached.”
否则 我照德里克那样借钱给你, “
“Who said there were no strings attached?”
“谁说没有附加条件? “
“Didn’t you?”
" 难道你没有吗? “
“No,” said Mike.
"不,"迈克说。
“He’s not charging me interest.
“他没有向我收取利息。
He’s sharing my profits.”
他分享我的利润。 “
Aster thought a moment.
阿斯特考虑一下
“Net or gross?”
“净额还是毛额? “
she asked.
她问。
Mike’s eyes widened in panic.
迈克的双眼惊慌地睁开。
This was a critical distinction and one he’ d forgotten to nail down.
这是关键区别,
“How do you know about net versus gross?”
“你怎么知道净额与毛额? “
he asked.
他问。
“Your lemonade stand last summer.
“你的柠檬水去年夏天站起。
Gross profit was all the money you took in; net profit was what you had left after you’ d covered all your costs.”
毛利润是您所吸收的全部资金;而净利润是您支付所有费用后剩下的。 “
No net profit, Mike recalled sadly.
没有净利润,迈克遗憾地回忆。
None.
无。
“Either way,” she added brightly, “he must have a lot of faith in your future success.”
她明亮地补充道,“除非这样,他一定对你未来的成功抱有很大的信心。 “
“He must,” Mike said, unconvinced.
“他必须,”迈克说,没有说服力。
“What’s his share?”
" 他的份额是什么? “
“Forty percent,” Mike said.
“百分之四十,”迈克说。
“I talked him down from 50.”
“我从50岁时就说服了他。 “
“ And if your business fails, you owe him nothing?”
“...... 如果你的业务失败了,你欠他什么? “
Mike laughed darkly.
迈克笑得很深
“If my business fails, he’ll garnish my wages.”
“如果我的生意失败, “
“How does that work?”
“这如何运作? “
Aster asked.
阿斯特问.
“If your business fails, you won’t have any wages.”
“如果你的生意失败, “
“Too true,” Mike said.
“太真实了,”迈克说。
“He’ll divert some of my weekly allowance until I’ve paid him back.”
他将挪用我的一些每周津贴, “
“I see,” said Aster.
Aster说:“我明白了。”
“Well, let’s say you succeed.
“那么,我们假设你成功了。
If you’re doing all the work, I don’t think you should have to give away 40 percent of your profits.
如果你正在做所有的工作, 我认为你不应该放弃40%的利润。
Besides, how can you invest in your business if he’s taking that much?”
而且,如果他拿这么多钱,你怎么能投资你的生意呢? “
“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Mike.
Mike说,
“I’ll charge you 5 percent interest,” Aster said, adding quickly, “if you want me to.”
“我会向你们收取5%的利息,”Aster说,“如果你愿意的话。 ”
“ And if my business fails?”
“...... 如果我的生意失败呢? “
“I’ll garnish your wages.”
“我会扣留你的工资。 “
Mike chewed his lip, considering.
迈克嚼了他的嘴唇,考虑。
“Okay,” he said at last.
"好吧,"他最后说。
“Let me think it over.”
“让我考虑一下。 “
He walked to the door but turned back to ask Aster the same question he’ d asked Derek.
他走到门口,但回过头来问阿斯特他向德里克提出的问题。
“You know my track record.
“你知道我的记录。
Why invest in me?”
为什么投资我? “
Aster beamed at him.
Aster向着他发光.
“You’re my brother,” she said, “and I believe in you.”
" 你是我的兄弟, " 她说, " 我相信你。 “
Math Minute Say Mike has paid back his loan and now makes $100 a month.
数学分钟说迈克还清了贷款 现在每月赚100美元
If Mike took Derek’s deal, how much would he give Derek each month?
如果迈克接受德里克的交易,他每个月会给德里克多少钱?
What if Mike took Aster’s deal?
如果迈克接受了阿斯特的交易呢?
It was hard, but Mike held off deciding between the two loan options.
很难,但迈克不决定 两个贷款选择。
Later that week, Derek flew with his parents to a resort in Arizona to escape the cold.
该周晚些时候,德里克与他的父母一起飞去亚利桑那州的度假村以躲避寒冷.
Mike always ate with Derek, but the next day when he walked alone into the cafeteria, he spotted Violet.
迈克总是和德里克一起吃,但第二天他独自走入食堂时,他发现了维奥莱特.
As luck would have it, the funky fashionista was sitting by herself.
幸运的是 时尚怪人自己坐着
Mike moseyed over—casual, but quick.
迈克摩西德过人,但快。
Violet waved, and he sat down.
维奥莱特挥手,他坐下。
Together, they laid out their lunches, and Mike laid out the two loan options.
他们一起摆出午餐,而迈克提出了两个贷款选择.
“Well,” Violet said when he was done, “I don’t have a head for money like you have.”
" 那么,"维奥莱特说,当他完成的时候,“我没有象你那样的金钱。 “
“What are you talking about?”
“你在说什么? “
Mike cried.
迈克哭了。
“You’re an amazing businesswoman.
“你是一个了不起的女商人。
I mean, girl.
我是说,女孩。
Person.”
个人。”
Violet smiled.
紫罗兰笑了。
“I get fashion,” she said, “but you’re Mr.
她说,“我懂时尚,但你是先生。
Business.”
事业. “
Mike blushed.
麦克脸红了
“Pshaw,” he said.
他说,“Pshaw,”
“I don’t know all this business mumbo jumbo.
我不懂这些生意。
I mean, wage garnish—is that some kind of parsley they sprinkle on your paycheck?”
我的意思是,工资工资 - 是某种帕斯利 他们喷 在你的薪水? “
Mike snorted in delight.
迈克在欢乐中喘了口气
“I know, right?”
“我知道,对不对? “
“But it seems to me that what you have to look at isn’t just who offers the better deal in the short run, but in the long run.”
“但在我看来,你必须看到的不仅仅是谁在短期内提供更好的交易,而是从长远来看。 “
“That makes sense,” Mike said, “but what if I don’t make it to the long run?”
“这有道理,”迈克说,“但如果我不能从长远来看呢? “
“Either way, you get your wages garnished,” Violet said, “but consider this: your sister is charging you 5 percent interest on the loan.
维奥莱特说 , “ 否则你的工资就会被扣了 ” , “ 但考虑到这一点:你妹妹要你收取5%的贷款利息。
If your business succeeds, you can pay off that loan with your profits and pretty soon stop paying her anything.”
如果你的生意成功 你可以用你的利润还清那笔贷款 然后很快就停止给她任何报酬 “
“ And if my business succeeds, I’ll be paying Derek forever.
“...... 如果我的生意成功,我将永远付给德里克。
Because business is forever.”
因为生意是永远的。 “
“Forty percent forever,” Violet said, nodding so emphatically that her ponytails whipped around.
“四十分永远” 维奥莱特说,点头如此突出,以至于她的马尾被打乱了。
“Then you’ve kissed 40 percent of your profits goodbye.
“那么你已经吻了40%的利润。
for-ever.”
永远。
Mike gazed at her dreamily.
迈克梦到她
“Violet,” he said, “has anyone ever told you that your eyes really are violet?”
他说,“Violet,”“有人告诉你你的眼睛真的是紫外线吗? “
Violet gazed back at him.
维奥莱特一直盯着他
“Every day,” she said.
她说,“每天,”