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I love it when I find a longer story that's suitable for beginning readers. This one, which is either a tale that reminds us what happens when you try to be something you're not, or a tale that reminds us that men should never be allowed to give each other fashion advice, definitely fits the bill. <!--more-->

<img src="http://devenv.chinesereadingpractice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/20130805-INLINE.jpg" alt="Learn to Read Simplified Chinese: Basic Chinese Reader" width="100" height="100" class="imgborder alignleft" />The first sentence isn't super simple, so push through that one if you can, it gets much easier in the following paragraphs. Four points of grammar: 

能有幸请 [pinyin]neng2 you3 xing4 qing3[/pinyin] - A politely formal phrase of invitation "May have the pleasure of inviting you ..." or more specifically, "May I be so lucky as to..." (have this dance?) (take you on a date?). 

看上去 [pinyin]kan4 shang4 qu4[/pinyin] - To look like. 

你要是再不走开 [pinyin]ni3 yao4 shi4 zai4 bu4 zou3 kai1[/pinyin] - This one might be a little confusing. Let's break it down: 

你 - You
要是 - If
再不 - Otherwise / If not
走开 - Go away

The full phrase means "If you don't go away...."

他会来收拾你的 [pinyin]ta1 hui4 lai2 shou1 shi5 ni3 de5[/pinyin]. In the story, Miss Pig says this to an unwelcome guest. The "他" in this case is Mr. Pig. The Beginners often learn the word "收拾", meaning "to tidy up". Usually, this means exactly what it sounds like, and applies to cleaning up a room or an apartment. In this case, it's being used in kind of an action movie way, meaning "He'll come over and <strong>deal with</strong> you!" or "He'll come <strong>straighten you out</strong>!". So Miss Pig is threatening the unwelcome guest, telling him that Mr. Pig will come over and beat him up. 

The Chinese title is 猪先生去野餐
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<div class="postintro">
<h4>Click to Listen</h4>
野餐 - [pinyin]ye3 can1[/pinyin] - Picnic
期待 - [pinyin]qi1 dai4[/pinyin] - To look forward to
打动 - [pinyin]da3 dong4[/pinyin] - To move someone(emotionally)
遇到 - [pinyin]yu4 dao4[/pinyin] - To run into
借 - [pinyin]jie4[/pinyin] - Lend, borrow
接着 - [pinyin]jie1 zhe5[/pinyin] - Continuing on
威猛 - [pinyin]wei1 meng3[/pinyin] - Bold and powerful
英俊 - [pinyin]ying1 jun4[/pinyin] - Handsome
激动 - [pinyin]ji1 dong4[/pinyin] - Excite, agitate
妖怪 - [pinyin]yao1 guai4[/pinyin] - Monster, devil
丑八怪 - [pinyin]chou3 ba1 guai4[/pinyin] - Ugly person
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<div id="chinesetext">
　辣椒的品种有很多，但不论哪一个品种，在未成熟前都是青绿色的，那是因为含有叶绿素的缘故。到了成熟期，叶绿素被破坏，辣椒中含有的黄色素和叶红素就相应增多，于是变成黄色和红色。而有的辣椒品种是在青绿色时味道更好，因而在未成熟前就上市了。所以，我们可看到各种颜色的辣椒。  

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Today, it's a great day for a picnic. Mr. Pig dressed himself with care, looking forward to [the possibility of] Miss Pig and himself going on a picnic together.

"Heh, I hope she says 'Yes' [lit: I'm willing]. Hm, I'll also pick some flowers to give her, that will certainly be enough to sway her!"

On the road, Mr. Pig ran into his friend Fox. When fox heard about the picnic, he said: "Let me give you a suggestion, let me lend you my beautiful tail. See, you look so clever, Miss Pig will certainly like it." Mr. Pig was very pleased. 

Continuing on, he ran into his friend Lion. Lion heard about the picnic and said: "Let me give you a suggestion, borrow my beautiful hair for when you go over there. See, you look so powerful, Miss Pig will certainly like it." Mr. Pig was very pleased.  

After a while, he ran into his friend Zebra. Zebra heard about the picnic and said: "Let me give you a suggestion, I'll lend you my beautiful stripes. See, you look so handsome. Miss Pig will certainly like it." Mr. Pig was very pleased. He felt that he'd never before looked so handsome.

Finally arriving at Miss Pig's house, Mr. Pig excitedly knocked on the door. "Would you do me the honor of going on a picnic with me?" he asked. 

Miss Pig was terrified: "Oh, no way! What kind of monster are you? If you don't go away, I'll go get Mr. Pig, he'll straighten you out!"

Mr. Pig hurriedly ran away. On the road, he gave the stripes back to Zebra, the hair back to Lion, and the tail back to Fox. AFter that, he hurried back to Miss Pig's house, and again pressed the doorbell. 

"Would you do me the honor of having a picnic with me?" he asked again. 

"Goodness, Mr. Pig!" Miss Pig cried out. "I'm so happy to see you, I'd love to go on a picnic with you. An ugly wretch just came by here, standing in my garden, and scared me so." 

On the way, Miss Pig told Mr. Pig the story of the 'ugly wretch' in great detail. Her handsome friend Mr. Pig, though, listened with great sympathy. It really was a great day for a picnic.
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