Snail, Slug, Hermit Crab

The snail and slug, who live on land, happened to venture to the seaside where they encountered a hermit crab.

The snail, astonished to see the hermit crab carrying a house just like itself, asked, "Friend, when did you move to the seaside and upgrade to a villa? You're the envy of everyone!" The hermit crab poked its head out, glanced at the snail, and chuckled, "Brother, are you mistaking me for someone else? Although we both carry a house on our backs." The slug beside them stared at the hermit crab and after a moment said, "Snail friend, he is indeed different from you." Turning to the hermit crab, it asked, "What's your name?" "I'm called a hermit crab." "I'm a slug." "I'm a snail."

The snail continued to admire the hermit crab's house, exclaiming, "Crab friend, your house is truly beautiful. If only I could have a house like that, how wonderful it would be!" The hermit crab, with a self-satisfied smile, replied, "Snail friend, work hard, I believe you can do it. Actually, your house is not bad either. I envy you too." The snail chuckled bitterly, "What is there for me to envy? I can never take off this burden in my lifetime." Upon hearing this, the hermit crab muttered to himself in a barely audible voice, then burst into laughter, "And you, slug friend?" The slug pointed to the sky, then to the ground, and self-deprecatingly said, "Me, using the sky as a blanket and the earth as a bed, enjoying my freedom!"

The hermit crab was momentarily speechless, quickly laughed it off, and soon the surroundings fell silent. It was uncertain who first bid farewell, but they each said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

On the way back, the slug asked, "Snail friend, what did he mutter under his breath earlier?" The snail sighed, "I don't know, how could I possibly know?" The slug didn't ask further, turned to look behind, and saw the hermit crab emerging from its house. Curious, the slug asked the snail again, "Why is he coming out?" The snail remained silent and continued to walk forward with its heavy burden. The slug followed silently. The hermit crab by the seaside hurriedly walked towards the distance...