Tour Guide: Definitely not. The clock shows the owner's original purpose of reminding his offspring(15) of the importance of diligence.(16) Always work 40 more minutes than other people, because working hard is one of the best strategies to get rich.
導遊：不是的。這屋頂上的時鐘指著十二點四十分，主要的用意在於屋主要提醒他的後代子孫，永遠要比別人多工作四十分鐘再休息吃飯，用以告知子孫勤勞是致富的方法之一。
Tourist: So it is. The owner of the houses was such a wise man. Any other stories?
遊客：原來如此。屋主真是聰明。還有別的嗎？
Tour Guide: Well, look in front of the houses. There is a tower called the "Gun Tower". Its main function was to find and prevent invaders(17) from the sea.
導遊：你看這洋樓的前面有一座較高建築，稱為『槍樓』。它的最主要功能是用來觀察和防禦海上的強盜。

Tourist: Why is that? Isn't the public security very good in Kinmen?
遊客：為什麼呢？金門的治安不是很好嗎？

Tour Guide: Although Kinmen is culturally civilized and publicly secure now, it was not safe in ancient times. Surrounded by the sea, Kinmen was easily exposed to invading robbers and pirates, especially a port village like Shueitou. In order to protect his family from invaders, the house owner built this gun tower. In the middle of the tower there is an iron-frame used to place firearms. On two sides of the tower there are windows where watchers could observe the enemies.
導遊：金門現在民風純樸，治安良好。但是金門四面環海的地形，在早期容易招致強盜和海盜入侵。尤其水頭村又是一個港口，屋主為了防止敵人入侵因此建造了這個槍樓。在槍樓的中間有一個鐵架，是用來架槍的，兩邊還有瞭望孔，可以觀察外面的敵人。

Tourist: Understood! So the gun tower is not only beautiful but also defensive.
遊客：原來如此。所以槍樓不僅造型美觀外，還具有防禦的功能。

Tour Guide: That's true. By the way, in front of the western houses there is "Jinshuei Elementary School". It was the first private school in Kinmen. The school was completed in 1931 with the sponsorship(18) of some overseas Chinese from this village. In the Japanese colonial days, this elementary school was used as a hospital for the Japanese soldiers. The school a traditional roof of red bricks, but its front door is decorated with some English letters and an angel pattern. This tells us that the building has some European influence.
導遊：是啊。而且，這洋樓前面的「金水國小」也是金門島上第一間新式學堂，是由水頭華僑出資在民國二十年（西元1931年）完工。在日據時代，這個小學也成為日本軍人的醫院。金水國小建築是傳統紅磚屋頂，但在門前卻出現英文字和天使的裝飾圖樣，很顯然是受到歐洲建築的影響。

Tourist: All of these western houses show a combination of Chinese and Western architecture; at the same time, they provide testimony(19) of a profound(20) history.
遊客：這些洋樓真是中西建築的融合；同時，也為歷史留下美好的見證。（二十九）

■15. offspring-(n)後裔、子孫；結果、產物。
■16. diligence-(n)勤勉、勤奮。
■17. invader-(n)入侵者。
■18. sponsorship-(n)贊助、資助。
■19. testimony-(n)證言、證詞、證據。
■20. profound-(adj.)淵博、深奧的；深刻的。

資料來源：金門縣政府
原書作者：陳建民、漢貴恩

【本系列及新聞英文解說，由金門技術學院Patti老師指導，本報編輯部提供，歡迎各界指正或提供建議】