译文：

The first occurred in a neighbouring village where a man was killed over a land lease disagreement. It seems the man wanted to rent the land but could not agree on a price with the owner, and so had him beaten up，even threatening to kill him, saying it would only cost some tens of thousands in compensation anyway. At that, the owner and his two brothers got together and murdered the first man in his home. The case resulted in four devastated families.

说明：

原文是典型的流水句，由若干小句组成，英文分为四句。注意，汉语中的动词没有形态变化：是、杀死、起源、找人、打、发出、是、联合、 有、破碎，译为英文后，有些动词保留，有些消失。但无论一句话保留多少动词，只有一个动词是重点，用谓语形态，其余的变为从属成分（从句、短语、单词）。例如，第一句：The first occurred in a neighbouring village where a man was killed over a land lease disagreement. 斜体部分是重点，其余的信息或者用从句（where...)，或者用短语（oven..)，而这些从句或短语在原文中可能是一个独立的分句。第二句：It seems the man wanted to rent the land but could not agree on a price with the owner, and so had him beaten up, even threatening to kill him, saying it would only cost some tens of thousands in compensation anyway.有三个并列的谓语（wanted, could agree, had)，表示三个重要的意思，其余的信息用分词短语（threatening, saying)表示，意思显得有层次。这些分词短语在原文中也是独立分句。为了更好显示逻辑关系，译文增加了连接词at that。

另外注意，原文各分句的主语不断变化（一个人、事情、欲强租土地的人、被打的一方三兄弟、四个家庭），让人感到凌乱。译文的叙述视角变化较少（a man，the man；the owner and his brothers； the case)，叙述脉络更加清晰。汉语的流水句即使不太长，翻译为英语时，也往往需要根据意思层次， 分别采用主句、短语或单词的形式表达各个层次的意思。例如：

原文：

农忙时，家里农活忙碌，邀邻居来帮忙，只需吃顿简单的饭，聊聊天。

译文：

During the busy season，people would ask their neighbours to help out in the fields and afterwards everyone was happy with a simple meal and a good chat.

说明：

汉语里全是同一形态的动词（忙、忙碌、邀、来、帮忙吃、聊天），英文只有两个主句（people would ask...和everyone was happy)，其余的都变为短语附着在两个主句。