Four talent men

A poor couple had married for many years but had not child they had gone to many temple prayed for having a child. At last their wish became true the wife gave birth to a son. The son grew so fast and also ate so much. He ate more much each passing day. The couple worked very hard to sever him but they couldn’t that they had to sold their assets to have money for his food. Then the last asset had been sold. Now they couldn’t offer for him any more. Then they thought should let their son took a journey. They called he came.

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“My dear son, I and your mother were too old that we can not offer you any more. But long time ago, when we lived in wealth we lend the king of China 7000 kilo grams of gold bars. Now you had to go and regain.”, said his father.

The son obeyed and went. He followed the seaside toward the north to come China. One day, when he was on his way he met a giant man who was taking water away the sea.

“What are you doing?”, said the son.

“I am making the sea dried to find jewelry in bottom of the sea.”, said the giant man.

“How can you do that with only your ability?”, said the son.

“I have extraordinary health. You will change your mind if you take my bucket.”, said the giant man.

But he giant man was surprised as he saw the son could bring his bucket away from the ground in easy way so he invited the son to come his house, treated him a meal and made related with him. Then the son showed his kindness wanting the giant man to go with him.

“Go with me brother we can got money immediately and we can make the sea dried after we come back.”, said the son.

The giant man thought the son’s suggestion was rather attractive so he agreed.

Then they went. One day, then came to a mountain and met a young boy who was sitting on a large rock. The son and the giant man came near.

“What are you doing, boy?”, they asked.

“I sit here whenever I want I will blow a breath which flew down a tree and I will cut it to wood then take to make to get money.”, said the young boy.

The son and the giant man insisted him to do. Course the young boy took a giant breath then blew toward a tree and it was fallen down.

“Why don’t you take journeys and make your name spreads with your talent. Maybe, you like to go with us and get money from China’s king.”, said the son.

The young boy felt pleasant with the idea so he agreed. Then they continued their journey. Ten days later, they came to a forest. From deep forest they saw a beefy man bringing two elephants on his shoulder was going toward them that made them very respect. They stopped him to ask:

“Where do you take them to?”

“I take them to my house and slaughter them them take the meal to market to get money.”, said the beefy man.

“You don’t need to do this thing to get money. It wastes your talent. Why don’t you go with us and take money from China’s king.”, said the son.

The beefy man had no doubt and agreed immediately. He left the elephants and went.

At last the arrived the castle where the king live but soldiers prevented them to come in. They raged.

“We come here to regain us money. Why you dared to prevent us?”, they said and nearly beat them but the son stopped them he wrote a letter and asked soldiers to send the king. The king was so surprised when he had read the letter then he ordered a courtier to go and see who reckless people were. The courtier came back after a while and reported:

“Those are four weird people who come from An-nam. They confirm that only if they are paid their money they will go.”, said the courtier.

Though the king was not pleasant but he invited four of them to stay at the castle few days. The king asked courtiers to treat them well and severed food to them but they four ate too terrible that after three days the mandarin who managed the kitchen had to report the king that half of food was used for months had gone. The king was frightened and asked courtiers to find the way killing them. Then four men were invited to row a boat. When the boat was in middle of lake it was shipwrecked. Immediately, the giant man grabbed the boat and used as a bucket and made the lake dried. He saved his life and his friend’s lives.

Saw they were fine the king was very angry but he kept him calm and ordered servants to make a meal and tread them. They had no doubt and drunk very much. While they was drinking the king ordered soldiers to kill them. The soldiers covered the room and prepared to break into. Three of them were scared and nearly broke out but the young boy who had strong breath prevented them.

“You only need stay here I will take care of things.”, said the young boy.

Then he took a giant breath and blew. Soldiers didn’t against the strength of the breath they was taken away as leaves. Then they four continued their meal.

That time, the king felt very worry so he summoned all courtiers came and discussed. Some of them advised the king should pay and get away of troubles.

“It is too much, 7000 kilo grams of gold. Can we have them decrease.”, said the king.

“You can pay but you made all transports, boats, carts, not to carry the gold and asked them not to be allowed to carry many times and course they can carry a little from amount of the gold.”, said a courtier.

The king thought that was a nice idea so he agreed. When the date came the beefy man who could bring two elephants brought two giant baskets came in treasury and it need only him to take away 7000 kilo grams of gold front surprise of people. Mandarins could do any more but weigh.

Four men said goodbye the king then found their way to came back. They separated and lived luxurious lives till they died.

THE END

"Translated by Hung Nguyen"

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