Once upon a time, lived in Chem village a person his family name was Ly. He had an oversized body that his height was four times than others. People was frightened and called him grandpa Trong to show their respect.
At that time, Cai river which crossed the village had a monster which had crocodile's mouth, big tortoiseshell on his body and python’s tail was named Giai. The monster used to catch beasts and sometime including human beings to eat. One day, grandpa Trong’s mother went to river to have water and was brought by the monstẻ. Grandpa Trong was very painful so he made himself have to kill the monster. He prevented the part of river and made it dried. As the part of river was dried and the monster’s body emerged. He went to where the monster was lying held its neck brought it up to the riverside and slaughtered it by his hands to revenge. He creamed very bitterly and he himself ate whole meat of the monster.
That year, the king of the country planed to build a new castle and need many workers. Grandpa Trong and few people in the village were forced to work. Fate of people who were forced to be labors was very wretched that they were shot by rod whenever soldiers wanted speeding. He creamed
“Who had ability as me has to stay here. No, I won’t.”
Then he escaped. He went away arrived a remote village. He had a job to live. But a little time later, he had an argument with another and killed his opposite. He was escorted toward the castle to be judged by the king. Fortunately, the king couldn’t bring himself to kill him. He kept him beside him to be his guard.
Then the name of grandpa Trong came up to Tan a country was in the north of the country which Trong’s country was under. A little time later, Tan’s king sent a messenger came and asked the king for grandpa Trong as a gift. His king couldn’t refuse and had to do.
Had grandpa Trong Tan’s king was very happy he gave Trong general position and asked him to fight against Hung-no the enemies still invaded Tan’s border. They were very wise that as soldiers’s Tan attacked they cleared away and as soldiers’s Tan went back they continued annoyed people people living around the border. Years passed but soldiers’s Tan couldn’t clear their enemies. But when Hung-no just saw grandpa Trong a person made the scared looked like a strength god. Whenever Trong happened to be the enemies were broken without a fighting. Because of that years later Hung-no did not dare to annoy. Tan’s king because of that respected him more he had his daughter for his wife.
But Trong had no longer time to stay in Tan he felt missing home. Then he asked Tan’s king to let him come back home and was very happy as he met familiar faces. But Hung-no started annoying as they knew grandpa Trong had come back his country. Tan’s king immediately sent a messenger to come and ask his king for his coming back. But, that time Trong didn’t want to go. He wanted to live in his country, surrounded by his neighbors. Though his relatives and neighbors advised him to go but he didn’t on purpose. Tan’s king sent a messenger came to ask his king. His king because of fear talked to the messenger that grandpa Trong had an unfortunate had died because of cholera. Tan’s king didn’t believe the things so he ordered a courtier to come and check. His king had to find many ways to cheat the messenger who had never thought that the dead person was digged up and kneeled was a wood covered by silk. Then the messenger went back and reported to Tan’s king but he still didn’t believe. He sent the messenger, one more time, to go and bring Trong’s body to him. That case was very difficult to solve. Though he had not died by cholera he would die because of lie. At last, he killed himself to avoid a fighting between two countries.
His king gave the messenger his body. That time Tan’s king believed completely but it is very complex as the fought against Hung-no without grandpa Trong. So Tan’s king ordered smiths to make a machine which look like Trong grandpa. The machine was controlled by a person who sat on. As the machine was finished Tan’s king asked soldiers to bring it came to border. Hung-no saw the machine they thought that was Trong grandpa then was naturally tamed. The border was peaceful again.
THE END
"Translated by Hung Nguyen"
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