Once upon a time, a boy named Chu Sinh lived in Hung Hoa. He lost parent when he was child and was taken care of by his uncle. As much as his uncle treated him well, his aunt, on other side, treated him as much as badder. His aunt really hated him that she was angry as she had to served a nephew, a student, food and drinks while he did nothing but studying that was useless with her in reality. Therefore, whenever she had chance to going cross him, she was always giving him venomous words. But, the boy knew exactly his position in the house and chose not to reply. Day by day, the aunt seemed not to have more sympathy with him she scolded him all day.
One day, his uncle went out and his aunt seemed had her chance scolding him as much as she could and the boy that time couldn’t keep silent anymore he replied few word. But, that seemed to be a reason for his aunt turned angry. She shouted:
“Go away -- if that is what you want and remember – don’t come back here”.
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It seemed that nothing could prevent him to escape the house, he came toward his room arranged his luggage and went away. He cursed that he would never come back the house. He went toward the wild house which belonged to his parent. He unrolled a mat on floor, lied down and slept.
When his uncle came back home and knew about the thing what had happened as he went out, he made his way to go to the house and convinced Chu Sinh to come back with him. Though Chu Sinh had eaten nothing for two days, he forced himself not to come back with his uncle. His uncle had convinced for long time. At last, his uncle and he got a deal that he would come back after three days. His uncle left him a little money and went home. But, three days passed and he didn’t come back. His uncle, one more time, made his way to him, that time he brought food with him. Chu Sinh promised he would come back after another three days but he also didn’t come back as the previous time. His uncle felt angry he came and shouted:
“If you don’t hear me, I will not convince you anymore. Now, you can do whatever you want”. His uncle turned back and went away at one.
Few days late, all food his uncle gave had gone and Chu Sinh had eaten nothing for two days. Though he felt very hungry, he didn’t want to meet his aunt. He slept to forget his hunger then he dreamt.
***
In the dream, he saw he was sitting on table, reading books then a mandarin with soldiers came and called his name. Firstly, he thought that the recent king wanted to meet him but when the mandarin ended reading decree, the name of country he heard was Hoa Thanh that was so strange. That time, he noticed their voice were also strange.
“Are you sure who you find is me?”, he said.
Course, what they talked to him: name, age, parent and address which pointed that who they found was exactly him. He felt people who were there were not bad guys. Besides, they came to bring him to their country and marry with their princess. He thought: “That could be my luck” then he followed them. The road which lead to their country was very dark, and full of fog but short time later, what he saw was different that was a crowded city with many nice building, many beautiful follower gardens and fountains. Beautiful girls and boys in many-color-clothes crossed him and gave him their friendliness. It seemed the place was land of sweets, sugar, honey, candy and many other sweets were sold along street. They crossed few high, large entrance and then arrived to the castle. The castle was guarded by guards. They went pass entrance of castle and arrived to a long brick yard leading to a large building. There were nice flowers which were grown along the brick yard, next to flower was beautiful huts which stood on large pillars. The mandarin asked him to waited, he went toward the building. Later, he came back and asked him to follow him in the building. They went into a hall. There were two large, long table with full of food and drink which looked delicious set on them and, course people had filled on the chairs around the table. At the end of the hall was a smaller table which was where an angel old woman sat on. There had some empty chair next to her. The mandarin led him went cross crowd of people who looked at him and smiled when he got pass. They went toward the table at the end of hall. The greeted him friendly and he replied politely. She invited him to sit on an empty chair next to her. That moment, he had time to observed around. The place was very sparkling which was decorated by many golden lamps, golden chairs and golden tables, especially, the celling was covered gemstones which twinkled as stars and enchanted eyes. Course, all bowls, plates, knives and forks on tables were made of silver. Food seemed to be the most attractive to him that moment. They looked as if they were talking to him that: “Grab me and enjoye me”. Though he was hungry at moment, he forced himself to behave politely. He helped himself for few dishes and started enjoying them. Later, a young handsome boy went in and walked toward their table. He greeted the woman then turned to him to greet. The old woman turned to the young boy and said with a warm voice:
“You help this boy accustomed to this place, don’t you?”.
The young boy nodded and made his way to sit next to him. The friendliness of the young boy, now he was known that he was king of the country, seemed to make them familiar. They ate and drank so much. Chu Sinh had never participated in a happy and delicious party like that. In the party, the old woman let him know that his father and her husband had had a deal that they would let their children marry together. Therefore, the coming wedding was the result of the deal. The old woman asked him.
“Do you want to be my son-in-law?”
Though he didn’t know how Princess Mong Trang looked like, he nodded his head.
“So, come back your home. Threes days later, I will order people to come and bring you back here”, said the old woman.
He said goodbye people and turned back on the way he had come to home.
***
Suddenly, a cold wind blew to his face. He woke up and realized he still lied on the mat. It seemed he had just had a wonderful dream but the smell of wine in his mouth and the feeling full in his stomach they were real. Though he had thought many times, he couldn’t understand what had happened.
Three days later, he dreamt again. That time when he arrived to the castle he realized which was decorated by many red lanterns, flowers they made the place look like a festival. Chu Sinh was led to a gorgeous room to replace his clothes. He put on new red clothes which groom wore on wedding day. Later, some maid led the bride, Princess Mong Trang, who was wearing a veil covering her face in the room. He was very as he saw her beauty through the slit of veil. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. They did a ceremony to become husband and wife. They gave the other their cup of wine and drank.
Later, they led the other to a room in south of castle. That night, Chu Sinh seemed to be the happiest person in the world though he had a little doubt when he saw some stripes on bride’s body. But he didn’t care much.
The next morning, they found the way to meet the old woman, the recent queen, to converse after they had their breakfast. The queen said:
“As you know this is Hoa Thanh. The previous king died early and left this country and many problems needing to solve. I am too old and the recent king is too young so that I and he can not solve all national problems”, she turned to the princess and gave her a warm smile, “fortunately, Princess Mong Trang has helped very much. I am grateful her so much”, then turned to Chu Sinh, “I know all bride has to follow her husband but if she go, none can help me solve national problems. Therefore, you should help me and also my country – leave your wife here and each three days I will request people to come your home and bring you come here”.
Chu Sinh had no choice but to agree.
They talked a little time then Chu Sinh left. His wife went with him to the entrance. His wife seemed not to want to part from him. He also had the same feeling. The recent king realized their feeling so he joked:
“The new couple just got married yesterday but today, they have had the feeling missing the other”.
All people standing around them laughed
Then Chu Sinh woke up. Smell of wine and princess' scent were still on his body. That time, he didn’t felt strange as the previous time. He took his books and started studying and course, he didn’t felt hungry.
From that time, he dreamt about Hoa Thanh each three days. He was met the princess, enjoyed delicious party but when he woke up he was brought back his shabby house, lived in loneliness and poverty. He still lived healthy though he didn’t eat or drink.
He had lived without food and drinks for one year that made people living around felt doubting but he only smiled and chose not to reply as they asked him. That moment, his wife had given birth to a son. His son grew up very fast and healthy. The day when his son enough one years old, he came to Hoa Thanh earlier than usual. The castle was decorated beautifully. Many mandarins, generals and others were in nice clothes, came and gave his son good wishes. They also gave his son may gifts and money which stacked full on a large table. Chu Sinh had to try his best to serve their wine but he was very happy.
Another day, he went to Hoa Thanh as normal but that time all things seemed to be strange that people turned confused and nervous, they stacked their luggage and planned to go somewhere. He asked the queen what happened.
The queen answered him in sad voice.
“I have hid you for long time. But, now I can not hide you anymore. My country is attacking by enemies and now they nearly arrive to castle so that we have to move in next morning”.
When he planned to ask more about the war, a general broke in and reported:
“My queen, it is so serious enemies become stronger each second and we seem to lose one third of our soldiers. If we don’t move in tonight I think we will not escape”.
The queen turned scared as she had heard the news. She ordered people to take necessary things and be ready to go in that night. Then the queen turned to him and said:
“We are in dangerous situation so I can not talk to you much so I only let you know that I have ordered people to bring money to you. You should you the money and try to study hard. We will meet in a day. Your wife and besides your son can not follow you but your son will meet you again about 26 months later. So, go and meet your wife a little before we go”.
He went toward his wife’s room. His wife was stacking her clothes. She turned to him and said:
“It is normal thing as we have to separate. Because I fear you feel sad, I have ordered Dong Nhan to come and make friend with you. I gift you this pearl which was made of floral honey. The pearl will help you fell warn in winter and feel cool in summer. When you bring it with you, you will feel I stay by you”.
Chu Sinh asked his wife in hurry voice:
“Can I follow you?”
“No, you can not. Your future is waiting for you and I, on other time, have to help the queen fight against enemies. So, none can follows the other at this moment. Don’t worry, we will meet again”, said his wife then turned to go.
He grabbed her hand and asked:
“When and where will we meet again?”
His wife put the pearl into his pocket and said: “All things you want to know in it”.
***
Chu Sinh woke up at night. He burned a candle and found out ten golden bars lying on his mat. He put his hand in his pocket then took out a white pearl which was carved a poem on it. He had read the poem few times but he didn’t understand the poem much. The more time he spent thinking about the poem, the more confusion he got. At last, he thought: “the time will answer all questions”, then he stopped thinking about the poem.
One day, at early morning he heard somebody cried. He ran out his home and asked his neighbor the news. He let him know that his aunt had died and was going to be buried. Chu Sinh stacked his luggage and went toward his uncle’s home at one. His uncle was very angry as he saw he came back at that time.
“Two years – you have not come back. Why don’t you go away? What do you come back for?”, shouted his uncle.
He immediately caught an idea to reply his uncle. He said:
“Few days ago, I dreamt my father came and said you now was poor and was going have sad thing. Therefore he asked me to dig up golden bars which were hid under ground and helped you”. He took out golden bars and set them on table. His uncle turned happy.
From that time, he stayed in his uncle’s home and studied hard. He also didn’t dream about Hoa Thanh anymore. Course, he didn’t talk to anyone about Hoa Thanh country.
That year, he got pass a local contest that he would have a chance to participate other contest which were organized by the recent king to find out talents who would be mandarins. His uncle insisted him to marry but he refused all.
One day, his uncle brought a lost girl back home. The girl said him that her name was Dong Nhan. He remembered to his wife’s words at one. Therefore, he followed his uncle’s words marrying with Dong Nhan. Later, Dong Nhan gave birth to a son who looked like his son he had had with his previous wife. He counted and realized that was 26 months from he and his wife separated and now his son came to him as the queen had said.
Years pass, he got more glory. He became a powerful mandarin who was people respected.
One year, his country was attacked in the north. His king ordained to be great general who would bring soldiers going and fighting enemies. They set off and met cove on their way. When he asked people how to get pass the cove, they said him that they went round to the east or west about one day they would arrive to the place where their enemies camped. That time, he suddenly understood the meaning of the poem on the pearl that was the way to fight his enemies. He followed the way led soldiers to attack theirs enemies. Course, the enemies was chased away.
When he had won, he decided to go back by boats. The ferry man said him about there place 15 year ago. He said there place had been where millions of butterflies lived. Therefore, the place was called Hoa Diep. He seemed to understand something and that made him happy. He asked ferry man to stop rowing and rest. That night, he dreamt about Hoa Thanh. As usual a mandarin came to bring him going. He followed them at one. He realized that the castle seemed to be bigger, the population is larger and the country seemed to be more prosperous. The queen showed up to welcome him.
“Hard work for you. God, you have been old. Time pass so fast – 15 years have passed since the last time we met”, said the queen.
He asked to go politely. He went toward the room where his wife lived. They met the other in happiness. They talked to the other all things they had done in the time they separated. Their stories seemed not to have the end.
The next noon, the queen ordered a servant to come and called him. The queen requested him to come back his country and finished his work. She added:
“I am too old that I couldn’t reign this country anymore. Therefore, I decide to divide the country in two. One half give the princess, your wife and the other half give the young king. Now, you can come and help your wife reign her country. Though country now is peaceful, you have to prepare all things to fight against enemies if they appear”.
He still didn’t reply his maids had woken him up. They said he had slept whole a day. He lied that he felt tired after many days fighting so that he slept so much.
He thought about the queen’s words, the enemies of Hoa Thanh (Now, he could know exactly that Hoa Thanh was the country of butterflies) they were birds. Therefore, the bought a large area around Hoa Diep and gave the servants who he trusted most. He requested them to take care of the place. They could grow trees but they were not allowed to chase butterflies and besides, they had to chase birds away from there area. After all things done. He brought soldiers back the capital. His king praised him so much and gave him awards but the king felt so surprised when he heard Chu Sinh asked him for resignation. The king couldn’t force him to give up. Therefore, the king agreed.
After left the castle he came back his home and said goodbye his uncle. He and his wife and son went toward Hoa Diep. When they nearly arrived to Hoa Diep, they suddenly transformed in to butterflies. They joined other butterflies which flew down from the sky to pick them up.
THE END
"Translator: Hung Nguyen"
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