Once upon a time, a couple who were over fifty years old but they had never given birth to any child. At last, their wish came to gods who brought a child to them that the wife was pregnant. The couple was very happy they counted each day to the day the wife bore. But, when the wife went into labor, she gave birth to a toad. Felt disappointed, they planned to throw the toad away but the toad suddenly spoke:
“Mommy, don’t. Let me stay with you, mommy. I can work, mommy”.
Then the toad continued saying mommy and mommy that made people around there happy. Consequently, the couple kept the toad staying with them and treated her as their normal daughter. She used to tell stories which made her parent happy and also helped them homework. She seemed to have nothing different with others.
Meantime, that village was also the place a student lived in. The student lost his parent when he was child so he lived alone. One day, the student was on way going to his school, he went cross the field which had yellow ripe rice. He bent down to pick up some grains of rice. Suddenly, he heard a voice:
“Guy, why do you pick up our rice?”
He was startled looked around but he didn’t see any one. Thought that he just imagined he continued moving.
Afternoon, he went back crossing the field and picked some grains of rice again and the voice he had heard spread up from the field again. One more time, he observed around but he couldn’t see anyone but a toad sitting on ground next to rice. He looked at the toad and asked without thinking that the toad would answer him.
“You’ve spoke, haven’t you?”
“Yes, it’s me”, she replied.
“Because rice in this place was ripe early, my parent asked me to stay here and guard in daytime. It is going to turn dark, you should go home and don’t pick up our rice more”, she added.
The lovely innocent voice of her made him have a little delight. He thought: “though she is not beautiful, she had good qualities that not all people have”.
Next times when he crossed the field, he always stopped to converse with her. Days passed, he fell in love with her without notice.
One day, he made his way to her home and asked her to be his wife. Her parent had never thought that their daughter could marry. Therefore, they were really happy and promised that they would be responsible for holding the wedding. Days later, she waddled after her husband toward his home.
The rumor that the student married with a toad became a joke for others. In his school, some people used to talk to others that he married with her because of money. Besides, they made him ashamed whenever they had chances.
Though people talked after him, he still acted as there was nothing happened. At last, they had a plan to make him ashamed front his teacher and classmates. They rumored that he would organized a party and invited teacher and others to join. The rumored was spread and he could not prevent it.
“How could my wife cook a party?” he thought, shuffling his feet on the way toward his home. His wife realized at one that he was sad. She asked but he avoided answering because he thought his wife would be painful as he asked her to cook a party. His wife continued insisting him. At last, he told her that thing.
“It is not difficult I can cook. Don’t worry. Invite your friend coming and enjoying our food”, he said.
He felt relieved when his wife said surely that she could. He always felt that when he heard her innocent voice. The next morning, he went to school and invited his teacher and classmate to participate in the party which would be organized few days later. The date was coming but he didn’t see his wife have any preparation. Till the last day, while he was absent, studying at school, his wife called fairies flying from sky down and helping her. Just a blink, many delicious dishes which seemed only to appear in royal party were set on tables.
That afternoon, the student brought his teacher and classmates including the classmates who spread rumors to his home. All of them turned ecstatic as they tasted the dishes. His teacher praised:
“I have never eaten any dishes which was delicious like that. Wonderful!”
Short time later that was nearly their teacher’s birthday. His classmates challenge each other to sew clothes for their teacher and he, course, was forced to participate their challenge. The people who sewed were wives of participants and they would be not provided the size of teacher. Anyone who could sew the suit which was the most beautiful and fit with his teacher. The student, one more time, walked to his home in bad mood. “How can my wife sew?” he thought.
“My honey, you look sad. Take to me what happens”, she said.
He said her about the challenge in sorrowful voice but that was not same with his supposition his wife said happily:
“Don’t worry, honey. I can sew”.
The next morning, she waited husband left, she went in bedroom, locked then transformed into a fly. She flew after her husband, landed on his collar and went with him to class. When they arrived to school, she found the way landed on collar, shoulder, back and others place on the teacher’s body. When she had known size of the teacher, she flew back home.
That afternoon when the student came back home, he saw the suit had put on table compactly. He took the suit and checked. It was sewed carefully and durably but he didn’t sure that would befit with his teacher.
The next morning, the student went to class. While others were giving their suits to their teacher, the teacher had tried suits but no suit befitted with him. The student gave him his suit at last. The teacher wore it and it completely befitted with him. Other but the teacher were disappointed because the challenge was the chance that they could sneer him but they couldn’t. But, they still didn’t stop.
Time later, the spring came, students asked their teacher to organize a beauty contest, miss lady. Participants were students’ wives. The teacher agreed. Immediately, they turned to each other and said loudly:
“This time we can laugh as much as we can”, then laughed.
The student felt that god was playing him. He felt as if he had lost his vitality. He had to force himself to shuffle each step to home. When he arrived to home, he fell down on bed at one.
“Honey, why d you look sorrowful?” she asked.
He chose not to reply but his wife insisted. At last, he said:
“My friends, they are devilish they insisted teacher to organize a beauty contest. If you…” he stopped and looked at his wife, sighed.
But his wife seemed to have no worry, he said happily:
“Don’t worry my husband. I will come with you. Though I am not beautiful as others, I have other qualities. Don’t be shy”.
The next afternoon, the student pulled each step toward class, his wife jumped after him. His cheeks went red because of shame. He kept his head down and didn’t dare to look back to see eyes which were looking at them. When they nearly arrived to school. His wife suddenly spoke:
“Wait, wait me a little honey”. Then she jumped into bush. The student felt curious approached to look but he still didn’t arrive to the bush, a young beautiful girl with red lips, twinkling eyes had gone out from the bush. He bewildered looked around to find his wife but he only saw skin of a toad in the bush. He immediately understood that his wife had hid herself in the king till now. He grabbed the skin and tore it in piece. Then, he held his wife hand went toward school.
All people felt surprised as they saw his wife, the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. And course, his wife was the winner of the contest.
From that time, none sneered him they admired him. He and his wife kept their love till they died.
THE END
"Translator: Hung Nguyen"
Book Introductions
1. Complete Collection of Vietnamese Fairy Tales - A Treasury of Legends and Folklore
Discover over 240 enchanting Vietnamese fairy tales, translated into English and beautifully illustrated. This collection is a treasure trove of legends and folklore that reflect Vietnam's rich cultural heritage. Available as an ebook on: Kobo, Apple Books
2. Vietnamese Fairy Tales - Stories in English and Vietnamese
This bilingual collection features 162 Vietnamese fairy tales in both English and Vietnamese, with stunning illustrations. Ideal for language learners and cultural enthusiasts. Available as an ebook on: Kobo, Apple Books
3. The Treasury of Fables
An enchanting collection of timeless fables, written in English and beautifully illustrated. Perfect for all ages, these stories offer valuable moral lessons. Available as an ebook on: Kobo, Apple Books
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