De was a young boy. His parent was servants of a landlord. Every morning, De led landlord’s cattle to meadow and brought them back at nightfall. De used to be excited in playing with his fellows and when he was in his game he didn’t care anything. Many times the cattle he herded ate rice on field and the owners used to beat him pained but he still left cattle and joined in his fellows.
One normal day, he and his fellows had a swimming competition. An award was given to the winner that he couldn’t refuse. Therefore, he participated in the competition and left his cattle on a wild hill. They swam and dived in water until noon and when they walked on ground, a cow had disappeared. The cow belonged to no one but his master. Children separated to find the cow but the cow seemed to vanish they couldn’t find it. Sun was going to down, children made their ways to home they left De staying at there. Day stayed at there alone crying. After that, he fell in sleep.
Latter, he was woken up because something touched on his face. He opened his eyes and saw crows surrounding him. The crows thought that he had died so they came to eat. Then, a crow swooped down and planned to sink its beak in his eye but suddenly, De grabbed on its leg.
“Caw! Caw! Caw!” Other crows scattered and vanished.
“Aha! You dare to hurt me?” he said, staring at the crow.
“Caw! Caw! Please, let me free”, spoke the crow.
“Why?” he said.
“If you release me, I will give a wishing-pearl which can give all things you need”, spoke the crow.
“I must try”, he said, taking the pearl, “I am your master, order a cow”.
A cloud of smoke appeared, gathered and transformed into a cow. De happily released the crow and brought the cow to home.
He and his parent left the mansion of their master they came back their hut on a hill. Firstly, they only wished things which were necessary and cheap and all of them were met. One day, De took out his pearl and started thinking: “Why don’t I wish things bigger and richer?”
“I am your master order a palace”, he spoke.
There was nothing happen. He tried again but it didn’t occur. He stored his pearl with a little disappointment. Next morning, he woke up and discovered that which he was staying in was not his hut but a sparkling palace. The palace with hundred rooms was covered gardens growing up colorful flowers. I mean it is very very beautiful. Things placed in were also valuable, made of gold or silver. Especially, hundreds people, servants and maids, were always ready to serve them. De was very satisfied. Later, he took out his pearl and said:
“I am your master, order a beautiful wife”.
The last word just came out his mouth, a matching-maker found her way to his gate.
“Do you have any girl to marry?” said the matching-maker, smiling.
“I am finding one”, he replied.
“You are so lucky boy. I am finding a groom for a beautiful girl. She is daughter of a landlord who lives near hear”, said the matching-maker, smiling.
“Think you need to meet her”, added the matching-maker, smiling, “Please, follow me”.
They went out and didn’t waste long time they arrived to house of the girl. The matching-maker led him to the girl’s room. He had never seen anyone who was beautiful like her, sweetly smile, blue eyes, pretty red lips and her hair, long and smooth. That meant he was very satisfied.
“Her father is gloating your money so if you want, I will handle all”, whispered the matching-maker by his ear.
Happily, he let the matching-maker and his servants handled all things. Only need a week, the girl had became his wife but he didn’t know that his wife was only a bad girl that she got married with him to help her father find out how he could be rich so fast. Therefore, she used to find the way to ask him whenever they stayed together. De didn’t want anyone to know about his secret he always ignored her question. Even though, his wife didn’t give up. One day, she went to market and bought much wine. She cook dishes her wife like most, served him as much as wine he could drink. When he was so drunk, he lost control his mind and his wife easily got what she wanted. He said to his wife all things she need and the last thing where the pearl was he also said her. His wife found the way to get the pearl and left.
Losing the pearl it meant palace and other things would vanish. When he woke up in next morning, all things had gone and were replaced by his old hut. He immediately understood that his wife had stolen his pearl. So, he made his way to his wife’s home and convinced to bring the pearl back but his wife didn’t admit she not only went back but also told her parent to expel him. De was very sad he lost his wife and his wishing pearl in one day. He dragged each step toward his shabby hut but he couldn’t he stopped when he was still on the way between his wife’s house and his shabby hut. Tears started drooping from his eyes he crying.
A man in somewhere appeared. He was tall, had a pink angel face. His hair and beard were long and silver white. He approached De and said:
“Why are you so sad, son?”
De honestly told him his story.
“Don’t be sad son. I will help you take again it”, said the man, giving him two flowers, one red and one white.
“Bing this red flower and lay at their gate. After that, use this white flower to get your pearl”, added the man before he vanished.
De followed the man’s words he brought the red flower back to parent-in-law’s house. He laid the flower at their gate then turned his way back home.
His wife and his parent-in-law were staying in house enjoying the happiness having the wishing-pearl. Suddenly, some smell came to them, sweet and very gentle it followed winds running around their noses. His wife immediately looked round to find what it was and she didn’t take long time to discover the flower.
“This flower so sweet”, said his wife, raising the flower to her nose and smelled. Her parent also made their way to her room. Then each of them held the flower and started smelling. Later, they all felt itchy on their noses so that they scratched. The more they scratched, the more their noses swollened and expanded that their noses got more and more longer. Firstly, their nose went cross their chins. Later, they went cross their chests and at last, they touched on ground.
“Omg! This is so ugly, my nose”, they screamed.
His wife burst into cry how she could met some one with that nose her beauty had been others’ wishes, now, she looked so ugly. She and her mother at one hid themselves in their rooms, avoided all servants. On other side, her father was forced to cover his nose by a scarf, asked servants to find doctors but how doctors could cure the strange disease. All of them shook their heads as they saw his nose.
“You have only way to choice that cutting off your nose but it is so dangerous and I’m not sure that you are cure completely”, said a doctor.
Two days later, De found the way to them, pretended as if he came to meet his wife. Of course, he brought the white flower which was wrapped carefully. He couldn’t force him not to laugh loudly as he saw the nose of his father-in-law.
“What happened with your nose?” he asked, forcing himself to not laugh more.
His father-in-law told him all. De realized whole thing happened because of the red flower so he told:
“That is the punishment that you all dared to steal my pearl. If you return my pearl, I will make your nose normally”, he said.
His father-in-law had no choice but to convince his daughter to return him the pearl. When he had the real pearl in his hand, he gave them the white flower. They smelled and their noses started shrinking. Later, their noses turned normal. His wife, course, had rare experience so he forgave her the he let her back home and lived with him.
Long time later, when he was staying on bed waiting for his death, the crow he met before came to him.
“Caw! Caw! Give me the wishing pearl”, it spoke.
He took the pearl under pillow, gave it. it grabbed the pearl the flew away.
!!!THE END!!!
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
Read more:
-----
Essential Reads: Engaging Books You Can't Miss!
Bilingual Vietnamese Fairy Tales
Vietnamese Fairy Tales Collection
Shan Hai Jing
The 72 Spirits of Solomon
https://www.amazon.com/Hung-Nguyen/e/B07P3WWFWJ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
ReplyDelete