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Servant and thief

Once upon a time, two boys loved a girl and they went to the girl’s house at same time to ask her to marry with one of them. While the girl was wondering who she should marry with, they went to a restaurant together and negotiated.  
The first person said that his name was Luc Tran and he worked for a landlord in village. Because he was friendly, the second person didn’t hesitate to say that he was Don Le and he was a   thief. Though, none wanted to give up the girl. At last, they decided to have a competition and the person who lost would give up
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Do Le brought Luc Tran to his home and tread him well. That night, Do Le asked Luc Tran to follow him. They wandered few villages. At last, they stopped front of a house. Do Le said:
“People living in the house were not rich but they have just had new bride. So, I will take the dess which the bride was dressing”.
Then Do Le climbed over fence, opened the gate and let Luc Tran wen in. They climbed up the roof that made Luc Tran felt nervous. Do Le observed around then he turned to Luc Tran and said:
“This house has two doors. One is guarded by a dog and the other, a man is sharpening rattan. It is rather difficult to go in but I have had a plan”.
Do Le went down and sneaked in a corner. Rattan lines the man was sharpening were long, from the man to the end of yard. Do Le grabbed and pulled slightly. The man missed and cut on his finger. The man held his finger.
“Tut! Tut! Tut!”, said the man.
The dog heard the voice, thought that its master called. It ran to him, waved its tail. Caught the chance, Do Le dragged Luc Tran went in the house. They found the way to go in the room where the bride and the groom were. The bride and the groom were sleeping. Do Le found an egg   and broke and wet the bed by white yolk. Later, the bride turned her body and lied on wet places. White yolk permeated on her dress and made her wake up. She found the way to change the dress then turn to her bed and continued sleeping. Do Le took the dress at one then he turned Luc Tran.
“They can not realize if we only steal a dress so i will steal other thing to let them know”.
Then he opened bride’s jewelry box and took some things and went away. Luc Tran gave Do Le praise but he also insisted Do Le to come his house, course that was his master’s house. Do Le had a little hesitation.
“Your master will not be satisfied as I come, will he?”, said Do Le.
Luc Tran laughed. He said:
“Yes, he will. My master is rude but you don’t need to worry. I will mke him treat you well”.
When they nearly arrived to house. Luc Tran turned to Do Le and said:
“My master was bad-tempered. So, I will make him climb the roof twice that can help him calm before met you. Course, I will make him let me have some days off to treat you. Wait me a while here and see till I come back and invite you to come in”.   
Do Le stood out and looked in and observed .Luc Tran went toward warehouse, carried ladder and set it onto the roof then used his feet to leave footprints on the wall, on the ladder and on the roof; after that Luc Tran turned his way to go in house. Later, his master frantically went out, he asked Luc Tran”
“Climb up and look around.”
Luc Tran followed his master’s word. He climbed on the roof but his master didn’t trust him, he took of his shirt, climbed on to see by his eyes. Because of his skepticism, he climbed up one more time to observe again.
Later, while Do Le was sitting under tree and waiting for Luc Tran, Luc Tran went to him and said happily:
“Today, I was allowed to stay home and repair fance. I said him that you are my best friend. Don’t worry about any thing. As he asks you about your job, you only need say that you are a soldier and in days off”.
Firstly, the master showed that he didn’t respect Do Le but when he heard that Do Le was a soldier he seemed to respect him more much. He hurriedly asked servants to prepare meal and treated Do Le very well.
  The competition finished. Do Le thought that he was better then Luc Tran but Luc Tran didn’t agree. At last, they went to a teacher to ask him for result.
They said the teacher whole their competition. They asked: “Please, give us your thinking that who is the person who deserves to be the girl’s husband”.
“Those are two cats and both of them used to sneak food but one sneaked from its master and the other sneaked from neighbors. You think which cat is better?”, asked the teacher
They thought a little then both of them said that the cat which sneaked from its master was better.
“So, who is better in you two. A person who could make his master follow his word or a thief who steal from others. Besides, using intelligence to steal things is not good thing. Therefore, I think you, Do Le, should give up.”, said the teacher.
They left teacher’s house. Do Le was pleasant to give up and besides, they became best friends after that.
THE END
"Translated by Hung Nguyen
"

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List of Vietnamese fairy tales

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