The tale of Betel, Areca and Limestone

Once upon a time, those were two men named Tan and Lang who were near and dear brothers. Especially, they look very like the other that even their parents also didn’t recognize. Their father who was a tall, burly man and great in art of fighting was the King gifted a last name which was Cao. Cao families had been famous since they had the last name.

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When Tan and Lang had grown up their parents died. They still lived together they always went with together.

The father had entrusted Tan to a great teacher who named Luu before he died but when Tan went to study, Lang also wanted to go with he didn’t want be at home alone. Therefore, they went together.

Teacher Luu had a daughter who was a beautiful, clever girl. She was curious to know how to distinguish them. One day, she gave them little porridge that was only enough for a person. She hid herself behind a corner and observed. She saw a man (who was Tan) gave up the bowl of porridge to the other. She mumbled:

“Oh, the man, who was happy man, was you”.

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Tan and the girl had made few dates since that time. Then they fell in love with the other. The teacher realized their love and agreed them to marry.

After marrying, they came to a new house with Lang to live. Although Tam still loved his bother as previous time, he now spent lest time for him.

To Lang, he felt that Tan was keeping away him. He thought: “Maybe, he leaves me because of his wife”. Therefore, he felt so sad.

One day, Tan and Lang went to field together but Lang came back early. When he had just landed his feet into the house, the wife from the kitchen ran out and hugged him.

“Sister, It’s me, Lang”, he said loudly.

While they was feeling confused, Tan came in.

Lang realized Tan was jealous. He also knew that Tan had not loved him as previous time so he planned to go away. He followed a road until he saw a river which flowed so strong. He couldn’t go cross the river. He looked around, didn’t see any house and any animal but he didn’t want to come back. He sat on riverside; his head was down on the pillow and started crying. He cried and cried until the next day he died. Exactly, he was petrified.

Tan had not seen Lang came back for few days. He felt very sorry so he came to all people they knew to take a look. But, he couldn’t find Lang. He was frightened, ran to find Lang. He followed the road Lang had passed, arrived the river. He couldn’t get pass the river so he went along the riverside. At last, he saw Lang who had been petrified. He stood by the limestone and cried until he died. He transformed into an areca tree which stood by the limestone.

The wife had waited his husband for few days but she didn’t see he came back. She was so worry, and went to find him. The river, another time, prevented from crossing. The poor woman sat by the areca tree and cried until tears were dried. Then she died, transformed into a betel tree which twined around the areca tree.

The teacher and his wife had waited for them but they had not come back for a long time. They and other people went to find them but they only found out strange trees and a strange stone. They built a temple on the riverside for them.

One year, it wasn’t rain all trees were dried but two trees near the stone front the temple were still green. One day, when the King passed the temple he was surprised because of strange trees. He asked his servant.

“What are the trees? Why was the temple built?

Servants didn’t know the answer so they found old people to ask.

The King felt moving as he heard the whole story about three of them. He forced servants to climb up the areca tree, took down its fruit and tasted it. It had acrid flavor but when he ate it with a leaf of the betel tree, they had sweet and spice taste.

“Bloooood!” said a noble loudly.

He spitted immediately on the stone. The place where the stone had saliva was changed to red color. The King felt curious, he took three things and chewed them. A felling that made people who chewed fell warm as though they drunk, their lips and their cheeks became ruddy.

“That is so marvelous as though their love, so warm” said the King.

He made a rule that people who want to marry had to collect enough three things: betel, areca and limestone for people ate in order to remember the love of Tan, Lang and the wife.

Now day, betel, areca and limestone still are important things in the vietnamese wedding

THE END

"Translated by Hung Nguyen"

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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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