Nhu Ho Le

Long time ago, in Hung yen province lived a student whose family name was Le. He was beefy and very strong in eating. Because of that people called him Nhu Ho (eat as a tiger). His parent, though, were poor they tried to serve for him. From he started go to school he ate a seven-bowl-pot of rice each time. Six months passed, all of rice in his house had gone so his parent had to send him to his bride’s parent’s house.

His bride’s father was one of richest people in the village. As Nhu Ho came he treated him a five-bowl- pot of rice each time but after eating Nhu Ho only lay on the bed without studying. Then one day, his bride’s father came to his parent’s house and asked: “You have said to me that your son studied very hard but I have never seen him studying in my home.”

“How much food do you treat him each time”, asked his father.

“A five-bowl-pot of rice”, replied his bride’s father.

“That is truth he will not study if you only give him a five-bowl-pot of rice. I, though, was poor I have to treat him a seven-bowl-pot of rice each time.”, said his father.

His bride’s father came back and asked his wife to cook a seven-bowl-pot of rice for Nhu Ho each time. From that time, they saw he studied but only one or two hours. Therefore, his bride’s mother was not satified. She complained to his husband:

“You see. He only great in eating but nothing.”

“Don’t worry. If he can eat much more than other he also had much talent then other.”, said his bride’s father.

“Right, we have some wild field why we don’t asked him to cut grass in there field.”, said his bride’s mother.

Then his bride’s father asked him to cut. Nhu Ho agreed and said that: “Father, you prepare my serving in tomorrow I will finisish them.”

The next morning, after eating he took a knife and went toward the field. In the field that time, wind threw gently that made him want to have a fast sleep. Then he set himself under a tree and had a fast sleep. Unfortunately, his bride’s mother came back from market crossed the place where he was lying. She sprinted to house and complained to his husband.

“Go and see. He was sleeping in the field. Course, as I have said he is great in eating but nothing.”

But the time his bride’s mother crossed was the time he nearly woke up. When he woke up, he streched then grabbed the knife and started cutting. Only a morning he had cut complete the field. He cut very fast that fish which was in the field couldn’t avoid his knife and was cut in parts. As his bride’s father arrived field he not only had cut but also he had a bucket of fish. His mother, now, admitted that Nhu Ho had much more talent than other.

When rice needed havested his bride’s mother asked him to rend twenty people to do but he went out a while and came back with no others. His bride’s mother had cooked a thirty-bowl pot of rice for them.

“They don’t come so I will tried my best to help you, mother.”, he said. Then he sat on and made part of the rice-pot gone. His bride’s mother was not satisfied so he added: “Take it easy mother, I will be responsible for the field. Cut and take it to house, just in one day.” Then he grabbed a knife and went toward the field. The rice had cut for half day then he tied them into five large bundles then shouldered them to house untill nightfall all things had done. His bride’s mother respected him from that time so she gave him great serving. As Nhu Ho was treated well he studied very hard and it had no longer time he passed contests which was organized the king and became a mandarin.

In contest-time he made friend with a person named Thanh Nguyen who was known that great in eating. As the separated Thanh Nguyen invited Nhu Ho to come his house.

“Can you serve me a month?”, joked Nhu Ho.

“Don’t mind. Just coming I can do that.”, replied Thanh Nguyen.

After short time, Ho brought a servant went to Thanh’s house. Mean while Thanh was going out.

“Your husband invited me to come. Now, I had a business near so I came to meet my friend, your husband. Though he was out would you mind cooked a meal for me and my 20 servants.”, said Nhu Ho.

His friend’s wife immediately asked servants to cook a fifty-bowl-pot of rice and slaughter a fat pig and organized six meal-tables for them. From his friend’s wife he asked his servant to pretend that he went and called others but at last only he and the servant sat down and enjoyed the meal. They made all of the meal-tables gone then they stood up and said goodbye then left.

The next day, Thanh came back anh his wife said him what had happened the previous day. Thanh after hearing immediately knew who that was.

“That is he, Nhu Ho”, said Thanh.

Year later, Thanh found his way to come Nhu Ho’s house. Nhu Ho asked his servants to slaughter two fat pigs and organize two big tables one for him and one for Thanh. Nhu Ho ate all of things in his table then came to Thanh’s table to continue eating. Thanh was frightened by Nhu Ho’s appetite.

“God, It is true your appetite as a tiger”, creamed Thanh, “although I was rich, I thought I only can serve you in half month.”

Years later, Nhu Ho became a powerful mandarin. One time, the king ordered him to go to China. Ho brought with him a knowledge butcher. Chinese king had heard that the messenger was great in eating so he ordered others to cook a meal to chanlenge him. He ordered people to make 18 servings and set on 18 floors of a 18-floor-tower. He asked the chefs to decorate a fish head like a person head to frighten the messenge. Then asked servants to invite only Nhu Ho to come in. Nhu Ho finished first serving to eighteenth serving without a rest. As he saw the eighteenth serving having a person head he realized that was a fish head. He used his chopstick hooked its eye and showed it to people who were standing below.

“I have never tasted human meat. Now, chinese king because of loving me treat me human meat from a person of his country. It is so valuable.”, “So, bring a knife to me enjoy it”, he said to his servant.

People who were standing below didn’t dare to see the sight but he sontinued enjoying the serving.

All things were reported to chinese king each second. Chinese king very respected him as he heard about those things. But Nhu Ho’s words had offended his country so he forced servants to bring away the fish head and blindfolded him then confined him in a room. Three days later, the king led him around the castle and at last led him to the tower he had been enjoying meal.

“Where is here?”, asked the king.

“Where I ate the meal three days ago.”, replied Nhu Ho immediately. The king gave him a compliment and asked his servant untied the blindfold.

That time Chine was in drought and he wanted messengers who came from others contries to make a altar to pray god for a rain. Person who could pray a rain will be had a award. Nhu Ho asked his servant, the butcher, when it would rain. The butcher observed stars and said that it would not rain in long time. Therefore, Nhu Ho reported to chinese king that: “We come from a small contry and don’t dare to do before big contries so let others contries do it we will follow them.”

When all of messenges had done. Chinses king asked Nhu Ho to do.

“I have brought with me a magical person. If you want I will call him up to serve you.”, said Nhu Ho.

Chinese king immediately asked courtiers to call the butcher. The butcher had observed stars and knew that it would not rain in few days.

“King, please built a hight tower and prepared all necessary things I will chose a day to do. It took many days to bult the tower. Therefore, it rain the next day he made the altar to pray a rain. The king and chinese people were very happy that the king ordained the butcher and Nhu Ho to become China’s mandarins. Course they had no power in China.

Then chinese king made Nhu Ho stay in China to teach prince. Nhu Ho was very impaitent to come back Daiviet but he could not to deny chinese king. Nhu Ho taught the prince politeness before knowledge. Therefore, though the prince had a little mistake Nhu Ho always punished him. The queen because of loving his son prayed the king to change another teacher. So, Nhu Ho was allowed to come back his country. As they wnet back Dainam’s king thought that they had made the relationship between the two countries better so he gave them awards. Until he died chinese king forced messengers to come and participate.

The end!!!

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