Tu Uyen and magical picture

Once upon a time, a poor student who lost his parent who he was so young. The student lived in Bich Chau district a place located in the south of Thang Long capital. Though he had never gotten pass competitions held by the king to find out talents who would become mandarins and serve the country, he still was called Tu Uyen (the title was used to called people who had high scores in the competitions) because of his wide knowledge.

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One day which was a spring day, Ngoc Ho temple held a festival which attracted many young people, young girl and young boy. Tu Uyen didn’t waste the chance he came to the place to find for himself a girl. He wandered till afternoon and sat under a tree in the temple to rest. Incidentally, a leaf dropped cross his face lightly as if it wanted to say him “grab me”. The leaf dropped on the ground so Tu Yen could pick up. A poem but it seemed to be a teaser was sent to him him was written in the leaf. He looked around to find the author. While he was scanning, he realized a young girl in the crowd leaving out temple looked toward him. He approached her and made a conversation. They both parted the crowd and went together. They were happy and Tu Yen seemed to have something bloomed inside that he seemed to fall in love with the beautiful girl, the girl who was front his face. Though that the road which they went on would have no end but, when they nearly arrived to Quang Van hall the girl disappeared. Tu Yen had stood at the place for long time he waited, waited for the girl to appear one more time but, she had not. Tu Uyen came back his home at midnight.

From that time, he only thought about the girl. He neglected studying, including eating and drinking he also didn’t care. Then he heard that Bach Ma temple was sacred, he immediately found the way to come and prayed the god in the temple to help. He slept in the temple but that was his luck. The god showed up in his dream and said:

“Boy, listen my words carefully. Tomorrow, you have to go to Dong bridge. When you come there, I will give you a good thing”

Tomorrow, he came to place as the god had said. He had waited for long tine till he saw an old man. The old man went and gave him a picture, a picture drew a girl then he disappeared. Tu Yen took the picture, he unrolled the picture and he couldn’t keep himself not to be surprised as he saw the girl who he wanted to meet was on the picture. He brought the picture and hung it on wall next to the place he sat.

Every day, when he ate, he brought out two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks. He turned to the picture and invited her as if she was real. Though, he had a little surprise when he noticed her cheek went red each time he did that.

One day, Tu Yen came back after class and was very surprised as he saw food and drinks which looked delicious had been set on his table and seemed to wait for him. Though he had many doubt, he sat down and enjoyed them at one because of hunger. Later days, the thing happened as the day. He was happy but also couldn’t force himself not to find out the person who had done the thing.

One day, he pretended as if he went to school but really he hid himself near his house and observed. Through the hole on door he saw the girl went out from the picture. The girl started cleaning and cooking. When she turned her way to go kitchen. Tu Uyen immediately broke in and grabbed her hand. He said in happiness:

“Do you know”, “how long I have waited for you? Now, I will never let you escape from me.”

Then Tu Yen grabbed the picture which, now, was empty and tore it.

The girl’s cheeks went red. She said with pretty anger:

“Why do you treat me that. I have lived in your house that you could not tear the picture to prevent I disappear”.

Then they spent long time talking. She was Giang Kieu, a fairy living in heaven. The fate set her to find him and marry with him. Tu Uyen was very happy that he insisted her to marry with him at one.

“I will hold a party and invited my friend coming and joining with us”, said Giang Kieu. Then she do a magic and changed his house to became a mansion with many servants who was hurriedly to prepare the party. Later, all things were ready. Fairies who flew down from the sky joined the party. They sang, danced and drank in whole the party that was the happiest party Tu Uyen had ever participated. Course, the fairies left in the next morning.

Tu Uyen had seemed to be lazy since he had wife. He stayed by his wife all day and besides, he liked to drink. Giang Kieu had advised him many times but he didn’t change. He had not gone to school for three years and especially, he was addicted to wine. He used to scold his wife whenever he had drunk. Giang Kieu was very angry.

One day, Tu Uyen came back from a pub. Giang Kieu helped his husband go to bed then waited for him sleeping. Then, she went out and few toward heaven.

When Tu Uyen woke up and realized his wife had left. He felt remorseful. He had cried painfully for a month, not cared about eating and drinking though his friends tried their best to advise him. He had thought about killing himself many times. And that time, he did. But, as he just threw rope through bough and nearly set his head in the rope, a light wind blew toward him which brought Giang Huong’s aroma. He turned back and saw Giang Huong. Was very happy as he saw her again, he swore that he would not reach on any drop of wine. The couple turned back to live with the other, happy.

Later, Giang Kieu gave birth to a son who grew up very fast and was intelligent.

One night, two cranes flew down the sky and landed on their yard. They came to take them up heaven. The couple turned in their home said goodbye their son then mounted the cranes and flew up heaven.

THE END

"Translated by Hung Nguyen"

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