Kindness Returns
A Simple Life in Ancient China
Once upon a time, in a small village in China, there lived an old woman named Mrs. Zao. She was a kind woman, and even though she was poor, she never complained about her life.
— How warm it is today! And the fruits seem to be perfectly ripe by the time my husband returns.
Mr. Zao worked in a distant city, and it wasn't easy for him to come visit his wife. He worked hard to earn enough for both of them.
Good News and Bad News
One day, a messenger came and brought Mrs. Zao a letter from her husband.
— Good day, Mrs. Zao! I hope you are well. Here is a letter. — Oh, thank you!
She went inside and opened the letter.
— Oh, he'll be home soon! And he'll receive twice as much money, for he works so hard! What wonderful news! Especially since our supplies at home are running out.
Mrs. Zao awaited her husband's arrival with great delight. One day, she went to pick the fruits and prepare them for him. But she was shocked when she saw they had spoiled.
— Oh, no! How could this have happened? Now I don't have much food left in the house.
Mrs. Zao lived on the fruits she picked, from the few that hadn't spoiled. But soon, these ran out.
— He'll be here in a few days. Oh, I'm so hungry!
An Unexpected Meeting
Mr. Zao had already arrived in the village and was walking happily towards home, thinking of his dear wife.
— My dear wife will be happy to see me. Then, I'll show her a silver coin I got.
As he walked, he saw a woman sitting sadly by the roadside and recognized her.
— Oh, it's Mrs. Li! I wonder why she's sitting there.
He walked towards Mrs. Li and saw that she was crying.
— Mrs. Li, what are you doing here? And why are you crying so much? — Mr. Zao, I was crying because I have no money left. I haven't eaten in days. I can't pay my rent, and the landlord is threatening to kick me and my daughter out.
Mrs. Li's husband worked in the same city as Mr. Zao. But she knew nothing about him.
— Well, do you know your husband works with me? — Huh? Did he send me a letter? To tell me when he's coming? — Uh, no, but he gave me his wages to give to you. Here you go.
Mrs. Li immediately lifted her head. It was as if a miracle had happened.
— Huh? Really? Oh, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Her eyes shone, and Mr. Zao felt a warmth inside. He smiled, watching her leave.
— Now, how do I explain this to my beloved?
Home and a New Dilemma
He continued his journey home and soon arrived. He entered, and his wife cried out in surprise and came to embrace him.
— Oh, you've come home, oh, my dear!
Mr. Zao looked at his wife and saw that she was a bit pale. He asked what had happened, and she explained the situation at home.
— I'm sorry, but we have nothing left. Just a handful of rice. Did you get a good wage this time? — Yes, but I gave it to someone else. — What? To whom?
Mr. Zao told her everything that had happened on his way back.
— I'm sorry, my love, but I couldn't leave her there crying. — It's alright, my dear. I know you had good intentions. Tonight, I'll make some rice porridge. We'll think about it tomorrow.
Mr. Zao watched his wife quietly eat the porridge. She smiled when she spoke to him, but he knew she was sad.
A Difficult Decision
That evening, as they slept, he wondered what he could do. Suddenly, he remembered the sweet potatoes growing in Mrs. Yang's field.
— But that would mean stealing! I can't do that.
However, looking at his wife, he decided to go and take some sweet potatoes, which he intended to pay for later. So he got up and went to the field.
That evening, Mrs. Yang told her son, Tao, to guard the field.
— Brrr! It's so cold and boring here! It's warmer inside, I'm going there.
So he went into the temple and sheltered by the fire. However, after a short while, he heard a rustling outside.
— Huh? It's my teacher, Mr. Zao! What is he doing here?
Mr. Zao stood there with his eyes closed. He was very stressed.
— Is it alright if I take some sweet potatoes from Mrs. Yang? But so we have something to eat for a while, I will pay for them when I can.
Tao watched in amazement and listened to his former teacher, who was very sad. He decided to help the poor man.
Divine Help and a Surprise
— Mr. Zao! — Huh? Great spirit! — You are a good man, and I believe it's alright if you take some potatoes from the field. — Oh, but isn't that stealing? — Of course not! If you pay for them, it's alright! — Oh, thank you, great spirit! — Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Tao saw him leave and decided to follow him and help Mr. Zao. Mr. Zao, however, wasn't very skilled at digging up sweet potatoes and found it hard to find the good ones.
— Go towards
