The Woman Who Lost Her Dumpling
Once upon a time, in a small village in ancient Japan, there lived a poor woman who loved to make rice dumplings.
— Yuki, these dumplings are very good. Why don't you have more customers? — Ha ha! For that, I need a bigger restaurant. — For that, you need money, don't you? Poor you, Yuki! How do you manage? — Ha ha! Look at this dumpling! Doesn't it look funny? He he! — Ha ha ha! Yes! What? It's funny! — I don't understand how you can laugh when we are so serious. — Ha ha ha!
Yuki, a Cheerful Woman
Yuki was a very cheerful woman. She loved to laugh and found amusement in everything.
One day, when the rice seemed to be getting less and less, and the chances of making money seemed smaller and smaller, Yuki smiled and sang as she made her dumplings.
— Hmm! Hot and round. Soft and appealing. Let's make good and tasty dumplings. Hmm!
The Lost Dumpling
— Oh!
Yuki was surprised, for her rice dumpling fell, rolled across the floor, and disappeared into a tiny hole in the floorboards.
— Ha ha ha! My little dumpling is playing hide-and-seek with me. Well, I'll find you, won't I? Hmm? Hmm? Where are you?
An Unexpected Journey
At that moment, the small hole in the floor widened, and Yuki began to fall into a tunnel filled with a million shimmering colors.
— Whoa!
Yuki fell into another land. She stood up and saw that she was on a wonderful plain, with very green grass.
— Wow! It's so, so beautiful! I wonder, where am I?
Following the Dumpling's Trail
When she looked up, she saw clouds that had different shapes.
— Ha ha ha! That cloud looks like a cat! What a funny face! He he! Hmm! That one looks like a dumpling. Oh! My dumpling! I must find it! Where did it go?
Yuki set off down a dusty road, searching for her lost dumpling.
— My little dumpling! My little dumpling! Where did you roll?
Meeting the Statue
— Oh! What's this?
In front of her was a large, firm statue.
— Oh my goodness! What big eyes! Huge! It's very strange! Ha ha!
— Who are you calling strange, insignificant woman?
And the spirit of the statue rose into the air.
— Hey! Do you really think it's strange? — Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be rude. Truly, you have wonderful eyes! — Seriously? — Yes! Indeed, very big and bright! Wonderful!
The Statue Helps Yuki
— Well, I don't want to boast, but it's true! No! — Yes, I imagine you see well. Did you happen to see a small dumpling rolling down this road? — Oh, the dumpling? Yes! It rolled that way. Oh, yes! — That was my dumpling! I must find it! — Oh! But it's just a dumpling. You can make more. — No! I need that little dumpling for my restaurant. Goodbye! I'm going after the rolling dumpling!
And she hurried off after her lost dumpling.
Meeting the Oni
On the way, she came across another statue.
— Hmm! Where did my dumpling go? Hmm! Maybe she saw it. Hello! Yoo-hoo! — Uh, uh, hello, hello. Who are you? — My name is Yuki and I'm looking for my lost dumpling. — That dumpling was yours? Oh, it smelled so good I almost rolled after it myself. — You saw it? You really saw it? Where did it go? — This way. It bounced and rolled down this road. — Oh! That means I have to run after it again. Alright. Thank you very much! — Hrr!
And then, they saw a giant monster coming towards them. It was blue from head to toe and growled like a gorilla. But it had a strange nose that twitched from time to time. Yuki noticed that.
— Oh, look, it's an Oni! — Ha ha ha! What a funny nose it has! Ha ha! — Don't tell him that, he doesn't like it. Better hide behind me and maybe we can surprise him.
Yuki Tricks the Oni
Yuki hid behind the statue and made sure the Oni didn't see her.
— Hello, madam, I see you're out today. Ho ho ho! It's a very sunny day. I'm thinking of stretching out a bit. Ho ho ho! — I came out for a walk today. Mmm, what a wonderful breeze!
As he sniffed the air, his nose began to twitch. Yuki, who was watching him, saw this and started to laugh uncontrollably.
— Ha ha ha! Puppy nose! Ha ha ha! — Who are you? And what's this? The smell of a human? — Ha ha ha! Surprise! — No, it's a human. Mmm! — Hmm! What are you doing? You're like a dog sniffing a bone. — It smells like a dumpling! Like the one I just ate! Mmm! — You ate it? Why didn't you give it to me? — Look how much food people offer you! Look! You won't even eat it! — But that dumpling smelled delicious! — It really was delicious! Ha ha ha! — Thank you! I made it! — Seriously? The dumpling was very tasty! Please make us some too! Here, all you can find is raw cabbage and fish. — Hmm! That doesn't sound good. — Because it isn't!
A Dumpling Party
— Then I will make you dumplings! Show me where to cook! — Come to my place! Bring your friend with you too! Let's have an evening party! — A party! Yes!
And the Oni carried her across a river to his house, into the kitchen.
— Wow! This house is huge! — It's for an Oni like me. So, you need rice, don't you? In this bag is rice, but not normal rice like in the human world. — Ha ha ha! What's so special about it?
The Magic Rice
— First of all, it's golden. And secondly, you only need to put in one grain, and it will multiply when cooked. — So basically, I don't have to cook it myself? — No! It's so easy! You'll find everything you need in the kitchen. I have to go call the others. Happy cooking!
Then the Oni left and left Yuki to cook.
— Well, let's make the dumplings! This place is delightful, and the guardians outside are delightful. I really like this place! He he!
And just as the Oni said, when she put one grain of rice to boil, it multiplied, and suddenly the pot was full of hot rice.
— That's it! Fantastic! It'll be a piece of cake to make these dumplings!
Dumplings for Everyone
Soon Yuki brought out the dumplings. Everyone had gathered there and sniffed them with delight.
— Mmm, yummy! It smells delicious! — Give me some too, give me some too!
Yuki talked and laughed with everyone and had a good time. On the other hand, everyone loved her dumplings.
— These are the best dumplings I've ever eaten! Delicious! — He he! I'm glad you like them!
Homesickness
But towards the end of the day, Yuki wanted to go home. She was worried about her restaurant, and the Oni saw that she was concerned.
— What is it, Yuki? Are you hungry? You haven't eaten a single dumpling. — Oh yes! I've eaten so many I feel like my tummy will burst. Ha ha ha! But I think it's time for me to go home. — Home? And then who will cook for us? — What do you mean, silly? You have to go home. — But, but I love these dumplings! — Then how about she teaches us how to make those delicious dumplings? Yuki, would you mind staying with us for one more day?
The Dumpling Lesson
— Of course! I'd love to teach you. Do you want to start trying now? — Pff! Could we try tomorrow? I'm so full now, I can't move. — Ha ha!
The next day Yuki taught everyone how to make dumplings.
— Look at mine! It looks superb! — Mine looks bad. I wonder if it tastes good. — Well? — Yes! It's super good!
Returning Home
Soon, it was time for Yuki to leave. Her new friends bid her farewell.
— Here, Yuki! Take this bag of rice! I hope it reminds you of us! — Yes! Golden rice for a golden life! I will never forget you all! Goodbye everyone!
She got into the boat and put the bag down. Then she began to row, singing cheerfully.
— Through fields and over hills and there I roamed. Now I'm rowing back to my home with soft dumplings. La la la la la la la!
Yuki, soon, reached the riverbank.
— Yes! I'm halfway there!
She ran down the dusty road and soon reached the plain.
— Oh, what do I do now? I have no idea how to get back. Hmm! Ah! Well, I'll eat a delicious dumpling. Oh! Not again!
But then, a hole opened in the ground, and Yuki was swallowed.
— Wow! I'm in the rainbow tunnel again! Woo-hoo!
A New Life
Finally, she arrived home.
— Ah, home sweet home! Now, mmm, let's make dumplings!
She started to cook many delicious dumplings from the huge bag of rice. Soon, she began to sell many and had more and more customers. Soon Yuki was a very rich lady.
Yuki's Success
— Yuki, this place is wonderful! But you make some dumplings that look very strange, you know? — That one really looks funny! — What is it? It looks like an Oni! — Wow! Oh!
Yuki was still the same as before. Well, maybe even happier.
The moral of the story: Always be kind and generous, even to those who seem different or strange. You never know what adventures and rewards await you.
