講給女兒聽的故事
前言
大女兒一歲多後夜裡就老纏着我講故事。累了，懶得翻書，就閉着眼給她講。故事多是我聽過或看過的。後來把這些故事用英文寫下來，讓老師講給美國孩子聽, 孩子們也喜歡。父母(爺爺奶奶）們請用自己的話給孩子講這些故事。請根據情況添枝加葉或剪枝去葉。每個故事可設計一些問題，跟孩子共同探討答案。故事中的每個小節都是一副或幾幅圖畫，可讓孩子依據文字作畫（各故事配有意譯英文）；每個故事完全配圖後即是一冊連環畫。有建議，有好畫，請寄蔡錚 caizane0@gmail.com.
武術大師
基於紅安民間故事
1。從前有一幫躲在山裡的土匪。土匪頭子叫飛山虎。
2。飛山虎武功非凡。
他能百步穿楊。
他舞起鐵棍來水潑不進。
他一腳能把一間房子踢倒。
3。飛山虎帶着手下土匪在附近村子搶劫。土匪一來村民都嚇得發抖，誰也不敢吱聲。
4。有個叫石頭的小男孩見土匪橫行作惡，他緊握拳頭，決心打敗飛山虎。
5。剛滿十二歲石頭就離開家滿天下找大師學武。
6。在武當山頂的寺廟裡他找到個武功大師。他在大師前面跪下，“師父，請收我為徒。”
大師問：“教你之前你得給我打雜。你願意嗎？”
石頭說：“願意！”
7。大師給他一個瓶子， “空手去把廟裡的蚊子蒼蠅抓起來。別傷着他們。把它們裝在瓶子裡，帶到山腳去放生。廟裡沒有一個蚊子蒼蠅時再來見我。”
8。石頭便白天抓蒼蠅，晚上抓蚊子。
瓶子滿了時他跑下山去給蒼蠅蚊子放生，然後跑回來繼續抓。
9。蒼蠅蚊子從寺廟的門窗里煙霧一樣源源不斷湧進來。就是在下雪天那蒼蠅蚊子也不知從那兒湧來。石頭日夜忙個不停。
10。 三年後廟裡找不到一隻蒼蠅蚊子。石頭高高興興去見大師，“師父，現在可以教我武功嗎？”
11。“還不到時候。”大師給他一把斧頭，“到山裡去找死了的松樹，把它們跺成銅錢大的片片送給附近的窮人。山里沒有死松樹時再來見我。”
12。石頭接過斧頭。他找到枯死的松樹，把它們跺成銅錢大的片片裝在籮筐里送給附近的窮人。
13。他在大雪中砍着， 在烈日下剁着。
14。三年後山里見不到一棵死松樹。石頭高高興興去見大師，“師父，現在可以教我武功嗎？”
15。“還不到時候。”大師叫人送來兩頭小豬，“每天早上把它們帶到山腳下去放，天黑再把它們抱回來。上山下山都不能讓它們腳沾地。豬長大了時再來見我。”
16。石頭便開始放豬。他每天早上抱着豬到山腳下去放，夜裡再把它們抱回來。
17。 兩頭豬越來越重， 在狹窄的山路上抱上抱下越來越難。
17。三年後豬長得又肥又大。石頭抱着豬高高興興去見大師， “師父，現在可以教我武功嗎？”
18。大師笑着說：“你已經是個武功大師了。帶着斧頭回家吧。”
19。石頭就帶着斧頭回家了。
20。父母見他回來樂壞了。村民們都跑來看他。他們告訴石頭飛山虎還常來村里搶劫。
石頭說：“再不用怕他們。我會打敗他們！” 他叫附近的年輕人等土匪來時都拿鋤頭來與土匪對陣。
21。幾天后飛山虎帶着他們的人來了。附近村裡的年輕人都聚集在石頭他們村前迎接土匪。石頭站在他們前面。石頭對土匪們說：“從今以後，你們不得踏進任何村子！”
22。“誰說話這麼大口氣？” 飛山虎哈哈大笑着， “我們想上哪兒就上哪！”
“問問這把斧頭答應不？” 石頭揮舞着他的斧頭。
23。飛山虎叫着：“看箭！”說着他拔箭射向石頭。
24。石頭用手指夾住射來的箭，就象捉蚊子蒼蠅一樣。
25。“放箭！”飛山虎吼叫着。土匪們都拔出箭來射石頭。石頭就象抓蚊子蒼蠅一樣抓住一隻只射來的箭。
26。箭都沒射着石頭。飛山虎狂叫着，“讓我給你點顏色瞧瞧！” 他跳下馬，揮舞着鐵棍撲向石頭。
27。石頭揮舞着斧頭迎上去。石頭斧頭揮舞得象閃電，把飛山虎的鐵棍削成銅錢大的片片。
28。一會飛山虎的棍子被削得只剩個把。飛山虎丟了鐵棍飛起腳朝石頭踢來。
29。石頭抓住飛山虎的腳，悠起他來， 象悠一頭豬。悠了一百圈後石頭叫聲：“去吧！” 一下把飛山虎丟到天上。
30。飛山虎被丟得老高。他不會飛。“砰！” 他跌落在地，摔了個嘴啃地。
31。土匪們都嚇死了，四散而逃。飛山虎也爬起來跛着腳跑了。村民們都歡呼起來。
32。石頭的功夫出了名。很多年輕人都來找他學武。他教村民自衛。從那以后土匪再也不敢來搶劫他們，村民都安寧地生活着。
（如有兒子，可用兒子名字替代“石頭”）
最好吃的飯
基於父親蔡維才（1920-1990）所講故事
1。皇帝年輕時打了個敗仗。他躲進山里。他在山裡跑了三天三夜什麼也沒吃。跑到山腳下時他餓得要死。他躺在路邊。
2。一個給丈夫送飯的婦女打他身邊經過。她以為皇帝是個餓得要死的討飯的。她拿出玉米飯來餵他。
3。吃了半罐玉米飯，皇帝能說話了。他說：“真好吃！你叫什麼名字？ ----我要重重賞你！”
4。這個婦女沒說話。她忙拎了剩飯走了。皇帝又有了氣力。 他站起來去找他打散的部隊。
5。多年後皇帝統一了天下。他天天山珍海味。可他成天抱怨：“ 這些東西是人吃的嗎？廚師都是幹什麼吃的？把他們統統都趕出去餵豬！”
6。皇帝想吃他那回吃的玉米飯。那玉米飯真好吃！
他命令丞相去找那婦女來給他做那好吃的玉米飯。
7。丞相找到了那個婦女的村子。可她早已不在人世了。
8。皇帝便命令丞相在全國上下找最好的廚師來給他做玉米飯。
他們找到了天下最好的一個廚師。他們把廚師請到皇宮來給皇帝做玉米飯。
9。廚師用他祖傳的秘方來做玉米飯。飯熟了，他把飯端給皇帝。
10。玉米飯好香好香。皇帝嘗了一口，吼起來：“你給我做的什麼東西？全是沙子石頭！你想害死我？-- 把他拖出去，打一百大棍！”
11。衛兵就上來拖廚師。
廚師哭着求皇帝：“皇上，饒了我，饒了我，皇上！……”
可皇帝正在氣頭上。他饒不了廚師。他命令丞相再去找最好的廚師來給他做玉米飯。
12。他們又找到了天下最好的一個廚師。他們把廚師請到皇宮來給皇帝做玉米飯。這個廚師想：“哪能給皇帝吃白玉米飯？”他決定在玉米飯里加各種各樣的調料。
13。他用祖傳的秘方來做這玉米飯。飯熟了，他把飯端給皇帝。
14。玉米飯好香好香。皇帝嘗了一口，吼起來：“你給我做的什麼東西？全是沙子石頭！你想害死我？-- 把他拖出去，打兩百大棍！”
15。衛兵就上來拖廚師。
廚師哭着求皇帝：“皇上，饒了我，饒了我，皇上！……”
可皇帝正在氣頭上。他饒不了廚師。他命令丞相再去找最好的廚師來給他做玉米飯。
16。他們又找到了天下最好的一個廚師。他們把廚師請到皇宮來給皇帝做玉米飯。這個廚師想：“皇帝哪會真要吃玉米飯？”他決定把山珍海味磨成粉，再用粉做成玉米樣。
17。然後他用祖傳的秘方來做這玉米飯。飯熟了，他把飯送給皇帝。
18。玉米飯好香好香。皇帝嘗了一口，吼起來：“你給我做的什麼東西？全是沙子石頭！你想害死我？-- 把他帶出去，打三百大棍！”
19。衛兵就上來拖廚師。
廚師哭着求皇帝：“皇上，饒了我，饒了我，皇上！……”
可皇帝正在氣頭上。他饒不了廚師。他命令丞相再去找最好的廚師來給他做玉米飯。
20。全國上下沒人敢說自己是好廚師。丞相派人找來找去怎麼也找不着好廚師。
這一來皇帝對誰都發火。他特別生丞相的氣。
21。丞相忍不住在家裡唉聲嘆氣。
丞相十歲的小女兒雯雯問他，“爸爸，你為什麼煩惱呀？”
22。丞相說：“皇帝有回餓了三天三夜後吃了半罐玉米飯，那飯美極了。現在皇帝就想吃玉米飯。可誰也做不出那個美味。”
23。雯雯說：“我會做。讓我去給皇帝做！”
丞相連連搖頭：“不行不行！寶貝。要是皇帝生氣了，他會打你四百大棍！這不要了你的命！-- 沒了你，我也活不成！”
雯雯說：“我會做。爸爸！相信我！”
24。丞相知道雯雯幹什麼會什麼。雖然她很少做飯，可她做的東西都好吃極了。丞相只得讓她試試。
第二天雯雯扮成個男的。她自稱是全國最好的廚師。她被帶到皇宮給皇帝做玉米飯。
25。雯雯蒸了一碗玉米。玉米熟了後她端給皇帝。
皇帝問：“好吃嗎？” 說着他拿起筷子。
26。雯雯拿着飯碗說：“皇上，我保證這玉米飯好吃極了。可吃之前你得答應我個條件。”
皇帝問：“什麼條件呀？”
“吃這玉米飯之前，你得餓着肚子爬三天三夜的山。”
27。皇帝放下筷子。他一下明白了： 原來玉米飯不好吃不是人家做的不好。
28。皇帝感謝了廚師---實際上是丞相的女兒雯雯。然後他招來那三個被打的廚師，對他們賠禮道歉，並按他們挨打的輕重賠償黃金： 一百棍一百兩黃金，兩百棍兩百兩黃金，三百棍三百兩黃金。
29。從此以後皇帝最也不挑食了，人家送來什麼他就高高興興吃什麼。這一來人人都高興啦----特別是丞相和他的寶貝女兒，雯雯。
（ 註：“雯雯”是我女兒名字 -- 如有女兒，請用你女兒名字替代“雯雯”）
給皇帝的秘方
基於成語《田夫獻曝》
1。從前有個住在個大山裡的農民叫天福，他每天都早早起來帶罐稀飯下地去。
2。在地里他埋頭苦幹。
3。 肚子餓極了時他才停下來吃稀飯。
4。 吃完他就把上身脫光，躺下來曬太陽。
5。 這時他快活得就象飛在天上。
6。一天天福聽說誰要是把寶貝獻給皇帝就會得到重賞。他知道讓人快活得象在天堂飛翔的秘方。這秘方是世上最好的寶貝。他要把它獻給皇上去領賞。
7。聽說他要去給皇帝獻寶，村里人都來問他：“你有什麼寶貝給皇上呀？” 天福說：“我知道個快活秘方，這個秘方只能告訴皇上。”
8。“千萬別去！”村民都勸他，“要是皇上發覺你是騙他，你就會腦袋搬家！”
9。 天福說：“我的秘方是世界上最好的寶貝！我肯定會得到重賞！”
10。他用一年的收成做路費出發去京城。
11。在路上人家聽說他是去給皇帝獻寶就問他：“你有什麼寶貝獻給皇上？”
天福說：“我知道個快活秘方，這個秘方只能告訴皇上。”
12。“千萬別去！”人家勸他，“要是皇上發覺你是騙他，你就會腦袋搬家！”
13。天福說：“我的秘方是世界上最好的寶貝！我肯定會得到重賞！”
14。走了三個月，天福來到京城。
紫禁城外給皇帝獻寶的人排成長隊。
15。 一個人拿出個比雞蛋大的珍珠給門衛看。他被放進去了。
16。 一會他捧着一兩黃金出來了。
17。第二個人拿一件綢衣，那綢衣讓人冬暖夏涼。他被放進去了。
18。一會他捧着兩兩黃金出來了。
19。第三個人拿一幅畫，畫裡一隻孔雀開屏又合屏。他被放進去了。
20。一會他捧着三兩黃金出來了。
21。終於輪到天福。門衛問他帶了什麼給皇上。天福說：“我知道個快活秘方，這個秘方只能告訴皇上。”
22。“趁早走開。要是皇上發覺你是騙他，你就會腦袋搬家！”
23。 天福說：“我的秘方是世界上最好的寶貝！我肯定會得到重賞！”
24。門衛只得放他進去。天福穿過一道道門，終於來到皇帝面前。
皇帝問：“你有什麼好東西給我？”
25。 天福說：“我給你帶來個秘方 --- 這秘方教你感到快活得象飛在天上。”
皇帝有世界上最好的吃的，最好的穿的，最好的住的，可他從沒感到快活得象飛在天上。他忙說：“快告訴我！”
26。“皇上，” 天福說，“你每天都早早起來帶罐稀飯下地去。
27。在地里你埋頭苦幹。
28。 肚子餓極了時你才停下來吃稀飯。
29。吃完你就把上身脫光，躺下來曬太陽。
30。這時你就會快活得象象飛在天上。”
31。宮廷里的衛兵都忍不住笑出聲來。
32。可皇帝說：“你給我的禮物真正是最好的！” 他下令賞給天福一千兩黃金。從沒人得過這麼重的獎賞。
33。天福帶着一車黃金回家了。
34。他一下富了起來。可他每天仍早早起來帶罐稀飯下地去。
35。 在地里他埋頭苦幹。
36。肚子餓極了時他才停下來吃稀飯。
37。吃完他就把上身脫光，躺下來曬太陽。
38。這時他快活得象飛在天上。
商人與狗
基於蒲松齡《義犬》
1。有個叫康德的商人在回家的路上看到一條狗被人綁在樹上。那狗慘叫着掙扎撕咬。康德對那人說：“先生，能不能行行好，把狗放了？”
2。 那人晃着手上的刀說：“放了它？ 你給我養家？”
3。 康德說：“你放了它，我給你錢！”
“說真的？”那人說，“我花了兩百塊買這條狗，我要在它身上賺兩百。”
康德說：“我給你四百，放了它！”
4。那人接了錢，放了狗。康德對狗說：“你自個兒走吧。”可那狗湊過來舔他的腳。
5。康德哈下腰摸着狗腳上的傷。“我看你也沒地方好去。願意跟我走嗎？” 狗點了點頭。
6。康德站起來朝碼頭趕。狗緊跟着他。
7。岸邊停着一隻紅色的船。康德帶着狗上了船。
8。康德跟他的狗一起吃他隨身帶的吃的。吃飽後天黑了，他們在船艙里睡下。
9。半夜裡狗尖叫起來。叫聲驚醒康德。他坐起來，看到船主拿把長刀站在他身邊。
“我的狗呢？”康德問。“我們送它上西天了。現在輪到你了。”船主晃着刀說。
10。康德知道自己撞上了打劫的。他說：“把我的錢都拿去，別害我。”
壞蛋冷笑着說：“留着你去叫人來抓我們？”
11。 兩個壞蛋上來把康德身上的錢搜羅一空，然後把他的手腳都捆起來，再用張破蓆子把他裹住。
12。他們把康德丟到水裡，搖着船飛快地離開了。
13。康德往下沉去。忽然他感到有什麼把他往上拖。他頭浮出水面時看到他的狗。狗咬住蓆子，讓他的頭浮出水面，拖着他游向岸邊。
14。狗把康德拖到江邊時太陽已升起來了。它想咬斷繩子，可咬了半天都咬不斷。看到遠處有炊煙，它就跑向煙升起的地方。
15。狗跑進一個村子。村前許多人在曬太陽。它跑近村民，對着他們慘叫起來。幾個年輕人便拿了刀跟着它朝江邊跑去。
16。他們發現康德後割斷繩子，救出他。康德謝了村民，然後去報告被劫。幾個偵探馬上在那碼頭附近搜尋打劫的。康德帶着他的狗跟着偵探一起找那幾個罪犯。
17。 一個月過去了，沒見壞蛋的影兒，也沒見他們的船。康德要回家。他帶着狗去乘船回家。到了船上他突然發現狗不見了。
18。 他慌忙在船上四處找狗。船上沒有。他忙下船到碼頭四處問。誰也沒見他的狗。
19。 康德回到城裡，四處找他的狗。整整找了一個月，還是未見他的狗。
20。人家勸他說：“你的狗多半死了，別找了。”康德說，“它死了我也要把他找到帶回去埋了。”
21。 一天早上，他聽人說在碼頭邊見到一條死狗。他忙跑到碼頭邊。剛到碼頭邊，他就看見他的狗 -- 他還活着。他向狗跑過去，狗也向他衝過來。
22。他抱住狗，跟狗臉挨着臉，忍不住流淚。好一會他才說：“我們回家吧。”他站起來，朝碼頭走去。
23。可狗叫着朝城裡跑去。康德只好跟着狗。
24。 一會他們來到市場上。狗停在一個人後面叫起來。
25。那人回過頭來正要踢它，狗跳起來，一口咬掉了那人頭上的帽子。
26。 康德一下就認出了這個人-- 他就是那個拿刀的壞蛋！他刮了鬍子，換了衣服。康德大叫：“抓住他！他是個打劫的！”
27。那個壞蛋想跑。邊上的人撲上去抓住他，把他送到了牢房。
28。 狗又叫起來，朝碼頭跑去。康德和兩個偵探跟着狗。
29。 狗跳到岸邊停着的一艘空船上。康德一下認出了這船： 這就是他上回坐的那條船，只是它被漆成了灰色。
30。 他們在船艙里躲起來。一會，兩個匪徒搖着一條小船過來，跳到這條船上。
31。兩個偵探跳出來。見了偵探，兩個匪徒拔出刀來。可這兩個偵探都是武術大師，他們象貓抓老鼠一樣把兩個匪徒制服了。
32。 看到兩個匪徒被綁起來帶走了， 狗跳起來，歡快地叫起來。
33。康德撫摸着狗說：“現在我們可以回家了。”
他們蹬上一條客船回家去。
西瓜籽
基於中國民間故事
1。從前有個村子裡住着一個農夫。農夫家門前有棵楓樹，楓樹上有個麻雀窩，麻雀窩裡有幾隻小麻雀。
2。一天一隻小麻雀從窩裡掉到地上。
3。農夫撿起麻雀，看到她的翅膀在流血。“小可伶，”農夫說。他給麻雀的傷口塗上油膏，敷上藥粉，把麻雀送回窩裡。
4。過了些日子，那小麻雀飛下來，落到農夫手上，把一顆西瓜籽放在他掌心。
5。西瓜籽又大又亮。農夫把它種在他家門前。
6。第二天一棵西瓜苗就冒了出來。瓜藤長啊長，第三天就長好長好長。第四天藤上就開了一朵好漂亮的花。第五天一隻西瓜就長了出來。
7。 西瓜長啊長，第六天就長好大好大。
8。農夫把西瓜摘了搬到桌上。他剖開瓜。瓜里滾出又大又亮的珍珠！
9。農夫賣了珍珠，一下成了村里最富的人。
10。村裡的一個地主便來問農夫：“ 你怎麼種出滿肚子珍珠的西瓜呀？”
11。農夫說：“一隻小麻雀從我家門前楓樹上的窩裡掉下來。我給她傷口上了藥再把她送回窩。她後來就給我送來一顆西瓜籽。我把瓜籽種在門前。不久就長出一個西瓜。珍珠就長在瓜里。”
12。聽到這些， 地主忙跑回家。他家門前也有棵楓樹，楓樹上也有個麻雀窩，窩裡也有幾隻小麻雀。
13。地主拿根長棍來戳麻雀窩。一隻小麻雀從窩裡掉到地上。
14。地主撿起麻雀，看到她的翅膀在流血。“小可伶，”地主說。他給麻雀傷口塗上油膏，敷上藥粉，把麻雀送回窩裡。
15。過了些日子，那小麻雀飛下來，落到地主手上，把一顆西瓜籽放在他掌心。
16。西瓜籽又大又亮。地主把它種在他家門前。
17。第二天一棵西瓜苗就冒了出來。瓜藤長啊長，第三天就長了好長好長。第四天藤上就開了一朵好漂亮的花。第五天一隻西瓜就長了出來。
18。 西瓜長啊長，不久就長好大好大。
19。地主對他所有的親戚說：“明天來看我開滿肚子珍珠的西瓜！”
第二天他的親戚都來看他開瓜。地主把西瓜摘了搬到桌上。
20。他一刀下去 ---噗！又黑又臭的稀泥從西瓜里噴出來，炸了他一臉！
神奇的挑樹
基於蒲松齡《種梨》
1。一天一個老道士對一個賣桃的小販說：“施主，你能不能給我一個桃子？”
2。小販說：“先交錢。”
道士說：“我身無分文。”
小販說：“沒錢就沒桃。走開走開！”
3。道士說：“我餓得不行。我只要一隻桃子。”
小販吼叫起來：“滾！別耽誤我的生意！”
4。 一個過路老人對小販說：“你怎麼對個老道人這麼凶？”
小販說：“ 這個要個桃，那個要個桃，我都白給，我這生意還做不做？”
5。“好吧， 我掏錢。”那個老人回頭對道士說：“師父，你要吃多少拿多少，都在我身上。”
6。“多謝。一個桃子就夠了。”道士拿了一個桃子。
7。道士三口兩口吃完桃子，然後對圍過來的人說，“誰能借我把鏟子用用？”
8。馬上有人遞給他一把鏟子。道士接過鏟子在街心挖了一個小坑，然後把桃核放到坑裡，再用土蓋上。他又問：“誰能給我一點水？”
9。 馬上有人遞給他一壺水。道士把水澆在那埋桃核的新土上，然後高喝一聲：“長！”
10。一根樹芽應聲冒出來，直往上竄。
11。 眨眼功夫，那樹芽就長成一棵小桃樹。它越長越高，那樹枝伸張開來，逼得看熱鬧的都忙忙後退。
12。一會就滿樹桃花。
13。街上的人都涌過來看這棵魔樹。那個賣桃的小販也湊過來踮起腳看。
14。再一會，桃花紛紛飄落，小桃滿樹。
15。桃子一會就雞蛋大，再一會就象小皮球，再一會就都紅了。
16。道士說：“請大家摘了嘗嘗吧。” 說完，他先摘了一隻吃了。大家也跟着湧上來摘桃吃。
17。一會桃子就沒了。道士問：“好吃嗎？” 大家都叫：“好吃！”
道士說：“太好了！--誰能借我把斧頭用用？”
18。馬上有人遞給他一把斧頭。道士接過斧頭，對準樹幹一斧頭砍下去。“噗” 的一聲，桃樹象氣球放了氣， 迅速縮小。
19。一會它縮成一棵小樹，接着變成一根樹芽。它繼續縮。
20。樹芽縮到土裡後，道士跟大家揮手道別，告完別就朝街尾走去。大家也紛紛散去。
21。賣桃的小販也跟着回到攤前。他目瞪口呆：他的桃子都沒了！他拉桃子的板車把手還被砍了個大缺口！-- 原來那棵樹上的桃子都是他的，那道士砍的是他的車把手！
22。他慌忙大叫：“抓住那個道士！抓住他！” 可大家都四散而去，沒人理他。他慌忙朝街尾追去，可道士早無影無蹤。
穿牆
基於蒲松齡《嶗山道士》
1。龍龍在全國遊蕩想找個大師學法術。最後他在黃山頂上的廟裡找到一個白鬍子拖地的法術大師。龍龍跪在大師面前求他收他為徒。
2。大師說：“我怕你吃不得苦。”
龍龍說：“師傅放心，我什麼苦都能吃！”
大師說：“好，你留下來吧。”
3。龍龍喜壞了。他被領到一間房裡。房裡只有光板子。那光板子就是他和師兄弟的床。
4。 第二天一早天還未亮師兄弟們就被叫起來。他們都出發到樹林裡去打柴。直到天黑也沒人教他們什麼。
5。龍龍想第二天就該教法術了。第二天他們又照常打柴。直到太陽落山，還沒人教他們。
6。一個月過去了，龍龍和師兄弟們只是打柴。龍龍手上打了血泡，長了硬繭。他實在受不了。他決定回家。
7。就在他要回家的頭天夜裡，龍龍路過大師門口。大師房裡傳出笑聲。他忍不住從窗戶縫裡往裡看。
8。他看到大師和兩個客人在喝茶。
9。一個客人說：“天黑了。把月亮掛起來。”
大師便拿了一張紙，剪成個圓圈，貼在窗戶上。
馬上屋裡便灑滿銀色的月光。
10。另外一個客人說，“多美的月夜！來點歌舞吧！”
“好！” 大師說。他把筷子往桌上一轉就就轉出兩個美女。
美女就在屋子中間唱起歌跳起舞來。歌聲圓潤甜美。
11。大師忽然說：“我們到月亮上去坐坐吧。那樣我們就可好好看看地下。”他的客人都叫好。桌子、椅子和舞女就都跟着大師和他的客人一起飄浮起來。
12。一會大師和他的客人就都坐在月亮里喝茶。
13。龍龍看呆了。他決定不回去了。
14。又打了一個月的柴，還是沒人教他法術。他實在忍不下去了。他去跟大師告別。大師說：“我知道你吃不了苦。再見啦。”龍龍求大師：“師父，我在這兒幹了這麼久，您好歹教我點什麼。”
15。大師問：“你想學什麼？”
龍龍說：“我常看見您穿牆而過。您能不能教我這個？“
16。大師同意了。他教龍龍在心裡說“走！過！走！過！走--走--過！” 三次，然後去穿他們面前的一堵牆。龍龍在心裡念了“走！過！走！過！走--走--過！” 三次，然後走向那堵牆。
17。挨近牆時他停住了。大師摧他，“快步向前，莫停頓。”龍龍閉上眼朝那牆走過去。
18。他睜開眼時發現他已穿牆而過！
19。太神了！他又回過頭來，在心裡念了“走！過！走！過！走--走--過！” 三次然後朝牆走過去。他又回到牆這邊。
20。龍龍高興壞了。他拜謝了大師。大師說：“要心地純潔，不然就不靈。”
21。龍龍回家後馬上通知他所有的朋友都來看他表演法術。他的朋友都來齊了時他指着
一堵磚牆說：“我可以穿牆而過，瞧！”
22。 他在心裡念了“走！過！走！過！走--走--過！” 三次，然後朝牆跑過去。
23。砰！ 他一頭撞在牆上，跌倒在地。他頭上隆起一個大包。
24。 他的朋友都忍不住大笑起來。幾個朋友忙去扶他起來。
25。他甩開他們，退後幾步，又在心裡念了“走！過！走！過！走--走--過！”三次，然後朝牆跑過去。
26。砰！ 他又一頭撞在牆上，跌倒在地。他頭上又隆起一個大包。
27。他的朋友把他扶起來。他捂着頭上的大包， 再也不敢試了。從此後他再不敢吹噓他的穿牆術。
三生
由蒲松齡《三生》改編
1. 林客前生是個政府高官，五十歲時就死了。死後他來到陰間閻王面前。閻王一查他履歷，發現他是個貪官，吼道：“我要罰你來生做馬！”
2. 林客高叫：“我不想做馬！ 別讓我做馬！”可一群小鬼不由分說抓住他就往外拖。 他邊掙扎邊大叫：“我不做 馬！我不做馬！”小鬼便用棍子猛抽他。他被打昏了。
3. 他醒來時發現自己在個馬廄里，已經是一個小兒馬。他聽到有人叫，“下了個小公馬！”
4. 林客能聽懂人說什麼，可他不能說話。他餓極了，只得跪下去咬着母馬的奶頭吸奶。
5. 幾個月後它就被帶到草原上。它不想吃草，可它餓得受不了，也只得跟着別的馬低頭吃草。
6. 兩年後它長成了一匹強壯的馬。幸運的是，它的主人待他很好，每次騎它都給它配上好鞍子，他也從不抽打它。
7. 可是主人的僕人對它就沒那麼好。他們騎它時從不架鞍子，一騎上去就用靴子踢他，痛得他要命。
8. 不久它主人死了，它落到那些僕人手上。他們天天騎它，天天打它。它實在忍無可忍。於是它不吃不喝，把自己餓死了。
9. 死後他又來到閻王面前。閻王說：“你刑期不到就回來了。好，你不想做馬，這回我讓你變條狗。”
10 林客大叫：“我不做狗！我不做狗！”可一群小鬼撲上來掄起棍子劈頭蓋臉打他。為躲避抽打，他只得往外跑。 那些小鬼一路追打他。一會他跑到一個懸崖邊。他寧死也不做狗！他閉上眼，往下一跳！
11 他跳到地上，睜開眼四處看。他發現他落在個狗窩裡，變成了個小狗崽！狗媽媽正用濕熱的長舌頭舔他臉！
12 林客羞死了！他不想做個狗活着！可它餓得沒法，也只得巴到狗媽媽胸上去吸奶。
13 過了些天，狗媽媽沒奶了，它也只得去舔吃地上盤子裡的東西。
14 它慢慢長大了。主人在它脖子上系個套子，用根繩子牽着。主人一拖那繩子，那套子就勒進它脖子，痛得鑽心！
1. 一天它主人拖它走，套子勒得它喘不過氣來。它實在忍無可忍，跳起來一口咬在主人屁股上，咬下一塊肉。主人氣瘋了，掄起棍子一頓暴打，把它打死了。
16 林客又回到陰間閻王面前。閻王吼道：“你怎麼啦？沒完成刑期不說，還犯了罪！得罰你一百大棍，再讓你變條蛇！”
17 林客大叫：“我不做蛇！我不做蛇！”可小鬼過來拖起他，把他丟到一個黑屋裡，鎖上門走了。
18 林客呆在那個黑黢黢的屋裡悶得要死。他便順着牆爬。他發現牆上有個洞，他就從那個洞裡鑽出去。他一出來，忽然發現自己已變成一條蛇！
19 它只得在地上扭扭擺擺爬行。這回它發誓要做條蛇服完刑期，再也不干傷人的事。它只吃野菜和土。
20 一天它正要過馬路，一輛馬車飛跑過來，它躲閃不及，那輪子碾在它身上，把它碾做兩截。它痛得在地上亂扭亂蹦，不一會就痛死了。
21 他又來到閻王面前。閻王說：“這回我要讓你變個人。”一個小鬼就過來領他到一個漂亮房裡軟和和的床上去睡覺。
22 他一醒來，發現自己光着身子，冷得要命， 他忍不住尖叫。 馬上他聽到人說：“林老爺，恭喜你！是個公子！”他這才意識到他已投胎變成了人。
23 他投胎到了一個讀書人家。他父親是個著名學者。三歲時父親就教他讀書寫字。林客喜歡讀書寫字，他讀書特別用功。
24 長大後他很輕鬆地通過科舉考試，不久就成了一個政府高官。他對誰都好，清廉守法，成了遠近聞名的好官。
25 可是他永遠記得他前世因貪污做過馬、做過狗和做過蛇的經歷。因此
每次他騎馬都要弄個好鞍子加在馬背上，而且從不踢打馬。
只要看到有人牽着狗，他就要勸人把狗脖子上的套子解掉，讓狗自由。
每次坐馬車看到小動物橫穿馬路，他都要叫人把車停下來，讓小動物不慌不忙先過。
最高明的畫家
基於紅安民間故事
從前有個好打仗的皇帝，他左眼中過箭， 眼裡空空無珠，左腳被人砍了，短了一截。
他要讓子孫後代都看到他的英武形象，便下令在全國找最高明的畫家來給他畫像。
他們找來一個大畫家： 他畫的花往牆上一掛，蜜蜂就飛進來巴滿那些花；他畫的鳥往桌上一放，貓就跳上去抓那些鳥。
這個畫家花了三個月給皇帝畫像。那像畫得太真了，連皇帝的眉毛都一根不少。畫完，他很得意，便把畫送給皇帝看。
那畫裡皇帝的左眼空洞無珠，左腳短了一截。一見那畫，皇帝大發雷霆，狂吼：“我哪是這個樣子？這不是要讓後人笑話我嗎？ 來人啦，把他拉出去殺了！”
衛兵們就把那個畫家拉出去殺了。
皇帝又下令在全國找最高明的畫家來給他畫像。他們又找來個大畫家。這個畫家畫的落葉就像遍地盛開的鮮花，畫的魚就像滿天翻飛的五彩鳥兒。
他聽說皇帝殺了那個畫家是因為他畫了他的跛腳瞎眼。他便把皇帝畫得眼好腳好，完美無缺。
他花了三個月給皇帝畫像。畫好，他很得意，便把畫送給皇帝看。一見那畫，皇帝大發雷霆， 狂吼：“我哪是這個樣子？這不是笑話我嗎？來人啦！把他拉出去殺了！”
衛兵就撲過來把這個畫家拉出去殺了。
皇帝又下令去找最高明的畫家。他們又找來一個大畫家。這個畫家畫的貓往屋裡一掛，老鼠就不敢進那屋； 他畫的桃樹化開花落，四季不息。
他聽說皇帝殺了把他畫得真的人，又殺了把他畫得假的人，嚇得不敢動筆。他三天三夜睡不着，吃不下，在屋裡走來走去: 怎麼畫他才能保住腦袋？
三天后他終於想出畫法: 讓皇帝跛腳踏在石頭上，彎弓眯眼瞄準撲過來的大老虎!
他花了三個月給皇帝畫像。畫好，他把畫送給皇帝看。一看那畫皇帝就裂嘴笑了：看這畫誰也看不出他跛，誰也看不出他瞎，只見他勇敢地面對一隻撲來的惡虎彎弓搭箭，冷靜瞄準！這才是真正的他！
他賞給這個畫家一百兩金子，豎起大拇指說：“你才是最高明的畫家！”
(請父母給孩子講這個故事，讓孩子們用英語記錄這個故事。）
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××**********
以下是上面故事（部分）的英文版本
***************************************************************************************************
The Martial Arts Master
Based on a Folk Tale in Hongan County
Once upon a time, a group of bandits lived in a hut on a mountaintop. The bandits’ leader was called Flying Tiger.
Flying Tiger was good at martial arts.
v He could pierce a tiny leaf with an arrow from a hundred feet away.
v He could wave an iron stick so fast that, when you poured a bucket of water over him, not a drop would wet his hair.
v With one kick, he could break the strongest wall and bring down a house.
Flying Tiger and his men robbed nearby villagers of their valuables. The villagers cried and shivered as the bandits broke into their homes.
A boy named Rock saw the bandits’ actions. Clenching his fists, he made up his mind to defeat Flying Tiger.
When Rock was twelve, he left his parents and wandered the country, looking for a martial arts master.
Finally, Rock found one in a monastery atop Wudang Mountain. He knelt down in front of the master and asked, “Dear master, please take me as your disciple.”
The master asked, “Are you willing to spend years serving me before I teach you?”
“Yes, I am,” Rock replied.
The master gave Rock a bottle. “Go catch mosquitoes and flies in the monastery with your bare hands. Do not kill any of them. Put them in the bottle and bring them to the bottom of Wudang Mountain. When no mosquitoes and flies remain, come see me.”
Rock began catching flies at day and mosquitoes at night. When the bottle was full, he ran down to the bottom of the mountain to release them, then came back up the mountain to catch more.
Mosquitoes and flies rushed in through the windows and doors of the monastery like smoke and fog. Even on snowy days, mosquitoes rushed in from nowhere. They kept Rock busy day and night.
Three years later, Rock couldn’t find any mosquitoes or flies in the monastery. He went to see the master and asked, “Dear master, will you teach me now?”
“Not yet.” The master handed Rock a hatchet. “Go collect firewood. Find the dead pine trees on the mountain and chop them into pieces as small as coins, give them to the farmers nearby. When there are no dead pine trees left, come see me.”
Rock took the hatchet and found a patch of dead pine trees. He chopped them into pieces as small as coins, put them in baskets and brought them to the farmers nearby.
He cut dead pine trees in the snow. He cut them in the burning sun.
Three years later, he couldn’t find any dead pine trees on the mountain. He went to see the master and asked, “Dear master, will you teach me now?”
“Not yet.” The master called for a servant to bring in two baby pigs. “Carry these pigs to eat grass at the bottom of the mountain in the morning. Carry them back in the evening. Never let them walk on the way. When they grow big, come see me.”
Rock began raising pigs. Every morning, he carried them miles down to the bottom of the mountain. Every evening, he carried them miles up to the top of the mountain.
The pigs grew heavier and heavier and it got harder and harder to carry them up and down the narrow trail.
Three years later, the pigs were huge. Rock carried the pigs to see the master. “Dear master, will you teach me now?”
The master smiled. “You are already a martial arts master. Take the hatchet and go.”
Rock took the hatchet and went back home.
His parents were overjoyed at his return. Villagers crowded his house. They told Rock that Flying Tiger still robbed the villages every month.
Rock said, “Don’t be afraid any longer! I will defeat them!” He asked all the young men from the nearby villages to bring spades to face the bandits when they came.
A few days later, Flying Tiger and his men came. Lots of young men in nearby villages gathered to face the bandits. Rock stood in front of them, holding his hatchet. He said to the bandits, “From now on, none of you should set your feet in the villages!”
“Why are you talking so proudly?” Flying Tiger laughed. “We’ll go anywhere we want to.”
“Ask my hatchet whether it agrees!” Rock waved his hatchet.
Flying Tiger mocked, “Watch my arrows!” He shot at Rock.
Rock caught the arrows between his fingers. It was just like catching mosquitoes and flies.
“Shoot!” Flying Tiger ordered. All the bandits aimed their bows and arrows. They shot at Rock, but Rock caught their arrows. It was just like catching flies and mosquitoes.
Not a single arrow hit Rock. Flying Tiger roared, “Let me teach you a lesson!” He jumped off his horse, waved his iron pole, and ran toward Rock.
Rock swung his hatchet so fast that he chopped Flying Tiger’s iron pole into pieces as small as coins.
Moments later, only a butt was left of Flying Tiger’s mighty iron pole.
Flying Tiger threw the butt away and jumped up to kick Rock.
Rock seized Flying Tiger’s feet and swung him. It was just like swinging a pig. After a hundred rounds of swinging, Rock roared, “Go!” and threw Flying Tiger into the sky.
Flying Tiger was thrown high up into the sky, but he couldn’t fly. Pong! He dropped down to the ground like a piece of rock. He broke his face and ribs.
The bandits were scared to death. Every last one ran away. Flying Tiger limped off. The villagers cheered.
Rock became known as the villages’ Kung Fu master. Young men flooded his home to learn martial arts. He trained the villagers to defend themselves. None of the bandits ever returned to rob the villages, and peace spread throughout the towns.
The Most Delicious Food
Based on a Story Told by Cai Weicai (1920-1991)
1. When the emperor was young, he lost a war. He climbed a mountain for three days without any food. When he reached the mountain’s base, he was starving to death. He lay down in a field.
2. At noon, a woman passed by. She was bringing a pot of steamed corn to her husband, who was out plowing the fields. Thinking the emperor was a dying beggar, she fed the steamed corn to him.
3. After eating half a pot of the steamed corn, the emperor revived. He said to the woman, “This is the most delicious food I have ever had! I will reward you richly for your food.”
4. The woman did not reply and rushed to take the rest of the food to her husband. The emperor regained his energy and went to look for his scattered army.
5. Years later, the emperor had rebuilt his army. He conquered the whole country. He had all kinds of delicacies to eat, but was very unhappy with them. “These foods are tasteless!” he complained. “I don’t want to eat any of them! Fire all the cooks!”
6. He remembered the taste of the steamed corn he had eaten long ago – now, that had been the most delicious food in the world! He ordered his Prime Minister to find the woman and bring her to cook the steamed corn for him.
7. The Prime Minister sent out officials to look for the woman. They found her village. But she had passed away a long time.
8. Then the emperor ordered the Prime Minister to conduct a country-wide search for the top cook. The best cook of all China was found and brought to the palace.
9. The cook used the skills passed on through many generations of his family to cook the steamed corn. When the steamed corn was ready, he brought it to the emperor.
10. The steamed corn smelled sweet, with a hint of spices. The emperor tasted it and roared, “What junk did you cook for me? It is sand and rocks! Do you want to torture me?”
11. “Take him out and give him one hundred stick-lashes!” ordered the emperor.
The guards seized the cook. “Forgive me, your majesty…” the cook cried.
The emperor was too angry to forgive him. He ordered the Prime Minister to search high and low to find the top cook to cook steamed corn.
12. A second cook was brought to the palace. He thought, “Why would the emperor want plain corn?” He decided to add special ingredients to cook the steamed corn.
13. He used the skills passed on through many generations of his family to cook the steamed corn. When the steamed corn was ready, he brought it to the emperor.
14. The steamed corn smelled sweet, with a hint of spices. The emperor tasted it and roared, “What junk did you cook for me? It is sand and rocks! Do you want to torture me?”
15. “Take him out and give him two hundred stick-lashes!” ordered the emperor.
The guards seized the cook. “Forgive me, your majesty…” the cook cried.
The emperor was too angry to forgive him. He ordered the Prime Minister to search high and low to find a top cook to cook steamed corn for him.
16. A third cook was brought to the palace. He thought, “Why would the emperor want plain corn?” He decided to make powder from delicious foods and shape the powder to look like corn granules.
17. Then he used the skills passed on through many generations of his family to cook the steamed corn. When the steamed corn was ready, he brought it to the emperor.
18. The steamed corn smelled sweet, with a hint of spices. The emperor tasted it and roared, “What junk did you cook for me? It is sand and rocks! Do you want to torture me?”
19. “Take him out and give him three hundred stick-lashes!” ordered the emperor.
The guards seized the cook. “Forgive me, your majesty…” the cook cried.
The emperor was too angry to forgive him. He ordered the Prime Minister to search high and low to find someone who could cook steamed corn to perfection.
20. Nobody dared to claim to be a good cook. Officials searched the country for a good cook, with no success.
The emperor was mad at everyone, but especially at the Prime Minister.
21. The Prime Minister worried so much that he could not help “Ai --- Ai---” sighing at home.
The Prime Minister’s twelve-year old daughter, Wenwen, asked him, “What is worrying you so much, Daddy?”
22. “The emperor wants to eat steamed corn, because he ate it once when he had been starving for three days and thought it was the best food on earth. Now no-one can cook steamed corn to satisfy his taste buds,” replied the Prime Minister.
23. “I can. Let me cook for the emperor,” said Wenwen.
The Prime Minister shook his head. “No, no, no, sweetheart. If the emperor gets mad, he will give you three hundred stick-lashes!”
“Don’t worry, just trust me, Daddy!” said Wenwen.
24. The Prime Minister knew that his daughter was good at everything. Though she rarely cooked, whatever she cooked tasted wonderful. The Prime Minister had to let her have a try.
25. The next day, Wenwen disguised herself as a man. She claimed to be the best cook in all of China and was brought to the palace to cook for the emperor.
26. Wenwen cooked a bowl of plain steamed corn and brought it to the emperor.
27. The emperor asked, “How does it taste?” He picked up his chopsticks.
28. Wenwen held the bowl and replied, “Your majesty, I guarantee you it is the most delicious food you have ever tasted. But I have a request before you eat it.”
“What request?” asked the emperor.
“Before eat this, you need to climb a mountain for three days and nights without eating anything.” Replied Wenwen.
29. The emperor put down his chopsticks. He suddenly realized that the problem was not with the food he was being served.
30. He thanked the cook, who was actually the Prime Minister’s daughter, Wenwen. Then he called in all the cooks who had made him steamed corn, apologized, and paid them according to the lashes they got: one piece of gold for each lash they got.
31. After that, he happily ate whatever food was placed before him. Everyone was happy again, especially the Prime Minister and his daughter, Wenwen.
A Secret to the Emperor
Based on the Chinese Idiom “The Farmer Dedicated Exposing Bare Belly in the Sun to the Emperor”
Once upon a time, there was a farmer living in a mountain village, whose name was Tan. Every day he got up at dawn and went to work in the fields with a pot of rice porridge.
v In the fields he worked as hard as he could.
v When he felt really hungry, he ate the porridge.
v Then he took off his coat and shirt and lay down, with his bare belly facing the warm sun.
He felt like he was flying in heaven!
One day, he heard that if you gave the emperor the most valuable thing in the world, you would receive a great reward. Tan knew the most valuable secret – how to make one feel like he was flying in heaven! He decided to bring this secret to the emperor.
On hearing of Tan’s trip to see the emperor, the villagers came to see him. “What great treasure do you have?” they asked.
Tan replied that he had a secret, and that the secret was for the emperor’s ears alone.
“Don’t go!” the villagers pleaded with him. “If the emperor feels like he has been tricked, you will be beheaded!”
“My secret is the most valuable thing in the world,” said Tan. “I will receive a great reward.”
He took all the money he had gotten from the past year’s harvest and set out toward the capital.
On his way, people heard that he was going to see the emperor, they asked him what he had for the emperor.
Tan replied that he had a secret, and that the secret was for the emperor’s ears alone.
“Don’t go!” the people pleaded with him. “If the emperor feels like he has been tricked, you will be beheaded!”
“My secret is the most valuable thing in the world,” said Tan. “I will receive a great reward.”
After three months of walking on foot, Tan reached the capital.
At the gate of Forbidden City, people had lined up to give the most valuable thing in the world to the emperor.
One showed the guards a shining pearl as big as an egg. He was let in.
Moments later he returned with a piece of gold.
A second person carried a silk shirt. The shirt made one feel cool in summer and warm in winter. He was let in.
Moments later he returned with two pieces of gold.
The third person in line had a painting. In the painting a peacock was opening and closing its beautiful tail and singing a sweet song. He was let in.
Moments later he returned with three pieces of gold.
Finally, it was Tan’s turn. The guards asked him what he had for the emperor.
Tan replied that he had a secret, and that the secret was for the emperor’s ears alone.
“Leave here now,” the guard told Tan. “If the emperor feels like he has been tricked, you will be beheaded!”
“My secret is the most valuable thing in the world,” said Tan. “I will receive a great reward.”
The guard had to let him in. Finally, after many doors and many rooms, Tan arrived at the emperor’s chamber and faced the emperor. The emperor asked, “What have you brought for me?”
“Your Majesty, I have brought you a secret – how to feel like you are flying in heaven!” replied Tan.
The emperor had the best food, clothes, and palace in the world, but nothing had ever made him feel like he was flying in heaven. Eagerly he asked, “Really? Let me know!”
“Your Majesty,” began Tan, “You get up at dawn and go to work in the fields with a pot of rice porridge.”
“In the fields you work as hard as you can.
When you feel really hungry, you eat the porridge.”
“Then you take off your coat and shirt and lie down, with your bare belly facing the warm sun.
“You will feel like you are flying in heaven!”
All the guards in the palace could not help laughing.
But the emperor said, “Your gift to me is really the most valuable!”
He ordered Tan be given a thousand pieces of gold - the biggest reward he had ever given!
Tan went home happily with a cart full of gold.
He became really rich now. Although he was rich, still every day he got up at dawn and went to work in the fields with a pot of rice porridge.
v In the fields he worked as hard as he could.
v When he felt really hungry, he ate the porridge.
v Then he took off his coat and shirt and lay down, with his bare belly facing the warm sun.
He felt like he was flying in heaven!
The Loyal Dog
Based on “The Loyal Dog” by Pu Songling (1640-1711)
1. On his way home, Kongda saw a butcher tying a dog to a tree. The dog was yelping and howling.
2. Kongda asked the butcher, “Excuse me, sir. Why don’t you let this dog go?”
The butcher replied, “Let him go? You’re going to support my family, are you?”
3. “Let him go!” cried Kongda . “I’ll pay you for him.”
“Will you, indeed?” mocked the butcher. “I spent two hundred on this dog, and I expect to make another two hundred from him.”
“Here is four hundred. Please - just let him go!”
4. The butcher took the money and untied the dog. “Go, you are free!” Kongda told the dog. But the dog walked over to Kongda and licked his shoes.
5. Kongda bent over the dog and felt the dog’s wounded feet. “I guess you have no good place to go. How about going with me?” The dog nodded.
6. Kongda stood up and walked toward the dock. The dog followed him closely.
7. There was a yellow boat docked by the bank. Kongda and dog got in it.
8. Kongda shared his food with the dog, and both of them ate until they were full. As it got dark, they laid down together to sleep.
9. In the middle of the night, the dog’s cries woke Kongda . He sat up and saw the owner of the boat standing over him.
“Where is my dog?” Kongda asked. “We drowned him. Now it’s your turn.”
10. Kongda realized that he had run into robbers. He pleaded, “Take all my money, please let me go.”
The robber laughed, “Let you go? So you can get the policemen to capture us?”
11. Two other robbers came over. They took all the money from Kongda , tied his hands and feet tightly, and wrapped him in an old bamboo sheet. Then they threw him into the river and rowed away in a hurry.
12. As Kongda sunk to the bottom of the river, he felt something - someone was pulling him up preventing him from sinking. When his head was out of the water, he saw it was the dog!
13. The dog bit into the sheet and swam for shore, keeping Kongda ’s face out of the water.
14. The dog pulled Kongda up onto the bank as the sun was rising. He tried to bite through the rope, but failed. Then he ran toward rising smoke.
15. After a long run, he entered a village. He got close to a group of villagers and barked furiously. Several young men took their knives and followed him.
16. They found Kongda . They cut through the ropes. Kongda told them what had happened.
17. Kongda thanked the villagers. Then he went to report the robbery. Several detectives started searching for the robbers. Kongda and his dog joined in the search.
18. After one month had passed, no trace of the boat or robbers had been found. Kongda had to go home. He went to the dock with his dog. After boarding a boat, he suddenly realized his dog was gone!
19. He searched the boat. His dog was nowhere to be seen. He left the boat and started asking around. None had seen his dog.
Day and night, he wandered the town, looking for his dog. After one month of looking, he hadn’t found his dog.
20. “Your dog must be dead. Forget him.” People told him. “If he is dead, I must find his body and take it home to bury it,” said Kongda .
21. One morning, Kongda heard that there was a dead dog by the dock. He rushed to the dock. Right by the dock, he saw his dog - he was alive! He ran toward his dog and his dog ran toward him.
22. Kongda embraced the dog, and the dog kissed him. Tears rushed out of Kongda ’s eyes. Kongda said, “Let’s go home.” He stood up and walked toward the dock.
23. But the dog did not follow him. He barked and ran toward the town. Kongda had to follow him
24. After a while, they reached the market place. The dog stopped at the back of a man and started barking fiercely at him.
25. The man turned around and was about to kick the dog; the dog jumped up and bit the man’s hat off his head!
26. Kongda looked at the man - he was the robber who had held the knife! He had shaved his beard off and changed his clothes. Kongda shouted, “Catch him! He is a robber!”
27. The robber tried to run away. People around grabbed him and took him into custody.
28. The dog barked again and ran toward the dock. Kongda followed him with two detectives.
29. The dog jumped onto an empty boat. Kongda recognized the boat, too - it was the robbers’ boat! It had since been painted gray.
30. Kongda , dog, and detectives hid in the boat. Moments later, two other robbers rowed up in a smaller boat and jumped over the side of the boat.
31. The detectives jumped up. Shocked, the robbers tried to pull out their knives to fight their way out. But the detectives were martial arts masters. They caught the robbers as cats catch mice.
32. Seeing that the two robbers had been tied up and taken to custody, the dog jumped up and barked cheerfully.
33. Kongda hugged the dog and said, “We can go home now.” They got into a passenger boat and sailed for home.
The Watermelon Seed
Based on a Chinese Folktale
1. Once upon a time, there was a farmer in a village. In front of the farmer’s house, there was a maple tree. On the tree there was a sparrow’s nest. In the nest, there were several baby sparrows.
2. One day, a baby sparrow fell out of the nest and dropped on the ground.
3. The farmer picked up the sparrow and found her wing broken. “Poor little baby,” sadly the farmer said. He applied oil and powder on her wound, wrapped the wing with clothes and put her back to the nest.
4. Days later, the sparrow recovered and grew up. She flew out of the nest and returned with a watermelon seed. She landed on the farmer’s shoulder and dropped the seed on his palm.
5. The seed was big and shinning. The farmer planted it in front of his house.
6. The next day a watermelon shoot grew up and the vine spread quickly. On the vine a beautiful yellow flower came out. When the flower dropped, a watermelon grew up.
7. The watermelon kept growing and it grew to be huge.
8. The farmer carried the watermelon onto his table. He cut it open and shining big pearls rolling out of it!
9. The farmer sold the pearls and became the richest in the village.
10. A landlord in the village went to ask the farmer how he grew a watermelon full of pearls.
11. The farmer said, “A baby sparrow dropped out of his nest in the maple tree in front of my house. I picked her up and wrapped her wound with clothes and put her back. When she grew up, she flew out and brought me a watermelon seed. I planted the seed in front of my house and a watermelon was grown. Inside the watermelon were all pearls.”
12. Heard of this, the landlord went home immediately. There was also a maple tree in front of his house. On the tree there was also a sparrow’s nest. In the nest, there were several baby sparrows.
13. The landlord got a stick and poked the nest. A little sparrow fell out of the nest and dropped on the ground.
14. He picked up the sparrow and found her wing broken. “Poor little baby,” sadly the landlord said. He applied oil and powder on the wound, wrapped the wing with clothes, and put her back to the nest.
15. Days later, the sparrow recovered and grew up. She flew out of the nest and returned with a watermelon seed. She landed on the landlord’s shoulder and dropped the seed on his palm.
16. The seed was big and shinning. The landlord planted it in front of his house.
17. The next day a watermelon shoot grew up and the vine spread quickly. On the vine a beautiful yellow flower came out. When the flower dropped, a watermelon grew up.
18. The watermelon kept growing and it grew to be huge.
19. The landlord informed all his relatives that he was going to open the watermelon full of pearls. All his relatives were crowded in his house. Two servants carried the watermelon onto the table.
20. The landlord held the knife to open the watermelon. Just as the knife cut into the watermelon, poo! – stinky black cream burst out of it and splashed all over his face!
The Peach Tree
(Based on “Planting a Pear Tree” by Pu Songling (1670-1741))
One day an exhausted monk came to a peach peddler, “Excuse, could you please give me a peach? ”
The peddler said, “Money first.”
The monk said, “ I am a wondering monk. I don’t have a penny.”
“No money, no peach. Go away from my stall!” Said the peddler.
The monk said, “Could you have mercy on me? I am starving to death. I only need one peach, please.”
The peddler waved his hand and shouted, “Go away! Do not ruin my business!” He pushed the monk and tried to drive him away.
Several pass-by came over and stopped the peddler. One elderly man rebuked the peddler, “Why are you so cruel to a poor monk?”
The peddler yelled back, “ I am a businessman. How could I give him my goods without getting paid?”
The old man said, “OK, I will pay for him.” And he turned to the monk, “Sir, get as many as you want. It’s on me.”
The monk said, “Thank you very much. I only need one.” He took one peach. The man paid for him.
The monk finished the peach in no time. He kept the pit in his hand and said to people around him, “I need to do something to repay you kind people. Could somebody get me a shovel?”
A bystander offered him a shovel. The monk took the shovel. He dug a hole by the street and put the pit in the hole. The monk covered the hole with earth and asked, “Could somebody get me a little bit water?”
Another bystander gave him a pot of water. The monk watered the fresh earth covering the pit and commanded, “Grow!”
Just as the water got down, a shoot popped out of the earth. The shoot kept growing and growing.
Seconds later the shoot grew to be a little peach tree. It got taller and bigger. People applauded. They had to back up to let the branches of the tree growing.
When the branches stopped extending, beautiful flowers began to bloom all over the tree.
All the people in the market rushed to see the magic tree. The peach peddler also came over to watch the magic tree.
In another second, the flowers fell off the tree and the little peaches began to grow.
The peaches grew to the size of an egg, then as big as small balls. In no time, peaches turned red.
The monk said to the crowd, “Please help yourself. This is the gift I have for all of you.” He took one and ate it. People followed him to pick up peach and happily ate it.
When there was no peach on the tree, the monk asked, “Do you enjoy the peaches?”
“Yes!” applauded the people.
“Great.” Said the monk, “Now I have to go. I cannot leave the tree here to block the street. Could somebody give me a hatchet?”
One man passed him a hatchet. The monk waved the hatchet against the tree. When the hatchet cut into the tree, the tree gave out a sound – “poo--!” Then it shrank just like a balloon let out of air.
The tree shrank back to be a little tree. Then it became a tiny shoot and it kept shrinking.
When the tree disappeared into the earth, the monk said goodbye to the crowd and walked toward the end of the street. And the crowd dispersed.
The peach peddler, after seeing the magic, turned back to his stall. He was paralyzed: all his peaches were gone and there was a mark of fresh cut on his cart handle. Suddenly he realized that the peaches on the tree were all his, and the tree the monk cut was his cart. – This was a trick the monk played on him.
He looked around and shouted, “Catch the monk! Catch the monk!” People had dispersed and nobody paid attention to him. He rushed toward the end of the street. But the monk had long disappeared and left no traces.
Learning Magic
Based on “Laoshan Daoist Master” by Pu Songling (1640-1711)
1. Longlong wanted to learn some magic. He heard that in Huangshan Mountain lived a master of magic. He traveled a long way to go to the mountain. In the center of the mountain sat a big monastery. In the center of the monastery sat the master, whose long white beard touched the floor. Longlong knelt down in front of the master and begged to be his disciple.
2. The master said, “I am afraid you can not stand the hardship.”
Longlong said, “I can stand all kinds of hardship. Don’t you worry.”
The master said, “OK. You may stay.”
3. Longlong was overjoyed. He followed a disciple of the master’s to his bedroom. In the bedroom, there was only bare wood board. He was asked to sleep on the wood board.
4. The next morning when it was still dark, all the disciples were called to get up.
They headed into the forest. Instead of learning magic, all the disciples started to collect wood. Till it got dark, they just collected wood.
5. Longlong thought that they would be taught magic the next day. The next day, they collected wood for another whole day.
6. And day after day, they just collected wood. Longlong’s hands were all bloody and covered with scars. After one month, he really could not stand collecting wood any longer. He decided to go home.
7. At the night he was about to leave, he passed by the master’s room and heard laughing inside. He peeked through the window.
8. He saw his mater drinking tea with two guests.
9. One guest said, “It gets dark, let’s hang up the moon.”
The master took out a piece of paper, cut it to be round and stuck it to the window.
Immediately the whole room was full of silver moonlight.
10. The other guest said, “What a beautiful night! Could we have some dancing and singing?”
“Good idea.” Said the master. He swung his chopsticks on the table and the chopsticks swung into two beautiful ladies.
The ladies began to sing and dance in the middle of the room. The song was so melodious.
11. The master said, “How about move our table unto the moon? We will have a better view on the earth.” The guests applauded. The table, the chairs and the dancers floated up with the master and his guests.
12. In no time the master and his guest were drinking tea in the moon.
13. Amazed, Longlong ran away from the window. He gave up the idea of going home and kept collecting wood.
14. After one more month, still no one came to teach him any magic, he felt he could not stand this any longer. He made up his mind to go home. He went to say goodbye to the master.
The master said, “I knew you could not stand the hardship. Bye-bye then.”
Longlong begged, “Dear master, I had worked here for so long. Could you please just teach me a little bit of something?”
15. The master smiled, “What do you want to learn?”
Longlong replied, “I often saw you walk through the walls like that they were non-existed. Could you teach me that?”
16. The master nodded. He told Longlong to say “Go! Pa! Go! Pa! Go-go-pa!” three times in his mind and try to walk through the wall in front of them. Longlong said “Go! Pa! Go! Pa! Go-go-pa!” three times in his mind, then walked toward the wall.
17. When he got close to the wall, he stopped. The master urged him, “Keep going. Do not hesitate.” Longlong then closed his eyes and walked against the wall.
18. He opened his eyes. He was overjoyed to find that he was on the other side of the wall! He did pass through the wall!
19. How amazing! He turned back and said “Go! Pa! Go! Pa! Go-go-pa!” three times in his mind and walked against the wall. He was back to the other side of the wall.
20. Longlong thanked the master and said goodbye to the master. The master said, “Be pure or it will not work.”
21. When Longlong got back home, he asked all of his friends come to watch his magic power show.When his friends all arrived, he pointed to a brick wall, “I could walk through that wall! Watch!” “Wa—!” All of his friends widely opened their eyes.
22. Longlong said “Go! Pa! Go! Pa! Go-go-pa!” three times in his mind and ran toward the wall.
23. “Pong!” His head hit the wall. He fell unto the ground. A big swelling popped up on his forehead.
24. His friends could not help laughing. They helped him to stand up.
25. He pushed them away, backed up and said “Go! Pa! Go! Pa! Go-go-pa!” three times in his mind and ran toward the wall again.
26. “Pong!” His head hit the wall again and he dropped onto the ground. Another swelling popped up on his forehead.
27. His friends helped him to stand up. He covered his forehead with his hands. He dared not to try it again.
Since then he dared not to brag about his magic power anymore.
Three Lives
Based on “Three Lives” by Pu Songling (1640-1711)
1. In his past life, Lin Ke died at the age of fifty. After his death, he entered the other world. He was brought before the king in the other world. The king looked over his history and found that he had been a very bad official. He said, “I sentence you to be a horse!”
2. Lin Ke protested, “No, I do not want to be a horse!” But a group of spirits drove him out . He struggled and cried, “I do not want to be a horse!” The spirits beat him with sticks. He was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.
3. When he woke up, he found he was in a stable in the shape of a baby pony! He heard someone exclaim, “The horse has given birth to a male pony!”
4. Lin Ke could understand what people were saying, but he could not speak. And he felt extremely hungry. He had to kneel down to suckle milk from the breasts of the mare.
5. A few months later he was taken out to the grassland. He hated eating grass, but hunger forced him to follow other horses in eating it.
6. Years later, he grew to be a strong horse. Fortunately, his owner was very nice to him. Whenever he rode him, he would cover his back with a good saddle and he never whipped him.
7. But when the servants rode him, they never put anything on his back and they kept kicking him with their boots. The pain caused by the kicks pierced through his heart.
8. Soon the owner died and he fell into the hands of the servants. They rode him and kicked him every day. Lin Ke could not take it any longer. He refused to eat for three days and died of hunger.
9. After his death, he entered the other world. He was brought again to the king in the other world. The king said, “You have not finished your term. -- OK, you do not want to be a horse, this time I’ll make you to be a dog!”
10. Lin Ke protested, “No, no, I do not want to be a dog!” But a group of spirits came over and beat him again with sticks. He had to run to avoid the beating. Soon he ran to the edge of a cliff. He would rather die than live on as a dog. Therefore he closed his eyes and jumped off the cliff.
11. He fell to the ground. He opened his eyes and looked around and found himself in a dog’s kennel! And he was a puppy! The mother dog was licking him with her long slobbery tongue.
12. Lin Ke was ashamed to be a dog and he did not want to continue living. But hunger forced him to suckle milk from the mother dog’s breasts.
13. Days later, he had to eat from a pot on the ground.
14. Slowly he grew up. His owner tied a belt around his neck. The belt cut into his neck and caused almost unbearable pain.
15. One day when his owner was dragging him by the belt, he almost got choked. He really did not want to go on like this! He jumped up and bit a piece of flesh from his owner’s butt. His owner got mad and killed him with a stick instantly.
16. After his death, Lin Ke entered the other world again. He was brought before the king in the other world. The king shouted at him, “Look at what you have done! You hadn’t yet finished your sentence and now you have committed a new crime! – Give him one hundred lashes and put him to be a snake!”
17. Lin Ke protested, “No, no, I do not want to be a snake!” But the spirits came over and seized him. They pushed him into a dark room and locked him there.
18. Lin Ke was bored in the dark room alone. He climbed the wall and snuck out of the room. Just as he got out, he realized he was a snake!
19. He had to wiggle among grasses. This time, he decided to finish his sentence as a snake and not harm any living beings. He only ate vegetables and earth.
20. One day, he was crossing a road. A horse cart came upon him very fast and the wheels rolled over him. He was cut in two in the middle. The sharp pain made him wiggle and jump on the ground. In a few seconds, he died of the unbearable pain.
21. After his death, he entered the other world. He faced the king in the other world again. The king said, “Now you can be a human.” A spirit came over and led him to a decorated bedroom to have a sleep.
22. When he woke up, he felt naked and cold. He could not help letting out a sharp cry. And he heard someone exclaimed, “Congratulations! Mr. Lin. It’s a man-child!” He realized that he had become a newborn baby.
23. He was born to a scholar’s family. His father was a famous scholar. He taught him to read and write. Lin Ke studied very hard.
24. When he grew up, Lin Ke passed the High-ranking Official Examination. He became a high-ranking official. He was kind to all the people and became a model official.
25. He never forgot the three lives he had experienced. Therefore
Whenever he rode a horse, he would put a good saddle on the horse’s back and he never kicked the horse.
Whenever he saw people tie a belt around a dog’s neck, he would persuade them to untie it.
Whenever he rode a carriage and saw animals crossing the road, he would stop the carriage and let the animals pass at their own leisure.
|
