They say that once upon a time in a small village on the banks of the Yellow River there lived a poor man named Huang Xiao. He worked from morning to night without rest, and lived from hand to mouth. And he had to go to work for his rich uncle.
One morning, just as Huang Xiao began to feed the birds, a huge hawk flew in, grabbed the fattest chicken and carried it to the west. But the chicken was heavy, and he flew low to the ground. Huang Xiao immediately chased the hawk to snatch the chicken from it as soon as it landed.
The hawk flew further and further and finally landed in a garden where huge, lush chrysanthemums grew. In the garden, Huang Xiao saw a girl of extraordinary beauty among the flowers. She looked with her eyes, deep as autumn water, at the beautiful young man, and they fell in love with each other.
- What is your name? — Huang Xiao asked. “Yuan Mei.” And you? - Huang Xiao. - I fell in love with you, Huang Xiao, and I want to become your wife. Find a respectable man and send him to my father as a matchmaker.
Huang Xiao returned home happy and begged his uncle to be his matchmaker. But Yuan Mei’s father found out that Huang Xiao was a poor man, and gave the matchmaker the following answer: “If he wants to be my son-in-law, let him find and give ten gold bricks, a measure of gold beans, three red hairs and an unsinkable pearl for Yuan Mei as a wedding gift.” Otherwise he won’t see my daughter.
Having learned from his uncle what rare treasures Yuan Mei's father demanded from him, Huang Xiao grieved for a long time, but could not think of anything. And then he decided to go to the old sage to ask him for advice.
He quickly got ready and boldly set off on a long and difficult journey.
He walked and walked and came to a big city and saw a strange thing - people were building a wall, and the wall was falling apart. Residents of the city asked Huang Xiao where and why he was going, and when they found out that he was going to the old sage for advice, they began to ask him: “Find out for us from the sage why the wall is not being built.” It stands around the whole city, but in this place it is falling apart.
Huang Xiao promised to fulfill their request and started forward again.
He walked and walked and reached the village. The peasants met him, found out where and why he was going, and began to ask: “Find out for us from the old sage why the cherry tree blooms outside our village but bears no fruit.”
Huang Xiao promised to fulfill this request and went on.
He walked and walked and saw an old man sitting on the threshold of the house. The old man asked him where and why he was going, and then began to ask: “Find out for me from the sage how to cure my daughter.” She is already eighteen years old, but she is mute, and no one takes her as a wife.
Huang Xiao promised to fulfill the old man’s request and moved on.
So he walked for many days and many nights and encountered many difficulties on his way: either he had to cross a stormy stream, or climb a steep cliff, or suffer from thirst in a waterless desert. Finally, the endless sea stretched out before him. Huang Xiao stopped on the shore and began to talk to himself: How could he cross the sea and get to the old sage. Then a large black turtle swam up to him, heard his speech and said: “I can take you across the ocean, but just don’t forget about me.” For many years now I have been floating on the waves and cannot sink to the bottom of the sea. Find out for me from the sage how I can get rid of this trouble.
Huang Xiao promised to fulfill the turtle's request, sat on her back, and she transported him across the ocean.
Soon he reached the sage's dwelling. The old sage saw Huang Xiao and asked why he came to him. Then Huang Xiao began to talk - first about what the residents of the city and village, the old man and the turtle asked him, and then he complained about his grief. And the old sage answered him: “The inhabitants of the city cannot build a wall because there are ten golden bricks buried in the ground.” The cherry does not bear fruit because there is a measure of golden beans under it. The old man's daughter is prevented from speaking by three red hairs on her head. If you pull them out, she will speak. The turtle has an unsinkable pearl in its mouth. Take out the pearl and the turtle will sink to the bottom of the sea. And so, by helping others, you will help yourself.
Huang Xiao thanked the old sage and cheerfully went back.
The big black turtle had been waiting for him for a long time and, as soon as he appeared, asked: “Well, what did the old sage say?” “Take me to the other side and you will find out.”
On the other side, Huang Xiao ordered the turtle to open its mouth, took out a non-sinking pearl, and the turtle, satisfied, immediately sank to the bottom. Having hidden the pearl in his bosom, the happy Huang Xiao quickly moved on.
The old man stood on the threshold and waited for him. “Well, what did the old sage say?” “he asked. “Take me to your daughter, I will cure her,” Huang Xiao answered.
As soon as he plucked three red hairs from the girl's head, she immediately spoke. The father and daughter thanked Huang Xiao with tears, and he hid his hair in his bosom and, cheerful, went on.
At the edge of the village, the peasants were impatiently waiting for him. “Well, what did the old sage say?” - they asked. “Show me where your cherry tree is, and I will make it bear fruit,” answered Huang Xiao.
They brought Huang Xiao to the cherry tree, he dug up a measure of golden beans, and immediately the ripe cherries on the branches turned red.
The peasants did not know how to thank Huang Xiao, but he walked on even more cheerfully.
The residents of the city were also expecting him and immediately asked: “Well, what did the old sage say?”
Huang Xiao walked directly to the place where the wall was falling apart, dug ten golden bricks out of the ground and said: “Now build a wall.”
People built a wall. It stands firmly and does not fall apart.
And Huang Xiao hurried home. He was happy that he helped others and got everything he needed.
Yuan Mei's father was surprised that Huang Xiao managed to fulfill his demand and get such precious wedding gifts. He really didn’t want to give his daughter to a poor man, but he had to fulfill his promise.
Huang Xiao and Yuan Mei lived in love and contentment.
Huang Xiao loved his wife so much that he could not part with her even for a minute, and asked her to draw his portrait. When he left home, he always took it with him.
One day, while working in the field, he missed his wife, took out a portrait and began to admire her.
And suddenly a strong gust of wind came, tore the portrait out of Huang Xiao’s hands and carried it away to an unknown location. Huang Xiao searched and searched for him, and went home with nothing.
And the portrait, driven by the wind, kept flying and flying until it flew straight into the golden hall of the imperial palace.
The Emperor admired the image of Yuan Mei and ordered the courtiers: “I have never met such a beauty.” Take the portrait and go look for her. If you don’t find it, I’ll execute you!
The courtiers searched all over the country for a long time, until they finally came to Huang Xiao’s house. They saw Yuan Mei and immediately recognized her as the beauty from the portrait. No matter how much Yuan Mei cried, the courtiers grabbed her and took her to the emperor. But before Yuan Mei left, she managed to whisper to Huang Xiao: “When they take me away, take a sheep’s coat, put it on with the fur out, and come to the emperor in this form.” And I will arrange for us to be together again.
When Yuan Mei was brought to the palace, the emperor sat her next to him and did not want to part with her for a minute. But no matter how much he cared for her, she remained silent, sad and never smiled.
One day, when the emperor was trying in vain to cheer up Yuan Mei, Huang Xiao entered the golden hall, dressed in an inverted lamb fur coat. Yuan Mei looked at him and laughed cheerfully.
“What amused you so much, Yuan Mei?” — the emperor was surprised. “I like the fur coat on this man.” Now, if you dressed up like that, I would always laugh.
The delighted emperor called Huang Xiao over and began to exchange clothes with him. Huang Xiao took off his fur coat and put on the imperial robe embroidered with dragons. But as soon as the emperor put on the lamb fur coat, Yuan Mei shouted to the courtiers: “Hey, order the man in the fur coat to immediately cut off the head, he insulted me!”
The courtiers captured the emperor and executed him, and Huang Xiao sat in his place, next to Yuan Mei, and from then on they were never separated again.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru