A very, very long time ago, in a Chinese
village of, there lived a rice farmer and his two sons, Li-Liang and Aang. They
lived in a small house, near a big paddy field where they grew rice. Growing
and selling rice was their way of living; after the rice had grown, the farmer
would sell some of the rice at the market for money and keep the rest of the
rice for him and his sons to eat.
Aang, the youngest son, was a kind and hard working man and did
everything he could to help his father. He helped out with both the house work
and the paddy field work. The rice farmer was happy to have a good son like
Aang and he hoped that he would always have a happy future. Li-Liang, the
eldest son, on the other hand was a lazy and selfish man and did nothing to
help his father or brother. He didn’t even bother to help out in the paddy
field. The rice farmer was ashamed of Li-Liang and hoped that he would come to
his senses soon.
One day the rice farmer died from a terrible illness, leaving Li-Liang
and Aang orphans. What was even more upsetting was that Li-Liang and Aang had
to leave their home. The reason for that was the night after their father died
a terrible storm hit the village and destroyed their house and paddy field. The
paddy field was so destroyed that it couldn’t be used to grow rice again. As
for the house; Aang and Li-Liang couldn’t afford to have the house rebuilt. So
Li-Liang and Aang had to make their fortunes somewhere else.
“I still can’t believe that
father is gone and our home is destroyed” Aang sighed.
“What’s done is done” said Li-Liang, who was fed up with Aang sighs,
“besides we won’t have to work in the paddy fields any more”.
“What do you mean we?” said Aang “You never helped out in the paddy
fields. Even when father became ill you still didn’t help”.
“Oh well doesn’t matter anyway now” replied Li-Liang.
Aang was cross with what Li-Liang said. Because of Li-Liang’s laziness and
meanness it made Aang hate him, even though he didn’t want to hate his own
elder brother.
Just then a messenger from the village landlord appeared to them. The
landlord and the rice farmer had been friends for a long time and after the
rice farmer died, the landlord decided to help Li-Liang and Aang.
“The landlord has heard about your father’s death and about the
destruction of your home and paddy field,” said the messenger “he sent me to
deliver these two job offer papers to you. He also wishes the both of you good
luck with whatever it is you’re going to do”. The messenger handed the papers
to Aang, then left.
“Great so we’ve got new jobs then” said Li-Liang, who wasn’t really
pleased with this.
“Be glad that we have got jobs, so we can make livings for ourselves”
said Aang.
Aang looked at the job offer papers. The first paper read; “A very rich
lady is looking for a man, who would entertain her four grown up daughters,
while she’s out. Payment will be very generous”. The second paper read; “A
retired house keeper needs someone to clean, cook and look after children in
her place. Payment will be free food and shelter.”
Li-Liang wanted to take the first job offer; even though he was lazy and
selfish, his favourite thing to do was spend long hours with women. And since
these women were rich, it couldn’t be better than this for him. Aang didn’t
mind having the second job offer. He was used to cooking and cleaning and he
did like children. The big difference about these two jobs was that they were
in different places, so it meant that Li-Liang and Aang had to go their
separate ways.
“Well elder brother I wish you good luck in the future” said Aang.
“The only one who will need luck is you because you have a boring job
and I have a fun job” boasted Li-Liang.
The two brothers took one horse each and set off to their own new
future. This was the last time they saw each other.
Aang’s destination for his new job was a big mansion that stood, in the
middle of a forest, far away from the village. When Aang arrived, an old woman
was standing outside the door waiting for him.
“Are you the housekeeper of this mansion?” asked Aang.
“Yes I am” said the housekeeper “and I thank you for answering my job
offer. I’m too old now to look after the mansion and children”.
“I should be thanking you” said Aang “I need this job after losing my
old home and work”.
The house keeper explained that the mistress of this mansion, Yao-Niang,
had four children, who are still young, and needed someone to take care of
them, because she was out most of the time on business.
“Is her husband not around?” asked Aang.
“Sadly no, he passed away a
few years ago” the housekeeper answered.
She then explained that the four children were energetic and liked to be
entertained. “They are not spoiled, but they get bored very easily I warn you”.
Aang understood and told the housekeeper not to worry about a thing. “The one
thing I must warn you is not to upset my mistress” said the housekeeper “making
her upset would be the last thing you would ever do”. After giving Aang her
final instructions, the housekeeper got on Aang’s horse and left. Aang was
puzzled about what she had said, but he was ready to begin his new life at the
mansion.
He was just about to enter the mansion when he heard some screams. “That
sounds like children screaming for help” he gasped. The screams were coming
from inside the forest. Aang ran, following the sound of screams. He stopped
and saw where the screams came, but he couldn’t believe his eyes! The screams
were coming from four brownish red baby dragons; they were caught in a net.
“Someone help us please” shouted one of the baby dragons.
Aang still couldn’t believe it; these baby dragons could talk. “Hold on
a sec” said Aang “I’ll get you four out of there”. He untied the rope of the
net and at last the four baby dragons were free.
“Thank you sir,” said the biggest baby dragons “are you the human who is
replacing our housekeeper?”
“Yes I am” said Aang “my name is Aang. What names are you four called?”
“My name is Kang” said the biggest baby dragon.
“My name is Zhong” said the second biggest baby dragon.
“We are Mei-Hua and Li-Hua” said the two smallest dragons together
“we’re twins”.
Suddenly a giant shadow flew over them. “Mother is home!” shouted Mei-Hua.
A big brownish red dragon landed upon the ground. Aang was in more shock than
ever; the mansion was home to a dragon family. The baby dragons introduced
their mother to Aang and told her about him rescuing them from a net.
“Thank you Aang” said the mother dragon, bowing her head in respect.
“I take it that you are Yao-Niang?” asked Aang.
“Yes I am” said Yao-Niang “I am grateful to you for coming here to look
after my children. I leave the mansion as soon as the sun rises and come back
when the sun sets, so I need someone to watch my children”.
“You won’t have to worry about a thing my lady” said Aang “I will take
care of your mansion and children”.
That night Aang was in a bed room of his own; it was a big room with a
big bed. Aang was in bed, staring at the full moon outside, he was still
surprised about his new life with a dragon family, but he didn’t care. This was
much better than having no job and no home. He prayed to his mother and father
in heaven to always watch him and Li-Liang then fell asleep.
Next morning Yao-Niang left the mansion, leaving her children with Aang.
Aang cooked a breakfast of chicken soup for him and the baby dragons.
“This is delicious” said Kang.
“The best chicken soup ever” said Zhong.
“Eat all you like” said Aang.
After breakfast Aang sent the baby dragons outside to play. “It’s time
for me to clean the mansion” he said “and after I’m finished I will play with
you four, alright?” “Okay” said the four dragons. So Aang cleaned the whole
mansion and after he finished he played with the baby dragons until their
mother returned home.
So for the whole week Aang cleaned the mansion, cooked and played with
the baby dragons. The baby dragons liked Aang; he was like a father to them.
Aang was happy living with the dragon family; he felt like he was part of the
family. Yao-Niang enjoyed Aang’s company too and while the baby dragons were
asleep she and Aang would have talks with each other. Aang would talk about how
his life was like before his home was destroyed and his father died. He even
talked about how lazy and selfish his elder brother Li-Liang was. Yao-Niang
hated hearing about Li-Liang; she hated lazy and selfish people. She felt sorry
for Aang for having gone through such hardships like that and hoped that he was
happy here with her and her children.
“Are you happy here looking after my family Aang?” Yao-Niang asked Aang
one night.
“Yes I am thank you” replied Aang “it is nice being surrounded by a
family again, even though you and your family are dragons. Truth is this new
life of mine with you and your children is wonderful.” Yao-Niang was pleased
with that comment, and then she wished Aang good night.
When sun rise came Aang got out of his bed, to see Yao-Niang before she
flew away again. But instead of seeing five dragons, he saw a beautiful woman
and four children.
“Yao-Niang, Kang, Zhong, Mei-Hua and Li-Hua” said Aang, in shock, “is
that you?”
“Yes it is us, but in our human form” said Yao-Niang “I will tell you
everything. The truth is four years ago, after my husband died, a wicked
magician asked me to become his wife. I refused the offer, but the magician
didn’t take no for an answer. So he transformed me and my children into
dragons, so that no other man could have me for a wife. I killed the magician
after he transformed us into dragons, but that didn’t break the spell. The only
way for this spell to be broken was that if a man loved me and my children for
who we were. After what you said last night about being happy with me and my
children, even though we were dragons, those words broke the spell on us. It is
thanks to you that we are free from the spell”.
“I understand now” said Aang “I’m glad that the spell is broken.
Yao-Niang I know this is sudden, but may I have you for my wife and be the new
father of your children?”
“I thought you would never ask” said Yao-Niang, running into Aang’s
arms. Kang, Zhong, Mei-Hua and Li-Hua ran up to Aang, calling him ‘Father’.
They wanted him and only him to become their new father. Aang bent down to the
ground and held the four children in his arms like a true father.
And so Aang married Yao-Niang and became the stepfather of her children.
He felt happier than he had ever felt before. Having a new family had been his
wish ever since his father died and now his wish had come true.
As for Li-Liang, well his new job wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.
The four daughters he had to entertain during the day were beautiful, but they
were lazy and selfish like him. They made him do everything for them like fetch
things and carry things for them. And if he didn’t do what he was told to do
they would hit him with fans. You could say this was a punishment for him for
his bad behaviour.
But Aang lived a happy life with his wife and step children for the rest
of his life.
