By Hillary L.
Long ago, in the land of China, there was a family by the name of Yu. The Yu's were an interesting family. I the family there were two very boisterous and rude older brothers, Chen and Yen, one hard working and caring mother, Sui, and one quiet and shy younger brother who's name was Daren. Chen and Yen where very rude to Daren. For example Chen and Yen would flex there muscles and tell Daren how pueney he was and how he was too small to do anything. Sui did not interfere with Chen and Yen's teasing, for she did not care very much Chen and Yen, but she also knew that Daren would one day be better than Chen and Yen.
Four days before the Chinese Lantern Festival Sui, Chen, Yen and Daren where working hard to complete their lanterns. That night as the forest that they lived in started to get dark their fire in their cabin started to die. Sui said to her oldest son, "Chen go outside and chop some wood, so we can continue to work on or lanterns."
Chen answered selfishly," Why do I have to get the wood. Can't Daren do it?
"No," Sui answered firmly, for she did not want anything to happen to Daren.
"Fine! I will go chop some wood." Chen said with and attitude.
Chen stormed out of the house and ran deep into the forest so he could find the best tree with the most wood. Chen suddenly came into a clearing, there stood the biggest most wonderful tree you have ever seen. Chen quickly took his ax and started to heave the ax at the tree, but the tree would not even cut. Chen kept trying, but he could not bring down the tree. As night began to fall over the forest like a black wool blanket Chen decided he would grab some sticks and go home.
Chen opened the door to the hut and quickly ran inside. His mother and two brothers stared at the sticks in his hand and said " where is the wood?"
Chen answered back, "this is all I could find" Chen then threw the sticks into fire.
When the next morning came, Chen, Yen ,Daren and their mother all went about their morning chores. Chen , Yen and Daren went to the fields and Sui stayed home cleaning. That night when the family was all together again, they started to work on their lanterns. Later that night the fire began to go out so Sui sent Yen to chop some wood for the fire. Yen ran out the door to find the best piece of wood to keep the fire going. Then Yen saw the tree too. He went up to the tree and tried to chop it down. but the tree would not move. Yen finally gave up and ran home with two logs in his hands.
When Yen opened the door he was greeted with, " Yen, you only have two logs, where are the rest?"
Yen shot back, "this is all I could find." Yen then threw the logs into the fire and went back to work.
When the sun rose that morning the family went about their chores preparing for the Lantern Festival.
That night when the family was all back together they went to work on their lanterns. This would be the last night they would have to work. Later that night, the fire began to die. Sui asked Daren to go chop the wood this time. Daren ran out the door and ran straight to the clearing. Daren got out his ax and heaved at the tree. In one swing Daren chopped down the tree. Daren then divided it up and brought it home.
When Daren opened the door he was greeted with silence. Chen and Yen's mouths hung wide open and there was a big smile on his mother's face. Daren walked over to the fire and threw the tree in. As his brothers kept staring at him, Daren sat down in his mother's lap and continued to work on his lantern while his mother stroked his head, whispering "good child." This folktale teaches you that talk does not cook rice and you should not judge a book by its cover.