Ben
February 19, 1998
Chou
Chou is a little boy who always bought things when he saw them. One time he bought a bamboo flute before testing it. He lived in an alley in Hankow. His family was made up of his mother and himself. Every day his mother would give him money to buy rice and something he needed. Lots of times, he would buy jade. He also bought rice paper, but the best thing he ever bought was a large Buddha. His mother would be upset because he didn't need what he bought. So she would make him pray to Buddha from the mid-day meal till the sun sets.
Then she would say, "You never think before you buy!" So she made him write what he had done with calligraphy on rice paper. He didn't want to do it because you have to get your Chi flowing and this normally takes a long time.
He had to write it in calligraphy. This was unusual because he normally didn't have to do this every day. He guessed his mom was very upset because he did this sort of thing every day.
The next day his mother gave him the money and reminded him to buy something he needed. He bought rice and then went into a shop.
In the shop there was a vase. It had characters on it which said. "The Spirit Of The Dead." It was also made of porcelain. It was glazed in black and it had the characters in red. He thought it was beautiful and he talked to the owner about it.
"This vase posseses the spirit of the..." the man was rudely interrupted.
"I don't care. I'll buy it!" Chou yelled.
So he brought it home and his mother was pleased! So they talked about it and made it their most prized possession.
At night when his mother was sleeping he saw ghosts! He realized that it must have been the vase and he decided to return it.
The next day he went back to the shop to return it.The man said, "You did not listen!!You must keep it."
So Chou was haunted for the rest of his life because he didn't think before he bought.
Think before you buy.
