The Reward
In ancient China lived a rich landlord whose only child was Tong, a son. "My son, when I die, do feed the people of our village sumptuously. Build a beautiful monument in my memory. Do you promise to do so?" the landlord would ask his son. "I promise, father," Tong would reply. "That is like a good boy. I have heard my father and grandfather saying that a son who is devoted to his father is loved by the nymphs. However, I hope, I will leave enough wealth for you to do the needful," the landlord would say. This was when Tong was a child. By the time the landlord died, he had grown up to be a young man. But unfortunately, the landlord's luck had waned and he had become a pauper at the time of his death. "It was my father's fond desire that all the people of our village be fed and a monument is erected upon his death. I will fail in my duty if I do not fulfill his wish," Tong told his friends. "It is foolish of you to say so now that you are a poor man" commented his friends. But Tong was not influenced by others. He wrote on a board his own price if anyone would like to have him as a life long servant and hung the board on his chest and sat in the slave market. The price he demanded himself was quite high. So many would-be buyers saw him, but none would have him. A nobleman happened to pass through the market towards the close of the day. He saw Tong and read what was written on the board.
From Tong's features, the nobleman understood that he was a truthful young man. He told his clerk to hand over to Tong the price he demanded and booked him as his servant. With his permission, Tong returned to his village and performed the feast and built the monument in his father's memory. Thereafter he left for the nobleman's house. The villagers could not but weep at such noble-hearted and a dutiful young man leaving them to work as a life long slave. The nobleman was highly satisfied with Tong's work. After a year's hard work, Tong fell ill. He lived in a small house, deserted but for himself, behind his master's mansion. At night, when he was half awake, he felt someone nursing him and singing to him. The melody would bring him back to his full sense. He would open his eyes and see a charming figure leaning on his bed. He would dismiss what he saw as a hallucination. But soon he completely recovered and realized that he was really nursed by a beautiful young lady. "Who are you?" he asked respectfully.
"I am one who is to be your wife if you have no objection to it," was the reply. Tong stood speechless. Then he stammered out, "Are you sure of what you are saying? I am only a poor slave. I can hardly provide you with food and clothes!" "You are not a poor slave, but a noble young man. In any case, you won't have to worry about my needs. I should be able to manage them," said the young lady. Tong took her hands into his own and stood speechless again. Then they went into the village temple and got married. Tong had to spend the whole day at his master's house. But when he returned to his abode, he found its appearance changed. Everything looked tidy, clean, and decent. His wife had prepared a delicious dish for him. He did not feel like asking her how she did it. The next evening he found her knitting some garments. They looked wonderful. Her fingers moved so rapidly that one could hardly see them. But she would never knit before anybody save her husband. Soon the garments made by Tong's wife were in great demand. She charged a high price for them, still, landlords and aristocrats flocked to buy them. Ladies of the rich houses requested her to teach them her art. They were willing to pay her any amount she would demand. But her simple reply was, "You cannot learn the art even if I teach you with all sincerity!" A year passed. One evening she told Tong, "Let us return to our home." "How? Am I not a life long slave?" Tong asked remorsefully. "You are a slave no more," said his wife and she showed him a paper signed by his master which released him from the bondage.
"Is this true? Is this true?" shouted Tong in ecstasy and he ran to his master and asked him about it. "Yes, dear Tong, your wife has secured your release by paying up the lawful amount," said the nobleman gently. The villagers greatly rejoiced at Tong's return to his old house. They received his wife with warm admiration. Soon Tong became the proud father of a son. But thereafter his wife looked more and more absentminded. Whenever her eyes fell on Tong, she smiled sadly. Tong had bought back his father's lost estate with his wife's money. He had a number of servants in his household. His wife taught one of them, a good-natured woman, to take proper care of her son. Then, upon a full moon night, she called Tong to the terrace of their house. Tears drizzling in her eyes, she said, "It is time for me to leave you." "What do you mean?" asked the bewildered Tong. "I am a nymph who had come down to reward you for your devotion towards your father. As soon as I gave birth to a human child, it was indicated that I must return to my sphere. Take care of the child and lead the life of a good man," said the nymph. She looked luminous. All her human traits disappeared. As Tong knelt down before her, she vanished after giving him a kind smile.
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