The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon
Shirt
Shirt
There once lived a landlord who loved money as
he loved his own life. In his eyes the smallest coin seemed as large as a
millstone. He was always on the lookout for some new way of making money and
was very mean to his peasant tenants. They all called him
“Skinflint.”
he loved his own life. In his eyes the smallest coin seemed as large as a
millstone. He was always on the lookout for some new way of making money and
was very mean to his peasant tenants. They all called him
“Skinflint.”
One year a long spell of drought devastated
the area, ruining the entire crop. The peasants, who were used to living from
year to year, and never had a reserve of grain to fall back on, were reduced to
eating bark and roots to survive, and now even these were all consumed. Starvation
drove them to ask for a loan of grain from Skinflint, whose granaries, big and
small, were filled to overflowing. Although the grain was sprouting and the
flour was swarming with maggots, he was such a miser that he wouldn’t part with
a single speck of either. His peasants went away seething with anger and
resentment, and resolved to find some way to teach him a lesson.
the area, ruining the entire crop. The peasants, who were used to living from
year to year, and never had a reserve of grain to fall back on, were reduced to
eating bark and roots to survive, and now even these were all consumed. Starvation
drove them to ask for a loan of grain from Skinflint, whose granaries, big and
small, were filled to overflowing. Although the grain was sprouting and the
flour was swarming with maggots, he was such a miser that he wouldn’t part with
a single speck of either. His peasants went away seething with anger and
resentment, and resolved to find some way to teach him a lesson.
They put their heads together and came up with
rather a good plan. They collected together a few tiny silver ingots and also
managed to procure a scraggy little horse. They stuffed the silver up the
horse’s behind and bunged it up with a wad of cotton floss. Then they selected
one of their number, a peasant whose gift of gab had earned him the nickname
“Bigmouth” and who was credited with the power of talking the dead
out of their graves. They sent him to Skinflint with the horse. Seeing them
enter, Skinflint flew into a rage. His whiskers bristled.
rather a good plan. They collected together a few tiny silver ingots and also
managed to procure a scraggy little horse. They stuffed the silver up the
horse’s behind and bunged it up with a wad of cotton floss. Then they selected
one of their number, a peasant whose gift of gab had earned him the nickname
“Bigmouth” and who was credited with the power of talking the dead
out of their graves. They sent him to Skinflint with the horse. Seeing them
enter, Skinflint flew into a rage. His whiskers bristled.
He glowered at Bigmouth, pointing at him
angrily and shouting, “You damn fool! You have fouled my courtyard enough.
Get out of my sight!”
angrily and shouting, “You damn fool! You have fouled my courtyard enough.
Get out of my sight!”
“Please keep your voice down,
Master,” said Bigmouth with a cunning smile. “If you frighten my
horse and make him bolt, you’d have to sell everything you’ve got to make good
the damage.”
Master,” said Bigmouth with a cunning smile. “If you frighten my
horse and make him bolt, you’d have to sell everything you’ve got to make good
the damage.”
“There you go, Bigmouth, bragging
again!” said Skinflint. “What can this scraggy little horse of yours
possibly be worth?”
again!” said Skinflint. “What can this scraggy little horse of yours
possibly be worth?”
To which Bigmouth replied, “Oh, nothing,
except that when he moves his bowels silver and gold come out.”
except that when he moves his bowels silver and gold come out.”
In an instant Skinflint’s anger evaporated and
he hastened to ask, “Where did you get hold of this beast?”
he hastened to ask, “Where did you get hold of this beast?”
“I dreamt a dream the night before
last,” began Bigmouth. “I met a white-bearded old man who said to me,
‘Bigmouth, the colt who used to carry gold and silver ingots for the God of
Wealth has been demoted and sent down to Earth. Go to the northeast and catch
him. When he moves his bowels, silver and gold come out. If you catch him,
you’ll make a fortune.’ Then the old man gave me a push and I woke up. I didn’t
take it seriously, thinking it to be nothing but a dream. I turned over and
fell asleep again. However, as soon as I closed my eyes, the old man reappeared
and urged me to hurry up. ‘The horse will fall into another’s hands if you
delay!’ he said, and gave me another push which woke me up again. I put on my
clothes and ran out. In the northeast I saw a ball of fire. When I ran over,
sure enough, there was the colt, grazing contentedly. So I led him home. The
following day, I set up an incense burner and as soon as I lit the incense, the
colt began to produce silver ingots from its behind.”
last,” began Bigmouth. “I met a white-bearded old man who said to me,
‘Bigmouth, the colt who used to carry gold and silver ingots for the God of
Wealth has been demoted and sent down to Earth. Go to the northeast and catch
him. When he moves his bowels, silver and gold come out. If you catch him,
you’ll make a fortune.’ Then the old man gave me a push and I woke up. I didn’t
take it seriously, thinking it to be nothing but a dream. I turned over and
fell asleep again. However, as soon as I closed my eyes, the old man reappeared
and urged me to hurry up. ‘The horse will fall into another’s hands if you
delay!’ he said, and gave me another push which woke me up again. I put on my
clothes and ran out. In the northeast I saw a ball of fire. When I ran over,
sure enough, there was the colt, grazing contentedly. So I led him home. The
following day, I set up an incense burner and as soon as I lit the incense, the
colt began to produce silver ingots from its behind.”
“Did it really?” asked Skinflint
eagerly.
eagerly.
Bigmouth replied, “There’s an old proverb
which says, ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ If you don’t believe
me, allow me to arrange a demonstration.”
which says, ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ If you don’t believe
me, allow me to arrange a demonstration.”
He asked Skinflint to set up a burner and
light some incense. Meanwhile, he himself held a plate below the horse’s
behind. He secretly pulled out the wad of cotton and the tiny silver ingots
fell jingling onto the plate. On seeing the horse perform like this, Skinflint
asked avidly, “How much does he produce a day?”
light some incense. Meanwhile, he himself held a plate below the horse’s
behind. He secretly pulled out the wad of cotton and the tiny silver ingots
fell jingling onto the plate. On seeing the horse perform like this, Skinflint
asked avidly, “How much does he produce a day?”
“Three or four taels a day for us less
lucky folk,” replied Bigmouth. “But the old man in my dream said that
if he meets a really lucky person he produces thirty or forty.”
lucky folk,” replied Bigmouth. “But the old man in my dream said that
if he meets a really lucky person he produces thirty or forty.”
Skinflint thought to himself, “I must be
one of those. Supposing I get the horse, he is bound to produce at least twenty
taels a day. That means six hundred taels a month and seven thousand two
hundred taels a year.”
one of those. Supposing I get the horse, he is bound to produce at least twenty
taels a day. That means six hundred taels a month and seven thousand two
hundred taels a year.”
The longer his sums became, the fonder he grew
of the horse. He decided that he must buy him, and talked it over with
Bigmouth.
of the horse. He decided that he must buy him, and talked it over with
Bigmouth.
At first Bigmouth pretended to be unwilling.
Skinflint tried again and again to persuade him and promised to pay any price
he asked. In the end Bigmouth sighed and said, “Oh well, so be it. My luck
is evidently worse than yours. I’ll sell. But I don’t want silver or gold, just
give me thirty bushels of grain.”
Skinflint tried again and again to persuade him and promised to pay any price
he asked. In the end Bigmouth sighed and said, “Oh well, so be it. My luck
is evidently worse than yours. I’ll sell. But I don’t want silver or gold, just
give me thirty bushels of grain.”
Skinflint considered the price very cheap and
readily agreed. They made the exchange then and there.
readily agreed. They made the exchange then and there.
Bigmouth hurried back with the grain and
distributed it among his fellow peasants. They were all very happy to have it.
Skinflint, for his part, felt even happier to have the horse, and just couldn’t
stop chuckling to himself. He was afraid of losing the horse, however, and
tried to tie him up in a great many places, but none of them seemed safe
enough. Finally, he tied him up in his own living room. He laid a red carpet on
the floor and set up an incense burner. The whole family watched the colt in
eager anticipation, expecting him any minute to start producing silver and
gold.
distributed it among his fellow peasants. They were all very happy to have it.
Skinflint, for his part, felt even happier to have the horse, and just couldn’t
stop chuckling to himself. He was afraid of losing the horse, however, and
tried to tie him up in a great many places, but none of them seemed safe
enough. Finally, he tied him up in his own living room. He laid a red carpet on
the floor and set up an incense burner. The whole family watched the colt in
eager anticipation, expecting him any minute to start producing silver and
gold.
They waited till midnight. Suddenly the horse
opened his hind legs. Skinflint sensed that he was about to
“produce.” He quickly brought over a lacquered tray and held it right
below the horse’s behind. He waited for ages, but nothing happened. Skinflint
was so anxious by now that he lifted the horse’s tail, bent down and peered
upwards to keep an eye on further developments. There was a sudden
“splash,” and before Skinflint could do anything about it, the horse
had splattered him all over his face. The “liquid gold” ran down the
back of his head and down his neck, covering his whole body. The stench was so
vile that Skinflint started jumping and shouting and then felt nauseous and
began to vomit again and again. Next the horse urinated in great quantity,
ruining the lovely red carpet. The whole room stunk to high heaven. Skinflint
realized that he had been cheated, and in a fit of rage, he killed the horse.
opened his hind legs. Skinflint sensed that he was about to
“produce.” He quickly brought over a lacquered tray and held it right
below the horse’s behind. He waited for ages, but nothing happened. Skinflint
was so anxious by now that he lifted the horse’s tail, bent down and peered
upwards to keep an eye on further developments. There was a sudden
“splash,” and before Skinflint could do anything about it, the horse
had splattered him all over his face. The “liquid gold” ran down the
back of his head and down his neck, covering his whole body. The stench was so
vile that Skinflint started jumping and shouting and then felt nauseous and
began to vomit again and again. Next the horse urinated in great quantity,
ruining the lovely red carpet. The whole room stunk to high heaven. Skinflint
realized that he had been cheated, and in a fit of rage, he killed the horse.
The following morning, first thing, he sent
some of his hired thugs to track down Bigmouth. But the peasants had already
hidden him away. Skinflint’s men searched for him high and low but always came
back empty handed, to his fury and exasperation. There was nothing he could do
except send out spies and wait.
some of his hired thugs to track down Bigmouth. But the peasants had already
hidden him away. Skinflint’s men searched for him high and low but always came
back empty handed, to his fury and exasperation. There was nothing he could do
except send out spies and wait.
In the twinkling of an eye, it was winter. One
day Bigmouth failed to hide properly and was caught by one of Skinflint’s
henchmen. When he came face to face with his foe, Skinflint gnashed his teeth
with rage and without saying a word, had Bigmouth locked up in his mill. He had
him stripped of all his padded clothes and left him with nothing but a cotton
shirt, hoping to freeze him to death. It was the very coldest season of the
year. Outside, snow was falling and a bitter wind was blowing. Bigmouth sat
huddled up in a corner, trembling with cold. As the cold was becoming
unbearable, an idea suddenly occurred to him. He stood up at once, heaved a
millstone up off the ground and began walking back and forth with it in his
arms. He soon warmed up and started sweating. He passed the entire night in
this way, walking around with the millstone and occasionally stopping for a
rest.
day Bigmouth failed to hide properly and was caught by one of Skinflint’s
henchmen. When he came face to face with his foe, Skinflint gnashed his teeth
with rage and without saying a word, had Bigmouth locked up in his mill. He had
him stripped of all his padded clothes and left him with nothing but a cotton
shirt, hoping to freeze him to death. It was the very coldest season of the
year. Outside, snow was falling and a bitter wind was blowing. Bigmouth sat
huddled up in a corner, trembling with cold. As the cold was becoming
unbearable, an idea suddenly occurred to him. He stood up at once, heaved a
millstone up off the ground and began walking back and forth with it in his
arms. He soon warmed up and started sweating. He passed the entire night in
this way, walking around with the millstone and occasionally stopping for a
rest.
Early next morning Skinflint thought Bigmouth
must surely be dead. But when he unlocked the mill door, to his great surprise,
he found Bigmouth squatting there in a halo of steam, his whole body in a muck
of sweat. Bigmouth stood up at once and begged him, “Master, take pity on
me! Quick, lend me a fan! Or I shall die of heat!”
must surely be dead. But when he unlocked the mill door, to his great surprise,
he found Bigmouth squatting there in a halo of steam, his whole body in a muck
of sweat. Bigmouth stood up at once and begged him, “Master, take pity on
me! Quick, lend me a fan! Or I shall die of heat!”
“How come you are so hot?” asked the
dumbfounded Skinflint.
dumbfounded Skinflint.
“This shirt of mine is a priceless
heirloom,” Bigmouth explained. “It’s called the Fire Dragon Shirt.
The colder the weather, the greater the heat it gives off.”
heirloom,” Bigmouth explained. “It’s called the Fire Dragon Shirt.
The colder the weather, the greater the heat it gives off.”
“When did you get hold of it?”
“Originally it was the pelt cast off by
the Lord Fire Dragon. Then the Queen of the Western Heaven wove it into a
shirt. Later on it somehow fell into the possession of my ancestors and became
a family heirloom. It has been passed down from generation to generation until
finally it came into my hands.”
the Lord Fire Dragon. Then the Queen of the Western Heaven wove it into a
shirt. Later on it somehow fell into the possession of my ancestors and became
a family heirloom. It has been passed down from generation to generation until
finally it came into my hands.”
Seeing how unbearably hot he was, Skinflint
swallowed the whole story. He was now set on getting hold of this Fire Dragon
Shirt and had completely forgotten the episode of the gold colt. He insisted on
bartering his fox-fur gown for the shirt. Bigmouth absolutely refused at first,
but when Skinflint added fifty taels of silver to the price, he said with a
sigh, “Alas, what a worthless son am I, to have thus lost my family’s
treasured heirloom!”
swallowed the whole story. He was now set on getting hold of this Fire Dragon
Shirt and had completely forgotten the episode of the gold colt. He insisted on
bartering his fox-fur gown for the shirt. Bigmouth absolutely refused at first,
but when Skinflint added fifty taels of silver to the price, he said with a
sigh, “Alas, what a worthless son am I, to have thus lost my family’s
treasured heirloom!”
Having said this, he took off his shirt and
put on Skinflint’s fox-fur gown. Then he pocketed the fifty taels of silver and
strode away.
put on Skinflint’s fox-fur gown. Then he pocketed the fifty taels of silver and
strode away.
Skinflint’s joy knew no bounds. Several days
later his father-in-law’s birthday came round. In order to show off his new
acquisition, he went to convey his birthday greetings wearing nothing but the
Fire Dragon Shirt. In the middle of the journey, a fierce wind came up and it
began to snow. Skinflint felt unbearably cold. The place was far from village
or inn, and there was no shelter of any sort to be found. He glanced over his
shoulder and saw a tree by the roadside, half of which had burnt away in a
fire. It was hollow in the middle and the space was wide enough for a person to
stand up in. Skinflint hurried over and hid inside. Shortly afterwards his
whole body became numb with cold, and soon he died.
later his father-in-law’s birthday came round. In order to show off his new
acquisition, he went to convey his birthday greetings wearing nothing but the
Fire Dragon Shirt. In the middle of the journey, a fierce wind came up and it
began to snow. Skinflint felt unbearably cold. The place was far from village
or inn, and there was no shelter of any sort to be found. He glanced over his
shoulder and saw a tree by the roadside, half of which had burnt away in a
fire. It was hollow in the middle and the space was wide enough for a person to
stand up in. Skinflint hurried over and hid inside. Shortly afterwards his
whole body became numb with cold, and soon he died.
Several days later the family found his body.
They knew that he had been cheated again by Bigmouth, and sent men to seize
him.
They knew that he had been cheated again by Bigmouth, and sent men to seize
him.
“My precious shirt burns whenever it
comes into contact with kindling, grass or timber,” explained Bigmouth.
“The master must have been burned to death in this way. I am not to blame.
I never told him to hide inside a tree. If you look, you will see that half of
the tree has been burnt away.”
comes into contact with kindling, grass or timber,” explained Bigmouth.
“The master must have been burned to death in this way. I am not to blame.
I never told him to hide inside a tree. If you look, you will see that half of
the tree has been burnt away.”
When the family examined the tree and saw that
it was indeed as Bigmouth had described, they had no choice but to set him
free.
it was indeed as Bigmouth had described, they had no choice but to set him
free.
