The Dragon's Pearl

Long ago, in a dry and dusty village in China, lived a kind boy named Xiao Gui. He lived with his mother in a small bamboo hut. It had not rained for a long time, and the grass was brown and dry. Every day, Xiao Gui walked miles to the mountains to cut green grass. He sold it to the farmers to feed their animals so he could buy rice for his mother.

One day, while he was cutting grass, he saw a patch of grass that was incredibly green and lush. He cut it, but the next morning, it had grown back completely! “This is strange,” thought Xiao Gui. He dug into the earth beneath the grass and found a beautiful, glowing pink pearl. It was warm to the touch.

He ran home excitedly. “Mother! Look!” They decided to hide the precious pearl in their rice jar for safekeeping. The next morning, Xiao Gui lifted the lid of the jar. He gasped. The jar, which had been almost empty, was now overflowing with white rice! “It is a magic pearl!” whispered his mother. “It multiplies whatever it touches.”

Xiao Gui was a good boy. He didn’t keep the magic for himself. He used the pearl to fill the rice jars of all his poor neighbors. The village was happy, and no one went hungry.

But news of the magic pearl traveled to the ears of some greedy men in a nearby town. They came to the village with swords, demanding the pearl. “Give it to us!” they shouted, barging into Xiao Gui’s hut.

Xiao Gui knew that if these bad men got the pearl, they would use it for greed and hurt people. He had to protect it. In a moment of panic, he popped the pearl into his mouth to hide it. Gulp! By accident, he swallowed it!

Suddenly, a burning heat filled his chest. It felt like he had swallowed a piece of the sun. “Water!” he gasped. “I need water!” He drank the water from the pitcher. It wasn’t enough. He ran outside and drank the water from the rain barrel. It wasn’t enough. He ran to the village well and drank it dry. Still, the fire burned inside him.

Xiao Gui ran to the great river. As soon as his feet touched the water, the sky turned dark. Thunder rumbled. His mother ran after him. “Xiao Gui! Come back!” But Xiao Gui was changing. His skin turned into shimmering scales. His hands became claws. Horns grew from his head. He had turned into a magnificent Dragon!

The magic pearl belonged to the gods, and by swallowing it, he had become a guardian of the waters. He looked at his mother one last time with sad, golden eyes. He bowed his great head, and then dove into the river.

Where the Dragon swam, the water rose. Clouds gathered, and for the first time in years, gentle rain fell on the dusty village. The crops grew, the river flowed, and the village was saved. Xiao Gui, the Dragon, never forgot his home. He stayed in the river, guarding his village and ensuring they always had enough rain.

Moral of the Story: True love is selfless. Sometimes we must change to protect what we love.

Moral of the Story: True sacrifice and kindness are never forgotten.