The Secret of Happiness

By Cai Zheng

Stories in this collection carry the secret code of Chinese culture. The stories teach kids to respect parents and teachers, work hard, be honest, brave, kind, generous and self-disciplined, care all lives, love nature, wisely protect themselves and etc.

Parents and teachers can tell the stories to kids between 2-6 years old (parents may replace the name of the main character in the story with the name of their own kid); or let those 6-12 years old read the stories themselves and discuss with them about the messages in stories and encourage them to tell the stories to others.

These stories will have a positive impact on listeners' and readers' life!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cai Zheng
• Release date: Nov 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215419991

Cai Zheng

蔡錚 1965年生於湖北紅安。 1981-1984年於黄冈师专英語專業學習，毕业后回老家务农。 1985年10月參軍，服役於北京空軍某部。 1990年退伍后于老家中学任教。 1991-1994年於華中師大歷史系攻讀碩士學位, 毕业后就职于北京图书馆。 1996-2000年於芝加哥伊利諾斯大學攻讀社會學博士學位。 著有 回忆录《一个解放军的1989》（明镜出版舍，2009）、 短篇小说集《种子》（长江文艺，2013）、 散文集《生命的走向》（长江文艺，2013） 小说集《黄安故事》（阅文集团，2020）、 实录《贩茶美国》（掌阅， 2020）。

Book preview

Funny Chinese Stories with Philosophical Messages

Best for 2-12 Years Old

By Cai Zheng

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Introduction

Stories in this collection carry the secret code of Chinese culture. The stories teach kids to respect parents and teachers, work hard, be honest, brave, kind, generous and self-disciplined, care all lives, love nature, wisely protect themselves and etc.

Parents and teachers can tell the stories to kids between 2-6 years old  (parents may replace the name of the main character in the story with the name of their own kid); or let those 6-12 years old read the stories themselves and discuss with them about the messages in stories and encourage them to tell the stories to others.

These stories will have a positive impact on listeners’ and readers’ life!

Contents

1. The Most Delicious Food

2. The Grapple between the Clam and the Snipe

3. The Watermelon Seed

4. Your Neighbor Doe Has Not Stolen It

5. Removing the Thorn from a Tiger’s Paw

6. The Best Painter

7. Learning Magic

8. The Martial Arts Master

9. The Loyal Dog

10. Three Lives

11. The Secret of Happiness

The Most Delicious Food

Based on a Story Told by Cai Weicai (1920-1991)

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When the emperor was young, he lost a war. He climbed a mountain for three days without any food. When he reached the mountain’s base, he was starving to death. He lay down in a field.

At noon, a woman passed by.  She was bringing a pot of steamed corn to her husband, who was out plowing the fields. Thinking the emperor was a dying beggar, she fed the steamed corn to him.

After eating half a pot of the steamed corn, the emperor revived.  He said to the woman, This is the most delicious food I have ever had!  I will reward you richly for your food.

The woman did not reply and rushed to take the rest of the food to her husband. The emperor regained his energy and went to look for his scattered army.

Years later, the emperor had rebuilt his army. He conquered the whole country. He had all kinds of delicacies to eat, but was very unhappy with them. These foods are tasteless! he complained. I don’t want to eat any of them!  Fire all the cooks!

He remembered the taste of the steamed corn he had eaten long ago – now, that had been the most delicious food in the world! He ordered his Prime Minister to find the woman and bring her to cook the steamed corn for him.

The Prime Minister sent out officials