THE GOLDEN AX

A long time ago, two brothers lived together in a small village. The younger brother was called Li Gang, and the older was called Li Ping.

Every morning, on their way to work, the brothers had to across a bridge over a small river. One morning, as Li Gang was crossing the Bridge, he dropped his ax into the water by accident. He sat down and started to cry because he could not work without his six.

Suddenly an old man appeared in front of him and asked why he was crying. After Li Gang explained what had happened, the old man disappeared. When he returned, he was carrying a silver ax. Li Gang looked at it and said that it was not his. Then the old man brought another ax that was made of gold. But Li Gang said that one wasn’t his either.

Finally, the old man showed him his iron ax. Li Gang said “Yes, that’s it. That’s the ax I lost.” The old man told him that because he was an honest boy, he could have to only his own ax but also the gold ax.

When Li Gang got home he told his brother was happened, but his brother did not believe his story. So the next morning, Li Ping went to the bridge and drooped his ax into the water on purpose. Then he began to cry loudly. Soon the old man came. Li Ping explained what had happened and asked the old man for his help.

When the old man brought him silver ax, Li Ping said it was his, and when the old man showed him the golden ax, he said that it was his too. ‘You are dishonest. You cannot have either of these ax, and I will not give back your iron ax,” the old man said. Then he disappeared.

Taken from: Stories we brought with us