The wedding festivities being over, the sons of the old man made ready
to return to their usual occupations on the farm; but, according to
their father's order, they came to the young bride for instructions.
She told them that they were never to go to or from the fields
empty-handed. When they went they must carry fertilizers of some sort
for the land, and when they returned they must bring bundles of sticks
for fuel. They obeyed, and soon had the land in fine condition, and so
much fuel gathered that none need be bought. When there were no
more sticks, roots, or weeds to bring; she told them to bring stones
instead; and they soon accumulated an immense pile of stones, which
were heaped in a yard near their house.
One day an expert in the discovery of precious stones came along,
and saw in this pile a block of jade of great value. In order to get
possession of this stone at a small cost, he undertook to buy the
whole heap, pretending that he wished to use it in building. The
little head of the family asked an exorbitant price for them, and, as
he could not induce her to take less, he promised to pay her the sum
she asked, and to come two days later to bring the money and to remove
the stones.
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