the man the boy and the donkey short story
The Xiao family, known as the poorest amongst the mountaineers had just spent all their savings as dowry for a daughter-in-law, who was disfigured, dark, skinny, and mute. Mocked as the ugliest bride within miles, she eventually had enough of a life in poverty and escaped, only to fall in the hands of rogues who murdered her. When she opened her eyes again, her soul was now that of a killer's, and her disfigurement was healed while her unhealthily tanned skin was now fair as day.... And she could also talk! As she became the most beautiful bride. Villagers kept their distance from the Xiao family, claiming that they were jinxes. But despite her poverty, the bride was fortunate to have a loyal mountaineer husband who spoiled her to bits. Hence, the bride guided her husband to riches, buying farms and tending to them diligently, while starting a family to gain riches through blood and sweat.
The boy wants a donkey to stroll. A meek donkey, don't run or jump, but who knows how to talk. The boy wants a donkey that knows how to say the name of the rivers, the mountains, the flowers, - of everything that appears. The boy wants a donkey who knows how to make up beautiful stories with people and animals and with boats in the sea. And the two will go out into the world which is like a garden just wider and maybe longer and that has no end. (Anyone who knows about such a donkey, can write to Street of houses, Door Number, to the Blue Boy who can't read.)