The Toad Fairy

Once upon a time, there was a kind and gentle farmer couple who, despite their old age, had no children. The couple always prayed to God and Buddha, hoping to have a child. It was not until the wife was in her forties that she became pregnant, but when she gave birth, the baby was not a human but a toad. The couple were very scared, the father wanted to get rid of the toad, but the wife insisted on keeping it because she had carried it and given birth to it.

The toad grew up day by day, and also learned to speak human language. Although it was ugly, it was very polite, well-behaved, and obedient to its parents. However, its rough and ugly appearance caused many people to gossip and gossip, making the toad’s parents sad and often lamenting to each other: “My husband and I are old and have few children. We thought we would have a child to continue the family line and take care of us, but unexpectedly we gave birth to a toad, which caused many people to gossip. Moreover, when we get old, we don’t know who will take care of the toad, as well as the couple. What can we expect but that the toad can take care of itself when our parents get old.”

Hearing that, Toad also felt sad, advised his parents not to worry, Toad told his parents that he could work to help them. Knowing that the family’s rice field was destroyed, the next day Toad jumped to help his parents watch the field, since Toad took care of the field, no one destroyed the field. Buffaloes, cows and other animals also did not come to eat Toad’s rice anymore. Toad also asked his parents to do all the housework, although they did not believe that their son could do it, Toad’s parents did not stop him. From then on, Toad’s work of watching the field, cooking, and cleaning the house were all completed to help his parents. Seeing that, Toad’s parents felt a little less sad.

One day, some students passed by his field, trampling on the rice, when suddenly they heard a clear voice like a girl’s voice saying: “Please walk carefully so as not to ruin my rice.” The students looked into the rice field, saw no one, only saw a toad sitting there. The sweet voice made one of them feel sympathetic and out of curiosity, he started talking to the toad.

The scholar often passed by the toad’s field on his way to school. Every time he stopped by, he would stop by to talk to Toad. Although she did not go to school, Toad could recite poems and prose with him, and was also talented at speaking, which made the scholar fall in love with her. Over time, their conversation became compatible, and the scholar fell in love with Toad.

The scholar had been reading books on Taoism for a long time, believing in the mysteries of life. He also felt that the toad was knowledgeable and virtuous, so he went home and told his parents that he wanted to ask the toad to be his wife.

At first, the scholar’s parents thought their son had gone crazy, but he insisted on marrying the toad, or else he would swear not to marry anyone else. The father found an excuse to refuse, saying that he was the only son, and if he married the toad, would he be able to have children to continue the family line? The scholar believed that a miracle would happen on the day he married the toad, and that the Buddha would help people with virtue like the toad. He was determined to convince his parents to let him marry the toad. Seeing that their son was so determined, his parents had no choice but to comply, and brought betel and areca nuts to ask for the toad’s hand.

On the wedding day, the groom’s family brought gifts, jewelry, and clothes for the bride like normal people. Both families were looking forward to it, and the neighbors were excited to see the news, but when the bride was brought to the groom’s house, everyone was amused because they welcomed a toad jumping into the groom’s house. The toad’s parents-in-law felt extremely embarrassed by the gossip from everyone. On the contrary, the scholar did not feel sad at all and sympathized with the Toad.

The husband’s parents could not bear the gossip from the people around them, they were sad and worried about their son, and felt bitter about their daughter-in-law, so they gave the couple land to live separately. The scholar was also sad, diligently studied, and read books, hoping to have a career to repay his old parents. The toad was diligent in housework, staying up late and waking up early to advise her husband to study hard.

Every day when he came home from school, he found the food ready and the house clean and tidy. The scholar was very surprised, not knowing how his wife did all these things. Curious, he thought of a way to find out. He left and then suddenly returned unexpectedly, hoping to find out, but several times like that, he did not see anything strange, nor did he see Toad doing anything. Several times like that, he also gave up and stopped being curious.

Let’s talk about the scholar’s studies. Because they knew he married a toad, his friends always teased him. On the day of the teacher’s birthday, his friends found an excuse to tease him again. They told him that all his students were married and were known to be virtuous and capable. On his birthday, they wanted to organize a cooking contest to see whose wife’s food was the best. The teacher agreed without thinking.

When he got home, the scholar was sad. Seeing that, the Toad asked her husband. Knowing the story, she told her husband not to worry too much, on the teacher’s birthday, she would prepare a feast to celebrate his birthday. Although he was extremely worried and wondered if his wife could do it, but trusting his wife, he did not ask any more questions.

On the day of the teacher’s birthday, the other students’ feasts were lavishly prepared, but his friends made an excuse to tease the scholar, thinking that it was disrespectful to the teacher that he did not bring a feast. At this time, the feast prepared by Toad was brought by her family. The scholar’s friends were extremely surprised, and no one dared to make fun of him anymore. After the meal, the teacher praised all the feasts as delicious, but he especially praised that the scholar’s wife cooked very well.

Seeing this, his friends were jealous and tried to find ways to further tease the scholar. They told him that the dishes were all delicious, proving that their wives were all very talented and capable. Now let’s send our wives to thank the teacher for his education. At the same time, ask him to evaluate which of the talented men’s wives was the most perfect. The teacher, not knowing the story, readily agreed. His friends thought they had trapped the scholar, so they laughed together, thinking that when the teacher saw the Toad, he would be scared.

Knowing that, the scholar was also extremely sad. Although he really wanted Toad to go see the teacher, he was also afraid that Toad would scare the teacher. He sadly went home and lay down in one place, thinking. Toad asked him kindly and then learned the story. Toad advised her husband not to worry too much and also wanted to go see the teacher to thank him for his education to her husband. She said that the teacher was a learned and knowledgeable person, so he would definitely understand. Encouraged by his wife, the scholar did not think too much and also trusted her.

In the morning, the toad followed her husband, and when she was near the teacher’s house, she jumped into a bush by the roadside. The scholar stopped and saw a strangely beautiful girl coming out of the bush. While he was wondering what was going on, the girl immediately spoke up and said, “This is my wife, Toad.” Hearing his wife’s familiar voice, he believed that this was Toad’s wife, but he was still confused. His friends were surprised to see Toad, and they all praised her beauty, not daring to tease the scholar anymore. The teacher saw Toad and also praised her, making the scholar extremely proud.

When he returned home, the scholar’s parents were delighted to see that their toad daughter-in-law had turned into a beautiful and gentle woman. All the tiger marrow they had had for so long seemed to have disappeared.

The couple lived together happily and lovingly. The wife gave birth to many children. The husband passed the exams and became a high-ranking official. They lived a happy life.