Li-Li was a girl who lived in China long ago. After getting married, she moved into her mother-in-law's house but found it hard to get along with her due to their different personalities and customs. Her mother-in-law criticized her for everything she did, which worsened their relationship. Although they stopped arguing, an ancient Chinese custom that required Li-Li to bow and follow her mother-in-law's every request still caused tension. Eventually, Li-Li couldn't take it anymore and decided to do something about her mother-in-law's bad temper.
Li-Li approached Mr. Hang, her father's close friend who owned a shop selling medicinal herbs, to request some poison to solve her problem with her mother-in-law. As a gesture of gratitude towards Li-Li's father, Mr. Hang provided her with a collection of herbs that would gradually bring about the end of her mother-in-law's life. To avoid arousing suspicion, Mr. Hang advised Li-Li to treat her mother-in-law with utmost care and respect while secretly adding the herbs to her food. Li-Li expressed her gratitude to Mr. Hang before quickly returning home to carry out her plan.
Li-Li remembered Mr. Hang's advice, so she controlled her emotions, obeyed everything her mother-in-law commanded her, and treated her as her own mother. After about 6 months, the house changed. Li-Li practiced controlling her hot temper, so she became less and less angry. She didn't argue with her mother-in-law, who almost seemed to her to be nice and a woman you could get along with.
The mother-in-law's attitude towards Li-Li also changed, she began to love Li-Li just like a daughter. The mother-in-law told all her friends and family how Li-Li was the best bride she could find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law treated each other as mother and daughter, and Li-Li's husband was very happy.
One day, Li-Li came to Mr. Hang's herbal shop and asked him for help again: "Dear Mr. Hang, please help me remove the poison that is killing my mother-in-law from her body. She has changed and become such a nice woman. I love her like you My mother, and I don't want her to die because of the poison I watered her with."
When Mr. Hang assured Li-Li that he did not bring poison for her mother-in-law, he also added that the herbs he brought were rich in vitamins to improve her health. He believed that the only poison that existed was in Li-Li's mind and attitude toward her mother-in-law, but the love she showed washed away that negativity.
One day, Li-Li came to Mr. Hang's herbal shop and asked him for help again: "Dear Mr. Hang, please help me remove the poison that is killing my mother-in-law from her body. She has changed, and become such a nice woman. I love her like my own mother, and I don't want her to die because of the poison I watered her with."
When Mr. Hang assured Li-Li that he did not bring poison for her mother-in-law, he smiled and said: "The herbs I brought were rich in vitamins to improve her health. The only poison that existed was in your mind and attitude towards your mother-in-law, but the love you showed washed away that negativity."
What can we learn from this story?
This story teaches us that the way we treat others determines how they treat us. An old Chinese proverb emphasizes that if we love someone, we will be loved in return. We should remember that we can help others without losing anything ourselves, just like a candle that lights another candle. This parable should be shared with all our loved ones.
