Thursday 6 December 2007

How To Poison Your Mother-In-Law

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to
live with her husband and mother-in-law.

In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along at all
with her mother-in-law.

Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many
of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, the mother-in-law criticized
Li-Li constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped
arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that,
according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her
mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappinessin
the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and
dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.

Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr Huang, who sold herbs.
She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so
that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, "Li-Li, I will help you
solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you."

Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do".

Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a
package of herbs.

He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of
yourmother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious.
Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up
poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put
a little of these herbs in her serving.
Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you
must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with
her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen".

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr Huang and hurried home to start her
plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the
specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr
Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper,
obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had
practised controlling her temper so much that she found that she al!
most never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her
mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and
easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law' s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to
love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives
that Li-Li was the best daughter-in- law one could ever find.

Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real
mother and daughter.

Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr Huang and asked for his help again. She
said, "Dear Mr Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my
mother-in-law!
She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother.
I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her".

Mr Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry
about. I never gave you any poison.
The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only
poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been
all washed away by the love which you gave to her".

THE MORAL OF THE STORY..
How you treat other people is exactly how they will treat you.

There is a wise Chinese saying:
"The person who loves others will also be loved in return. God might be
trying to work in another person's life through you."

1 comment:

Wanster said...

this story is from a theater play right. i watched it before