How the Three Sons-in-Law Congratulated Their Father-in-Law
Once upon a time, an old man had three daughters. He married the eldest and the middle daughters to scholars, but the youngest married a peasant. One day, the old man decided to celebrate his birthday. All three daughters came with their husbands to wish him a long life, but the elder sons-in-law looked down on the younger one. They all sat down for a festive meal, and the scholars decided to show off and shame the youngest son-in-law by demanding that each of them compose a poem. Whoever couldn’t do it would be denied meat and wine.The eldest son-in-law was the first to compose a poem:
"Twice eight is sixteen,
I’ll eat the first piece of meat."
He said his poem, very pleased with himself, and took the fattest piece of meat and drank a glass of fragrant wine. Next, the second son-in-law composed his poem:
"Twice nine is eighteen,
I’ll grab two pieces of meat at once."
He said his poem, very pleased, and ate two pieces of meat and drank two glasses of wine. Then it was the third son-in-law’s turn. He first picked up a dish of appetizers and then began to recite his poem:
"Fourteen is twice seven,
I hold a full dish and eat it all."
He said his poem and completely emptied the entire dish and gulped down a jug of wine—glug-glug. The scholarly sons-in-law were furious but couldn’t say a word. Still, they didn’t give up. They waited until the appetizers were brought out a second time, and when the guests reached for their chopsticks, they declared that each must compose another poem. Whoever failed would not be allowed to eat.
The third son-in-law asked:
"What should the poem be about?"
The second son-in-law replied:
"About everything. About the bird that flies in the sky, the beast that roams the earth, the treasure that lies on the table, and the person who stands by the table."
The first son-in-law began again:
"The bird soaring in the sky is the phoenix, Fenghuang,
The beast running on the earth is the mountain goat.
On the table lies a composition,
And by the sides stand beauties."
The second son-in-law followed:
"The bird soaring in the sky is the griffin, Pengju,
The beast walking the earth is the rhinoceros, Xiniu.
On the table lie the 'Spring and Autumn Annals,'
And by the sides stand two maidservants."
Then the third son-in-law began to recite his poem, calmly and unhurriedly:
"The feathered creature in the sky fears the gun,
The beast running on the earth is the fierce tiger.
On the table lies a burning coal,
And by the sides stand young men."
Before he could finish, the scholarly sons-in-law burst out laughing, saying his poem was too crude and lacked rhyme. They declared he shouldn’t be given any appetizers. But the third son-in-law replied:
"Wait, let me finish," and he began again:
"'The feathered creature in the sky fears the gun'—the gun can kill your griffin and phoenix. 'The beast running on the earth is the fierce tiger'—the tiger can maul your rhinoceros and mountain goat. 'On the table lies a burning coal'—the coal can burn your 'Spring and Autumn Annals' and other writings. 'By the sides stand young men'—they can marry your maidservants and beauties."
When the scholars heard this, their jaws dropped. They fumbled for words but couldn’t say anything. They had wanted to shame the peasant, but instead, they got a taste of their own medicine. As the saying goes: "Don’t carry a stone in your bosom—it will fall on your own feet." And they deserved it!
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