The Five Chinese Brothers tells the story of five brothers who all have unique abilities. The first brother can swallow the sea, the second has an iron neck, the third can stretch his legs, the fourth cannot be burned, and the fifth can hold his breath for a long time. When the first brother is imprisoned for accidentally drowning a boy while fishing, his brothers take his place using their abilities to survive various executions, until the village realizes they must be innocent.
The Five Chinese Brothers tells the story of five brothers who all have unique abilities. The first brother can swallow the sea, the second has an iron neck, the third can stretch his legs, the fourth cannot be burned, and the fifth can hold his breath for a long time. When the first brother is imprisoned for accidentally drowning a boy while fishing, his brothers take his place using their abilities to survive various executions, until the village realizes they must be innocent.
The Five Chinese Brothers tells the story of five brothers who all have unique abilities. The first brother can swallow the sea, the second has an iron neck, the third can stretch his legs, the fourth cannot be burned, and the fifth can hold his breath for a long time. When the first brother is imprisoned for accidentally drowning a boy while fishing, his brothers take his place using their abilities to survive various executions, until the village realizes they must be innocent.
The Five Chinese Brothers tells the story of five brothers who all have unique abilities. The first brother can swallow the sea, the second has an iron neck, the third can stretch his legs, the fourth cannot be burned, and the fifth can hold his breath for a long time. When the first brother is imprisoned for accidentally drowning a boy while fishing, his brothers take his place using their abilities to survive various executions, until the village realizes they must be innocent.
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The Five Chinese Brothers
-Condensed from an original Chinese tale
Once upon a time, there were Five Chinese Brothers who looked exactly like each other. They lived with their mother in a small house near the sea. The First Chinese Brother could swallow the sea. The second Chinese Brother had an iron neck. The third Chinese Brother could stretch and stretch and stretch his legs. The fourth Chinese Brother could not be burned. And the fifth Chinese Brother could hold his breath for a long, long time. Every morning. The First Chinese Brother would go fishing. He would always go fishing. He always came back with beautiful and rare fish to sell at the market. One day, a little boy wanted to go fishing with him. The little boy begged and begged, until the First Chinese Brother said, “Alright. But you must promise to obey me promptly. When I make a sign, you must come back at once!” The, the First Chinese Brother swallowed the sea, uncovering all kinds of fish and treasures. The little boy happily stuffed his pockets with all sorts of strange pebbles and shells while the First Chinese Brother collected the day’s catch. After a while, the First Chinese Brother grew tired of holding the sea in his mouth. He made signs with his hands for the boy to come back. But the boy just ignored him completely. When the First Chinese Brother could no longer hold back the sea, it burst out the First Chinese Brother’s mouth, and… the boy drowned. The First Chinese Brother returned to the village, alone. He was put in prison and condemned to have his head cut off. On the morning of the execution, he requested to for permission to go home and bid his mother goodbye. The second Chinese Brother came back in his place. The people gathered to watch his head cut off. The man took his sword and struck mightily. To the people’s surprise and anger, the second Chinese Brother simply got up and smiled. He had an iron neck, remember. “He should be drowned”! the people decided. On the morning of the execution, the Second Chinese Brother asked to go home and bid his mother goodbye. And the third Chinese Brother came back in his place. Brought out to the open sea, he was thrown overboard. But he could not be drowned! He stretched and stretched his legs to the bottom of the sea, keeping his smiling face above the waves. The people got angrier! They decided, “He should be burned!” On the morning of the execution, the third Chinese Brother again requested the judge to let him go home to bid his mother goodbye… And the fourth Chinese Brother came back in his place. He was tied up to a stake and set on fire as the people stood around, watching. But, he could not be burned. They added firewood to let the fire rise higher… still, nothing happened! The people, angrier than ever, decided, “He must be choked to death!” On the morning of the execution, the fourth Chinese Brother made the same request. He went home… And who came back in his place? The fifth Chinese Brother! He was shoveled into a big brick oven filled with whipped cream. The people stood guard all night to make sure they would not be tricked. At dawn, they opened the door… Much to their surprise, he shook himself and said, “My! That was a good sleep!” Now, the judge stepped forward and spoke, “We have tried to get rid of you in every possible way! Somehow, it could not be done. You must be innocent!” “Yes! Yes!” the people agreed. They let him go and he went home ... for good, And for many, many years, the five Chinese Brothers and their mother lived happily together in their home by the sea. The story of the Five Chinese Brother teaches us that innocence will always be proven in the end.