The Lake of Gems | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In ancient China, the story revolves around a young man named Payang, who learns to outsmart genies and spirits to win the hand of his destined love, Yinyang. Payang's journey takes him to the perilous Lake of Gems to retrieve a Jade pestle and mortar to cure a Mandarin's headaches. With the help of magical seeds and the wisdom of his parents, Payang overcomes the four deadly rivers and the genies' tricks, ultimately marrying Yinyang, becoming the richest man in China, and using his wealth to educate the poor, living a life of happiness and fulfillment.

Takeaways

• 🧝‍♂️ The story is set in ancient China where genies and spirits have significant influence over the human world, with varying intentions.
• 🔮 Silver medallions and fish nets are feared by genies, which the protagonist's witch mother is aware of, allowing her to protect her son.
• 👦 Hang, the protagonist, grows up to be a smart and healthy boy, protected from the naughty genies by his mother's knowledge.
• 📚 Hang's parents decide to send him to Chang'an to study under the Great Master Pin, believing in his exceptional abilities.
• 🎓 Hang excels as a student under Master Pin and decides to return to his village to help his father and open a school for the less fortunate.
• 💭 Hang has a dream where the Fairy of the Moon, Yinyang, tells him they are destined to be together, setting a romantic plot in motion.
• 💍 Hang's quest to marry Yinyang is complicated by the fact that her hand has been promised to a powerful Mandarin, creating a conflict.
• 🏔️ To win Yinyang's hand, Hang must retrieve the Jade pestle and mortar from the dangerous Lake of Gems, crossing four deadly rivers and facing genies.
• 🌱 Hang is given white seeds that can shrink objects to a tiny size, which he uses to navigate the perilous journey to the Lake of Gems.
• 💎 The genies agree to give Hang the Jade pestle and mortar in exchange for restoring their rivers to their original size with the red seeds.
• 💌 Hang writes to the emperor to prevent the Mandarin from forcing Yinyang into marriage, demonstrating his resourcefulness and determination.
• 💑 Hang and Yinyang marry, and with the wealth from the gems, they open schools for poor children across China, showing their philanthropic spirit.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story?

The story is set in ancient China, where genies and spirits interact with the human world.

What is the significance of silver medallions and fish nets in the story?

Silver medallions and fish nets are significant because genies were terrified of them, and they serve as a protective measure against the naughty genies.

Who is the main character, and what is his background?

The main character is Pay Hang, a boy who grows up to be healthy, smart, and is the finest pupil of Master Pin.

What is Pay Hang's initial goal after completing his studies with Master Pin?

Pay Hang's initial goal is to return to his village to help his father and open a school for villagers who have not been fortunate enough to learn from masters like Master Pin.

Who is Yinyang, and what is her significance in Pay Hang's life?

Yinyang is the Fairy of the Moon, who is destined to be with Pay Hang according to the red knot tied around them when they were born. She becomes the love interest of Pay Hang.

What challenge does Pay Hang face when he discovers Yinyang is promised to the Mandarin of Changan?

Pay Hang faces the challenge of having to compete with the Mandarin, a powerful man, for Yinyang's hand in marriage. The Mandarin threatens to put Yinyang's family in prison if she does not marry him.

What task does the old woman ask Pay Hang to undertake to cure her headaches?

The old woman asks Pay Hang to retrieve the Jade pestle and mortar from the Lake of Gems to make the medicine that will cure her headaches.

What are the four deadly rivers that Pay Hang must cross, and what do they represent?

The four deadly rivers are the Blue, White, Red, and Black rivers. They represent the challenges and dangers Pay Hang must overcome to reach the Lake of Gems.

How does Pay Hang manage to shrink the rivers and cross them?

Pay Hang uses white seeds that appear once every 200 years on the full moon. Each seed he uses shrinks the rivers in size, allowing him to cross them more easily.

What is the final outcome of Pay Hang's journey, and how does it affect his and Yinyang's life?

Pay Hang successfully retrieves the Jade pestle and mortar, marries Yinyang, and becomes the richest man in China. They use their wealth to open schools for poor children throughout China, living happily ever after.