English Stories ★ The Destiny ★ Learn English Through Stories

Summary

In a small Chinese village, an old farmer remains unfazed by the ups and downs of life, often reflecting on the nature of luck. When his son returns from the city, the villagers celebrate, but misfortunes follow, including the loss of their horse and the son’s injury. Despite these challenges, the farmer maintains his belief that good and bad luck are uncertain. When a war draft spares his son due to the injury, the villagers come to understand the farmer's wisdom. This story illustrates the unpredictability of life and the importance of perspective in interpreting our experiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 An old farmer in a Chinese village lives alone while his son studies far away.
• 😀 The farmer is kind and well-liked by his fellow villagers, who often express concern for his solitude.
• 😀 The farmer maintains a philosophical view on fortune, saying, 'Good luck or bad luck, who knows.'
• 😀 When the son returns, the villagers celebrate, believing this brings good luck.
• 😀 The son accidentally leaves the stable door open, causing their horse to run away, which is seen as bad luck.
• 😀 The horse returns with a wild horse, turning their situation around, leading villagers to believe it’s good luck.
• 😀 The son attempts to tame the wild horse but falls and breaks his leg, prompting villagers to pity the farmer again.
• 😀 The old farmer's son is spared from conscription due to his injury when soldiers come looking for young men.
• 😀 The villagers begin to understand the farmer's perspective on fortune through the unfolding events.
• 😀 The story emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the importance of accepting circumstances as they arise.

Q & A

What was the old man's attitude towards his situation?

The old man maintained a philosophical outlook, often saying, 'Good luck or bad luck, who knows?' He accepted his circumstances without complaint.

Why did the villagers feel sorry for the old farmer?

The villagers felt sorry for the old farmer because he lived alone and needed the help of his son, who was studying far away.

What event initially brought happiness to the old farmer?

The return of his son from the city brought joy to the old farmer and the villagers, who believed this would bring good luck.

What happened to the horse, and how did it affect the farmer's work?

The horse ran away when the farmer's son left the stable door open, causing concern about the increased difficulty of work on the farm.

How did the situation with the horse change later?

The son found the missing horse and brought it back, along with a wild horse, which the villagers celebrated as a sign of good luck.

What misfortune did the son face while trying to tame the wild horse?

The son fell from the wild horse and broke his leg, which created a significant problem as he could no longer work.

What was the villagers' reaction to the son's injury?

The villagers expressed sympathy and considered the son's broken leg as a sign of bad luck for the old farmer.

How did the son's broken leg ultimately turn out to be beneficial?

Due to his injury, the soldiers did not take him to war, as they considered him unfit to serve, which spared him from potentially fatal consequences.

What lesson did the villagers learn from the old farmer's experiences?

The villagers learned that events perceived as bad luck could actually lead to good outcomes, reinforcing the farmer's wisdom.

What overarching theme does the story convey?

The story conveys the theme of resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting how circumstances can change and lead to unexpected outcomes.