Kindness in Circles Story in English | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In a small Chinese village, a kind-hearted woman, Mrs. Zhao, eagerly awaits her husband’s return with good news of a salary bonus. However, her situation turns dire when her fruits spoil, leaving her with little to eat. Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao selflessly helps a neighbor in need, Mrs. Lee, by giving her his salary. Upon his return, he shares his good deed with his wife, who supports his choice. After a moment of guilt over taking sweet potatoes from a field, the Zhaos are visited by their neighbors, where a series of heartwarming revelations unfold, showing the power of kindness and generosity in times of hardship.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mrs. Zhao is a kind, humble woman who always looks after her household despite being poor.
• 😀 Mr. Zhao works far away in town, sending money home and eagerly looking forward to being reunited with his wife.
• 😀 Mrs. Zhao receives a letter from Mr. Zhao, bringing good news about his increased salary and his soon return.
• 😀 Unfortunately, Mrs. Zhao’s fruits spoil, and she struggles with a lack of food while waiting for her husband’s return.
• 😀 On his way home, Mr. Zhao encounters Mrs. Lee, who is in distress due to poverty and debts. He helps her by giving her his salary.
• 😀 Mr. Zhao arrives home to find his wife is worried due to their lack of food, but she understands his selfless action in helping Mrs. Lee.
• 😀 Mr. Zhao, feeling desperate, decides to take sweet potatoes from Mrs. Yang’s field to feed his family, despite knowing it's wrong.
• 😀 Tao, a young boy, sees Mr. Zhao and helps him, guiding him to the best sweet potatoes and reassuring him that it’s okay since Mr. Zhao plans to pay them back.
• 😀 The next day, Tao and his mother visit the Zhao household and find them pretending to have a grand meal with just simple potatoes.
• 😀 In the end, Mr. Zhao’s actions of kindness are reciprocated, as his generosity not only helps others but leads to unexpected support and rewards.
• 😀 The story teaches the valuable lesson that kindness and generosity often come back around, and good deeds create a cycle of goodwill.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story?

The main theme of the story is kindness and generosity. It illustrates how acts of kindness, even when done without expectation of return, can come back in unexpected ways to benefit the giver.

Why did Mr. Zhao decide to help Mrs. Lee despite his own struggles?

Mr. Zhao decided to help Mrs. Lee because he could not bear to see her in tears and desperate for help. His empathy for her situation led him to give her the salary he had received from his own hard work.

How did Mrs. Zhao react when she found out her husband had given away their money?

Mrs. Zhao was initially surprised but understood her husband's actions. She accepted his explanation and didn't get upset, showing that she trusted his intentions.

What was the significance of Mr. Zhao taking sweet potatoes from Mrs. Yang's field?

Mr. Zhao took the sweet potatoes out of desperation to feed his wife, planning to repay them later. This act, although a form of stealing, was done out of necessity and his desire to provide for his family.

How did Tao, Mrs. Yang's son, contribute to the situation?

Tao, while guarding the field, overheard Mr. Zhao's dilemma and decided to help by directing him to the best place in the field to find sweet potatoes, offering support to the struggling man.

What role did the 'great spirit' play in the story?

The 'great spirit' is a symbolic figure who reassures Mr. Zhao that his actions are not wrong as long as he intends to repay the stolen goods. Tao also seems to be influenced by this spirit, who encourages him to help.

How did the Zhao family react when Mrs. Yang and Tao brought food to their home?

When Mrs. Yang and Tao brought food to the Zhao family, the Zhaos were initially embarrassed because they had pretended to have plenty of food, despite only having simple sweet potatoes. This revealed the family's struggle and their attempt to keep up appearances.

Why did Mr. Zhao feel guilty despite helping Mrs. Lee?

Mr. Zhao felt guilty because, despite his good intentions in helping Mrs. Lee, he had taken sweet potatoes without permission and worried about the consequences of his actions.

What was the reaction of Mrs. Lee and her husband when they learned about Mr. Zhao's actions?

Mrs. Lee and her husband were surprised and deeply grateful for Mr. Zhao’s generosity. They were unaware of the full extent of his help, particularly the salary he had given to her in the absence of her husband.

What lesson does the story convey?

The story conveys the lesson that kindness and generosity are valuable virtues. It teaches that helping others in need can lead to unexpected rewards and that good deeds often come full circle.