During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a horseman surnamed Li who supported his son Li Xiaoliu by taking care of the horses in a post station near the capital. Xiaoliu is a smart and sensible child, he usually likes to listen to stories, especially stories about immortals, he always relishes, imagining that he can fly to the sky one day.
Although poor, he was kind-hearted, and he often helped his neighbors in need, and did not forget to buy some candy and toys for his son. His dream is to be able to give his son a good life, let him go to school, and get ahead in the future. It's a pity that his salary is meager, and he has to pay heavy taxes, so he can't save money at all. He can only hope that God can bless him and let him change his fate one day.
One evening, as usual, after finishing his day's work, Li Mafu returned to his hut, had dinner with his son, and then prepared to go to bed. His hut was rudimentary, with only a shabby bed, a wooden table, a few pieces of clothing, and a machete, which he usually used to slaughter hay. He put the machete at the head of the bed, squeezed into a bed with his son, and soon fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, Li Mafu was suddenly awakened by a rapid knock on the door, he rubbed his eyes, got up to open the door, only to see a man in official uniform standing outside the door, pale and panting, and carrying a horse in his hand. Li Mafu was startled and hurriedly asked, "Official, who are you?" It's so late, what's the matter? ”
The official said: "I escaped from the capital, I offended a big man, he sent people to chase and kill me, I had to flee on horseback, but my horse can no longer run, can you lend me a horse, let me leave here quickly?" ”
Li Mafu thought to himself, this official must have committed some serious crime, otherwise how could he be so panicked. Although he didn't want to cause trouble, he couldn't bear to see death without help, so he said: "Official, I am the groom here, I can lend you a horse, but you have to leave your horse first, and then return my horse to me when you are safe, do you say you can do it?" ”
The official hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, as long as you can lend me a horse, I will promise you everything, I will definitely return your horse to you, you hurry, don't delay time, they will catch up soon." ”
Li Mafu nodded, then picked up the machete, and said: "Official, wait a minute, I'll go and slaughter some forage for you, your horse must be hungry, I'll feed it, you can rest by the way, I'll be back soon." ”
After saying that, he carried a machete and ran to the grass shed in the backyard, ready to slaughter some forage for the officials' horses. As soon as he reached the hut, he heard a rumbling sound in the sky, and then a white light fell from the sky and hit him directly. Li Mafu trembled with fright, and when he looked up, he saw a huge face appear in the sky, it was the Jade Emperor he usually worshipped. The Jade Emperor said to him: "Li Mafu, you are a kind person, I have always seen it in my eyes, today I have specially come to take you to the fairy world, so that you can enjoy a happy life that will never be worry-free, are you willing?" ”
When Li Mafu heard this, he couldn't believe his ears, he thought he was dreaming, so he said, "Emperor, I am a mortal, how can I go to the fairy world?" I still have a son, and I can't leave him alone. ”
The Jade Emperor said: "You don't have to worry about your son, I have already arranged it, he will be adopted by a rich family, he will have a good future, you can rest assured." As long as you go to the fairy world with me, you can do what you like the most, raise horses, the horses you raise in the world, will go to the fairy world with you, you can do whatever you want, without any constraints, you say okay? ”
When Li Mafu heard this, his heart was a little shaken, he thought, he has been running for life all his life, and he has never had any happiness, if he can go to the fairy world and raise horses, it would be great. Moreover, the Jade Emperor said that his son would have a good fate, maybe this is a gift from heaven to him, and he should accept it.
He said: "Emperor, since you think so highly of me, I will promise you to go to the fairy world with you and raise horses, but I have one more thing, I just borrowed a horse from an official, he said that he was going to flee for his life, I promised him to wait for him to be safe, and then return my horse to me, can you help me get my horse back, or let him not run away again, I don't want to trouble him because of me." ”
When the Jade Emperor heard this, he laughed and said: "Li Mafu, you are really a good person, you don't have to worry about that official, he is actually a **, he didn't offend any big people at all, he just wanted to deceive your horse, his horse was also deceived by him from others, he has been cheating everywhere, and he is already wanted by the imperial court!" ”
Li Mafu was taken aback when he heard this, he didn't expect that the official to be a **, he thought he had done a good deed, but it turned out that he was being used. He couldn't help but feel angry, so he said: "Emperor, since he is a **, then you can arrest him and let him receive the punishment he deserves, how can he be so shameless and deceive good people?" ”
The Jade Emperor said: "Don't worry, he has been arranged by me, he will be sent to hell by me, tortured by a thousand cuts, he will not end well." You don't have to worry about him anymore, you just need to go to the fairy world with me, and that's it. ”
Li Mafu thought about it and felt that the Jade Emperor was reasonable, so he said: "Okay, Emperor, I will go to the fairy world with you and raise horses, but I still have a request, can I say goodbye to my son, I don't want him to worry about me." ”
The Jade Emperor said: "This is okay, you can say goodbye to your son, but you can't tell him that you are going to the fairy world, nor can you tell him that your horse will go with you, you can only tell him that you are going to a distant place and let him live well, and you will bless him in your heart, do you understand?" ”
"I see, Emperor, thank you for your grace, and I will abide by your rules." ”
After saying that, he ran back to the hut, woke up his son, and said to him, "Little Liu, Dad has something to tell you, you have to listen to it." ”
Li Xiaoliu opened his eyes and saw a strange look on his father's face, so he asked, "Dad, what's wrong with you?" You're going**?
Li Mafu hugged his son and said, "Little Liu, Dad is going to a distant place, and he may not be able to come back for a long time, you have to live well, don't worry about Daddy, Dad will bless you in my heart." ”
When Li Xiaoliu heard this, he didn't understand why his father was leaving, so he asked, "Dad, why are you leaving?" You're going**? When will you be back? ”
Li Mafu said: "Little Liu, Dad can't tell you, you just need to know that Dad is for your good, you will have a rich family to adopt you in the future, you will have a good future, you have to study hard and be a useful person, you promise Dad, okay?" ”
Li Xiaoliu saw tears flickering in his father's eyes, he felt a burst of sadness, he didn't know why his father said this, but he felt that his father must have his troubles, so he said: "Dad, I promise you, I will live well, study hard, be a useful person, you also have to take care, come back early, I will miss you." ”
When Li Mafu heard this, his heart was sour, he hugged his son tightly in his arms, and said: "Little Liu, Dad will miss you too, you are Daddy's heart and soul baby, Dad will always love you, you have to remember that no matter what you are in, Dad will watch you in the sky and bless you." ”
After speaking, he let go of his son, picked up the machete, ran to the grass hut, and said to the sky: "Emperor, I have already said goodbye to my son, I can go to the fairy world with you." ”
The Jade Emperor said, "Very well, Li Mafu, you are a filial father, I admire you, you come with me." ”
With that, he stretched out a hand, grabbed him by the shoulder, lifted him up, and together they flew into the sky and disappeared into the white light.
Li Xiaoliu watched his father's figure gradually disappear, tears kept flowing, he didn't know that his father had gone, he only knew that he would never see his father again, he felt that he had lost his dearest person, and his heart was full of sadness and loneliness.
At this moment, he heard a commotion outside the door, he looked up, and saw several people in brocade clothes, with a group of soldiers, rushing into his hut, one of them, it was the official, he was still carrying a horse in his hand, as soon as he saw Li Xiaoliu, he said loudly: "It's him, it's him, he's a murderer, he killed my horse, and he wants to rob my horse, you quickly arrest him, send him to the yamen, let him be punished by the law." ”
Li Xiaoliu listened, at a loss, he didn't understand why the official framed him, he just wanted to explain, he was caught by several soldiers and dragged out, he wanted to resist, but to no avail, he could only shout loudly: "Dad, Dad, you are a**, you come back quickly, save me." ”
When the official saw Li Xiaoliu being arrested, he was secretly proud in his heart, he thought, this kid dares to grab a horse from me, I will let him die today without a place to be buried, and see what else he can turn over. He said to those brocade people: "Thank you, my lords, you arrived in time and caught this **, you really eliminate harm for the people, on behalf of the people of the world, thank you for your justice." ”
The brocade-clothed men ignored him, but looked at him coldly, and one of them said, "Who are you?" Why are you framing this child? Do you know that you made a big mistake, you messed with someone you shouldn't have messed with. ”
When the official heard this, he was shocked, he didn't know what these people meant, so he asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, what are you talking about?" I don't understand, what kid am I framing? Who did I mess with? ”