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Fairy tales play an important role in the treasure trove of folklore literature, helping people live a better life and nurture noble qualities. 'Smart Child' is a wonderful story for young children, and after studying it, they can retell it in their own unique way.
Compilation of sample essays: Retell the story 'Smart Child' in your own words
I. Outline of Retelling the Story 'Smart Child' in Your Own Words
1. Introduction
Introduction of the Story
2. Main Content
- Story Development:
+ The king sends people everywhere to find talented individuals to help the country
+ In one village, they meet a clever boy
+ The dialogue between the official and the boy
+ The official confirms finding a talented person
+ Returning to the king's place
+ The king tests the boy by giving the village three male buffalo and asking how to make them have nine calves.
+ The father and son set off to the capital to meet the king, and the dialogue between them helps the boy overcome all the king's challenges.
+ The boy helps the king and the court solve the difficult puzzle posed by the neighboring envoy
3. Conclusion
The king admires the talent of the boy and appoints him as a prime minister
II. Sample Essay: Retelling the Story of The Intelligent Child in My Own Words
Essay 1
Once upon a time, a wise king desired to have talented individuals to help govern the country. He sent his close official to search far and wide. Despite much effort, the official had not found anyone truly exceptional.
One day, he passed through a field in a village and saw two peasant farmers working. The father was plowing with a buffalo, and the son was tilling the soil. Despite feeling somewhat discouraged, the official thought to himself, 'Perhaps I'll give it one last try and see what happens!'
He dismounted from his horse and loudly asked:
- Hey there, old man! How many furrows can your buffalo plow in a day?
The father, taken aback, stood in surprise, unsure how to respond. Then, his seven or eight-year-old son, with peach fuzz hair, bare-chested, and wearing shorts, swiftly interjected and asked the official:
- So may I ask you this question: If you answer correctly, how many steps can your horse take in a day? Then I will tell you how many furrows my father's buffalo can plow in a day.
Hearing the boy's response, the official was surprised and stunned, not knowing how to reply. He thought to himself, 'This must be the talented person I've been searching for. No need to search any further.' He quickly asked for their names, their village, and hurriedly rode back to the king's palace.
Upon hearing the official's account, the king was very pleased but still skeptical. To ascertain the truth, the king devised a test. He ordered the village to be given three baskets of sticky rice and three male buffalo, commanding them to raise the buffalo so they could give birth to nine calves. It was agreed that if they failed to do so within a year, the whole village would be punished.
Receiving the king's gifts and orders, the entire village was puzzled and worried, not understanding what to do. The village elders held several meetings outside the communal house, but despite their deliberations, they could not find a solution. When the matter reached the ears of the young boy, he immediately said to his father:
- It's not often that we receive the king's favor. Father, just tell the village to cook two of the buffalo and the two baskets of sticky rice into a feast for everyone to enjoy. As for the remaining buffalo and rice basket, our family will request the village to use them as expenses for the ordination ceremony, taking care of the matter.
Hearing his son's words, the father, filled with fear, advised cautiously:
- Once we kill the buffalo for meat, what else is there to worry about? Don't be foolish and lose your head over this, my child!
But the boy remained stubbornly resolute:
- Father, just leave it to me. No matter what, I'll take care of everything!
Hastily donning his coat, the father rushed to the communal house to explain the situation to the village elders. Suspicious, they demanded that both father and son sign a written pledge before they dared to slaughter the buffalo for the feast.
A few days later, father and son set off for the royal court. Arriving there, the boy instructed his father to wait outside while he seized an opportune moment to slip past the unsuspecting guards, sneak into the dragon courtyard, and burst into tears.
Perplexed, the king summoned the young boy forward and inquired:
- Hey there, boy! What brings you here? And why the tears?
The boy blinked innocently and pretended solemnity as he replied:
- Your Majesty! My mother unfortunately passed away early, and my father refuses to have another child for me to play with, so I cry. I dare to hope that Your Majesty could order my father to provide me with a sibling.
Hearing the boy's words, both the king and the courtiers burst into laughter. The king remarked:
- Hey there, young lad! If you want a sibling, you'll have to find another wife for your father, because your father, being male, cannot bear offspring.
At that moment, the boy suddenly became lively:
- Then why does the decree demand our village to raise three male buffaloes, and after a year, they must give birth to nine calves to present to the king? How can males give birth?
The king smiled, patting the boy's head:
- Let's try that out! So, do the villagers not know how to slaughter the buffaloes and feast together?
The boy promptly responded:
- Your Majesty! Upon receiving the three baskets of rice and three male buffaloes, our village, knowing it was Your Majesty's blessing, already celebrated with a feast together!
The king and his courtiers looked at each other, acknowledging the boy's intelligence. However, the king wanted to test once more.
The next day, while the boy and his father were having their meal outside the palace, the king's envoy arrived with a sparrow, ordering them to prepare three meals. The boy told his father to borrow a small sewing needle and said to the envoy:
- You take this needle back to the king and have it forged into a sharp knife for me to carve the bird.
Upon hearing the envoy's account, the king was impressed. Immediately, he summoned the boy and his father to the palace and bestowed generous rewards.
Back then, the neighboring country, seeking to invade ours, sent an envoy over with a long, hollow shell, challenging anyone to thread a needle through its spiral path.
The king promptly convened his ministers in the court to seek advice. Each proposed a solution, but none succeeded. Failing to solve such a tricky riddle would damage the nation's reputation. Finally, the king decided to invite the envoy to rest at the guesthouse and make time to consult the boy.
Since returning from receiving rewards in the capital, the boy continued to play joyfully, running and frolicking with his friends in the village. Upon hearing the king's envoy recounting the story, the boy immediately sang:
Tang ting tang! The ant's thread goes straight across its back
One side holds the paper, the other side spreads the oil, the ant celebrates its victory
Tang ting tang...
Then he said to the envoy:
- Just do it that way, and you'll thread through in no time!
The envoy was delighted and hurried back to the king. The king and the court were jubilant, delighted to see the ant pulling the thread through the spiral shell before their astonished eyes, earning the admiration of the neighboring kingdom's envoy.
Afterward, the king bestowed upon the boy the title of Trạng Nguyên and ordered the construction of a splendid mansion within the palace for convenient consultations. With extraordinary intelligence, the boy had greatly assisted the king in many beneficial matters for the country.
Story 2
Intelligent individuals find tasks effortless because they devise the best and most effective methods to solve problems. If intelligent individuals possess good character and morals, they become factors in the country's development. Folklore has preserved many stories about intelligent individuals, but the story that impresses me the most is the tale of 'The Clever Child,' which I will now recount.
In those days, our country faced the threat of invasion, with enemies lurking outside seeking to occupy our land. The king, concerned for the nation and its people, dispatched an official to search for talented individuals. Despite traveling far and wide and encountering many people, the official couldn't find anyone.
One day, he came across a field where two farmers were plowing. He stopped and asked, 'Hey, old man! How many furrows can your ox plow in a day?' This was a difficult question as who would count how many furrows they plowed? The farmer was at a loss for an answer, but his son, a quick-witted peasant boy, replied, 'I'll answer your question if you tell me exactly how many steps the king's horse takes in a day.' Surprised by the boy's response, the official was impressed with his talent and immediately asked for his name and address before returning to the king.
Back at the palace, he recounted the story to the king and asserted that the boy was the talent the country needed. Hearing the official's confident assertion, the king was delighted, but he still wanted to test the boy's abilities further to confirm. The king then issued an order for the boy's village to receive three baskets of sticky rice, three male oxen, and instructed the villagers to use the rice to feed the oxen. After a year, the three oxen must each give birth to nine calves. If they fail, the village will be punished.' Hearing this, the villagers were all very worried because how could male oxen give birth? The boy overheard this and said to his father, 'Father, isn't this the king's blessing? Tell the villagers to butcher two oxen and use two baskets of sticky rice to make a feast for everyone. The remaining ox and rice can be sold to pay for our expenses to the palace.' Listening to his son's words, the father went to the village council and despite their astonishment, they accepted the decision.
The next day, the father and son set off for the capital. When they arrived at the palace gate, the boy asked his father to wait outside while he sneaked into the courtyard to cry. Hearing the sound of the crying child, the king ordered the guards to bring the boy in and asked, 'What's the matter with you, boy? Why are you crying so loudly, disturbing us?' Upon hearing the king's question, the boy replied, 'Your Majesty, the situation is like this. My mother passed away early, and my father refuses to have another child to play with me. I dare to ask Your Majesty to order my father to have another child for me to play with.' After hearing this, the king laughed and said, 'If you want a sibling, you'll have to find another wife for your father because your father is a man, how can he give birth?' Upon hearing this, the boy replied, 'Then why did the decree order our village to raise three male oxen to give birth to nine calves for the king? How can male oxen give birth?'
Impressed by the boy's sharp wit, both the king and his courtiers praised him. The king didn't stop there; he wanted to test the boy once more. The next day, while the father and son were having their meal, a royal envoy arrived, carrying a sparrow and instructed the boy to make three full trays of food. After thinking for a moment, the boy gave the envoy a small sewing needle and said to take it to be forged into a sharp knife to carve the sparrow.
The envoy returned to the palace with the news, and the king was delighted to have found a talented individual. He then rewarded the father and son generously.
Our neighboring country is plotting to invade our land, but they haven't acted yet because they fear we might have talented individuals. They sent an envoy to spy on us. The envoy brought a long seashell and a piece of thread and challenged us to thread the needle through the seashell's gut. It was a difficult question posed by our neighboring country. Despite trying every possible method, the court officials couldn't solve it. Unable to find a solution, the king sent the envoy back to the village of the boy to see if he could find a solution. When the envoy presented the story to the boy, he burst into laughter and sang:
Tang tình tang, tình tính tang
Catching ants to tie them around the waist
One moment holding paper in hand
Another moment rubbing oil, ants celebrate and thrive
Tang, tình tang...
And the child advised to just follow that method. The envoy hurried back to the king's court, and the entire court was joyous. The envoy from the neighboring country was impressed. The king appointed the child as a royal minister to facilitate consultation.
Throughout history, our country has had many talented and intelligent individuals, thanks to their innate intelligence and diligent pursuit of knowledge. As the younger generation of our motherland, we need to study diligently, train ourselves, and strive to become useful individuals for our country.
Story 3
Once upon a time, there was a king who wanted to find a talented person to help the country. He sent an official to search everywhere for a virtuous and talented individual. Despite the official's extensive search, he couldn't find anyone truly talented.
Everywhere the official went, he posed challenging and puzzling questions to test people's abilities, but no one could answer the questions he posed.
One day, the official saw a father and son working in the fields, the father plowing and the son tilling the soil. The official stopped his horse and asked:
* Hey, old man! How many miles can your buffalo plow in a day?
The father stood dumbfounded, while the approximately 7-year-old son quickly retorted:
Excuse me, sir. If you can tell me how many steps your horse takes in a day, then I'll tell you how many miles my father's buffalo can plow in a day.
The official was taken aback by the boy's response, unsure of how to reply appropriately. Secretly delighted, he was convinced that he had found a talent and no longer needed to search. The official asked for the boy's name, his hometown, then returned to the king. Upon hearing the story, the king was pleased. However, the king wanted to test again.
The king ordered the boy's village to raise three barrels of sticky rice, three male buffaloes, and commanded that they must nurture them to have nine buffalo calves by the next year, causing the entire village to worry. After numerous village meetings to find a solution, ultimately, everyone from top to bottom surrendered and considered it a disaster. As for the child, the son of a plowman, he immediately said to his father: Father, just tell the village to leave a barrel of rice and a buffalo so that our family can use them as expenses for the journey to the capital. As for the village, just let them eat rice and butcher the buffalo for a feast.
I'll take care of everything. The father presented the plan to the village. Despite initial skepticism, everyone eventually agreed, insisting that the father and son sign a declaration before daring to slaughter the buffalo for the feast.
After that, the boy and his father packed their belongings and headed to the capital. Upon reaching the royal court, the boy instructed his father to wait outside while he took advantage of a moment when the guards were distracted and sneaked into the dragon courtyard, crying loudly. The king ordered the guards to bring the boy in and asked:
What's the matter, young lad?
Why are you crying here?
The boy pretended to sob and replied:
Your Majesty, my mother passed away early, and my father refuses to have more children, so I'm crying because I don't have any playmates.
Upon hearing this, the king and his courtiers burst into laughter. The king then said:
If you want to have a sibling, you'll have to find another wife for your father, because your father is a male and can't give birth!
The child suddenly brightened up.
Then why does our village have an order to raise three male buffalo to give birth to nine calves to submit to the king?
How can males give birth!
The king chuckled:
Let's just try that out! So your village doesn't know how to slaughter those buffalo and eat together?
The boy replied:
After receiving the buffalo and sticky rice, our village knew it was the king's blessing, so we celebrated together.
The king and the courtiers all acknowledged the boy's cleverness. However, the king wanted to test him once more.
While the boy and his father were having dinner at the public house, the king sent them a sparrow and ordered them to make three feasts. The boy asked his father to find him a small sewing needle, then gave it to the official and said:
You take this back to the king and ask him to forge me a knife so I can cut the bird meat. When the king heard this, he was thoroughly impressed.
At that time, a neighboring country was threatening our land. To see if our country had talented individuals, they sent an envoy with a long, hollow shell. They challenged anyone to thread a single piece of thread through the shell's gut.
After hearing the envoy's riddle, the courtiers looked at each other, scratching their heads in thought. Some tried sucking on the thread, while others coated it with wax to stiffen it for easier threading. But in the end, all efforts were in vain. Even the ministers and wise men summoned to the court were stumped. Finally, the royal court had to invite the envoy to the public house to seek out the boy.
When the official brought the king's instructions, the boy was playing around behind the house.
Upon hearing about threading the shell, the boy sang out:
Tang tình tang Tính tình tang
Catching ants, tying thread across the back
At the time of using paper to carry
When greased, ants rejoice in their march.
Tang tình tang, the rhythm of a clever plan.
Then he said:
Just follow that method, success will be near.
The envoy returned to the king joyfully. The king and his courtiers were astonished. Indeed, the ant successfully threaded the thread through the snail's intestines, leaving the envoy from the neighboring country in awe.
The king then appointed the boy as Prime Minister and ordered a mansion to be built next to the palace for the boy's convenience in handling affairs.
Story 4
One day, my father was plowing the field while I was tilling the soil when a royal official stopped his horse near us.
The official asked my father, 'Hey, old man! How many miles can your ox plow in a day?'
At that time, I was about seven or eight years old, but upon hearing the official's question to my father, I responded by twisting the question back to him: 'If you answer correctly how many steps your horse takes in a day, I will tell you how many miles my father's ox can plow in a day.'
I saw the official gaping in surprise, unsure of how to respond to me. He asked me about our family name, the village of my father and me, and then rode away.
One day, the king granted my village three baskets of glutinous rice and three male oxen, ordering us to raise them so that they would each have nine offspring by the following year, or else the whole village would be held accountable.
The whole village was anxious. Knowing the situation, I asked my father to announce to the villagers that we would slaughter two oxen and use two baskets of glutinous rice for everyone to enjoy a feast. We would sell one ox and one basket of glutinous rice to cover the expenses of our family's journey to present offerings to the temple and pray for the village's well-being.
The village suspected and demanded that I write a sworn statement before slaughtering the oxen. After a few days, my father and I set off. Upon arriving at the royal court, I instructed my father to wait outside while I took advantage of the guards' negligence to sneak into the dragon yard and burst into tears. The king sent guards to bring me in and asked, 'What's the matter, young boy? Why are you crying here?'
At that moment, I pretended to sob and replied, 'Your Majesty, my mother passed away early, and my father refuses to marry again to give me siblings to play with, so I cry. I dare to hope that Your Majesty will advise my father to allow me to have a sibling.'
Upon hearing my words, the king and the courtiers burst into laughter. The king then said, 'If you want a sibling, you'll have to find another wife for your father because your father is a male, how can he give birth!'
At that moment, with a calm and composed expression, I said to the king, 'Then why does our village have a decree requiring us to raise three male oxen to produce nine offspring to present to Your Majesty? How can males give birth, Your Majesty?'
The king laughed and replied, 'Let's just try it! So, you villagers don't know to slaughter those oxen and eat them together?'
I told the king that the village knew it was the king's favor, so they celebrated with a feast. Upon hearing my words, the king just laughed.
One day, while my father and I were having dinner at a public restaurant, a royal envoy arrived with a sparrows, instructing me to prepare three meals. I asked my father to get a needle, and I handed it to the envoy, saying, 'Take this needle back to the king and ask him to forge it into a knife for me to cut the sparrow meat.' After that day, the king called my father and me in and generously rewarded us.
Back then, there was a neighboring country plotting to invade ours. To test if our country had talents, they sent their envoy with a very long, hollow snail shell, challenging us to thread a piece of thin string through the snail's gut.
Our country's grand ministers were all puzzled. Everyone tried many ways, but to no avail. In the end, the court had to invite the envoy to stay in the palace to prolong the search for someone to solve the riddle.
One day, while I was playing around behind the house, there was a hint from the king. Hearing the envoy begin the story, I understood and showed the envoy how to thread the string through the cloud with the following song:
'Tang tình tang! Tính tình tang
Capturing ants, tie them tightly around the waist.
At that time, take paper and bring it.
At that time, apply grease, ants celebrate ants.
Tang tình tang...'
The official joyfully returned to the court and carried out as I said. Thanks to that, the string threaded through the snail's gut easily. It's said that the envoy from the neighboring country, upon hearing the answer, was extremely impressed. Later on, the king even appointed me as a court official, welcoming me into the royal court for further education.
Lesson 5
My father and I lived peacefully together in a village. One day, while I was assisting my father in plowing the fields for the upcoming season, we noticed a government official approaching. As he drew nearer, the official inquired:
- Hey there, old man! How many miles can your ox plow in a day?
My father was unsure how to respond, so I quickly interjected and asked the official in return:
- Well then, may I ask you this question first? If you can tell me how many steps your horse takes in a day, I'll tell you how many miles my father's ox can plow in a day.
Upon hearing my counter-question, the official appeared surprised. He then inquired about the names and origins of our village and promptly rode off.
Some time later, the king decreed that our village would receive three baskets of glutinous rice and three male oxen. The villagers were instructed to raise the oxen so they could produce nine offspring by the following year. Failure to comply would result in collective punishment for the entire village.
Upon receiving the king's decree, the entire village was in turmoil and confusion. Hearing the beginning and end of the story, my father sighed continuously throughout the day, so I said to him:
- It's not often that we receive the king's favor. Father, just tell the village to butcher two oxen and use two baskets of glutinous rice for a feast. As for the remaining ox and basket of rice, we'll request the village to cover the expenses for our pilgrimage.
My father was stunned, but I insisted:
- Father, leave it to me to handle. Everything will be fine.
The next day, my father quickly went to the village square to explain the situation. Initially skeptical, the villagers demanded that my father and I sign a declaration before daring to slaughter the oxen for the feast.
A few days later, my father and I set off on our journey. Upon reaching the royal court, I instructed my father to wait outside while I quietly entered the dragon yard and burst into tears. The king sent his attendant to inquire about the reason behind my distress.
- Your Majesty, my mother passed away early, and my father refuses to have another child for me to play with, so I cry. I dare to hope that Your Majesty will command my father to have a child for me.
Upon hearing this, the king and his courtiers burst into laughter. The king declared:
- If you want a sibling, you'll have to find another wife for your father, as he is male and cannot bear children!
Seeing everything unfold as expected, I responded cheerfully:
- Then why does our village have a decree mandating the raising of three male oxen to sire nine offspring to be presented to Your Majesty? How can males give birth?
The king laughed and replied:
- Let's give it a try! So you folks wouldn't know to slaughter the ox and feast on it together?
- Your Majesty, our village, upon receiving the ox and glutinous rice, knowing it was a royal favor, celebrated with a feast.
The king and courtiers nodded in agreement and sent someone to arrange accommodations for my father and me. The next day, a royal envoy arrived with a songbird, ordering us to prepare three meals. Quick to think, I instructed my father to get me a needle and handed it to the envoy, saying:
- Please take this back to the king and ask him to forge it into a knife for me to carve the bird.
Immediately, the king summoned both my father and me and generously rewarded us.
One day, the court unexpectedly invited a royal envoy to dine with us. When they heard about threading a needle through a snail's shell, I showed them how to use ant mandibles to solve the riddle. Indeed, this method impressed the envoy from the neighboring kingdom. Then, the king appointed me as a Royal Advisor and ordered the construction of a palace next to the royal court for my residence, facilitating further consultations.
https://Mytour.vn/ke-lai-truyen-em-be-thong-minh-bang-loi-van-cua-em-29143n.aspx
The proverbs and folk songs are also beloved by many, such as the folk song 'Her body is like peach silk,' reflecting the status of women in ancient society, referencing the sample essay analyzing this folk song.
