Long ago, three soldiers hid in the wheat field. They had eaten nothing for two days and two nights. Soon, they would starve to death. However they were not willing to walk out of the wheat field because there were soldiers stationed all round.
At this time, a fiery1 dragon flying over fell down in front of them and asked whether they wanted to live. 3 soldiers said that they wanted to live. So the dragon said that it would save them if they were willing to sell their souls to it.
The 3 soldiers had no other option and agreed to its demand. The dragon grabbed2 them with claws, flew to the sky and sent them to a far away place.
Actually, the fiery dragon was a devil3 and it gave the 3 soldiers a little whip4（鞭子） and then said:"As long as you make efforts to whip it a lot of money will fall down in front of you. Once you have got the money, you can raise a horse and take a vehicle and live the life as these exceptional5 figures do. However after 7 years, your soul will belong to me." Saying this, the devil took out a book and let the 3 sign their names, then said:"Now, I say a riddle6 to you. You can think about this riddle for 7 years. If can give me the right answer you can win your freedom." Having said this, the devil disappeared.
With the whip, the 3 soldiers lived a life as the great people did. They had wine to drink, had meat to eat, rode horses and took vehicles. Their life was so happy. However, that time passed quickly. They hadn't guessed the riddle yet. Two of the soldiers began to worry about it. The 3rd soldier said carelessly:"Brothers, do not fear that! I can guess that riddle right." By chance, his words were heard by a witch. The witch asked what difficulty they had met; they told her. "You go to the forest!" The witch thought for a while and said, "The forest has a stone house. As long as you find it, you can be saved." Those two soldiers who were worried did not believe the words of the witch. The third soldier was the person who was informed. He walked into the forest and found that stone house. The old witch lived there. She was the grandmother of the devil. Seeing the soldier walking into the house, the old witch said:"I know what you came here for. You are a brave person and i like you. I am also willing to help you." The witch raised a big stone to a cellar7 and let the soldier hide there quietly. At night, when the fiery dragon flew back at twelve o'clock. The witch made it tell the answer to the riddle. The soldier in the cellar heard the riddle clearly.
Afterwards, the devil found the 3 soldiers and asked whether they had guessed the answer to the riddle. That brave soldier said:"I have the answer. The dead monkey with a long tail in the North Sea is soy sauce meat; the rib8 of a whale is a silver spoon; the horse limb9 is a wineglass." The devil cried and disappeared. The 3 soldiers were free again because they had that little whip. Their life was rich and happy.
A Riddling Tale
