The Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains

Long ago, in a remote village in northern China, there lived an old man known as Yu Gong, which means "Foolish Old Man." Yu Gong was a kind and hardworking man, but his life was made difficult by two enormous mountains that stood directly in front of his house. These mountains, Taihang and Wangwu, were so large that they blocked the sunlight and made travel to the neighboring villages nearly impossible. Every time Yu Gong or his family needed to go to the market or visit friends, they had to take a long and arduous detour around the mountains.

One day, Yu Gong gathered his family and announced, "These mountains have caused us enough hardship. I have decided to remove them so that we can have a clear path and a better life." His family was shocked by his bold plan, but Yu Gong was determined. He picked up a shovel and began digging, and soon his sons and grandsons joined him. Together, they worked tirelessly, breaking rocks and carrying away baskets of soil.

Word of Yu Gong's ambitious project spread throughout the village, and many people came to watch. Some were inspired by his determination, while others laughed at what they saw as a foolish and impossible task. A wealthy and skeptical man named Zhi Sou (meaning "Wise Old Man") came to mock Yu Gong. "You are an old man," Zhi Sou said. "How can you possibly move two such enormous mountains? Even if you work for the rest of your life, you will never succeed."

Yu Gong smiled and replied, "You may be right that I will not live to see the mountains moved, but I have sons, and my sons will have sons, and their sons will have sons. Generation after generation, we will continue to work. The mountains may be high, but they cannot grow taller. With each shovel of dirt we remove, we are one step closer to our goal. Why should we fear failure when we have the strength of perseverance?"

Zhi Sou had no answer and left, shaking his head in disbelief. Meanwhile, Yu Gong and his family continued their work, undeterred by the naysayers. Day after day, year after year, they chipped away at the mountains, their determination unwavering.

One day, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, heard about Yu Gong's efforts. Impressed by the old man's perseverance and the unity of his family, the Jade Emperor decided to intervene. He summoned two mighty gods, Kua Fu and Gong Gong, and commanded them to move the mountains. With their immense strength, the gods lifted Taihang and Wangwu and carried them far away, leaving the land flat and open.

Yu Gong and his family were overjoyed. Their hard work and determination had paid off, and the village was now free from the shadow of the mountains. The people celebrated Yu Gong's victory, and his story became a legend, inspiring generations to come.