The Magic Paintbrush
Long ago, in a small village in China, there lived a poor but kind-hearted young man named Ma Liang. Ma Liang loved to draw and paint, but he was so poor that he could not afford a paintbrush. Despite this, he would use sticks to draw in the dirt, creating beautiful images of birds, flowers, and landscapes. The villagers admired his talent and often encouraged him to keep practicing.
One night, as Ma Liang slept, he had a vivid dream. An old man with a long white beard appeared to him, holding a golden paintbrush. The old man said, "Ma Liang, you have a pure heart and a gift for art. I give you this magic paintbrush. Use it wisely to help those in need, but remember: with great power comes great responsibility." When Ma Liang woke up, he found the golden paintbrush lying beside him.
Excited and curious, Ma Liang decided to test the brush. He painted a bird on a piece of paper, and to his amazement, the bird came to life and flew away! He then painted a fish in a dry riverbed, and the fish leaped into the water, filling the river with life. Ma Liang realized that the paintbrush was truly magical, and he vowed to use it to help the poor and needy in his village.
Word of Ma Liang's magic paintbrush spread quickly, and soon the greedy and corrupt local magistrate heard about it. The magistrate, who cared only for wealth and power, summoned Ma Liang to his grand mansion. "Paint me a golden tree with leaves made of jewels," the magistrate demanded. But Ma Liang, remembering the old man's warning, refused. "This brush is not for personal gain," he said. "It is meant to help those in need."
Furious, the magistrate ordered his guards to seize the paintbrush and imprison Ma Liang. However, when the magistrate tried to use the brush himself, it would not work. The images he painted remained lifeless and flat. Realizing that only Ma Liang could wield the brush's power, the magistrate decided to force him to cooperate.
The magistrate locked Ma Liang in a cell and threatened to starve him unless he painted treasures for him. But Ma Liang remained steadfast in his principles. Instead of painting riches, he used the brush to create a ladder to escape his cell and a horse to carry him far away from the magistrate's reach.
As Ma Liang rode through the countryside, he continued to use the magic paintbrush to help those in need. He painted food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, and shelter for the homeless. His kindness and generosity earned him the love and respect of the people, while the magistrate's greed and cruelty made him increasingly unpopular.
One day, the magistrate tracked Ma Liang down and cornered him near a cliff. "Give me the paintbrush, or I will throw you off this cliff!" the magistrate threatened. Thinking quickly, Ma Liang painted a rope and tied it around the magistrate's waist. He then painted a strong wind that blew the magistrate off the cliff, but the rope saved him from falling to his death. Terrified and humiliated, the magistrate begged for mercy and promised to change his ways.
Ma Liang, ever compassionate, forgave the magistrate and gave him a chance to redeem himself. From that day on, the magistrate used his wealth and power to help the poor, and Ma Liang continued to use the magic paintbrush to bring joy and relief to those in need.
