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Short Stories with Peter from Your English Toolbox
Today, The Three Evils, an adapted Chinese legendabout responsibility and change.
This original B1-B2 adaptation is based on a storyin the Chinese fairy book
published in English in 1921. The traditional taleincludes danger and a later tragic event.
This adaptation focuses on the moment when apowerful young man chooses to change his life.
Listen for the question that turns strength intoresponsibility.
Long ago, in a village near green hills and a deepriver, lived a young man called Chou.
Chou was strong, fearless, and proud of hisstrength. But he used it to frighten people.
He started arguments in the market and laughedwhen quieter people moved out of his way.
When the villagers spoke of trouble, they loweredtheir voices if Chou was near.
There are three evils in our district.
One was a tiger that came down from the hills atnight.
Another was a dangerous creature in the river thatoverturned small boats.
Chou heard the elder speaking outside the teahouse.
A tiger and a river creature are only twoproblems.
What is the third evil?
03:01
The third evil lives among us.
The elder did not say Chou's name. No one else dideither.
Chou smiled as if the answer did not matter.
I will deal with the tiger and the river creaturebefore sunset.
He took a spear and walked into the hills.
The wind moved through the grass, and the villagegrew quiet behind him.
By evening, Chou returned from the hills alone.
He had driven the tiger far from the village.
The next day, he waited beside the river until hecould guide the dangerous creature away from the
boats.
For three days, Chou did not return home.
The villagers thought the river had taken him too.
Perhaps the three evils have finally gone.
Chou stood behind a tree and heard every word roseinside him.
He remembered the silent faces in the market.
He remembered the way children stopped playingwhen he walked past.
For the first time, he understood the third evil.
They are afraid of me.
Thought's strength made me important.
I made their lives smaller.
Chou did not enter the village that night.
He traveled to a distant town to speak with ascholar known for his clear advice.
When he arrived, Chou did not boast about thetiger or the river.
I have caused harm, and I do not know how tobecome different.
Knowing that is a beginning, not an ending.
What will you do when no one is watching?
Chou thought for a long time.
I will listen before I speak.
06:01
I will use my strength to protect, not tofrighten.
Then begin with the people who have reason not totrust you.
Chou returned to the village without a spear.
At first, nobody welcomed him.
He did not demand forgiveness.
He repaired a broken bridge and carried water foran old neighbor.
When an argument began in the market, othersspeak.
Days passed.
People began to notice that Chou's actions matchedhis new words.
One afternoon, the village elder met him besidethe repaired bridge.
The tiger is gone from the hills.
The river is safer for the boats, and the thirdevil chose to become a help.
Chou looked at the people crossing the bridge.
This time, he did not smile because they wereafraid.
He smiled because they could walk past him withoutfear to the language
and break down some of the key vocabulary from thestory.
To deal with something means to take action tosolve or manage a problem.
Chou said he would deal with the danger near thevillage.
At work, you might say, I will deal with thatemail this afternoon.
Second, to cause harm means to hurt someone orcreate damage.
Chou finally admitted that his behavior had causedharm.
You can cause harm with actions, words, orcareless decisions.
Third, to have reason not to trust someone meansthat trust needs to be rebuilt.
The villagers had reason not to trust Chou afterhis earlier behavior.
09:10
Trust changes slowly when actions are consistent.
Finally, to match your words means to do what yousay you will do.
Chou's actions matched his promise to change.
Now try a sentence of your own.
What is one small action that can rebuild trust?
When have you seen someone's actions match theirwords?
Real change is not one impressive moment.
It is a pattern that other people can see overtime.
You can find the full transcript, vocabulary, andpractice at your English toolbox.
Thank you for listening, and I will see you in thenext story.