A Folktale About Thrifty

　　     Hi, I’m trying to write a Chinese folktale in English. Please help correct my errors. Thanks for any replies.

　　     Long long ago, a tyrant ruled his people cruelly. Though the nobility lived luxury life, poor people couldn’t have meat in the whole year except the day of Chinese New Year. So did two poor brothers who were kind, honest and industrious peasants. One day, two brothers were plowing. The elder one complained:”A year of hard working for a meal of meat. That’s not fair. I really wish I could overthrow the rule of oppression!” The other one said:”Yes! But we are too weak to fight against a whole army.” Both of them felt frustrated and fell into silence. Suddenly, there were thunder, lightning and torrential rain. The rain was so heavy that the two farmers couldn’t open their eyes let alone run toward a shelter. They just crouched. Then, they heard a voice clearly regardless of deafening thunder and rain. That voice said:”I heard your prayers. I will grant you great power to overthrow that tyrant and take the throne. You can rule this country for 30 years. But promise me to be a wise and thrifty emperor...” That voice disappeared and rain stopped...

　　      One year later, the two brothers formed a strong insurrection army and occupied the capital. The end of tyranny finally came. The elder brother became the new emperor(皇帝) and the younger the Counselor-in-Chief(丞相).Since the day of coronation, the younger one had kept working very hard, while his brother indulged himself in the taste of meat and had meat everyday. A month later, the emperor was holding a ball in his luxury garden. Suddenly, thunder, lightning and torrential rain happened at the same time. An angry voice said:”You forgot your promise! What you have for a day equals to what a poor man has for a year. So the thirty years of reign I promised you equals to thirty days.” As soon as the voice stopped, a bolt of lightning stroke the emperor and he died immediately.

　　      At last, the younger brother took the throne and ruled this country wisely for many years. Just as an old Chinese poem goes, ”History tells us that success comes from thrifty and industry, while failure begins with luxury.(历览前贤国与家,成由勤俭败由奢)”

　　      Thanks for reading.