The Chinese Nian-Shu Animal Story in English:
Once upon a time, there was a beast named Nian that would come out every winter to devour livestock and crops. The villagers were very worried about it and sought a way to stop it. They heard that Nian had a weakness for red color and sound, so they came up with a plan to decorate their houses with red paper and firecrackers.
Every year at the eve of the Nian, the villagers would gather together and set off firecrackers to scare off the beast. This became a tradition that continued for generations.
However, one year, a young boy named Xiao Liu decided to help his village by finding a way to truly stop Nian once and for all. He traveled far and wide, seeking out wise elders and learning their secrets. He found out that Nian was actually a creature with a kind heart, but was misunderstood and feared by the villagers.
Liu understood that the only way to truly stop Nian was to communicate with it on its own terms. So he made a wooden mask and dressed up as Nian for the eve of the beast's visit. When Nian saw him, it was filled with surprise and couldn't believe that someone would willingly befriend it.
Liu told Nian that he understood its misunderstandings and that they could be friends if they both changed their ways. He explained to Nian that it didn't need to worry about the villagers because they could live together in harmony.
Nian was moved by Liu's words and decided to leave the village, never to return again. From then on, the villagers learned from Liu's example and changed their ways, accepting Nian for what it truly was - a misunderstood beast with a kind heart.
And so, the story of the Chinese Nian-Shu Animal tells us that we should not fear those who are different from us, but rather try to understand them and find ways to communicate with them. We should also learn from our mistakes and strive to be better people and better neighbors.