The Wise Chinese Parable of a Mother-in-Law and Her Daughter-in-Law

The parables you will delve into will take you on a journey through family strife and unexpected healing, selfless love, and the strength of kindness. Perhaps, by the end, you’ll see the world, and your own relationships, a little differently.

The Parable of the Daughter-in-Law and the Mother-in-Law

In ancient China, tradition dictated that when a woman married, she moved into her husband’s home and was expected to serve not only him but also his mother. This was a deeply ingrained custom that few dared to question.

One day, a newlywed found herself struggling under the weight of this expectation. Her mother-in-law’s (MIL) constant criticism made her life unbearable. Nothing she did was ever good enough.

Her MIL complained that the meals she cooked were too bland, the house was never clean enough, and her manners always lacking. The older woman’s sharp tongue and relentless complaints turned the young woman’s days into misery.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the young woman resolved to take drastic action. She went to a respected herbalist, an old friend of her father, and pleaded with desperation in her voice.

“I can’t live with my mother-in-law anymore. She’s driving me insane. Can you help me? I’ll pay you well,” she confessed, her hands trembling.

The herbalist looked at her carefully and asked, “What is it that you want me to do?”

“I need poison. I will poison her and finally be free of this misery,” she whispered.

The wise old man sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought. Then, he finally spoke, “I will help you,” he said. “But you must understand that killing someone is not simple. If she dies suddenly, suspicion will fall upon you. Instead, I will give you a blend of herbs that will weaken her gradually, so no one will question her passing.”

The young woman listened intently as he continued.

“But there is something you must do as well,” he added. “To ensure that no one suspects you, you must change your behavior. Be patient with her. Show her kindness. Speak to her gently, serve her meals with respect, and listen to her complaints without arguing. If you do this, when she eventually dies, people will believe she succumbed to old age.”

The young woman nodded eagerly, willing to do whatever it took to free herself from her torment. She took the herbs and returned home, determined to see her plan through.

At first, it was difficult. Every critical remark from her MIL tested her patience. But she gritted her teeth and reminded herself that this was necessary. She prepared meals with care, ensuring the herbalist’s concoction was mixed into the food. She listened attentively, even when she felt wronged. She smiled, even when it was forced.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Slowly, an unexpected change began to unfold.

Her MIL, once sharp-tongued and demanding, softened. She began to appreciate her daughter-in-law’s efforts. “You have a good heart,” she said one evening, surprising the young woman. “I see now how blessed I am to have you.”

The young woman, too, began to see her MIL in a different light. She wasn’t just a critic, she was a woman who had once been a young bride herself, a mother who had raised a son with love, a widow who had endured her own hardships.

The warmth that had once been feigned became genuine. The kindness that had been forced turned real. By the sixth month, their relationship had transformed. They laughed together. They shared stories. They worked side by side in harmony. The house, once filled with tension, now held love and laughter.

One evening, the young woman sat in her room, overcome with guilt. How could she have ever wished harm upon this woman who now felt like a second mother? Panic seized her, she had been feeding her poison all this time!

Terrified, she ran back to the herbalist’s shop, her eyes brimming with tears. “Please! You must help me!” she begged. “I need an antidote! I have been poisoning my mother-in-law, but I love her now. I cannot bear to lose her!”

The herbalist chuckled, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. “My dear child,” he said gently, “there is no need for an antidote.”

The young woman blinked. “What… what do you mean?”

“I never gave you poison,” he explained. “The herbs I gave you were harmless. The only thing that changed was you, your patience, your kindness, your respect. And because you changed, so did she. Love begets love, and hatred begets hatred. It was never poison that would destroy her, it was your attitude that had the power to either break or heal your relationship.”

The young woman stood in stunned silence. She had been so blinded by her resentment that she hadn’t realized the truth until now.

Bowing deeply, she whispered, “Thank you.”

Moral: Kindness has the power to heal broken relationships and turn even the hardest hearts into ones filled with warmth.

The Parable of the Two Brothers

Once upon a time, two brothers inherited a field from their father. The elder brother was married and had many children, while the younger lived alone. Despite their different lives, they worked side by side, plowing the land, harvesting the grain, and dividing the yield equally.

One evening, after a long day’s work, the younger brother sat alone by his small fire, gazing at the neatly stacked grain in his barn. A thought tugged at his heart.

“My elder brother has a wife and many children to feed. His burden is great, while I have only myself. It isn’t fair that we take the same share.”

An idea struck him, and so with determination, he rose, filled a sack with grain, and, under the cover of darkness, carried it quietly to his brother’s barn. He placed it gently near the entrance, smiled, and whispered, “May this lighten his load.” The younger brother then slipped away into the night.

Meanwhile, at his home, the elder brother sat on the edge of his bed, watching his children sleep. His wife noticed his thoughtful expression.

“What troubles you?” she asked softly.

He sighed, sharing, “My younger brother has no one to support him in his old age. I have my family to rely on, but who will take care of him? He should have more.”

His wife nodded in agreement. That night, the elder brother too filled a sack of grain and walked silently across the field to his brother’s barn. Setting it down carefully, he murmured, “May this keep him well,”before returning home.

And so, night after night, the brothers unknowingly carried out their acts of love, each believing they were easing the other’s burden. Yet, strangely, their grain never seemed to decrease.

One night, as the moon bathed the field in silver light, the two brothers set out as usual, each carrying a sack. As they approached the center of the field, they suddenly stopped, staring at each other in surprise.

The younger brother called out excitedly to his elder brother as they both realized what had been happening. A moment of silence hung between them before they broke into laughter, then tears. The brothers dropped their sacks and embraced each other tightly.

“All this time… you were thinking of me,” the younger brother murmured.

“And you of me,” the elder brother replied with a smile.

That night, under the starlit sky, they vowed that their bond would always remain strong. And so, their father’s field became more than just a land of harvest, it became a place where love, selflessness, and brotherhood flourished.

Moral: True love in a family is shown through selfless care and giving.

The Parable of the Father and His Three Sons

An old father sat by the fire, watching his three sons argue once again. Their voices were loud, each trying to prove the other wrong. He sighed, his heart heavy with worry.

“If they do not learn the value of unity now, they will drift apart when I am gone.”

The next morning, he called them together in the courtyard. Before them lay three bundles of thin sticks, tightly tied together.

“My sons,” he said, “I have a task for you. Each of you must try to break this bundle of sticks. If you succeed, you will prove your strength.”

The eldest son stepped forward first. He gripped the bundle, strained with all his might, but the sticks would not break. He shook his head and passed it to the second brother.

This brother smirked, rolling up his sleeves. “Watch and learn,” he said confidently. He twisted and pressed against the bundle, but it held firm. Frustrated, he handed it to the youngest brother.

This brother sighed, gripping the bundle with both hands, but despite his best efforts, the sticks refused to break.

“It is impossible, father,” the youngest brother admitted. “The sticks are too strong together.”

The old man smiled knowingly. Without a word, he untied the bundles and handed each son a single stick.

“Now try again,” he said.

The sons exchanged puzzled glances, then one by one, snapped their sticks effortlessly.

Their father’s gaze was steady as he spoke. “Alone, you are weak, like these single sticks. But together, you are strong, just like the bundle. If you quarrel and go your separate ways, life will break you. But if you stand together, supporting one another, nothing will be able to defeat you.”

The three brothers looked at each other, their previous arguments now seeming foolish. The elder brother placed a hand on the middle brother’s shoulder and turned to look at the younger brother.

“We understand, father,” the elder brother said quietly. “We will stand by each other, no matter what.”

Their father’s heart swelled with pride. He knew that his sons had learned a lesson that would stay with them forever.

Moral: The strength of a family lies in unity. When loved ones stand together, nothing can break them.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Wife

In a small village, there lived two women, one was wise and kind, while the other was short-tempered and careless. Both were married to hardworking men and had families to care for.

The first woman, the wise wife, always spoke gently to her husband and children. She listened to their worries, encouraged them when they felt down, and made their home warm and welcoming.

She worked tirelessly to keep the house clean, prepared delicious meals, and ensured peace and love filled their home. Whenever a disagreement arose, she resolved it with patience and wisdom. Over time, her home became a place of joy, where her family felt safe, loved, and happy.

The second woman, the foolish wife, was always arguing. She snapped at her husband, criticized her children, and complained about everything.

Instead of fixing problems, she blamed others. Her anger turned small disagreements into big fights, and her home was always filled with tension.

Over time, her husband started avoiding her, and her children feared speaking to her. Their house, once full of potential, became a place of sadness and frustration.

One afternoon, the wise wife stopped by her neighbor’s home. She noticed the weary expression on the foolish wife’s face and the heavy silence in the house.

“Sister,” she said gently, “why do you destroy your own home with anger? A woman’s words can either build a house or tear it down.”

The wise wife smiled patiently. “Have you tried speaking with kindness? Listening instead of shouting? A home reflects the heart of the one who nurtures it.”

The foolish wife waved her off. “You think a few kind words will change everything? That’s nonsense.”

The wise wife sighed but said nothing more. She knew that wisdom could not be forced upon those unwilling to see it.

As days passed, the foolish wife watched her neighbor’s home flourish. Laughter echoed through its walls, and love filled every corner. Meanwhile, her own home grew colder. Her husband spent more time away, and her children barely spoke to her unless necessary.

One evening, after another bitter argument with her husband, she sat alone and reflected on her neighbor’s words. Had she truly been the cause of her family’s unhappiness? She thought about how her anger had pushed them away and how much warmth the wise wife’s home radiated.

The next morning, she decided to change. When her husband returned from work, she greeted him with a smile instead of a complaint. When her children made mistakes, she corrected them with patience instead of harsh words.

At first, they were wary, unsure if this change would last. But as days turned into weeks, the tension in the home slowly faded.

One evening, her son hugged her tightly and whispered, “I like when you’re happy, Mama.”

Tears filled her eyes. She finally understood the power of her words and actions.

She visited the wise wife and said, “Sister, you were right. I was blind to my own faults, but I see now. Thank you for your wisdom.”

The wise wife smiled. “It is never too late to build a home with love.”

From that day on, the foolish wife became wiser, and her home, once filled with anger, became a place of warmth and peace.

Moral: A wife or any family member has the power to either build a strong, loving home with kindness or destroy it with harsh words and anger. The choice is hers.

If you liked these stories, here is another collection that you may enjoy reading and take away great life lessons. These short yet powerful stories uncover unexpected wisdom in everyday situations, offering lessons about kindness, love, family, and generosity.

This work has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.