Once upon a time, there was a rich merchant who had six children, three sons and three daughters.All three daughters were very beautiful, especially the youngest girl, who was called “Belle”.In their country, “Belle” means “beautiful woman”.
Belle was not only the prettiest, she also had the best personality.Everyone who met her liked her.She was soft-spoken, conscientious and never lost her temper.But her two sisters were different. They always looked down on others and were especially jealous of their sister.
Many young men from rich families came to ask for their hand in marriage.The eldest and second daughters said proudly, “We only marry big men like dukes or counts.”But those people couldn’t even get in their doors.
There were also many people who asked Belle to marry them, and many of them were aristocrats, such as rich people like dukes and counts.But Belle smiled and refused every time, saying, “I’m still too young and want to spend a few more years with my father.”
Just when everyone thought life would go on like this, unexpectedly, the rich merchant suddenly went bankrupt.The family became destitute all of a sudden and they had to move to the countryside to live.
When they got to the countryside, Dad and his three brothers were busy doing farm work every day.And Belle began to take the responsibility of taking care of the whole family.She cooked, swept the floor, washed clothes, and did all kinds of housework.
In the past, at home, all these things were done by maids, and Belle had never done any heavy work.At first, she felt tired and uncomfortable, but she didn’t complain and slowly learned how to take care of the house.
After doing housework, she read books and played the piano.Although the days were not as rich as before, Belle felt that life was fulfilling.
But her two sisters were very unhappy with this life.They didn’t like living in the country because there were no pretty dresses and no dances.They often laughed at Belle and said, “Why do you want to be a country girl?Isn’t it so boring to either work or read and play the piano all day?”
Papa took it all in stride, and he knew in his heart that Belle was much more sensible than her two sisters.
A year passed, and one day the merchant received a letter.The letter said that a cargo ship he had lost before had actually been found, with many valuable goods on board.It was like a fortune lost and found!
The family was very happy to hear this news.The merchant immediately prepared to set out to retrieve the treasures.
Before leaving, the two sisters kept pestering their father to buy them beautiful clothes and expensive jewelry when he returned.They talked about so many things they wanted.
Dad asked Belle, “Do you want me to bring you back something?”
Belle thought about it and knew that all the gifts her sisters wanted were expensive and her dad probably couldn’t afford them.She didn’t really want anything, but didn’t want her sisters to feel like she was judging them.So she said, “Daddy, if you see roses on your way home, pick one for me.You know roses are my favorite.”
Papa nodded and agreed.
The merchant was ready to go home after finishing his business.But to his surprise, just as he got the shipment, he was chased by his creditors.It turned out that he owed too much money, and the money he got this time was not enough to pay the debt.
The merchant returned home empty-handed with what was left.
On the way, he passed through a forest and ended up getting lost.To make matters worse, it started to blizzard and the wind was blowing so hard that it almost blew him off his horse.
Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly saw a glimmer of light in front of him.He hurriedly rode over and realized that it was actually a very large palace!
He walked in, and inside, it was brightly lit and looked like a place where someone lived, but there was no one there.
The table was full of good food and there was only one set of cutlery.
The merchant was cold and hungry and couldn’t help but sit down and eat his fill.
After eating, he went into a room, fell into bed and fell asleep.
When he woke up the next day, he found a clean set of new clothes on his bed.He thought to himself, “My master is so attentive, but why didn’t he come out to see me?
He changed into his new clothes and walked down the hall to find breakfast ready.
He couldn’t help but say aloud, “Thank you!Whoever you are, you’re such a nice person!”
After eating, he walked out of the hall to find his horse.
By this time, the garden outside was in full bloom and not at all cold like last night.He saw that there were roses, and remembering that his daughter Belle wanted one, he picked one by hand.
What do you know, just as he finished picking it, he heard a terrible roar.
He was scared out of his wits and turned around to see a huge beast coming towards him.
It said angrily, “You ungrateful man!I saved you and bought you dinner, and you stole my favorite rose!I want you to pay!”
The merchant was horrified, and he quickly got down on his knees and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the flower was so important to you.I picked it for my little daughter, Belle, who also loves roses very much.”
The beast said coldly, “Since you picked it for your daughter, let your daughter come and take your punishment for you.If she does not come, you must come back and die here.”
The merchant was saddened to hear this.But he pretended to agree.
The beast said, “Then go back and bring your daughter.There is a chest in your room with a lot of gold, silver and jewelry in it, so you can take some home.”
The merchant went back to his room, and sure enough, he saw a big chest full of gold coins.
He thought, “I’m going to die anyway, so I might as well leave this money to my children.
But he was so nervous that he forgot to take the chest with him when he left the palace.
When he got home, the whole family was happy to see him back.
But the merchant’s face was heavy and he did not say a word.
After being questioned by the children, he finally told everyone what had happened.
When the two sisters heard it, they immediately blamed Belle: “It’s all your fault for asking for some roses, which made dad almost get killed!It’s you who harmed dad!”
Belle, however, calmly said, “Daddy won’t die, I’ll go in his place.”
Dad and his three brothers were stunned and said they wouldn’t let her go.The brothers even said they would go and fight the beast.
Belle said softly, “It’s too late now, and Papa is tired, so let’s discuss it tomorrow.”
In the evening, the merchant returned to his room and found the chest full of gold coins surprisingly present in the room!
He quietly told Belle, “This is what the beast gave us, keep it for now and don’t let your sisters know about it, or they will spend it all quickly.”
Unexpectedly, the next morning, Belle was gone.She left a letter saying she had gone to the Beast.
In the letter she also suggested to her father that he use the gold coins as a dowry for his two sisters, as they had been asked to marry him.
Belle came alone to that palace in the forest.
She was scared inside, but she forced herself to walk into the hall.
There was no one in the hall, but the table was full of food, as if they were waiting for her.
Belle thought to herself, Maybe the beast is trying to fatten me up before he eats me.
She sat down and finished her meal, but it didn’t really taste like anything at all.
It was late at night and still no sign of the beast.She went into a room and lay on her bed and cried for a long time, and finally fell asleep without realizing it.
In her dream, a beautiful fairy appeared.She said to Belle, “You are a kind girl, willing to sacrifice yourself for your father.Believe me, you will be fine and will be rewarded.”
The next day, Belle woke up and ate breakfast, thinking, “Maybe the beast will eat me tonight.Instead of being afraid, let’s visit the palace while we’re alive.
She walked around the palace and realized that it was really big and decorated in gold.
She saw a room that said “Belle’s Room” and curiously pushed her way inside.
Inside was a big library with a piano!
Belle was very happy because she loved reading books and playing the piano.
She opened a book that said:
welcome, belle, don’t be afraid.
You are the queen of this place;
Say what you want, say what you mean.
Everything will come true.
Belle sighed and said, “I wonder how Daddy is doing, he must be worried when I sneak out.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, her dad appeared in the mirror in front of her, sitting at home with a sad face.
While Belle was worried about her dad, she was also wondering: why didn’t the beast eat me?Instead, it was so kind to me?
In the evening, Belle was about to cook her own dinner when she realized that the table was already set for dinner.
She had just sat down when the Beast walked in.
Belle was startled, but Beast simply asked, “Can I eat with you?”
Belle nodded, “Of course, this is your home.”
Beast asked, “Do you think I’m ugly?”
Belle was momentarily speechless, she didn’t want to lie.
Beast sighed, “I get it if you don’t say anything.”
Belle said softly, “Looks don’t matter, you’re actually very kind.”
Beast said, “I did learn to be kind, but I still scare people.”
Belle says, “You are more of a real person than those who look like people on the outside but are bad on the inside.”
Beast was touched and said, “Thank you, Belle.You are the real goodness.”
In this way, the two talked for a long time, and Belle’s impression of the Beast slowly changed.
But the Beast suddenly asked, “Belle, will you marry me?”
Belle was so startled that she could not speak.
She was afraid that refusing would make the Beast angry, but in the end she mustered up the courage to say, “I don’t want to.”
The beast sighed and let out a low growl.
Belle closed her eyes and waited to be eaten.
But the Beast just said sadly, “Well, Belle, good night.”
With that, he walked out into the hall.
Belle looked at his back and felt a little sad.
She chased him out and saw that the Beast had turned into a handsome young man in the garden, in the moonlight!
Belle was amazed.
That night, she dreamed of the fairy again.
The fairy said, “The Beast was originally a prince, and I turned him into a beast because he made a mistake.He can only be changed back to a human if he finds someone who truly loves him.”
Belle said, “I’m not sure I love him.”
The fairy said, “That’s okay, as long as you are sincere, you can break the spell.”
Three months passed, and Belle realized that she was surprisingly happy here.
She spent her days reading, playing the piano, and enjoying the flowers, and her evenings talking to the Beast.She grew to love this friend who was scary on the outside and gentle on the inside.
But every time the beast would ask her, “Will you marry me?”
Belle always shook her head, “I am willing to be your friend forever, but I can’t be your wife.”
The Beast, though disappointed, said gently, “I am happy enough to be a friend.”
One day Belle said, “I want to go home to see my father, he has been sick and misses me.”
The Beast said sadly, “I will send you back, but I want you to come back in seven days.”
Belle agreed and put a ring on the table to show that she wanted to come back.
The next day, she woke up in her bed in her own home.
Her father was so happy to see her back that he was sick.
Her two sisters were already married, but they heard that Belle was back and immediately rushed to see her.
They were jealous when they saw that Belle was wearing gorgeous clothes that they had never dreamed of.
Belle tried to give her sisters other clothes, but the boxes always disappeared and reappeared.
Finally, she chose the most ordinary dress and put it on, saying, “You can have the rest.”
The seven days passed quickly and Belle had to go back.The two sisters pretended that they couldn’t bear to see her go, but in fact they wanted her to miss the appointed time so that the beast would get angry and eat her.
Belle, unaware of her sisters’ plot, agreed to stay a few more days.
But that night, she dreamed that the Beast was lying in the garden, dying, and mouthing the words, “You have broken your promise ……”
Belle awoke with a start and burst into tears.She immediately put the ring on the table and said, “I want to go back to the palace.”
The next day she woke up and she was back at the palace.
She looked around for the beast and finally found him in the garden, he was dying.
Belle cried, “I’m sorry, I’ve thought it through now and I’ll marry you.”
As the words left his mouth, the Beast was transformed into a handsome prince.
They walked into the hall together and found Belle’s family and the fairy waiting for them.
The fairy smiled and said, “Belle, as I said, kindness pays off.Congratulations on the fact that you will be queen.”
She then said to Belle’s two sisters, “You were jealous and tried to harm your sister, so now you are punished by being turned into statues until you learn to repent.”
From then on, Belle and the prince lived happily ever after, and her two sisters slowly learned to behave.
Sure!The following is an addition to the content of Part 6 “The Truth Behind the Story ” and Part 7 “What Does the Story Tell Us About a Truth ” of the Beauty and the Beast bedtime story that you have provided, in continuation of the style of the previous rewrites: colloquialization,It continues the style of the previous rewrite: colloquial, easy to understand, and suitable for beginners of Chinese.
The Truth Behind the Story
On the surface, this story is a fairy tale about “Beauty falls in love with the Beast”, but in fact, it hides a lot of truths that we usually don’t pay much attention to.
First of all, kindness is not something you say, but something you show through your actions.Belle wasn’t liked because she was pretty, but because she was willing to give to her family, to take care of others, and to understand a monster that looked scary.
Secondly, appearance does not determine the essence of a person .The Beast may look scary, but he is actually very gentle and kind inside.Instead of hurting Belle, he gave her the best living conditions.This shows that sometimes we can’t just look at a person’s appearance, but we should get to know his heart.
Another truth is that real change comes from inner awakening.Beast started out grumpy and uncaring, which is why he was punished for turning into a monster.But in the course of spending time with Belle, he learned to respect and understand others, and he slowly became caring.This kind of change from the inside out is the most precious growth.
It is also important to note that jealousy and vanity can make people lose their way .Belle’s two older sisters always wanted pretty clothes and jewelry, they didn’t want to do housework or understand their sister’s choices.In the end, they even tried to harm Belle and were punished by the fairies by being turned into statues.This shows that if a person only has selfishness and jealousy in her heart, she will only end up losing more.
Therefore, this story is not only about love or magic, it is more like a mirror that lets us see the good and evil in human nature and reminds us to be a truly good person.
What does the story tell us
This story tells us several very important truths:
1. Kindness is the most beautiful quality.
Belle was loved by everyone not only because she was good-looking, but also because she had a kind heart.She is willing to sacrifice herself for her dad, to understand a beast with a scary appearance, and to share good things with her family.These behaviors make her a truly honorable person.
2. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Many people see the Beast and get scared, thinking he must be a bad guy.But the opposite is true: although the Beast is scary-looking, he is actually kinder than many people.This tells us that we should not judge a person only by his appearance, but by what he does and how he treats others.
3. True love is understanding and respect.
Belle didn’t fall in love with the Beast right from the start, but she was willing to understand him, respect him, and be there for him.Slowly, she realizes that the Beast actually has a lot of good qualities, and then she really accepts him.This shows that love is not love at first sight, but feelings that arise after getting to know each other.
4. It’s never too late to change.
The Beast started off with a bad temper and didn’t know how to love people, so he was punished by becoming a monster.But he didn’t give up on himself, and in the process of getting along with Belle, he tried to change and finally won Belle’s heart and restored his human identity.This tells us that it’s never too late if you are willing to change.
5. Jealousy and greed bring disaster.
Belle’s two sisters were always jealous of their sister; they only wanted beautiful clothes and jewelry, and eventually tried to harm her.The result?Not only did they not get happiness, they were turned into statues.This shows that if our hearts are full of jealousy and greed, it is very difficult for us to achieve true happiness.
6. Promises and responsibilities are important.
Belle promised the Beast that she would return in seven days, and although her sisters wanted to keep her, she chose to keep her word.She knew how important her promise was to the Beast.This tells us: be responsible and try your best to do what you promise others.
Summarize:
Although this story is a fairy tale, it teaches us a lot of very useful truths in real life.It tells us:
Kindness is more important than beauty;
Don’t judge others so easily;
Love is the result of understanding and respect;
It is never too late to change yourself;
Jealousy and vanity can destroy a person;
Trustworthiness and responsibility are the most basic qualities of being a human being.
If you can remember these truths in your life, you too will become a warm, brave and kind person like Belle!
