Once upon a time, at the end of a small path, there stood a tiny cottage. The house was modest but clean, surrounded by a small garden. In the garden grew two rose bushes—one bearing white blossoms, the other red. Come spring, the flowers bloomed in full splendor, the white as pure as snow, the red as fiery as flames.
Living there was a mother whose husband had passed away years ago, leaving her to care for her two daughters alone. The girls, much like the roses, were named Snow White and Rose Red. Snow White was quiet and loved staying home, helping her mother cook, sweep, and wash clothes. In her free time, she would sit by the hearth and read stories to her mother.Hongmei, however, loved to run outside. She would leap across the grass, pick wildflowers, chase butterflies, and laugh with a voice so loud it echoed.
Though their personalities differed, the sisters were exceptionally close. Whenever they went out, they always held hands, like inseparable shadows. Baoxue would often say, “We must never be apart.”“ Hongmei would always reply, ”As long as we’re alive, we’ll always be together.“ Hearing this, their mother would smile and say, ”Share the good times together, and bear the hardships together.”
They often went to play in the forest together. The forest was vast, with towering trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves like golden rain. They picked red berries to eat and sat on tree roots chatting. Strangely, the forest animals weren’t afraid of them.Little rabbits would run up to eat greens from their hands; fawns grazed quietly nearby; ponies pranced in the distance; and birds in the trees sang songs, as if welcoming them.
Sometimes they played so happily they didn’t return home before nightfall. They’d find a soft patch of moss in the forest, lie down side by side, cover themselves with their coats, and fall asleep.Only when the morning sun touched their faces would they awaken. Their mother never worried, for she knew these two children were kind-hearted souls—even wild beasts would not harm them.
One night, they spent another evening in the woods. As dawn broke and they opened their eyes, they suddenly noticed a young man sitting beside them. He wore a white robe that shimmered in the sunlight.He glanced at them, smiled, nodded, and without a word, walked deep into the woods.
They felt a bit strange and looked back, startled—their sleeping spot was only a few steps from the cliff! Had they ventured a little further that night, they would have fallen. When Mother heard this, she said, “It must have been an angel protecting you, because your hearts are good.”
Winter Fireplace and Summer Wreath
Though their home wasn’t wealthy, they kept it spotless. In summer, Little Rose rose before dawn each morning to gather flowers from the garden. She wove white and red roses into a wreath and placed it quietly by her mother’s bed. When Mother awoke and saw it, she always smiled and said, “My dear Little Rose, you’re so thoughtful.”
In winter, Snow White was in charge of the fire.She hung a copper kettle over the stove. When the water boiled, steam rose, warming the entire room. She polished that kettle until it gleamed like gold. At night, when snow fell outside, their mother would say, “Bai Xue, go close the door properly.” Then the three of them would gather around the stove. Their mother would put on her glasses, take out a thick book, and read aloud.
While listening to the story, Snow White and Rose spun yarn. The little lamb lay quietly at their feet, and a white dove perched on the shelf behind them, tucking its head under its wing to sleep. The room was still, broken only by the crackling flames and Mother’s reading voice. Such nights felt especially peaceful.
A Talking Bear
One evening, as they listened to the story, they suddenly heard a “knock knock knock” at the door. Mother said, “Hongmei, go open the door. It might be a traveler seeking shelter.”
Hongmei walked over and opened the door. But standing outside wasn’t a person—it was a huge bear! It poked its dark head inside, its eyes shining brightly.Hongmei jumped back in fright, shrieking. The little lamb bleated, the white dove fluttered up, and the white snow instantly hid behind Mom’s bed.
The bear spoke in a gentle voice: “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. It’s too cold outside. I’d like to come in and warm up.”
Mom listened and said, “He doesn’t seem like a bad bear. Let him in.”She called the sisters out and told the bear, “Lie down by the fire, but be careful not to burn your fur.”
The bear came in and sat by the stove, the snow on its body beginning to melt. It said, “Help me brush the snow off my fur.” Snowflake and Rose took brooms and gently swept it clean. The bear hummed contentedly, sounding almost like a snore.
After a while, they lost their fear and began playing with the bear. They pulled its fur, stepped on its back, rolled it over, and gently tapped it with twigs. The bear didn’t get angry, only saying, “Stop hitting me! You’ll beat your suitor to death!”
They all laughed, finding the bear truly amusing.
When bedtime came, everyone went to sleep, and the bear lay down by the stove.Early the next morning, the sisters opened the door, and the bear staggered off into the forest.
From then on, the bear came every night. It appeared punctually, lay quietly by the fire, and let them play with it. They grew accustomed to having this bear as a friend. If it didn’t come one night, they felt something was missing and didn’t even want to close the door.
The Bear Must Leave
Spring arrived, the ice and snow melted, and grass sprouted. One day, the bear said to Snow White, “I must leave now and won’t return all summer.”
Snow White felt a little sad. “Where are you going?”
The bear replied, “I must return deep into the forest to guard my treasure. In winter, the ground is frozen, and no one can dig. But now that the weather is warm, a mischievous dwarf will come out to steal things.I must protect my things.”
Snowflake nodded, still feeling a bit reluctant. She opened the door to let Bear out. Bear rushed out so quickly that the doorframe scraped against his fur, pulling out a small tuft. Snowflake, with her sharp eyes, thought she saw a flash of gold in that fur, but before she could look closer, Bear had already run far away.
Encountering a Grumpy Dwarf
A few days later, their mother sent the sisters into the woods to gather firewood. As they walked, they saw a large tree lying on the ground. Something was hopping around near the trunk, struggling.
Approaching, they recognized a dwarf. His skin was sallow, and his beard was exceptionally long, trailing all the way to the ground. The beard was caught in a crack in the tree, and he couldn’t free it, jumping in frustration.
Red Rose asked, “What’s wrong?”
The dwarf glared and shouted, “Why are you just staring? Help me!While chopping wood, the log caught my beard! If you don’t help me now, I’m doomed!“
They tried to pull, but the beard was stuck too tightly to budge. Snow White said, ”I’ll cut it off.” She took out her scissors and snipped the beard clean off.
The dwarf was suddenly free. He grabbed the sack hidden under the tree roots, filled with gold. But instead of thanking them, he cursed, “You clumsy creatures! You cut off my beautiful beard! You won’t get away with this!” With that, he hoisted the sack and walked off without looking back.
The sisters didn’t get angry. They gathered the wood and went home.
Rescuing the Dwarf a Second Time
Another time, they went fishing by the stream. From afar, they saw something jumping, as if trying to leap into the water. Approaching, they recognized the dwarf again! His beard was tangled in the fishing line. A large fish had taken the bait and was struggling to swim downstream, dragging the dwarf toward the river.
The sisters rushed over, grabbed him, and tried to untangle his beard.But the line and beard were tangled too tightly to untangle. Finally, Snow White took out scissors again and cut off a section of his beard.
The moment he was free, the dwarf shouted, “You’ve cut my beard again! This time it’s even uglier! How will I ever show my face? Get away from me!” He pulled out another bag of jewels and hobbled into a crevice in the rocks, disappearing from sight.
Third Rescue, Still No Gratitude
Later, their mother sent them to town to buy sewing supplies. On their way back, they passed that same wasteland again. Suddenly, a huge eagle swooped down from the sky, its talons clutching something—it was the dwarf!
The sisters rushed forward, desperately grabbing the dwarf and wrestling him from the eagle.Finally, the eagle flew away, and they saved the dwarf.
But the moment he touched the ground, he began cursing: “What are you doing! You’ve torn my clothes! You’re so clumsy!” He hoisted another bag of gems and disappeared into the cave.
They were already used to his behavior and didn’t get angry. They simply continued home.
The Final Encounter, with an Unexpected Outcome
One evening, they passed through that wasteland again. The dwarf was emptying bags of gems onto a rock, counting his treasure. The sunset cast a glow on the stones, making them shimmer in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Spotting the sisters, he startled and hurried to gather his things. Just then, a huge black bear burst from the woods, charging straight toward the dwarf.
Terrified, the dwarf knelt begging for mercy: “Mr. Bear! Spare me! I’ll give you all my treasures! Look how beautiful these diamonds are! Eat those two girls instead—they’re plump and tasty, like fat quails!”
The bear paid him no mind. With one swipe of his paw, the dwarf fell to the ground, motionless.
The sisters turned to flee, but the bear called after them: “Snow White, Rose Red, don’t be afraid! Wait for me!”
Hearing that voice, they stopped. The bear approached them, and suddenly—whoosh!—the bear skin fell away. Standing before them was a handsome young man, his body shimmering with golden light.
He said, “I was once a prince. That dwarf stole my treasure and used magic to turn me into a bear. Only when he died could I return to my true form. Now, I am free.”
A Life of Happiness Began
Later, Snow White married the prince, and Rose married the prince’s older brother. They divided the treasure the dwarf had hidden in the cave, and their families never worried about money again.
Mother lived with them, enjoying peaceful and joyful days. She transplanted the two rosebushes by the window. Each spring, the white and red roses bloomed exceptionally beautifully, as radiant as her daughters’ smiles.
The Truth Behind the Story
This tale appears to be a simple fairy tale about two kind-hearted girls who saved a prince and lived happily ever after. Yet beneath its surface lie profound life lessons.
Snow White and Rose Red represent two different personalities: one quiet, the other lively. Yet they share a common trait—a kind heart. They helped the dwarves not because he deserved it, but because they couldn’t bear to see others suffer. Even when the dwarf repeatedly cursed and slandered them, they still chose to lend a hand. This shows that kindness isn’t about whether someone deserves it, but a choice born from one’s own heart.
The bear, in truth, was a prince trapped by magic. By day he was a beast, yet by night he could befriend humans. This teaches us: never judge by appearances alone. Some who seem fearsome harbor gentle hearts; others who appear weak may conceal cruel intentions—like the dwarf, small in stature and speaking pitifully, yet greedy and ungrateful.
Each time the dwarf was rescued, he cursed instead of thanking them. This shows that not everyone you help will be grateful. Some will take your kindness for granted, or even see you as a nuisance. Yet Snow White and Rose Red remained unchanged; they still chose to do good deeds. That is true kindness.
What Lesson Does This Story Teach Us?
This story teaches us: Kindness is a choice, not a transaction.
You help others not to receive thanks, nor to expect future rewards. You help because you believe it is right. Snow White and Rose Red saved the dwarf not because he would thank them, but because they couldn’t bear to see someone suffer.
Simultaneously, the story teaches us: Appearances cannot determine a person’s character.
The bear seemed fearsome, yet he was gentle; the dwarf appeared pitiful, yet he was selfish. We encounter such people in life too. Don’t place complete trust in someone just because they seem weak, nor fear someone merely because they appear powerful. What matters is observing their actions—how they treat others.
Finally, the story reminds us: Good deeds are rewarded, though not always with money or wealth.
Bai Xue and Hong Mei found treasure, but that’s not the story’s focus. The heart lies in their family reuniting, living in love and warmth. Their aging mother is cared for, and they themselves found happiness. True happiness is having someone who loves you and loving others in return—it’s gathering around the hearth each night to listen to Mother’s stories.
So being kind isn’t about gaining something—it’s about making the world just a little bit warmer. Like those two roses, one white, one red, blooming by the window, never fading year after year.
