Kong Rong Shares the Pears
'Kong Rong Yielding the Pears' is recorded in the Book of Later Han and A New Account of Tales of the World — a true story from the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. When four-year-old Kong Rong was given pears, he took the smallest for himself and gave the big ones to his brothers. Asked why, he said: 'I am the smallest, so I should take the smallest.' Passed down for nearly two thousand years, this story is a child's first lesson in modesty and sharing.
Long, long ago in the Han Dynasty, there lived a little boy named Kong Rong. He was only four years old. He lived with his father, his mother, and his brothers and sisters.
One day, a neighbor brought them a basket of pears. The pears were big and round, and they smelled so sweet. Everyone gathered around to have a look.
Father put the pears on the table. "Come and pick one for yourself," he said to the children. The children looked at the big, juicy pears.
The older brothers and sisters rushed to grab the biggest pears. Kong Rong quietly picked the smallest one. He held it in his little hands and smiled.
"Rongrong, why didn't you take a big one?" his father asked, curious. Kong Rong looked up at his father. He answered in a clear little voice.
"My brothers and sisters are older than me," said Kong Rong. "They should eat the bigger pears. I am little, so the small one is just right for me."
Mother smiled and said, "Rongrong knows how to be polite and kind." The brothers and sisters felt a little shy, and they all laughed together.
The eldest brother broke his big pear in half and gave one half to Kong Rong. Now everyone had a pear to eat. They sat together and enjoyed the sweet fruit.
Kong Rong thought his little pear tasted extra sweet. It was not because the pear was special. It was because the whole family was happy and sharing together.
From that day on, people told the story of Kong Rong and the pears. Respect your elders and learn to share. That is the lesson of "Kong Rong Shares the Pears."
