--- title: Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 2 — Winning Buddha's smile · full text with trees · page 2 description: Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 2, «Winning Buddha's smile»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: “What makes you say that?” queried Sun. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/4/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Winning Buddha's smile](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/) / Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 2 # Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 2 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/4/) **2** “Nothing can be nearer the truth,” gravely replied the disciple.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") “But what must I do?[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell me, tell me!”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “You must give me three hundred bags of rice and I will pray in your stead.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") “Alas, I cannot give what you require of me.”[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “That doesn’t make any difference.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") I do not ask for the immediate delivery of the three hundred bags of rice.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") It will be sufficient if you bind yourself in writing to pay me when you have the means to do so.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") “I’ll accept on those conditions,” replied Sun.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") The disciple passed over to him a paper on which the poor blind man placed his signature.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am obliged to leave you, now,” said the disciple.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then, good-bye, until we meet again.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was alone, Sun reflected upon what the disciple had told him.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") The idea of seeing the sunlight again and of acquiring honor and wealth filled his very being with ecstasy.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") On the other hand, the obligation of furnishing three hundred sacks of rice considerably diminished his joy.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") A man, whose daughter was obliged to beg to keep him from starving, would never be able to fulfill the promise which he had signed.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") He regretted having given a promise which he could never hope to keep.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun was drawn from his reveries by the arrival of his daughter.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why so melancholy, father?” inquired the child.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") “Is it because I am late to-day that you seem sad?[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") I must ask your pardon.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") I went to the cemetery and from there to gather some alms.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") They gave me some things to eat, as your hands can tell.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Don’t you forgive me?”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") “My dear child, it is not you who makes me so sad.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Listen, and I will tell you what happened to me.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") When you did not come home I was a little worried and wanted to go and meet you.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way, I fell into the lake and gave myself up for lost when I was rescued by a disciple of an anchorite.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") This man led me home and said to me, while we were walking along, ‘I predict to you that you will no longer be blind and that some day you will become the King’s Prime Minister.’[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") But I have to pay him three hundred sacks of rice and I can never do it.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") That is why I am sad.”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do not worry too much about that, father.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") We shall find a way that will enable you to keep your promise.”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") After they had shared their meagre meal the young girl went to her room where she began to reflect upon her father’s story.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") Not succeeding in going to sleep, she went out to take a bath in the lake, after which she began to prepare the sacrifice table in the garden.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") She placed in the centre a vase filled with water, lighted the incense burner and two candles, one at each end, and began to pray to Heaven.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Her prayers continued almost until daybreak.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Not until then did Cheng-Si go to her room.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") Exhausted with fatigue, she fell asleep almost immediately.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") She dreamed that an old man was saying to her, “Very shortly something is going to happen to you.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Some one will cross your path who will make you an attractive proposal.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") Do not hesitate to accept, for it is an exceptional opportunity.”[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") On awakening, the child recalled her dream and was pensive and thoughtful for a long while.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") In reality her dream was soon to come true.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") Some dreams do.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") In the days of our story, Korean merchants in search of business were accustomed to make one trip a year across the Yellow Sea, which lies between China and Korea.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") The crossing was very difficult and dangerous because of the rapidity of the current in certain spots.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") After each trip they were always sure to report the loss of some boat.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Thinking to avoid this danger, the merchants had recourse to a very ancient and very barbarous practice.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") In each village where they traded they purchased a young girl.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") These victims were thrown into the sea and the perils of the voyage were thought to be in this way forestalled.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, this day, Cheng-Si, the fair, had scarcely left her home when she met one of these traders in search of a human victim.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") The merchant asked the young girl if she knew where he could find what he wanted.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") To this request Cheng-Si replied:[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") “You need not look any farther.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") If you want to take me, I will go, but what will you give me in exchange for my life?”[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") “Anything that you want.”[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") “Suppose I ask for three hundred bags of rice?”[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") “I’ll accept the offer, but I have some partners and must consult with them, so I will not be able to give you a positive answer for a few days.”[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") “I’ll wait, then.”[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good-bye,” said the merchant.[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") Happy at having concluded this bargain which was to result so seriously for her, the young girl impatiently awaited the merchant’s return.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") One beautiful morning she saw him coming toward the house and immediately went to meet him.[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") “Has the affair been settled?” she asked him, without manifesting the least emotion.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, you shall have your three hundred bags of rice.[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you want them right away?”[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, indeed, if I may.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") Please wait a moment, I must tell my father.”[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") Cheng-Si went into the house.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") She did not know how to tell her father about her fatal decision.[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") “To tell him the truth,” she said to herself “is to condemn him to a death from grief.[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") I can remember his anxiety that day when I was a little late in coming home.[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") Now suppose I should never come back--but it must be done.”[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") The young girl threw her arms about her father’s neck and cried in a joyful voice:[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") “Father, I have found a way to get you the three hundred bags of rice that you owe the disciple.[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") Send for him at once.”[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") When the disciple had come, Cheng-Si took him to the merchant’s place of business and turned over to him the three hundred bags of rice.[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") She then demanded, in exchange, the paper bearing her father’s signature, thanked him for having saved Sun-Yen’s life, and asked him to continue his prayers for the blind man.[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") The disciple promised to do so and left the young girl.[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") Very happy because of her sacrifice, she hastened to her father and handed him the paper which he had signed.[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") “Where did you get this?” demanded the surprised Sun.[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") “From the disciple, to whom I gave the three hundred sacks of rice.”[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") “But, how in the world did you get all that rice, my daughter?”[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") “In a very simple way.[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") I sold myself the other day.”[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you saying\![188](../../188/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah, unhappy girl, do you want to kill me?”[189](../../189/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now do not worry about this, father.[190](../../190/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me finish what I have to tell you.[191](../../191/ "tree and pragmatics") It is true that I have sold myself but I am not going very far away and perhaps I shall see you every day.[192](../../192/ "tree and pragmatics") There isn’t anything to be troubled about.[193](../../193/ "tree and pragmatics") I am sacrificing my liberty with the best of good will so as to insure your happiness.[194](../../194/ "tree and pragmatics") When we have saved up enough money I will pay back the price of the rice and then, once I am free, nothing can prevent me from remaining with you forever.”[195](../../195/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/4/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/4/) - next →: [Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/5/) - ↑ back to [Winning Buddha's smile](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/)