Li-Li was a young bride who had just moved into her new home with her husband and his mother. In no time at all, Li-Li realized that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law - their personalities were very different, and they had conflicting habits, values and beliefs. The mother-in-law criticized Li-Li constantly.
The months passed but Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. Finally, Li-Li decided to do something about it. She went to her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs, and asked him for some poison.
Mr. Huang was shocked but seeing how distraught the girl was, finally said, "I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and do exactly as I tell you." Li-Li nodded.
He continued, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I will give you a combination of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some pork or chicken and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."
Li-Li followed Mr. Huang's instructions faithfully. Months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially-treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.
Li-Li practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.
Li-Li now regretted her murderous plan and sought Mr. Huang's help for a remedy for the poison. To which he smiled and said, "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
