Once upon a time in a village, there lived a family consisting of a father, a mother, and their beautiful teenage daughter named Bawang Putih. They were a happy family. Although Bawang Putih's father was just an ordinary trader, they lived in harmony and peace. However, one day, Bawang Putih's mother fell seriously ill and eventually passed away. Bawang Putih and her father were deeply saddened.
In the same village, there lived a widow who had a daughter named Bawang Merah. After Bawang Putih's mother died, Bawang Merah's mother often visited Bawang Putih's house. She frequently brought food, helped Bawang Putih clean the house, or simply kept Bawang Putih and her father company. Eventually, Bawang Putih's father thought it would be better to marry Bawang Merah's mother so that Bawang Putih would not feel lonely anymore. So, he married her.
At first, Bawang Merah's mother and Bawang Merah were very kind to Bawang Putih. However, over time, their true nature began to show. They often scolded Bawang Putih and assigned her hard work, especially when her father was away trading. Bawang Putih had to do all the housework, while Bawang Merah and her mother idly sat around. Of course, Bawang Putih's father was unaware of this, as Bawang Putih never told him.
One day, Bawang Putih's father fell ill and subsequently died. From then on, Bawang Merah and her mother became more dominant and oppressive towards Bawang Putih. She rarely had any rest. She had to wake up before dawn to prepare bath water and breakfast for Bawang Merah and her mother. Then, she had to feed the livestock, water the garden, and wash clothes in the river. After that, she still had to iron, clean the house, and perform many other chores. Nevertheless, Bawang Putih always did her work cheerfully, hoping that one day her stepmother would love her like her own child.
One morning, as usual, Bawang Putih brought a basket of clothes to wash in the river. While singing softly, she walked along the path at the edge of the small forest she usually passed through. That day, the weather was very bright. Bawang Putih immediately washed all the dirty clothes she had brought. Because she was too engrossed, Bawang Putih did not realize that one of the clothes had been swept away by the current. Unfortunately, the garment that was swept away was her stepmother's favorite. When she realized this, the garment had already drifted too far. Bawang Putih tried to walk along the river to look for it but was unable to find it. Desperately, she returned home and told her stepmother.
"You careless girl!" her stepmother snapped. "I don't care how, but you must find that dress! And don't you dare come home until you've found it. Understand?"
Bawang Putih was forced to comply with her stepmother's demands. She immediately went along the river where she had washed earlier. The sun was rising, but Bawang Putih still hadn't found her stepmother's dress. She fixed her eyes, carefully examining every root that jutted into the river, in case the dress was caught there. After walking far and with the sun already slanting to the west, Bawang Putih saw a shepherd bathing his buffalo. So, Bawang Putih asked:
"Oh, kind uncle, did you see a red dress float past here? I need to find it and bring it home."
"Yes, I saw it, child. If you hurry, you might catch it," said the uncle.
"Thank you, uncle!" said Bawang Putih, and she immediately ran along the riverbank.
It was getting dark, and Bawang Putih was starting to lose hope. Soon, night would fall. In the distance, she saw a light from a hut on the riverbank. Bawang Putih approached the house and knocked.
"Excuse me...!" said Bawang Putih. An old woman opened the door.
"Who are you, child?" asked the grandmother.
"I'm Bawang Putih, Grandma. I was looking for my stepmother's dress that was swept away. It's getting dark. May I stay here tonight?" asked Bawang Putih.
"Yes, child. Is the dress you're looking for red?" asked the grandmother.
"Yes, Grandma. Did you find it?" asked Bawang Putih.
"Yes. The dress was caught in front of my house. It's quite lovely; I like it," said the grandmother. "Alright, I'll return it, but you must stay here with me for a week. I haven't had anyone to talk to in a long time. How about that?" asked the grandmother.
Bawang Putih thought for a moment. She considered that the grandmother had been kind enough to offer her shelter. "Alright, Grandma. I'll stay with you," she agreed.
During her stay, Bawang Putih helped the grandmother with household chores, cooked, cleaned, and kept her company. She worked diligently and never complained. After a week, the grandmother handed her the red dress.
"You've been a wonderful companion, Bawang Putih. As a token of my appreciation, please choose one of these two pumpkins to take home. One is large, and the other is small," said the grandmother.
Bawang Putih chose the smaller pumpkin, thanking the grandmother sincerely. She then made her way home.
Upon her return, her stepmother and Bawang Merah were furious.
"Where have you been all this time?" her stepmother scolded.
Bawang Putih explained everything—the lost dress, the old woman, and the pumpkin. Her stepmother scoffed and snatched the pumpkin from her hands. In anger, she smashed it onto the floor.
To their astonishment, the pumpkin burst open, revealing glittering gold coins, sparkling gems, and fine jewelry!
Her stepmother's eyes widened with greed. "Bawang Merah, go to the river at once! Lose one of my dresses and find that old woman. Make sure to take the big pumpkin!"
Eager for riches, Bawang Merah followed her mother's instructions. She went to the river, deliberately threw a piece of cloth into the water, and waited. Soon, she found the old woman's hut and knocked on the door.
"Grandmother, have you seen my dress?" she asked, pretending to be worried.
The old woman smiled kindly. "Yes, I have. But first, will you help me with some chores?"
Bawang Merah wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Me? Work? No way! Just give me my dress and the big pumpkin, and I'll be on my way!"
The old woman sighed but handed her the large pumpkin as requested. Bawang Merah snatched it rudely and ran home excitedly.
When she arrived, her mother eagerly took the pumpkin and smashed it open, expecting riches.
But instead of gold and gems, hundreds of venomous snakes slithered out! Hissing and coiling, the snakes lunged toward them.
Bawang Merah and her mother screamed in terror and ran for their lives.
Terrified and ashamed, Bawang Merah finally realized her mistakes. With tears in her eyes, she turned to Bawang Putih.
"Sister, I have been so cruel to you. I now see that greed and selfishness only bring misfortune. I am so sorry for everything. Can you forgive me?"
Seeing her stepsister's sincerity, Bawang Putih smiled warmly and embraced her. "Of course, I forgive you. We can start again as a family."
Touched by her kindness, their stepmother also admitted her faults. She vowed to change and treat Bawang Putih as her own daughter.
Using the wealth from the first pumpkin, Bawang Putih ensured that they all lived comfortably, sharing their fortune with those in need.
From that day on, the family lived in harmony, and the village remembered Bawang Putih's story as a timeless lesson: Kindness and humility bring true blessings, while greed and selfishness lead to downfall.
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer!
- Bawang Putih lived with her __________ and __________ at the beginning of the story.
- Her father was a __________ by profession.
- After Bawang Putih’s mother died, her father married __________’s mother.
- Bawang Merah and her mother initially treated Bawang Putih __________.
- Over time, Bawang Merah and her mother became __________ and __________.
- Bawang Putih did all the __________ around the house.
- Bawang Putih never __________ to her father about the mistreatment.
- When her father died, Bawang Putih’s life became even more __________.
- One day, while washing clothes, a __________ was swept away by the river.
- The lost garment belonged to Bawang Putih’s __________.
- Her stepmother told her not to come home until she had found the __________.
- While searching along the river, Bawang Putih met a man bathing his __________.
- The man told her that he had seen the dress float __________.
- At nightfall, Bawang Putih found a hut owned by an old __________.
- The old woman agreed to return the dress if Bawang Putih stayed for __________.
- Bawang Putih helped the old woman by __________ and __________.
- After a week, the old woman offered her a choice between a large and a small __________.
- Bawang Putih chose the __________ pumpkin.
- When her stepmother smashed the pumpkin, it was filled with __________ and __________.
- Bawang Merah was sent to repeat Bawang Putih’s __________.
- Unlike Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah refused to help the old woman with __________.
- Bawang Merah rudely demanded the __________ pumpkin.
- When the large pumpkin was smashed, it released __________.
- Realizing her mistake, Bawang Merah asked for Bawang Putih’s __________.
- The story teaches that __________ and __________ lead to happiness, while greed leads to misfortune.
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