Grime and Punishment | Ep. 239

Think about your neighbors: the people who live around you.

An old Chinese proverb says, “A good neighbor is a priceless treasure.” In today’s story, a very good neighbor gets “a priceless treasure.” And a not very good one pays the price!

Our story is called “Grime and Punishment.” Versions of this tale were collected from the Chinese immigrant community in California in the 1930s, as part of an effort to preserve their stories.

We recorded this episode before a live audience of enthusiastic kids and grown-ups at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, CA. On stage was a trio of actors including Feodor Chin, Nathaniel Eaton and Jessica Rau.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Sofie Kodner. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now It’s Your Turn

Do you know what it means to “fill someone’s bucket”?

Filling someone’s bucket isn’t actually about water or sand. It’s about acting in a way that’s supportive, helpful and kind to somebody else – like giving a warm fuzzy!

Find some paper, and list or draw some of the ways you can fill someone’s bucket. It could be as simple as offering a hug or a smile, or sharing some kind words.

Look at your list, then pick one of the items and go out and do it. And remember: the cool thing about filling other people’s buckets is that in the process, we can fill our own buckets too!

Musical Spotlight: Ruan

The Chinese plucked string instrument known as the ruan is a lute with a fretted neck, a circular body and four strings. While traditionally made of silk, ruan strings have been made of steel since the 20th century. The frets were traditionally created from ivory, but are now more commonly made from metal mounted on wood.

The ruan dates back more than 1,800 years, when it was originally known as the pipa or qin-pipa. After the lute was introduced to China during the early 5th century A.C.E., the pipa gradually developed into the higher-pitched present form you hear today (Eric Shimelonis has used the pipa in many Circle Round stories, most recently “The Lone Dragon.”). The old form of pipa with a straight neck and round body got the name ruan, named for Ruan Xian: a master player of the instrument.

You play the ruan by plucking the strings with a plectrum or pick; some players use long acrylic nails. Westerners sometimes refer to the ruan as the “moon guitar,” “Chinese guitar” or “Chinese mandolin.” Today, the ruan comes in five sizes and is  a fixture in Chinese opera and orchestras.

NARRATOR: Out in the country… in a small, sleepy village… there were two neighbors. The first neighbor was a laundress.

LAUNDRESS: (friendly) That’s me!

NARRATOR: …a very kind and friendly laundress.

LAUNDRESS: (to audience) How is everyone today? (audience answers) Good? Great! … Do you have any clothes for me to launder? Any stinky, smelly socks? If so, I’d be happy to wash them for you! Find me after the show!

NARRATOR: Next-door to the laundress… lived a farmer.

FARMER: (grumpy) That’s me.

NARRATOR: …a very gruff and grumpy farmer.

FARMER: (grumpy) (actor should ham it up as he acknowledges the audience) Okay, wait a second. I thought you said this was “a small, sleepy village”! What are all these people doing here? And why are they staring at me like that? (points to audience member) Like that one, right there. I don’t trust that look in their eye…

NARRATOR: Um, so this is actually a story ABOUT a small, sleepy village. And these people are members of our audience; they’re listening to our story.

FARMER: Oh! I get it. (beat) So… am I the hero of this story?

NARRATOR: (not wanting to reveal) Well…

FARMER: Do I get all the glory at the end?

NARRATOR: Ummm…

FARMER: How about all the riches? Do I get all the riches?

LAUNDRESS: Farmer?!?? Can you please let our narrator continue? The story just started, and all these nice people are patiently waiting…

FARMER: (SIGH; eye roll) Fine. Carry on. (beat) But this better be good. For ME! (self-satisfied laugh)

NARRATOR: One hot summer day, a mysterious stranger showed up in town. He was tall and gangly, and beneath his tattered cap his hair was as tangled as a bird’s nest. Despite the heat, the fellow was bundled in a shabby coat that was very old and very dirty. His hands and face were dirty, too, as if he’d logged many miles shuffling along the dry, dusty country roads.

FARMER: Uch! This guy sounds like a mess!

LAUNDRESS: Farmer! Please!

FARMER: What?!? “Hair like a bird’s nest”? “Dirty hands and face”? This “stranger” is definitely not someone I would ever associate with. [live SFX: knock on door] Oh, hang on. I believe I have a visitor!

NARRATOR: The farmer strode to the front door of his house and swung it open. But the moment he did…

FARMER: Oh no!

NARRATOR: …a scowl grew on his face. Because standing on the doorstep was none other than…

STRANGER: Pardon me, sir?

NARRATOR: …the stranger!

STRANGER: I’m sorry to disturb you. But I’m a weary traveler who’s been trudging all day through this heat. I’m sweating something awful, and I’d love to wash up a bit – my hands and face, at least! Might you have a pitcher of water I could use to clean myself up?

NARRATOR: The farmer wrinkled his nose.

FARMER: A pitcher of water? No offense, buddy. But it’s gonna take a whole lot more than a pitcher of water! You’re so dirty you’d need a whole river to clean you up! No! A whole lake! No! A whole OCEAN! I’ve never SEEN so much dirt!  (beat) You’re not getting any help from ME!

NARRATOR: The stranger gave the farmer a long stare. Then he tipped his tattered cap...

STRANGER: I understand. Sorry to bother you, sir.

NARRATOR: …and shambled over to the laundress’s house…

[live SFX: knock on door]

NARRATOR: …where she answered the door with a grin.

LAUNDRESS: Greetings, sir! Goodness ! You look like you’re suffocating in this heat! Please come inside, have a seat, and cool off!

NARRATOR: She gently took hold of the stranger’s arm and led him to the table. He sat down with a sigh.

STRANGER: (SIGH) I appreciate your generosity, ma’am! I’ve been traveling in this heat for some time now, and I was hoping to clean my hands and face. Might you have a pitcher of water I could use?

LAUNDRESS: I can do better than THAT! I have a nice big bucket I use for all my laundry. Wait here!

NARRATOR: The laundress fetched the bucket, then hurried out to the well in the backyard. When the farmer spotted his neighbor through the window, he came bursting outside.

FARMER: Laundress! You’re not doing what I THINK you’re doing, are you?!??

LAUNDRESS: What? You mean, filling a bucket with water?

FARMER: No! I mean ‘filling a bucket with water’ for that vagabond! That’s fellow’s been on the road so long, the ROAD is on HIM! I’ve never seen so much DIRT in my life.

LAUNDRESS: Obviously he’s fallen on hard times. So I’m doing what I can to be kind. (beat) Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a stranger to help.

NARRATOR: The laundress pulled a fluffy towel off the clothesline, picked up her full bucket, then bustled back inside.

STRANGER: My goodness, ma’am! Look at that fresh, clean water! I am so grateful!

LAUNDRESS: It’s the least I can do! (beat) And when you’re done washing up, would you like to stay for dinner? I don’t have much food in the kitchen, but I’m happy to throw something together!

NARRATOR: The stranger shook his head as he dabbed his newly-washed face.

STRANGER: I’ve already taken up too much of your time. But I appreciate your hospitality. And in exchange for your deeds, I’d like to give you something.

NARRATOR: He gestured toward the bucket.

STRANGER: Take this bucket of water, and place it in the corner when you go to sleep tonight. Whatever you find inside the bucket come morning… is yours.

NARRATOR: Then he tipped his tattered cap…

STRANGER: Thanks again!

NARRATOR: … and went on his way, shuffling out of the village and disappearing round a bend in the dry and dusty road.

That night, the laundress followed the stranger's instructions. She placed the bucket in the corner and went to bed. And when she woke up the next day… and peeked inside…

LAUNDRESS: (GASP!) Great heavens!

NARRATOR: …she nearly toppld over.

LAUNDRESS: The stranger said he wanted to give me something in exchange for my deeds! But this is much more than I ever expected!!!!! (beat) SO much more!

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: What do you think the laundress saw inside the bucket?

We’ll find out what it was… after a quick break.

[live theme music out]

[BREAK]

[live theme music in]

NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir. Welcome back to Circle Round, live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, California. Today our story is called “Grime and Punishment.”

[live theme music out]

NARRATOR: Before the break, a mysterious stranger appeared and asked for water to clean his hands and face.

The gruff, grumpy farmer turned the fellow away. But the kind, friendly laundress was happy to oblige. In exchange for her deeds, the stranger told her to leave the bucket of water in the corner, and come morning, whatever she found inside was hers.

Well, the next day, when the laundress looked inside the bucket she could hardly believe her eyes.

And do you know why?

Because instead of dirty, brown water, the bucket was filled to the brim with sparkling silver coins!

FARMER: (to Narrator) Wait what??? You didn’t mention any “sparkling silver coins” in the first half of the story!

NARRATOR: That’s because we wanted to end on a cliffhanger! That’s what we always do before the break! Just ask our audience. They know how these stories go. (to audience) Right? (audience responds) (beat) (back to Farmer) So, can we please move on now?

FARMER: But I want to hear more about the silver coins! What did the laundress do with them? She’s such a softie… such a goodie-goodie… I suppose she gave all the coins away, didn’t she!!!!?

NARRATOR: Actually… yes! Over the weeks that followed, she gave some to the principal of the village school…

LAUNDRESS: Now you can buy all-new chairs and desks for your students, ma’am!

NARRATOR: …she donated some to the librarian at the library…

LAUNDRESS: I know you’ve been wanting to put more books on the shelves, sir. Now’s your chance!

NARRATOR: …the rest she brought to the weekly market, where she handed them out to any market goer who couldn’t afford groceries.

LAUNDRESS: These coins are for you. And you. And you!

FARMER: Uch! What a waste! If a magical bucket of coins suddenly appeared in my room, I’d use it all on myself! I’d get a bigger house, a nicer wardrobe… I’d also quit my job, so that I’d never have to work another day in my life! (beat) If only I hadn’t turned that raggedy wanderer away! If only I’d known how much I could profit from the filthy fellow and make off like a – [LIVE SFX: knock] Hang on. I have a visitor.

NARRATOR: When the farmer opened the door, he felt a surge of excitement. Because who should he find standing outside…

STRANGER: Pardon me, sir?

NARRATOR: … but the stranger! Same tattered cap, same tangled hair, same dirty coat, hands, and face.

STRANGER: I’m sorry to disturb you again. But my travels have brought me back to your village and I’d love to wash up. Might you have a pitcher of water I could use to clean myself up?

NARRATOR: This time, the farmer did not wrinkle his nose and scowl. Instead, he put on a broad smile, then grabbed the stranger and shoved him inside.

FARMER: My good man, you’ll have to forgive my behavior the last time we met. I simply do not know what got into me! So please: allow me to make it up to you. Wait here! I’ll be RIGHT BACK!

NARRATOR: The farmer raced around the house, his eyes peeled for the most enormous water vessel possible. After all, a simple bucket or pitcher wouldn’t hold nearly enough silver coins!

Inside the kitchen, he found a big bin filled with vegetables soaking in water. The farmer often soaked his vegetables like that; it made them last longer, so he could sell even more on market day.

FARMER: Eureka!!!! This is perfect!

NARRATOR: Now, you would hope that the next thing the farmer did was empty out the bin, give it a nice wipe, then fill it up with fresh, clean water.

Well… I’m sorry to say that is not what happened.

Instead, he picked out all the vegetables and tossed them on the floor.

FARMER: (ad-lib tossing sound)

NARRATOR: They left behind a cloudy residue, along with bits of carrot stems and broccoli leaves. But the farmer didn’t bother picking them out. Instead, he hoisted the bin into his arms…

FARMER: (ad-lib hoisting)

NARRATOR: …then hurried back to the stranger.

FARMER: Here you go! I’ve got just what you need. So go ahead! Scrub yourself up!

NARRATOR: When the stranger saw the murky water littered with veggie bits, he hesitated. The farmer noticed.

FARMER: Oh! I see. You want me to help you, huh? No problem!

NARRATOR: Before the stranger could say a word, the farmer was splashing dirty water all over him.

FARMER: Isn’t this nice? So refreshing!!!!

NARRATOR: When the farmer was done, the stranger was soaking wet – and no cleaner than he’d been before. As he rose to his feet to leave, the farmer grabbed him by the arm.

FARMER: Wait! Before you go… isn’t there something you wish to GIVE me…?

NARRATOR: The stranger paused. He gazed into the farmer’s eyes.

STRANGER: (mysterious) Of course there’s something I wish to give you! In exchange for your deeds, I want you to take this bin of water, and place it in the corner when you go to sleep tonight. Whatever you find inside the bucket come morning is yours.

NARRATOR: And with that, he tipped his tattered cap, shuffled out of the house, and vanished down the dry and dusty road.

The farmer could hardly sleep a wink that night. Waves of greed were surging through his heart, and visions of silver coins were dancing through his head. He tossed and turned for hours, impatiently waiting for the sun to rise. And the moment its first rays of light came streaming through his window, he threw back his covers and raced to the corner.

His heart was pounding and his body was quivering as he plunged his hands into the bin.

FARMER: Here we go!!!

NARRATOR: But to his dismay, his trembling fingers did NOT feel the cool, smooth surface of silver coins. Instead, they felt something gritty… and sticky. And when the farmer took a closer look…

FARMER: Ewwwwwww!

NARRATOR: …he realized what it was.

FARMER: DIRT????? Yuck!

NARRATOR: He dashed out to his well and dunked his hands in the water, rubbing them back and forth and back and forth. But when he pulled them out again?

FARMER: They’re still dirty!

NARRATOR: He tried again…

FARMER: Still dirty!

NARRATOR: …and again…

FARMER: Still dirty!

NARRATOR: …and again!

FARMER: STILL DIRTY!!!!

NARRATOR: No matter how he tried, he couldn’t wash the dirt away.

So… much as the gruff, grumpy fellow wanted to get all the glory at the end of our story… instead, thanks to his selfish, stingy ways, (turns to Farmer) What did you get?

FARMER: (ashamed, over-the-top) All the GRIME!