Nkauj Nog
This story is roughly-based on the original Hmong folktale, Nkauj Nog, but it does have many changes.
“It’s only the petals of the white jade plum blossoms fluttering like a thousand fireflies. Why do you carry a red hemp umbrella during this March’s spring?” ~Nkauj Nog
“To shield us from the gentle breeze that if brushed past our faces, may forever change our fates.” ~Siv Meej
“It’s only the pearl rain that waters the Earth like diamonds from the heavens. Why do you carry a red hemp umbrella during this November’s eve?” ~Siv Meej
“To shield us from the tender storm that if wet our hands, may forever alter our chances.” ~Nkauj Nog
“It is inside the red hemp umbrella that I shall find my destined mate.” ~Siv Meej
“It is inside the red hemp umbrella that I shall wait.” ~Nkauj Nog
During the golden ages of imperial rule in San Miao Kingdom, a wealthy salt businessman married two wives who each gave birth to a daughter. The elder wife is as beautiful as she is kind, so her daughter, Nkauj Zuag, mirrors her mother in nature and beauty. The younger wife is beautiful too, but not equal to the elder wife so she is always bitterly jealous and cold and cruel, and nurtures her daughter, Nrhee, to be the same way. Determined to rid of the elder wife, the younger wife comes up with every possible trick to try to make her husband divorce his elder wife. One day, the younger wife feigns sickness and her foolish husband is made to believe that only the sacrifice of a cow to his ancestors will cure her. However, he and his elder wife are a few minutes late to the local market and all the cows were sold out. Furious, the husband blames his elder wife for their ill-luck and chases her away. Disappointed and sad, the elder wife runs away and soon discovers herself inside an enchanted forest. Then from out of the blue, magical flowers begin to blossom twirling tall and slender white bamboo trees. While she sits beside a pond with the moon’s reflection dancing in the water, the elder wife thought of her husband and wishes that if it was possible she is willing to trade her life for a cow’s. Unbeknownst to the elder wife, her wish is granted by the magical flowers and she changes into a cow. She leaves her daughter Nkauj Zuag to cry for her mother for many days, and leaves her prone to abuse from the younger wife. Without a mother now, the town’s people pity the poor girl and everyone begins to call her Nkauj Nog (orphan girl). No one seems to remember that she was once named Nkauj Zuag (hair-comb, the eponym of feminine beauty) by her mother.
