An original folktale inspired by this ancient Chinese saying, "A meal
without rice is like a beautiful woman with only one eye."

Meal Without Rice
By Debbie Ann Tan

Two scholars from the highlands of China trudged to the city below. They
were going to take an examination that would entitle them to higher
education. If they passed, they could move on to another city and study
further. This was in the days when education was for a select few. Males
were the qualified scholars who would someday bring honor and good
reputation to their families. But males from poor families got lesser
chances to be scholars. They had to labor in the fields and helped put food
on the table than read the scrolls.

The two scholars Chung and Tham have trained together since they were
children. Their parents have groomed them for that day when they will
finally venture out to the city. Except that Chung and Tham were not
accustomed to hard life. All they did growing up was study. Now that they
traveled, they learned to fend for themselves. There was no one to carry
their belongings, no one to serve them food at all times.
"Why didn't we bring even one servant along on this trip," complained Tham.
"Our parents need all the extra hands to harvest our fields," Chung
answered.

By night, Chung and Tham stopped at a small Inn. "Come in, young masters,"
said the innkeeper. Chung quickly ordered a pot of tea while Tham ordered
whatever food was available. The innkeeper quickly brought in their food
and drink.

"Wait," Tham said, "where's the rice?"
"Forgive me, master, but our rice did not arrive today. We serve only sweet
potatoes. But here, I also serve you fish and corn cobs," he replied.
Chung downed a cup of tea and hungrily grabbed the sweet potato. Then,
proceeded to taste the rest of the food. While Tham, though famished, sat
there with much disappointment.
"Hey, is there another inn around here?" asked Tham.
"No, master. You will have to travel up and down four more mounds to reach
the next stop," the innkeeper explained patiently.

Scholars that they were, Chung and Tham began to argue. "Why don't you just
eat what you see?" Chung challenged.
"I see a meal without rice. A meal is not a meal without rice. I will not
just see my food but I will think of my food," Tham said.
"You should eat what you already have," Chung insisted.
"What do I have? I have fish, sweet potato and corn but they will not fill
me up. This is not a meal," countered Tham.
"Nevertheless it is food." Chung stated simply as he continued eating.
"Chung, my friend, you do not seem to understand." Tham took his brush and
ink from his baggage. He also took an empty scroll and proceeded to draw.
After he was done, Tham showed Chung the scroll. "What do you see, Chung?"

"I see a face of a woman, but you forgot to draw one of her eyes," answered
Chung.
"Hah, finally you will understand, my friend. Tell me, is she beautiful?"
Tham was smiling from ear to ear.
"Yes, she is beautiful. But without her other eye.she may be more beautiful
if you completed her face," said Chung.
"Therefore, Chung, this is exactly my point. A meal without rice is like a
beautiful woman with only oneeye," Tham said triumphantly.
"I see what you mean, friend. But answer me this, are you hungry?" This
time, it was Chung who smiled from ear to ear.
"Yes, I am," Tham nodded.
"Then, as you pondered about your meal, the food is eaten by the hungry,"
Chung said.
Tham looked at the plates. They contained the empty cobs, the head of the
fish and the skin of the sweet potatoes. He grew red in the face.
"Now, what do you think of this saying? Talk does not cook rice," Chung
laughed. -End