BAWANG PUTIH AND BAWANG MERAH

A long time ago, in a nice quite village, there lived a wealthy merchant, he lived together with
his daughter who was named Bawang Putih. This merchant's wife had long since passed away.
The merchant was very fond of his daughter. Because she was obedient and kind-hearted.One
day, as he came home from travelling, he brought a woman and her daughter along with him.
He wanted to marry this woman. So, Bawang Putih now had a stepmother and a stepsister who
is named Bawang Merah.When her father went to trade, her stepmother and Bawang Merah
would treat Bawang Putih like a servant. Bawang Putih did all the work that was ordered by her
stepmother. She cleaned the house, cooked, washed clothes, and looked for firewood. If
Bawang Putih's work went wrong, her stepmother would punish her by not feeding her.Every
morning, her stepmother and Bawang Merah took turns shouting,"Hey Bawang Putih, wash my
clothes!"Not yet finished washing clothes, Bawang Putih would then be called by her
stepmother."Bawang Putih, prepare breakfast now! We are hungry.""Ok... Okay,
mom."Because Bawang Putih worked so hard and was punished so harshly, her body became
thinner. One day, Bawang Putih's father returned home and fell ill. He was very ill and Bawang
Putih was very sad because of it. She never left her father alone. However, God decided
differently. Bawang Putih's father died."Father... Don't leave Bawang Putih... Father ..."While
Bawang Putih wept and cried, her stepmother and Bawang Merah were excited. Because the
property and house of Bawang Putih's father now belonged to them."Look Bawang Merah, he
finally died." "Yes, Mom we will be rich."Bawang Putih's life was miserable after her father
died. She no longer had her father to love and comfort her. Her stepmother and Bawang
Merah further tortured her. Bawang Putih tried to be patient but sometimes she would cry at
night."Lord, please help me. Why are they always evil to me?"One day, Bawang Putih went to
the river to wash clothes. She was sleepy and hungry, her body was weak. While washing,
Bawang Putih didn't realise that her stepmother's favourite shawl had washed away. When she
put all the clothes into the basket, she was surprised to find her stepmother's scarf was not
there."Mother's favourite scarf is gone... Oh no! It's drifting down the river... What should I do?
I daren't go home. Mother will scold me."Finally, Bawang Putih decided to go back down the
river to look for her stepmother's scarf. In the middle of the road, she met a farmer who was
washing his cow."Uncle, did you see a red scarf floating down the river?"The farmer nodded
and replied,"Red shawl? Hmm oh yes I saw it. The scarf was taken by an old grandmother who
was washing her by the river. The old grandmother's house is on the mountain."

Bawang Putih immediately headed up the mountain. There, she found a wooden house.
Bawang Putih knocked on the door of the house,"Excuse me, Grandma, did you find my
mother's red scarf?"The old grandmother came out of the house and greeted Bawang Putih."Hi
dear, let's go in. What's your name?""My name is Bawang Putih, Grandma."The old
grandmother will give a red scarf with one condition, Bawang Putih must help her first. Bawang
Putih agreed. All day, she helped the grandmother cook, look for firewood, clean the house and
wash clothes. For Bawang Putih, all this work was easy, because she was used to doing
it.Finally, it was time for Bawang Putih to leave for home. The grandma gave her the
shawl."Bawang Putih, this is the red scarf you are looking for. Oh, I want to give you a gift. A
pumpkin for you, because you helped me. Choose which one you like."On the table, there were
both small and large pumpkins. Bawang Putih chose a small pumpkin, because she also had to
carry a basket full of clothes home."Hm, I choose the small one, Grandma.""Okay, take this
little pumpkin. But remember, you can't open the pumpkin until you get home.
Understand?""Well Grandma, I will do everything you said."Arriving at home, Bawang Putih
was scolded by her stepmother and Bawang Merah."Where have you been Bawang Putih? How
dare you go out without my permission?""Forgive me, mother! I… I was... ""Stop, enough
Bawang Putih! We don't need your excuses!"They continued to beat her. Then they saw the
pumpkin brought by Bawang Putih."Cut the pumpkin and cook it! We are starving because of
you!"Bawang Putih took the knife and split the pumpkin. What a surprise, the pumpkin was full
of sparkling and expensive jewellery."Hah, where did you get the pumpkin?"Bawang Putih then
told them everything."Oh.. Bawang Putih, you should have chosen a large pumpkin! It would
have had more jewellery!"Hearing the words of Bawang Merah, the stepmother finally got the
idea."Looks like I have an idea. Ha Ha Ha."The next day, the stepmother and Bawang Merah
went to the river. They deliberately washed away the red scarf. Then secretly, they followed
the veil as it was washed away. Sure enough, the red scarf was picked up by the old
grandmother.The stepmother and Bawang Merah followed the old grandmother who went up
the mountain. As they walk, Bawang Merah complained about how far it was."Ahh, I'm tired.
Let's just go home.""Bawang Merah, be patient! Soon we will get even more jewellery than
Bawang Putih.""But I'm tired, mom.""I said be patient!”Arriving at the old grandmother house,
the stepmother and Bawang Merah knocked on the door. The old grandmother welcomed
them warmly. Then, the stepmother and Bawang Merah pretended to be sad and asked about
the red scarf."Dear grandmother, did you find my mother's red scarf?""Oh yes, it just so
happens that Grandma found it on the river." Just like Bawang Putih, the new grandmother will
give them the shawl, if they helped her. The only way to get the pumpkin was to work to help
the old grandma, but they still couldn't stop complaining.

"I’m so tired, if it weren't for the pumpkins, I wouldn't do this.""Yes, I'm also tired. Hopefully,
there will be even more jewellery inside this pumpkin.Ha Ha Ha"Finally, Bawang Merah and the
stepmother finished their work at the old grandmother's house and said goodbye. The old
grandmother gave the shawl to Bawang Merah and her mother. On the table, there are two
pumpkins, one large and one small."Choose one pumpkin, as a gift from me."And of course, the
stepmother and Bawang Merah chose the largest pumpkin."Of course, I choose the big one
grandma.""Yeah, choose the big one.” “Remember, don't open the pumpkin, before you get
home.""Yes Grandma, that's for sure. We will go home first Grandma."Bawang Merah and her
mother, do not obey the advice of the grandmother. On the way, the stepmother splits the big
pumpkin. They were impatient to get their hands on jewellery inside."Mom, let's just open this
pumpkin now, the old grandmother will not know.""Yeah, let's open this. I'm also
curious."However, they were in for quite a surprise. Because inside the pumpkin were
venomous animals, such as snakes, scorpions, spiders and centipedes. They were both bitten
by a snake."Oh, what is this?” “Where is the jewellery? Why did it have these animals inside?
Ihhh""Aw! Aw! It hurts!” “Aw! Aw! Ouch!” “Mom…Ouch…Aw…What should we do Mom?” “I
also got bitten”Because they are still in the middle of the forest, no one came to help them.
The stepmother and Bawang Merah died from the snakebite. Their greed brought them to
disaster.Meanwhile, Bawang Putih lives happily ever after. The jewellery given by the old
grandmother making her rich. She continued her father's business and enjoyed the fruits of her
obedience and kindness.