Why We Can Always Have More Together …

Stone Soup – La Soupe au Caillou
I recently came across a short story which caught my attention because, although it’s a folktale of European origin, its message aligns very well with the underlying principles of the concept of wu-wei.
It’s not a new story, folklorists believe it first appeared as an oral tale in the 1540s and the first published version dates from 1720, so you may have heard this tale before. However, since it was new to me, I’m sure there must be many others to whom this will be a first introduction.
So, without any further ado, let me introduce you to my contemporary retelling of the magnificent story of “La Soupe au Caillou” or, in English, “Stone Soup” set at the Holland Village Market and Food Centre in Singapore.
石頭湯
Shítou Tāng
Tan Mei Ling, in the neighbourhood better known as Emily, is an aspiring artist who works hard but her talents have yet to be discovered. One day not that long ago she was wandering around a food court in Holland Village, relishing in the aromas of roasted meats, Nasi Biryani, Bak Kut The and her personal favourite Laksa Sarawak, a spicy coconut based chicken noodle soup. As she strolled passed the numerous stalls, her stomach grumbled; the hawkers’ prices were very reasonable but she just didn’t have a single cent in her pockets and no one was going to give away a meal for free.
Wah piang, she thought, all this delicious food, but no money to buy it. The image of a starving artist might be romantic, but to actually be one is no fun at all. With a heavy heart she headed home for yet another night of tasteless instant noodles.
That night, while ‘enjoying’ her packet of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, she called her mother to talk about her plight, she had no money but didn’t want to rely on the pity or pretend generosity of others.
“Don’t worry dear,” her mother said, “you’re a smart talented girl, I’m sure things will work out and you can always come back home. In the meantime let me tell you a little story, like in the old days.”
“Oh yes, go ahead,” Emily said, with a smile remembering her happy childhood.
“Okay, so the other day someone told me that …,” Emily’s mother began.
•••
The next morning, Emily woke up refreshed and with a plan. On her way to the Holland Drive Market and Food Centre she stopped by one of her favourite aunties to borrow a sturdy large enamel stock pot and passed through the Holland Village park to look for a plain grey stone.
Cooking the ‘soup’
Once she got to the food court she looked for what seemed to her the most self-congratulatory hawker in the centre, approached him and said, “So, I’ve been trying out dishes here like forever but somehow no one comes even close to what my Nan used to make. I guess you guys just don’t have her secret ingredient.”
“That’s quite a statement to make,” the hawker said, visibly taken aback, “can you put your money where your mouth is?”
“If I show you the secret ingredient,” Emily said, “then can I use one of your stoves to cook my dish?”
“Sure, show me your granny’s secret,” the hawker said, loud enough to attract the attention of nearby stalls. As more and more people gathered around the food stall, Emily took her stock pot, filled it with water and put it on the stove.
Once the water came to a simmer, she took the stone she’d picked up in the park and gently slid it into the pot.
“A stone,” one of the onlooking hawkers gasped, “you’re cooking a stone?”
“Ah, yes,” Emily said sniffing the soup and licking her lips, “my Nan really knew what she was doing. There’s nothing better than fresh stone soup. But, of course, stone soup with some coconut milk would be even better.”
“I can get you some coconut milk,” a hawker shouted as he ran back to his stall, quickly to return with a pint of fresh coconut milk.
“You’re the best,” Emily said as she poured the milk into the pot. “You know, I once had this coconut stone soup with some chicken, that was absolutely delicious.”
Two of the more senior hawkers then said they could probably find some left-over chicken scraps in their stalls. As they went off to look for it, other hawkers offered to add some onions, lemon grass, chillies, other spices and even some freshly made noodles.
Not long later, as people, encouraged by Emily, kept adding more and more ingredients to the soup, the smell of freshly cooked Laksa Sarawak engulfed the food court.
“I think we’ve done my Nan proud,” Emily said while tasting a spoonful of the soup, “let’s all have a bowl.” Quickly small bowls of the stone soup were passed around and everybody agreed it was the best soup they had ever eaten.
The stone had worked its magic and that day Emily went home with a full stomach filled with delicious Laksa Sarawak, her favourite dish. For sure now she was ready to be a struggling artist again.
Fin
Isn’t that an inspiring tale? I think that the two main lessons to be learnt from this story are that to get yourself out of a tough situation, a little creativity is needed and that we can always have more together than we can separately.
In the words of the ancient sage Laozi:
“The more you help others, the more you benefit yourself.
The more you give to others, the more you get yourself.”
[T]here you are.
Sources:
Brewer, E. C. (1900) Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of Common Phrases, Allusions, and Words that Have a Tale to Tell: Cassell & Company.
Du Noyer, A.M.P. (1720) Lettres historiques et galantes de deux dames de condition dont l’une étoit à Paris et l’autre en province: P. Brunel.