“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Chinese Proverb
“What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” Confucius
Anyone out there that has been reading my blog, you can probably tell by now that I am a big fan of cartoons. I even named my blog after a scene in one. See my Meet Miriam page for more on how I came up with the name Greenbacks Magnet.
Anyhow, if you grew up in the 80s or 90s, then you may remember a Saturday morning anthology television show that aired on the CBS network called: CBS Storybreak.
Click here or on the logo to see the CBS Storybreak Intro.
It originally aired from 1985 to 1987 and was hosted by none other than Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Bob Keeshan.
Each episode was 30 minutes long and retold a beloved children’s story in animated adaptations.
It was later rebroadcast from 1993 to 1994 and was again returned to air in reruns in 1997 to 1998. This time it was hosted by actor Malcolm Jamal-Warner.
YEH-SHEN
My favorite episode of the series was entitled, “Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story From China.”
Yeh-Shen is a Chinese fairy tale that is similar to the European Cinderella story.
The one adapted on the anthology series, Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story From China, retold by Ai-Ling Louie and illustrated by Ed Young, is a well-known children’s picture book adaptation of the fairy tale, which was originally published in 1982.
If you are unfamiliar with the story or the animated series, a kind soul uploaded it to YouTube, and I have linked it here for you to see.
Fast Fact: One of the voices in this 1985 animated anthology of Yeh-Shen, was played by actress Emily Kuroda. She played Mrs. Kim on Gilmore Girls.
Mrs. Kim ran a tight ship, but was hilarious.
And Gilmore Girls happens to be one of my favorite shows. I want this website to be the Gilmore Girls of blogs, as there will be enough pop culture references in here to make your head spin, but that, like Lorelai and Rory, is how my mind works.
Now let’s get to the story.
VIRTUE CAN BE SEEN IN RAGS AS WELL AS SILK
“I believe that virtue shows quite as well in rags and patches as she does in purple and fine linen.” – Charles Dickens
Yeh-Shen always kept a neat and clean appearance. She kept her place in the home tidy. She also told the truth. And always acted with dignity and grace. People noticed, including nobility. And not just any noble, A King. Ursula said it best, starting at 1:02 minutes.
I learned to keep a clean appearance at all times and take very good care of myself. I regularly get exercise, read, brush my teeth, and eat my three square meals a day. And people notice, including my partner. My appearance is one of the things that attracted my boyfriend to me.
FRIENDS ARE IMPORTANT
Yeh-Shen’s only friend is a fish named Gold Eyes. He is a spirit that is there to look out for her, that was sent by her mother, as a way for her to look after her beyond the grave.
Gold Eyes always helped Yeh-Shen. He would assist her with her laundry, give her food and advice, or provide anything else she needed help with.
She would share her meager breakfast with him, even though she had so little for herself. She was a good and kind person and a dear friend. In return, Gold Eyes held her in high regard and was always there for her in return. He tells her she deserves better and one day will have it.
From this, I learned how important friendship is. True friends are there in good times and bad.
It’s like Oprah Winfrey said, “Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”
Agreed.
POVERTY IS HARD
However, there is no shame in being poor.
Upon the death of her parents, Ye-Shen is poor. She becomes a lowly servant to her stepmother and her daughter. No matter the amount of work placed upon her, she does her duties, and does them well.
It didn’t matter how hard Yeh-Shen worked or how obedient she was. She was treated badly simply because she was poor.
A man in town even looked her over because he said he was looking for a beautiful wife and not a pretty servant.
From this, I learned two things: (1) A job worth doing is worth doing well, and (2) do all you can to change your station in life. You may be born into poverty, but only you can determine if you remain that way forever.
Might I suggest reading biographies and books about money. And get your education. A good one.
MANNERS MATTER
Every time someone spoke to Ye-Shen, she spoke elegantly and courteously. No disrespect. People remembered and appreciated that about her.
Those manners got her far. She was able to escape trouble, punishment, and land the attention of a handsome noble from minding her manners.
MIND YOUR BUSINESS
Her stepsister did not want Yeh-Shen to go to the festival because that is where people go to find a husband or wife. She said, “she couldn’t handle that type of competition.”
In addition, when she finds out about Yeh-Shen’s fish, she tells her mother, who then gets rid of him. In the end, it turned out to be fortuitous for Yeh-Shen.
Do not focus so much on others. Mind your own business. Run your own race. You could be getting yourself together and becoming your own success, if you focus less on what others are doing.
POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
In the show, her stepsister repeats this phrase after her mother tells her she wants to hear positive thinking and not any negative thinking, “I will find a husband, I will be a bride.”
To this day, I practice my affirmations. I actually learned this from Yeh-Shen. I reject negative thinking and focus on being positive. Optimism gets results. Negativity does not.
MISERY LOVES COMPANY
When the stepmother learns of Yeh-Shen’s talking fish she decides to get rid of him. Leaving Yeh-Shen all alone.
Those who are unhappy, don’t want to be alone in their unhappiness. It is your job to get away from them. They will only drag you down.
FATE
Gold Eyes turns into magical bones. He tells Yeh-Shen not to despair, as this was his fate. He is still there with her, even though only in spirit.
Like Doris Day said, “Que será, será, Whatever will be, will be, The future’s not ours to see.”
You cannot control what is meant to be, but you can control your actions and how you respond to others. Stay in control. Have a cool head. Control your emotions, control your life.
KINDNESS
Gold Eyes tells Yeh-Shen that he must repay her kindness. Her stepmother would feed her very little. Therefore, Gold Eyes would provide huge meals for her as a way to compensate for this slight.
Even after all they put her through, she asked Gold Eyes if she should share with her stepmother and sister. He replies by telling her, “Did they share me with you? No. This gift is from me to you.”
He says to her that she can ask for something more, but she says, “this is all I need.”
Being nice has its rewards. I always repay a kindness. However, there is a thing as being too nice. You have to set limits and boundaries with people. In addition, you must also stand up for yourself. You can be nice, but don’t be anybody’s fool. Also, only take what you need. No need to be greedy.
DO NOT BE EASILY PROVOKED
Throughout the entire episode, she is repeatedly reprimanded, punished, neglected, scolded, and insulted. She never responds to this.
Sometimes you have to be man or woman enough to walk away. You must pick your battles. Live to fight another day. Move on.
YOU MUST GIVE TO GET
When Gold Eyes tells her she deserves more and that they should not treat her so bad she says she knows. But she was an orphan and they gave her a home.
He offers to do her chores for her, but she says she does not mind doing manual labor, for now. She hopes to find a husband (her true love) at the festival. He concedes and tells her if that is her destiny so be it.
She is offered the world on a silver platter and turns it down. She wants to make her own future on her terms. It is best to keep your head down and work. You must give to get. That is just how the universe and karma works.
BROKEN PROMISES AND DREAMS
She helps her stepsister get ready for the festival. After, she is done, she says she must get herself ready and asks if it is still alright for her to go, as her stepmother promised.
Her stepmother breaks her promise. She tells Yeh-Shen she can go to the next one, or the ones after, but this this one for this year. Yeh-Shen was looking forward to that festival all year. Hope was thoroughly dashed. Yes, this can happen in life.
A TIME TO BE DISOBEDIENT
When her family leaves to go to the festival, Gold Eyes tells her she should go. She says she has nothing to wear. He then magically turns his bones into golden slippers, which transforms her plain clothes into a gorgeous dress. She disobeys her stepmother and leaves to go to the festival.
In life, there is a time to act. You must decide if you are going to break the rules. And if you are, you better make sure it’s for a good reason.
DEMURE AND CHARMING
At the festival, her family sees the man referred to as The Handsomest One. She then gives a toothy smile and he scowls at her. It was hilarious.
Her mother then says your supposed to charm not scare him. She then goes on to say, “Let’s try the not handsome, but rich crowd.” Come on, really?
Then enter Yeh-Shen all dolled up. Yeh-Shen, who is usually demure, looks confident and sophisticated. A far cry from the reserved creature you are used to seeing in this episode.
Her mother remarks that, “There is the prize winner. She will get the handsomest, richest husband.” She says to her unmarried daughter, “Why can’t you look like that?” Who smartly remarks, “because I was born from you.” Her mother then pinches her.
Oh yea, for a drama it also has quite a bit of comedy. It’s a dramedy for sure.
HATERS GONNA HATE
When Yeh-Shen walks her stepsister says that she had hot nothing to do all day, but take dancing lessons and be pampered. Come on. Hating like that will give you wrinkles unmarried daughter.
It doesn’t matter how nice you are or what you do for people. Some people just are some haters! Ignore them. They hate us, cause they ain’t us. I say don’t hate, congratulate. Figure what they doing so you can see what makes them so successful and find the secret recipe, so you can copy it.
PRICELESS
At the festival, she runs away and loses one of the gold slippers. A man finds it and sells it to the merchant. The merchant then gives it as a gift to the King.
The gold slipper is referred to as priceless. And it is. Rare indeed. When something is priceless, you don’t just give it away to anyone. The merchant gave it to someone he felt was worthy.
A GIFT FIT FOR A KING
The King feels that the slipper must belong to someone of great beauty and wealth. He decides to find the owner. Who just so happens to be Yeh-Shen; who is also looking for a golden slipper.
If something is lost, then you may decide to return it to its owner. However, do not think that it will come with a reward or be some fairy tale, happy ending. All that glitters may not be gold. In this case, the owner was a poor, orphaned, peasant girl. But there is more to her than people can see.
SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND
Yeh-Shen asks around town to find the other slipper She finds a man who sold it to the merchant. He then tells her he gave it as gift to the King. She says she must acquire it from the King. The merchant tells her to go to palace to go try it on. She says, “Thank you sir, I shall.”
If you want something, go and get it. Sitting on your laurels has never helped anyone.
THE POOR HAVE NO VOICE
Yeh-Shen waits in line all day to try on the slipper, but is denied. She then tries to take it. The palace guards accuse her of trying to steal it. They called her a girl in rags. She tells them the slipper belongs to her friend, a dead fish, as the slipper design is like the scales of a fish. They lock her in the dungeon.
First, if she had been a woman of nobility, she would not have been treated this way. To be poor is not a crime. However, if you want to be heard, you must ask the right way.
Second, you cannot even look as if you are attempting to steal something. There is a saying that, if you’ll lie, you’ll steal and if you’ll steal, you’ll kill. Do not even give people a reason to think that.
MERCY
The King says to have her released in the morning. A guard tells her in a curt tone to get out and stay away. She merely bows.
Like in the Karate Kid (1984), there is a time to show mercy. A tense situation arises between an adult and a teen. And they needed an adult at the wheel. Mr. Miyagi was that adult.
And for those who do not know Mr. Miyagi, this is for you. Please do not be like that kid on that episode of Supernatural.
For those of you who do not know or may not remember, here is the scene of Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel son another life lesson.
A TRAP SO TINDER
Better than any tinder app could do, the results of this match are written in the stars. Slide left, I mean right. Don’t want to make that mistake.
The King sets a trap to leave the slipper unattended so Yeh-Shen will take it and he will then follow her to see what she does and why it’s so important to her. That’s smart.
And pretty slick, if you ask me. Reminds me of that scene in Hackers (1995).
PATIENCE
They wait. She takes the slipper. They follow.
Anything worth having is worth the wait.
IT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU
After getting the slipper back, her step family find her out. Her stepmother is happy to have a matching pair of gold slippers. She says their fortune is made and their ticket out of the cave. She will sell to the King.
You do not own and cannot sell what is not rightfully yours.
NO THIEF HERE
The King stops the squabbling between Yeh-Shen and her stepmother. She tells him she is no thief. She needs to have the slippers together so that her friend can go return to the pond of his forefathers.
Sounds crazy, I know. However, when in doubt, tell the truth.
WHO ARE YOU?
The problem with playing games is that you get hurt too. – Common (actor, rapper, entrepreneur)
She tells the King who she is. No more games or pretending.
He asked. She answered. Tell people who you are.
GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
The King asks her, “What are these slippers to you?” She says they belong to her friend. Explains her story to the king.
That’s right. Tell people your story. Share what you are trying to do. You will be surprised how much people are willing to help you when you are doing the right thing. Also, when you know the truth, then you can deal with it.
DO THE RIGHT THING
The King tells her if that is what she must do with the slippers, then do so. He then says “but first, place them on your feet.”
She obliges and transforms back into the woman seen at the festival that day in the beautiful dress.
The look on her stepmother and stepsister faces are priceless!!!
The King could have decided not to believe her, but he listened. Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do and not for any prize or reward. Doing the right thing is its own reward.
SECRETS REVEALED AND DESTINY
Gold Eyes magically appears as a spirit and thanks Yeh-Shen. All secrets are now revealed. He tells her now he can go. As her dreams are about to come true.
If you are meant to have it, no one can stop you from your destiny.
The truth is out, now you can deal with it.
MARRIAGE MATERIAL
Her stepmother tells her that the clothing that Gold Eyes gave Yeh-Shen belongs to her because she is her guardian.
The King says no as she is a free person. She must then step aside.
The King says, “Your friend, the mystical fish has brought you into my life for a reason.” He then steps up to the plate, wasting no more time and asks for her hand in marriage. She says yes.
The show ends by letting the audience know to visit your local library or book store. Book recommendations are provided by the Library of Congress. If you like this tale, then read Cinderella by The Brothers Grimm.
I, myself, am a huge fan of the fairy tales. I like Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers. Particularly, the Grimm Fairy Tale Classics cartoon, but that’s another story.
