Little Bai is a cook
in a unit of the
Chinese People's
Liberation Army.
One day while sweeping the compound
he discovered seven eggs in a pile of straw.
He picked up the eggs
and took them to the kitchen.
Whose hen laid the eggs?
The cook squad leader and little Bai
asked a lot of people in the village,
but could not find out.
Three days past and
the seven eggs still lay on the table.
After supper the squad leader
said to everyone, "We
should hurry to find
who the eggs belong to."
Then they began to discuss
the matter.
After a long while,
Little Bai finally said,
"I have a way, but I don't know how good it is."
The squad leader said, "How? Quick, go on."
"That hen is used to going there," said Little Bai.
"Surely it will go there again to lay.
If we catch the hen we'll be able to find who the eggs belong to."
Everyone said, "That's a good way."
Next day after lunch
the squad leader sent Little Bai to wait
near the pile of straw.
After a while a black hen ran toward the pile.
At once Little Bai rushed over.
He caught the hen and picked up three more eggs.
Little Bai took the ten eggs and,
carrying the hen,
went from house to house to inquire.
Finally he found the owner of the eggs.
It was Uncle Huang, an old poor peasant.
Uncle Huang gripped Little Bai's hand
and said with emotion,
"What a fighter!
What an army!"
