Overview
This is a retelling of the Chinese folktale "Lon Po Po," a version of Little Red Riding Hood, in which three sisters cleverly escape a wolf disguised as their grandmother.
Setting and Characters
- A mother leaves her three daughters, Shang, Tao, and Paotze, alone at home while she visits their grandmother.
- An old wolf, seeing the mother depart, disguises himself as their grandmother (“Po Po”) to trick the children.
Wolf’s Deception
- The wolf arrives at dusk, pretending to be their grandmother, and persuades the children to let him in.
- He extinguishes the candle upon entry, keeping the room dark while he interacts with the children.
Suspicion and Discovery
- Shang, the eldest and cleverest, becomes suspicious after noticing the wolf’s hairy features and sharp claws.
- She cleverly questions the wolf and, upon confirming her suspicions, devises a plan to outsmart him.
Escape Plan and Execution
- Shang tells the wolf about magical ginkgo nuts growing outside and convinces him to wait while the children climb the tree.
- The children repeatedly trick the wolf into getting into a basket, which they pretend to hoist and then drop, causing the wolf to fall.
Wolf’s Defeat
- On the third try, the children drop the basket from the highest point, resulting in the wolf’s death.
- After ensuring their safety, the sisters lock the door and sleep peacefully.
Resolution
- The next day, their mother returns, and the sisters recount their adventure and how they outwitted the wolf.