Fictional Story
The Healing Poison

A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days passed. The days turned into weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. What made the situation worse was that according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish.

All the anger and unhappiness in the house caused the poor husband great distress. Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer. She decided to do something about it.

Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him about the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem for once and for all.
Mr. Huang thought for a while and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”
Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do."

Mr. Huang went into the back room and returned with a package of herbs after a few minutes.
He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day, prepare some pork or chicken and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to carry out her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks and months went by. Li-Li would serve the specially treated food to her mother-in-law every other day. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law and treated her like her own mother. After six months, the situation in the whole household had changed. Li-Li managed to control her temper so much that she almost never got mad or upset at her mother-in-law anymore. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months, who seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li had also changed and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law treated each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li went to Mr. Huang and asked for his help again.
She said, "Dear Mr Huang, please help me to prevent the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She has changed into such a nice woman and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head.
"Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has all been washed away by the love which you gave to her."