B1. Stone Soup

Stone Soup

In a small village surrounded by tall mountains, the people were hungry. A long winter had left them with little food.

One cold morning, a stranger arrived. He was thin and looked tired, but his eyes were bright. "Good morning," he said to a group of villagers. "I'm very hungry. Could you spare some food?"

The villagers looked at each other nervously. "We're sorry," an old woman said. "We have nothing to share."

The stranger smiled. "That's okay. I'll make stone soup for everyone!"

The villagers were confused. "Stone soup?" a young boy asked. "How can you make soup from a stone?"

"It's easy," the stranger said. "I just need a big pot and some water."

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Curious, the villagers brought him a pot.

The stranger filled it with water and added a smooth, round stone. He lit a fire under the pot.

As the water began to boil, a delicious smell filled the air. The villagers gathered around, amazed.

"Mmm," the stranger said, stirring the pot. "This soup smells wonderful. But you know what would make it even better? A few carrots."

An old man stepped forward. "I... I think I have some carrots in my garden."

The stranger added the carrots to the pot. The smell grew stronger. "Perfect!" the stranger said. "Now, if only we had some potatoes..."

A woman hesitated, then said, "I have a few potatoes at home."

Soon, the pot was bubbling with carrots and potatoes. The villagers watched in anticipation.

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"This soup is almost perfect," the stranger said. "But it needs just a little salt and pepper."

A girl ran home and returned with salt and pepper. The stranger sprinkled them into the pot.

As the afternoon went on, more villagers brought ingredients. Someone found an onion. Another brought a few beans. A third added a piece of chicken.

The smell of the soup made everyone's mouths water. The villagers' eyes sparkled with excitement. How could something that started with a stone smell this good?

Finally, the stranger said, "The stone soup is ready."

First, he removed the stone, and then served the soup.

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The villagers tasted it and gasped with delight. It was the most delicious soup they had ever eaten.

As they enjoyed their meal together, the villagers realised something important. By sharing, they had turned a simple stone into a feast for the whole village.

The stranger smiled. "You see," he said, "the real magic wasn't in the stone. It was in your kindness and willingness to share."

The villagers learned when they worked together, they could accomplish amazing things. And what happened to the stone? The villagers kept it as a reminder of the day they discovered the recipe for happiness and progress.