The Toad Sues Heaven

Long ago, a devastating drought swept across the land. For years, not a single drop of rain fell. Rivers dried up, trees withered, crops failed, and the ground cracked beneath the burning sun. People and animals alike suffered terribly from thirst. In the midst of this endless misery, a small but determined creature, the Toad, decided that something had to be done. With a brave heart, he made a bold decision: he would journey to Heaven and plead with the Jade Emperor, ruler of the skies, to send rain and save the world.

On his way to Heaven, Toad met other creatures who were also enduring the drought: Crab, Bear, Tiger, Bee, and Fox. When Toad shared his daring plan to confront the Jade Emperor, they were inspired by his courage and quickly agreed to join him. As they reached the gates of Heaven, they noticed a large ceremonial drum nearby. Knowing they would face resistance from powerful beings, Toad came up with a clever plan. Crab would hide inside a water jar. Bee would hide behind the door. Fox, Bear, and Tiger would stay hidden behind the trees, ready to act at the right moment. Once everyone was in place, Toad climbed up to the drum and struck it three times loudly, demanding an audience with the Jade Emperor.

The booming sound echoed through the heavens and infuriated the Jade Emperor. He sent the Thunder God to investigate. When the Thunder God returned and reported that the noise was caused by a small toad, the Emperor became even more furious and ordered the Heavenly Chicken to attack. As the bird rushed forward, Toad gritted his teeth, giving the secret signal. Immediately, Fox leapt out, seized the Heavenly Chicken by the neck, and dragged him away.

Outraged, the Jade Emperor sent the Heavenly Dog next. Once again, Toad gritted his teeth, and Bear emerged from hiding and struck the dog down with a powerful blow. The Emperor, growing anxious, then ordered the Thunder God himself to attack with his lightning hammer. As the Thunder God stepped outside, Bee suddenly flew out from behind the door and stung him repeatedly, causing him to scream in pain. Desperate, he dove into the nearest water jar to hide, but Crab was waiting and pinched him hard. Before the Thunder God could escape, Tiger sprang from the trees and landed the final, crushing blow.

Having seen his divine warriors defeated one after another, the Jade Emperor realized he had no choice but to talk. He summoned Toad and asked what he wanted. Toad bowed respectfully and said, “Great Jade Emperor, the mortal world has been suffering from drought for many years. Rivers have dried up, crops are dying, and every living being is desperate. I humbly ask that you send rain to save the Earth.”

The Jade Emperor, moved by Toad’s bravery and persistence, turned to the Rain God and said, “From this day forward, whenever you hear the Toad grit his teeth, you must immediately send rain to the Earth.” The Rain God bowed in agreement, and Toad and his companions joyfully returned to the mortal world, bringing hope and life with them.

Since then, it is said that whenever a toad croaks or grits its teeth, rain is on the way. In Vietnamese folklore, there is even a saying: “The Toad is Uncle of Heaven; whoever harms him will be punished by the sky.” This ancient tale teaches us a powerful lesson: even the smallest and seemingly weakest among us can bring about great change when we act with courage, wisdom, and unity. It reminds us that those who fight for the greater good, no matter how humble they may appear, can achieve extraordinary things.