Ashima was a girl from a poor family. She was very beautiful and very good at singing and dancing. A lot of young men liked her. But Ashima was in love with Ahei, a brave (勇敢的) and smart young man.

    One day, Ashima met Azhi, the son of a very rich family in the village. Azhi wanted Ashima to marry (嫁) him. But Ashima said she only loved Ahei.

    When the weather got cold, Ahei had to leave the village to work in a very far place. After Ahei left, Azhi kidnapped Ashima, took her home and asked her to marry him. Ashima still said no.

    When Ahei heard about this, he rode his horse back quickly. When he got to Azhi's house, Azhi said he had to win a song competition before he could get in. Ahei sang for three days and three nights and won the competition at last. He went into Azhi's house.

    Azhi asked Ahei to stay one night in his house and said he would let Ahei and Ashima leave the next morning. At night, Azhi put three tigers into Ahei's room. But Ahei killed them. Finally he could take Ashima home.

    When Ashima and Ahei were walking by a river, Azhi made the river flood (泛滥), Ashima fell into the river.  ▲  

    Ashima became river stones (石头), Later when Ahei missed Ashima, he w0uld face the stones and call out Ashima's name and talk to her He always heard an echo (回声). In this way, Ahei lived with A shima forever.