Once upon a time, in a simple village, there lived a family which consisted of a father, a

mother, and a pretty young girl named Bawang Putih. They were a happy family. Bawang
Putih and her mother used to welcome her father’s arrival with smiles. Not only that, Bawang
Putih also used to bring him a glass of water whenever he came back home after travelling
for trading. Bawang Putih’s father was so happy to have a kind daughter like her.

Bawang Putih’s kindness was not only showed to her father. But also to her mother, she
used to help her mother’s works. From doing household chores, to washing clothes, watering
plants, and feeding livestock. Bawang Putih’s mother loved her kind daughter a lot.

On one day, Bawang Putih’s mother fell sick. The only thing she could do was lying
down on her bed. As a daughter, Bawang Putih felt so sad, so did her father. Bawang Putih
took good care of her mother wholeheartedly, she never forgot to feed her mother. Everything
has been done by Bawang Putih and her father. But, God destined different. Bawang Putih’s
mother was passed away. Bawang Putih and her father became deeply sad. There were many
neighbors attended the funeral.

On one day, Bawang Putih’s father explained his willing to remarry. Bawang Putih
allowed him to do it. The wedding party between Bawang Putih’s father and her step mother
was held simply. There were so many neighbors attended the party. Bawang Putih welcomed
the guests friendly, different from Bawang Merah whom welcomed them with a gloomy face.

As long as she lived with Bawang Merah’s mother, Bawang Putih often did hard
household chores while her father was travelling. The tests for Bawang Putih are not only
that. Bawang Putih became deeply sad because everyone she loved was taken away from her
side.

On a bright and clear morning, Bawang Putih was asked by her step mother to wash
some clothes in a river. As she arrived a the river, she immediately whased those dirty clothes
she had been brought. Bawang Putih did not realize that one of her step mother’s clothes was
drifted away. Unfortunately, it was her step mother’s favorite dress. She came back home and
told everything to her step mother. Bawang Putih was reprimanded by her step mother. She
was asked to look for the drifted dress.

She went along the river where she had washed the clothes. The sky darkened. Bawang
Putih became hopeless. The night would take place soon. From the distance, she saw a hut
nearby a river. Bawang Putih approached the house immediately and knocked the door. There
was an old woman coming out. Obviously, the old woman had found Bawang Putih’s step
mother’s dress. She would return it, but in one condition. Bawang Putih had to stay in her hut
for a week. And bawang Putih agreed with that condition.

The old woman felt so satisfied with Bawang Putih’s works. Before Bawang Putih
leaved the hut, she had been called by the old woman. After returning the dress, Bawang
Putih was asked by the old woman to choose one of two pumpkins. The old woman had two
pumpkins, the big one and the small one. But, Bawang Putih choose the small one. She
thanked to the old woman. The old woman then saw her off at the porch.

When Bawang Putih got home, she returned her mother’s red dress, and she went to the
kitchen to slice the pumpkin. What a surprised Bawang Putih was when the pumpkin had
already been cut and she found so many jewelries inside. She was so happy that she shouted,
and told about that miraculous thing to her step mother and Bawang Merah whom greedily
grabbed the jewelries then. They forced Bawang Putih to tell them how she could get it all.
Then, Bawang Putih told them everything honestly.

Bawang merah planned to stay in the old woman’s hut. One week along keep staying in
the hut, Bawang merah just did nothing and wasted time. Before leaving the hut, bawang
merah asked for a pumpkin to the old woman as a return. Then, the old woman asked
Bawang Merah to choose one of two pumpkins she had. Bawang merah choose the big one,
without thanking to the old woman, the she went away.

When Bawang Merah arrived at home, she instantly came to her mother and showed
her the pumpkin she brought excitedly. Because they were so afraid that Bawang Putih would
ask for her share, then they asked Bawang Putih to go to the river. After that, they impatiently
sliced the pumpkin. In fact, there was no jewelry inside, instead of poisonous animals like
snakes, scorpions, and so on. Those animals straight attacked Bawang Merah and her mother
so they died. It was a fair return for the greedy people.