There was once a very rich man who had to go to another place for work. He got his wagon ready and set about on his travels.
As he was traveling, he came across a woman who was wearing a red dress. The woman asked the man for some room in the wagon so that she could get where she had to.
The rich man agreed to it and all through the trip which lasted nearly half a day. The rich man did not even look towards the woman throughout the trip.
When the trip had ended the woman nodded at the rich man. “I am the Fire God. You are a very honest man. So I have to protect you. I have to tell you that your house is in danger of burning down. Save what you can. You have till tomorrow evening.”
The rich man was frightened and he heard this and he hurried back to his home.
He took all his people and his riches and packed it by the next afternoon and sent it away. After the last item had been packed and sent, he was tired and was about to rest.
At that time a fire broke out at his house.
The man ran out.
The rich man and the lives of the people that he cared about and his property were all safe because the rich man had followed the words of the Fire God.
Since that day it is believed that when the Fiery Star in the sky glowed unnaturally a fire was to break out somewhere nearby. Further when the fire crows came to the house in large numbers a fire would break out in the house.
Adapted from Chinese Folk Tales
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