There was once a poor boy named MaLiang who longed for a brush to draw. One day, he saw a painter working for an officer and asked for a brush, but was laughed at and driven away.
Undaunted, MaLiang practiced drawing diligently using sticks and roots. His skills grew, but he still had no brush. One night, an old man appeared in his dream and gave him a magical brush, instructing him to draw for the poor. Whatever MaLiang drew with it came to life. He helped the villagers by drawing useful things like farm cattle.
The greedy officer heard of this magic and had MaLiang captured. He demanded gold, but MaLiang refused and was imprisoned. Using his brush, MaLiang drew a door on the cell wall to escape, then a horse to outrun the guards.
Later, the officer captured him again and ordered a drawing of a gold mountain. MaLiang drew a sea with a distant gold mountain. When the officer demanded a ship to reach it, MaLiang drew one. As the officer and his guards sailed, MaLiang drew wind. The officer, wanting to go faster, urged for more wind until a great storm capsized the ship, drowning them all.
MaLiang returned to his village and continued using his magical brush to help the poor.