Under the eaves of Little Jade's home was a swallows' nest. One day when Little Jade was sitting under the eave sewing and the mother swallow was out gathering food, one of the little swallows fell out of the nest and injured its leg. Under Little Jade's care the little bird soon recovered and the two of them became good friends. As the autumn passed the swallow grew bigger and bigger until finally, just before winter arrived, he flew south.
The next spring the swallow flew back with a gourd seed. Little Jade planted the seed and soon a gourd appeared on the vine. When she cut it open, much to her surprise, she found it filled with gold!