The story begins with Ivan, a young boy, trying to catch a large, mysterious creature in a rice field. He eventually catches the creature, a donkey, which has the ability to talk and possesses supernatural powers. The donkey helps Ivan on several occasions, including saving him from being executed by the king.
The king wants to marry a princess, but she refuses and Ivan is tasked with finding a magic ring that will allow her to escape. Ivan and the donkey embark on a journey to find the ring, facing various obstacles and challenges along the way. They eventually find the ring and return it to the princess, who uses it to escape from the king.
The king becomes angry and orders Ivan's execution, but the donkey helps him escape again. The princess gives the donkey a task to find the "flower of life" to save Ivan's life. The donkey successfully retrieves the flower and Ivan is saved.
In the end, the king is overthrown, and Ivan becomes the new king. He and the princess fall in love and live happily ever after.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The story begins with a family living in a small house and growing wheat to eat.
2. A large animal is causing damage to the rice bags, and the family's father orders Ivan to catch it.
3. Ivan catches the animal, which is a large white creature, with the help of a rope.
4. The creature is later revealed to be a phoenix, which Ivan had to capture and bring back to the king.
5. The king orders Ivan to go and find a phoenix, which he does with the help of a donkey.
6. They travel to the Phoenix Five, a place where phoenixes live, and Ivan catches one.
7. The phoenix is brought back to the palace, but Ivan is not rewarded as promised.
8. The king orders Ivan to go and help the ice princess from the high mountains.
9. Ivan and the donkey travel to the Ice Palace and rescue the princess, who is being held captive by an Electric Demon Soldier.
10. The princess refuses to marry the king and wants to escape, but Ivan is captured and executed.
11. The donkey helps Ivan escape, and they travel to the moon lake to find a magic ring.
12. They meet a whale who is chained up and being punished, and Ivan helps to free it.
13. The whale helps Ivan and the donkey find the magic ring, which they bring back to the princess.
14. The princess uses the ring to escape from the king, and Ivan is captured and sentenced to death.
15. The donkey helps Ivan escape again, and they travel to the edge of the world to find the flower of life.
16. The donkey brings the flower back to Ivan, who uses it to survive his execution.
17. The king is overthrown, and Ivan becomes the new king.
18. Ivan and the princess get married and live happily ever after.