Since she was abandoned by his mother, Bawang Putih felt very lonely, moreover, if her father went to the market to trade all day. Having the same feeling as his daughter, her father intends to marry Mbok Rondo, a widow with one daughter who lived with in the same village. Her father hoped that Bawang Putih would no longer felt lonely because there would be someone accompanied her at home. As a wise father, he asked Bawang Putih about his plan.
Bawang Putih understood his father's intentions. She also felt the presence of Mbok Rondo in the family would make the atmosphere livelier and would make her not to feel lonely anymore. Moreover, Mbok Rondo had a daughter named Bawang Merah who was the same age as Bawang Putih. With these considerations, Bawang Putih approved her father request to marry Mbok Rondo.
After marriage, Mbok Rondo and her daughter, Bawang Merah, lived together with Bawang Putih and herfather. Initially, Mbok Rondo and Bawang Merah were very nice to Bawang Putih. However, after time went by, their true nature began to appear. When her father went to trades, Mbok Rondo and Bawang Merah often scolded and told Bawang Putih to do heavy work such as cleaning the house, washing, and cooking. All those heavy works were done by Bawang Putih, while Mbok Rondo and Bawang Merah just sat and relaxed.
Bawang Putih was afraid tell her father what was done by her step-mother and step-sister. That was because the last few months her father had fallen ill. Bawang Putih did not want to make her father worried which would make the condition worse. What Bawang Putih was feared, happened. Her father whom he loved so much died from illness which he suffered. Since then, Bawang Putih’s life was even more miserable. Bawang Putih’s step-mother and step-sister now had control of everything. They treated Bawang Putih worse than before. In fact, Mbok Rondo did not hesitate to slap Bawang Putih if she made mistakes in doing all the houseworks.
One morning, after cleaning the house, Bawang Putih went to the river to wash a basket full of Mbok Rondo and Bawang Merah’s dirty clothes. One by one, the dirty clothes were washed. Bawang Putih was surprised when one of the clothes drifted along the river stream. She then figured it out that the clothes was Mbok Rondo’s favorite scarf. Bawagn Putih could not reach the scarf. The stream took it away faster that she thought. Her step-mother would be very angry to know that her favorite scarf was gone. However, Bawang Putih needed to tell her.
Obviously, Rondo Mbok was very angry to hear her favorite scarf was washed away in the river. Mbok Rondo did not hesitate to slap Bawang Putih on these indiscretions. Bawang Putih was also threatened evicted from their homes if she could not find the scarf. Rushing, Bawang Putih went straight down the river to look for the clothes. Bawang Putih asked everyone she met, but they did not see any clothes washed away in the river. Later that afternoon, Bawang Putih still walked down the riverbank hope she could find the clothes.
After several hours of walking, she met an old lady who was washing rice in the river. Initially, Bawang Putih was afraid to ask the old lady about the clothes she looked for. It was because her performance which was very creepy. However, Bawang Putih needed to find the scarf. She found no other options except asking it to the old lady.
"Sorry grandma, Did you see any clothes washed away in this river?" Bawang Putih asked.
"Mmmm .. clothes? Is it the scarf with rose’s motif?" The creepy old lady asked.
"Yes .. yes .. Grandma. It's the scarf I was looking for." Answered Bawang Putih happy.
“Come to my house, dear. It’s getting dark. Come.. come.." The old lady invited.
Bawang Putih was nodded her head and went to the old lady’s house not far from the river. Bawang Putih was surprised seeing the house was very dirty and messy. She then decided to stay a few days with the old lady to do the daily works. Diligently, Bawang Putih cleaned house, washed the old lady’s clothes and even cooked for her. The old lady was happy, there was still someone who wanted to help her. After a few days passed, Bawang Putih decided to go home afraid of her stepmother got angrier.
"Granny, I do really want to stay longer here, but I need to go home. I need to bring back this scarf to my stepmother. I am afraid she is angry." Bawang Putih said.
"Well dear, I understand. Because you have been really good to help me here, please take one of these yellow pumpkins as a gift." Asked the old lady.
Initially, Bawang Putih wanted to refuse that the old lady offered because Bawang Putih thought the pumpkins were the stored food. However, It was not good to reject someone’s gift. Bawang Putih then accepted it and took the smallest pumpkin out of the two. She then said good bye to the old lady and went home.
Arriving at home, Bawang Putih also gave the scarf to Mbok Rondo. Mbok Rondo was still angry. Perhaps, it was because Bawang Putih did not return for several days. The stepmother was immediately sent her to the kitchen to prepare food. Remembered the pumpkin she got from the old lady, Bawang Putih planned to cook the pumpkin. Bawang Putih was surprised when she spilt the pumpkin a half. Bawang Putting found gold, diamonds, and gems inside the pumpkin. Mbok Rono and Bawang Merah who saw the incident immediately forcibly seize jewelry in the hands of Bawang Putih.
"Hey, Bawang Putih! Tell me where you get this much jewelry!" Mbok Rondo asked.
Bawang Putih told everything to Mbok Rondo and Bawang Merah. Hearing the story, Mbok Rondo asked Bawang Merah to do the same thing with Bawang Putih. In the next day, Bawang Merah went to the old lady’s house at the edge of the river. Similar with Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah was asked to accompany the old lady for a week. Unlike Bawang Putih who worked diligently, Bawang Merah was just lazing around. If she did something, the results were never good because Bawang Merah did it not suriously. Finally, after a week, Bawang Merah asked for leaving.
"Hey old lady, I have helped you. I want to go home now. Can you give me the big yellow pumpkin over there as a gift of helping you." Asked Bawang Merah.
The old lady then gave the pumpkin to Bawang Merah as she wanted. Quickly she took it and without saying good bye, Bawang Merah left and went home. When she arrived at home, Bawang Merah immediately showed the pumpkin to her mother. They were so happy. Immediately, they cut the pumpkin a half hoping there were more jewelries found in this pumpkin than in the previous one. They were very surprised; there were no gold, no diamond, nor gems. Instead, venomous animals such as snakes and scorpions sprouted out from the inside. The animals attacked them with no mercy to death.
Finally, Bawang Putih managed to get back all the gold, diamonds and gems that had been taken by Mbok Rondo. Bawang Putih used those jewelries to make a living. Bawang Putih at the end lived happily ever after.