Long ago, there was a hardworking farmer who made a living by cultivating farmland. One day, he discovered a slope deep in the vast forest and felt a longing to cultivate it into new farmland to increase the harvest.
On the first day, he threw himself into work with passion until the sun set and he chopped down large trees, returning home with a satisfied heart. The next morning, he set out on his journey again and was surprised to find that the trees he had cut down yesterday had miraculously recovered, as if nothing had ever happened. The farmer did not give up, but chose to continue fighting. After another day of hard work, the trees still returned to their original state when night fell.
Confusion and curiosity drove him to decide to investigate further. So on the third day, he didn’t leave directly after cutting down the tree, but quietly hid in the bushes and observed quietly. Soon, a big monkey walked out of the dense forest holding a silver shining gong. It recited words to the trees, “Tree, tree, quickly recover as before!” Then, with a gentle tap on the gong, the sound was melodious, and the chopped trees stood upright in an instant, seamlessly connecting and restoring their original appearance.
This scene shocked the farmer, who realized that the gong was extraordinary and a treasure with magical powers. Taking advantage of the monkey’s lack of preparation, the farmer suddenly rushed out, knocked down the monkey, took away the silver gong, and quickly fled the scene. Returning home, the farmer couldn’t wait to verify the magic of the silver gong. He closed his eyes and silently recited in his heart, “May the table be filled with delicious food.” With the sound of the gong, the table was instantly filled with various delicacies, extremely delicious, making the farmers feast on them. After dinner, looking at the rudimentary thatched cottage, he made another wish: ‘May I have a spacious and bright mansion with luxurious furniture to meet all my needs.’ The gong sounded again, and his wish came true. The farmer was pleasantly surprised to find himself in a magnificent mansion.
However, greed gradually eroded the farmer’s heart. He began to fantasize about becoming a king through the power of the silver gong, and loudly prayed, ‘May this mansion be transformed into a magnificent palace!’ But this time, after the sound of the gong, his wish was not fulfilled. On the contrary, a radiant land god appeared and sternly said to the farmer, “Your greed has exceeded the limits. What you are seeking is not right. If you continue to indulge, it may bring disaster to the world. Therefore, this divine gong cannot be left in your hands anymore.” After speaking, the land god took back the silver gong and disappeared without a trace in an instant. From then on, the farmer understood the cost of greed and also learned to cherish everything he had in front of him.
