Patience and Courage
Long ago, in a village, there lived a lazy barber. He would spend the entire day sitting in front of a mirror, combing his hair. His mother constantly scolded him, but he never paid any attention. One day, out of frustration, his mother beat him. Feeling humiliated, the barber left home, vowing not to return until he had earned wealth.
As he wandered, he reached a dense forest where he encountered a fearsome demon. Though terrified, he maintained his composure and courageously faced the demon. The demon, in excitement, started dancing. Seeing this, the barber also began dancing. When the demon asked why he was dancing, the barber cleverly spun a tale, saying that the prince of their kingdom was gravely ill and needed the blood of 101 demons to recover. The frightened demon believed him.
To save himself, the demon offered the barber a treasure equivalent to seven kingdoms. Pretending to hesitate, the barber agreed and demanded that the demon not only show him the treasure but also transport him and the riches to his home. The demon obeyed.
Later, the barber assigned the demon another task—harvesting his fields. While the demon was working, another demon passed by and was shocked to see his friend in such a state. When this new demon attempted to attack the barber’s house, the barber’s wife, mistaking him for a cat stealing fish, accidentally injured his nose. Embarrassed and in pain, the demon fled.
Lesson:
With patience and self-control, even the biggest troubles can be overcome. Courage is the greatest strength of all.