Daughter Saves the Day

Long long ago there lived a honest farmer in India. A prolonged drought made him seek another opportunity altogether since he had a family to support. One day when he was wondering what to do next since his land was dry as bone, his daughter and wife suggested that he might want to bring firefood from the forest and sell it in the village.

The farmer thought it was a good idea and immediately set out to the forest. He brought back a big load of firewood in his bullock cart and sold it for a reasonable profit in the village. He continued this business profitably and was very happy with the results.

This however was noticed by a very jealous businessman in his town. This man wanted to quickly end the success of the farmer by trickery since he could not stand the success of the farmer.

When the farmer visited the village with a cartload of firewood, the businessman asked the farmer "How much is the cartful of firewood?". The farmer replied "20 silver coins". The businessman paid 20 silver coins and claimed the firewood, the cart and the bullocks! When the farmer protested, the businessman said the "cartful" really meant the cart, bullocks and the firewood and harassed the farmer to let go of all as he had committed !

The farmer sadly let the businessman usurp everything and came home dejectedly. The farmer's daughter asked him what had happened and the farmer recounted the trickery of the businessman. The daughter decided to help her father out by using her brains and presence of mind and win back what her father had lost.

She borrowed the bullock cart from her neighbor and filled it with hay and rode it into the village. When the businessman saw this, he was very happy at the next opportunity to trick! He offered 2 silver coins for the "cartful" of hay. The daughter replied that he can have the cartful of hay if he gave 2 silver coins with his hand. The business was too eager to accept the offer and offered 2 silver coins immediately. The daughter cited his commitment to give "2 silver coins with his hand" and claimed his hand along with 2 silver coins!

The businessman was cornered and he had to admit that he had tricked the farmer with the same type of trick. He repented for his trickery and gave back the farmer all that he tricked from him. The farmer and daughter went home happy and lived happily ever after.