The Greedy Thug and the Wise Villager

Once upon a time, in a peaceful little village nestled among green hills and whispering forests, people lived a simple life. They were known for their honesty, hospitality, and pure-hearted generosity. The village had little in the way of wealth, but it was full of kindness. In the center of this village lived an old man - wise, soft-spoken, and observant. His words carried weight, though they were rarely acted on. Most of the villagers admired him, but few truly understood the depth of his wisdom.

One day, a ragged and tired stranger entered the village. His eyes were sunken, his clothes were torn, and his voice was filled with grief. He claimed to be a traveler who had been robbed while passing through a nearby forest. With tears in his eyes, he told the story of his misfortune - how the robbers had robbed him of everything, leaving him to wander in hunger and shame.

The villagers, moved with pity, took him in, fed him, gave him a place to rest, and treated him with the respect of a guest. Days passed. The traveler began to regain his strength and, with it, his focus. Then one morning, he said, "I don't want to be a burden. Please give me the axe. I will go into the forest and chop wood for a living."

The villagers, pleased with his determination, gave him the axe. He went into the forest whistling.

Evening fell. He returned empty-handed.

"Didn't you find any dry wood?" the villagers asked.

The man said, "There were many trees, but something strange happened. When I was about to cut down a tree, it spoke to me. It said, 'Don't harm me. Put a few coins near my hollow trunk and come back in the morning. Your money will be doubled.'

The villagers were amazed. “Did you try it?”

“I am a robbed man,” he said with a sad smile. “I have no coins left, but since you all have helped me so much, I want to share this miracle with you.”

His words were like honey. The villagers, who are always eager for good luck, were buzzing with excitement. That night, they gathered their savings — the meager coins saved over the seasons — and placed them near the tree that the man described.

The next morning, when they returned, they were surprised to see that the money had doubled.

A wave of joy swept through the village. “It’s true!” he cried. “The tree is magical!”

The traveler smiled humbly. “If you leave all your money there tonight,” he said, “the tree can reward your trust even more.”

That evening, the villagers returned - this time taking everything with them. Every coin, every saved piece of silver, every piece of wedding gold. They tied it up in a cloth and left it under the tree.

But the wise old man? He was not so easily convinced. He had been silently watching the traveler's behavior. That night, he hid in the bushes near the tree.

And what he saw confirmed his suspicions.

The traveler returned after midnight. With greedy eyes, he untied the bundle and slung it over his shoulder. He chuckled to himself, completely unaware that the wise man was watching from the shadows.

But the wise man had something prepared of his own. Earlier that evening, he had replaced the villagers' wealth with sacks of stones and hidden the real money in a safe place.

The next morning, the villagers ran to the tree - only to find that the bundle was missing. Panic broke out. Their life savings were gone. They ran to the traveler’s hut—but it was empty. He had disappeared.

Far away, deep in the forest, the thief stopped to catch his breath. Laughing, he untied the heavy bundle. But when he saw nothing but stones, his smile faded. Horror filled his eyes. He had been deceived.

Back in the village, as despair began to settle, the wise man gathered the people.

“I knew he was a fraud,” he said, “and I have kept your real money safe.”

He returned everything. The villagers fell at his feet, overcome with relief and gratitude.

From that day forward, they not only praised the wise man but listened to him. They finally understood that kindness must be combined with caution, and that wisdom, though silent, often speaks loudly.

As for the thug - he disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again.

And the tree? Well, it stood tall and silent, a silent witness to the day when wisdom had defeated greed.