The Dragon’s Promise

After the death of their parents, two brothers lived in a village. The elder brother was clever, practical, and skilled at earning money. Neighbors praised him, while the younger brother was still young, simple-hearted, honest, and inexperienced in earning a living. The elder brother looked down on him, mocked him, and even the villagers called him foolish.

One day, the elder brother gave the younger one a few flatbreads and said, “Take these and leave the village. Do not return unless you come back with money.”

The younger brother set out to try his luck but had no idea where to go. After wandering for a long time, he reached a riverbank and began eating his bread. There he noticed a small, sick-looking snake. Feeling pity, he placed it in a small box and cared for it lovingly. Over time, the snake grew healthy and large.

One day the snake spoke, asking to be taken to a big river because it could no longer breathe properly. The boy hesitated and said he wanted to sell the snake to earn money. The snake replied that if the boy truly wanted wealth, he should place it in the river. Trusting the snake, the boy carried it to the river, where it transformed into a golden dragon.

The dragon thanked the boy for his kindness and gave him a magical donkey, saying, “Whenever you need money, ask this donkey for gold and silver—but never reveal the secret to anyone.”

On his way home, the boy stayed at an inn. Despite being warned not to ask the donkey for gold, the greedy innkeeper secretly did so at night, received piles of gold, and replaced the magical donkey with an ordinary one.

When the boy reached home and demonstrated the donkey, nothing happened. The elder brother became furious, insulted him, and threw him out. Hurt and angry, the boy went back to the river and complained to the dragon. Without argument, the dragon gave him a magical cloth that would produce any food he asked for.

Again, the boy stayed at the same inn. The innkeeper, suspecting another magical object, stole the cloth and replaced it with an ordinary one. Once more, the boy failed to prove its power at home and was expelled by his brother.

Disheartened, the boy returned to the dragon and accused it of deceiving him. The dragon calmly gave him a third item—a stick—and warned him carefully: “When staying at an inn, strictly tell the owner never to say to this stick, ‘Stick, stick, reveal the truth.’”

At the inn, the boy delivered the warning, but the innkeeper again stole the object. That night, he spoke the forbidden words. Instantly, the stick sprang to life and began beating him mercilessly. No matter where he ran, the stick followed, striking him until he was bruised and broken.

Unable to bear the punishment, the innkeeper begged the boy for mercy and confessed everything. He returned both the magical donkey and the magical cloth. The boy ordered the stick to stop.

The next morning, the younger brother returned home happily with all three magical items, proving that honesty, patience, and truth ultimately prevail over greed and deception.

Unable to bear the punishment, the innkeeper begged the boy for mercy and confessed everything. He returned both the magical donkey and the magical cloth. The boy ordered the stick to stop.

The next morning, the younger brother returned home happily with all three magical items, proving that honesty, patience, and truth ultimately prevail over greed and deception.

The next morning, the younger brother returned home happily with all three magical items, proving that honesty, patience, and truth ultimately prevail over greed and deception.