You Will Reap What You Sow

A long time ago, in a small village in Korea, two brothers lived with their father. The younger brother was hardworking and kindhearted, while the elder was arrogant. He often insulted his younger brother and neglected their aging father. Every night after dinner, their father would say, Children, remember, you will reap what you sow. The younger brother listened carefully, but the elder would just yawn.

Before passing away, their father called both sons and advised, Sons, unity brings blessings. This land belongs to both of you. Work together.

The elder brother, however, was filled with anger. As soon as the fathers funeral was over, he threw his younger brother out of the house. Heartbroken, the younger brother wandered for miles until he reached a barren land that no one wanted. He started growing rice there and built a small hut to live in. Through his hard work, he prospered, got married, and had a family.

One year, a severe drought struck, and his rice crops failed. Seeing his wife and children starving broke his heart. Desperate, he went to his wealthy elder brother, asking for some rice from the land their father had left them. The elder brother refused and drove him away.

As he was leaving the village, he heard a noise from a tree. A snake was attacking a baby bird. The bird, too small to fly, fell to the ground, struggling to escape. The younger brother gently picked it up and placed it back in its nest. Then, he returned home, continuing to feed his family however he could, even if it meant going hungry himself.

One day, the same bird he had saved perched on his hut. Now able to fly, it sang a song of gratitude. Then, it circled the hut three times and dropped a large seed onto the moist ground. Before their eyes, the seed sprouted into a vine. The vine grew quickly, and soon, large melons appeared. Father, can we pick one magic melon the children asked.

When he cut open the melon, gold coins spilled onto his feet. Every melon was filled with gold. They became very wealthy, bought a big house, and acquired more land.

When the elder brother learned of his younger brothers newfound fortune, jealousy consumed him. He set out to find a magical bird for himself. One day, he stumbled upon an injured bird with a broken leg. He picked it up and said, Little bird, if you help me, I will help you. But the bird knew he was cruel and greedy. Once its leg healed, it circled his house three times and dropped a seed onto the wet ground.

Hoping for the same fate as his brother, he watched the vine grow and waited for the melons to ripen. Then, he eagerly picked the biggest one and cut it open. Instead of gold, hundreds of soldiers emerged, who beat him and took all his wealth.

Still believing there was gold, he cut open another melon, but venomous snakes slithered out and entered his home. In a panic, he cut a third one, only for a swarm of rats to pour out. One by one, the melons burst open on their own, releasing insects that destroyed his house.

Left with nothing, he fled, wandering from village to village, begging for food.

One day, he saw his younger brother working nearby. Embarrassed, he turned to leave, but his younger brother looked at him with kindness and said, Come! Lets do what Father told us and plant a new crop together. Tears filled his eyes, and he embraced his younger brother.