A long time ago, a rich landowner lived in a village. So rich that he had to employ fifty farm laborers to cultivate all the land. Year by year his wealth increased, so that from time to time he even organized holidays for the poor, and therefore the villagers treated him with respect.
And not far from the estate, a gang of thieves led by a certain Mae Khaun was operating. The thieves had a hard time, their profit was pitiful, and they did not disdain any fraudulent tricks. They found out about the good man's wealth and decided to rob him.
“Shwei Wa,” Mae Khaun once said to one of his accomplices, “but the rich man from the neighboring village reaped a good harvest!” Let the five of you go and fetch a basket of rice each from his barns. Just watch, be careful so that you don’t get caught on the spot. And the night is just right - it’s dark, you can’t see anything.
When everything around fell silent, the swindlers got ready to set off. Secretly, trying not to make noise, they carefully crept up to the largest barn, looked around carefully for the last time and, making sure that everything was calm, began to make their way inside one after another.
“Le Hman,” a thief named Mou Ti turned to his comrade, “come on, move.” If they wake up in the house at some point, we'll be in trouble!
- I'm ready! – Le Hman answered briefly.
“Everyone who managed to collect rice can leave,” Shwei Wa ordered. – Don’t wait for me, I’ll have to stay a little.
“Well, then we’ll go,” said the thieves and carefully climbed out into the street.
Shwei Va was the only one left in the barn: it turns out his nail was broken and he couldn’t find it.
“That’s bad luck,” Shwei Va lamented, groping with his hands on the floor. - I have to find the nail at all costs, otherwise it will be bad!
But there was pitch darkness in the barn, and Shwei Wa could not find him.
Meanwhile, dawn came. And soon the first farmhand appeared. He immediately discovered a stranger in the barn and started shouting at the top of his lungs, “Thief, thief!”
Hearing his cry, other farm laborers immediately came running, grabbed Shwei Wa and dragged him to the landowner.
-What did you need in my barn? – the landowner asked sternly.
“My lord,” answered Shwei Wa, “I climbed into the barn to get some rice.” Even though we are called thieves, we take very little. Exactly as much as necessary so as not to die of hunger. I came here at midnight and could have left freely. But when I was picking up rice, my nail broke off. And this, my lord, is a bad omen. I had to find him, otherwise you would not have escaped ruin within five days. I didn’t want to condemn you to poverty, so I began to wait for dawn so that I could find my nail at any cost.
The landowner was surprised:
- What kind of thief are you?! Yes, such noble, such honest people as you are extremely rare! From now on you won't have to steal anymore! You will live with me, and I myself will take care of your well-being.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru