The story of the农夫 and the Snake
Once upon a time, in a remote village, there lived a kind-hearted farmer. One cold winter evening, as he was returning from his fields, he stumbled upon a snake, frozen solid with the cold. The snake was shivering and seemed to be in great pain.
The farmer, feeling a wave of compassion, decided to help the snake. He gently picked it up with his bare hands and placed it in his coat pocket to warm it up. The snake gradually regained its warmth and began to move slightly.
As the farmer continued his journey home, he came across a stream. He decided to take a break and drink some water. When he took out the snake from his pocket, the snake, sensing an opportunity to escape, bit the farmer’s hand.
The farmer was in shock. He couldn’t believe that the snake, which he had just saved from the cold, had turned on him. He quickly released the snake and watched it slither away into the bushes.
The farmer’s hands began to swell and hurt intensely. He knew he had been bitten by a venomous snake. Despite his pain, he continued on his way home, hoping to find help.
When he finally reached his house, he told his wife about the incident. She immediately helped him clean the wound and applied a poultice to reduce the swelling. However, the venom had already spread, and the farmer’s condition worsened.
The next day, a passing traveler noticed the farmer lying on his deathbed. The traveler, feeling sorry for the farmer, asked him what had happened. The farmer, in his last moments, recounted the story of how he had helped the snake and how it had bitten him in return.
The traveler, moved by the farmer’s compassion, said, “You have shown great kindness, but it seems you have been betrayed by the snake. However, your actions have not gone unnoticed. You have a kind heart, and your compassion will live on even after you are gone.”
The farmer, feeling a sense of peace, passed away. His story, however, continued to be told, serving as a reminder of the complexities of human nature and the unexpected consequences of acts of kindness.
