Did the Dokkaebi help the old man become the richest man in the village?
Once upon a time, in the mountains of Korea, an old man lived alone. He spent his days tending to his farm and enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside. One day, a Dokkaebi came to visit him. Dokkaebis are mythical creatures in Korean folklore, known for their mischievous nature and love of alcohol. The Dokkaebi asked the old man for a drink, and the kind old man gladly obliged, sharing his homemade alcoholic beverage with the visitor.
As they sat and drank together, the two became fast friends. They talked about many things, from the beauty of the mountains to the struggles of everyday life. The old man enjoyed the company of the Dokkaebi, who was witty and charming, and they spent many hours together.
One day, as the old man looked in the mirror, he realized that he looked just like the Dokkaebi. This frightened him, as he knew that Dokkaebis were known for their mischievous ways and that they could turn humans into their own kind. The old man began to worry that he might become a Dokkaebi himself.
Determined to scare the Dokkaebi away, the old man came up with a plan. He invited the Dokkaebi to his home and asked him what he was afraid of. The Dokkaebi responded that he was afraid of blood, which was a common fear for these creatures.
The old man replied that he was afraid of money. The following day, the old man killed a cow and poured its blood all over his house. When the Dokkaebi saw the bloody mess, he was terrified and ran away, vowing to take revenge on the old man.
Days went by, and the old man thought he had successfully scared the Dokkaebi away. But one day, the Dokkaebi returned, bringing with him several bags of money and gold. He left them at the old man’s house, making him the richest man in the village.
The old man was overjoyed at his new-found wealth and thanked the Dokkaebi for his generosity. The two became good friends again, and the Dokkaebi continued to visit the old man often. They spent many more days together, sharing drinks and stories, and enjoying the beauty of the mountains.
In the end, the old man realized that he had nothing to fear from the Dokkaebi. He learned that sometimes, the things we fear the most can bring us great rewards if we face them head-on. And he was grateful for the friendship he had found with the Dokkaebi, who had shown him that even mythical creatures could be kind and generous.
This story teaches us that sometimes, the things we fear the most can be overcome if we face them with courage and determination. And it reminds us that friendship can be found in the most unexpected places, even with mythical creatures like the Dokkaebi. So, let us be brave and open-minded, and who knows what treasures we might find on our own journeys through life.
