Wormwood rice cake
Long ago, there lived a very rich man who had three daughters.
The first and second daughters were living in luxury, but the last daughter was not, but she and her husband were living happily.
When their father reached 60 years of age, the three children decided to celebrate the occasion in their own ways.
The first and second daughters presented gorgeous gifts to him such as silk goods, very expensive ginsen roots and floss silk bedclothes; they thought that people would never see such fine things.
As the last daughter could not afford to present such a gift, she thought and thought, and then decided to help in the father's housework for five days before the birthday party. Her husband had been busily engaged in repapering paper sliding screens, cleaning around the house and chopping firewood, while the last daughter, cooked sumptuous dishes everyday.
Therefore, many customers came to the house at the birthday party and the large garden was crowded with them.
The first and second daughter were eating and drinking just beside their father and mother, just like the guests, boasting of their gifts because they presented wonderful gifts. The party continued for four days long. On the other hand, the last daughter and her husband were unable to even sit down.
When the customers were gone at last, the parents gave a mountain of presents and food to the two elder daughters when they said good-by to their parents.
When the last daughter and her husband finished cleaning the table after the party and, were about to go home. "You will be hungry while you are going back home. Take this. This is a wormwood rice cake." Her parents said, and tossed a small pack of rice cakes to them.
They felt deep regret against the treatment but holding back their tears of regret, they politely bowed to the parents and left the home.
Back at home, the daughter said to her husband. "A poor child will be treated with contempt even by their parents. How miserable we are! Let's decide to work hard from today and earn money so that we may not be looked down upon by anyone!"
"Yeah. I deeply thought so. Let's not be beaten by anyone!"
The daughter bound the rice cake with a string and hung it from the ceiling.
"When we lose our courage, let's look at the rice cake and renew our decision!"
"Yes, we will make it at any cost."
Therefore, they worked very hard. From dawn, going to the maintains to get firewood and edible wild-plants and pick chestnuts and walnuts for their business. At night, they made straw sandals and wove straw-mats and straw-bags. When they found themselves napping, they put a stick beside their bodies to prevent themselves from sleeping and when they were discouraged in their work, they looked up at the rice cake and encouraged themselves. They made all their possible efforts to earn money even if it was a very small amount.
Five sons were born to them and their sons grew up while looking at the parents working hard everyday. So, they gradually became rich because that family was united to work hard for many years.
Then, the first son's wedding was going to be held. The last daughter and her husband told their parents and sisters about that.
The parents and the sisters received the invitation, saying what a pitiful marriage ceremony it would be.
When they came to the house, they couldn't believed their eyes what they saw that there were fine-looking gates at the last daughter's house-garden, and passing through the gates, they saw a huge house and even a warehouse on a large space of land standing for each family member. Moreover, they employed a maid for each house.
In the house, every part of the rooms were clean and in the fine-looking rooms were arranged beautiful antique objects, but the last daughter showed no pride at all.
However, there was only one room that looked very strange. The room's walls and floor looked pretty dirty and there was something black hanging from its ceiling. The father asked her wondering.
"Why don't you clean up this room? What is that black thing."
"Good asking, dad. It is the rice cake that we had received at your birthday party. Do you remember that?"
The father and mother recalled the day when they gave the rice cake to her. The father was ashamed of hearing that and the mother, looking down abashed and the sisters were much affected by the story.
The yongest sister continued, "I'm going to leave this room just as it is, so that we can work hard without forgetting that day, looking at the rice cake."
The wedding party was really magnificent, but the parents and the sisters hurried away from the party just after it was over.
Don't you think how ridiculous it is for a family member to look up to or look down on other family members when it comes to money?
Copyright © 1999 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.