The Tale of the Ox and the Lazy Farmer

First Scene: The Beginning of Laziness (Fixing the Barn after the Ox)

Once upon a time, there lived a lazy farmer in a village. He didn't care much for his ox. The barn door always creaked, but he kept putting it off, thinking, "I can fix it later." Eventually, one night, the ox disappeared through the open barn door. Only then did the farmer regret it and fix the barn door firmly, but it was already 'fixing the barn after the ox was gone.'

 

Second Scene: An Unexpected Realization (The Ox Backs Off and Catches a Rat)

The farmer, who had lost his ox, fell into deep despair. "Now all the farming is ruined!" However, as he was walking in despair, something caught his foot. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was a lost young calf. The farmer was astonished at his unexpected good fortune as if he had 'caught a rat after the ox backed off.' He brought this calf and began to take good care of it.

 

Third Scene: The Stubborn Wall (Reading the Sutra to the Cow's Ear) 

The farmer now threw away his laziness and tried to raise the calf to be strong. However, the calf was so stubborn that no matter how well he tried to teach it, it would not listen. Just like 'reading the sutra to the cow's ear', the farmer's teachings seemed to disappear into thin air. The farmer was frustrated, but he did not give up.

 

Fourth Scene: Time of Patience (Cow's Step)

Raising the calf was much slower and harder than the farmer had expected. The calf grew slowly like 'cow's step', and the farmer took care of it every morning and evening, sweating profusely. Sometimes he sighed at the thought, "If I keep doing this, I'll only raise cows until I die!"

 

Fifth Scene: The Fruit of Honest Effort (Cow's Outing)

However, thanks to the farmer's consistent efforts, the calf soon grew into a strong bull. He became a sturdy ox that could do farm work. The ox plowed the field proudly as if it were a 'governor's outing on an ox ride', and the villagers praised the farmer's honesty.

 

Sixth scene: Humble beginnings (as much as dirt on an ox's claws)

Now the farmer is rich thanks to the ox, but he has not forgotten his past hardships. At first, he was a worthless calf 'as much as dirt on an ox's claws', but he knew that with steady effort, he could bear great fruit.

 

Seventh scene: The truth of a difficult life (Eat an ox and burp)

The farmer, who had become rich after a good harvest, could now eat delicious food to his heart's content. After feasting and spending a few days lazing around, one day he became so full that he started to say 'eat an ox and burp'. He tried to remain humble by looking back on his past.

 

Scene Eight: Unnecessary Interference (A Fly on an Ox's Back)

One day, a greedy new neighbor came to the village and complained to the farmer. "What are you doing working so hard for? You should live comfortably!" Just like a 'fly on an ox's back', he followed him around and meddled in uselessly. The farmer just went his own way silently.

 

Scene Ninth: Honest Nature (Like a Cow's Tendon)

The farmer said to his neighbor, "Like this ox, I will work so persistently that people say, 'Like a Cow's Tendon'. That way, my sweat will not be in vain." The farmer silently plowed the field with his ox, personally demonstrating the importance of patience and persistence.

 

Scene Ten: Precious Realization and Peace (Even a Cow Needs a Hill to Peel)

Now the farmer was no longer lazy. Thanks to his honest ox and young calf, he realized the true meaning of the saying, 'Even a Cow Needs a Hill to Peel'. That is, no matter what you do, if you work hard, you will have a hill to lean on and you will succeed. The farmer and the ox lived happily and peacefully together, and the farmer taught the villagers the importance of diligence and perseverance through his life.