The Tree of False Hope

A long, long time ago, in a small village in the Song Kingdom, there lived a hardworking farmer. Every day, he toiled in the fields from dawn until dusk, never stopping until the sky turned dark.

One day, as the farmer was working as usual, a wild rabbit suddenly dashed out from behind him. Startled by the farmer’s presence, the rabbit panicked and ran wildly in all directions. In its confusion, it accidentally crashed into a large tree at the edge of the field and fell to the ground, motionless.

The farmer walked over in surprise and saw that the rabbit was already dead. He picked it up, feeling both delighted and amazed. "What a lucky day!" he thought. "I got a rabbit without even trying. I can sell this at the market for a good price!"

Setting aside his tools, he took the rabbit to the market, and sure enough, he sold it for a handsome sum.

On his way home, the farmer began to think: "If I could find a rabbit like this every day, I wouldn’t have to work so hard in the fields anymore!"

From that day on, he stopped plowing his fields and instead sat beside the big tree, waiting for another rabbit to crash into it.

Days passed, and the farmer kept his eyes fixed on the distant grass, hoping for another rabbit to appear. However, no matter how long he waited, no more rabbits ever ran into the tree. Meanwhile, his crops withered from neglect, weeds grew everywhere, and his once-thriving field turned into a barren wasteland.

When autumn arrived, the other farmers in the village were busy harvesting their crops, their faces beaming with joy at the bountiful harvest. But the farmer who had waited by the tree had nothing. His field was empty, and not a single grain of rice remained.

Only then did he realize the huge mistake he had made.

Sitting by his abandoned field, he felt a deep sense of regret. He finally understood: "Luck doesn’t come every day. I made a mistake by relying on one lucky event instead of working hard. Only through dedication and effort can I achieve real success."