The Farmer and His Ox
Once upon a time, in a charming village at the foot of misty mountains, there lived an old farmer who worked his field with endless toil. The farmer's most precious possession was his loyal and powerful ox, which helped him plough the soil. One spring morning, as the scent of damp earth spread through the village, the farmer noticed that the barn door stood wide open. His one and only ox was nowhere to be seen, and deep tracks in the soil stretched towards the dark depths of the forest. His heart filling with worry, the old man seized his staff and took the road into the hazy forest. He began to follow the tracks along an ominous path where the trees grew dense and the birdsong fell silent.
In anger and despair he looked up at the sky and called out to the spirits of the forest. "Please help me find the thief who stole my ox, and I will sacrifice my plumpest young kid to you as an offering!" he implored. In the faint light that filtered through the branches, he quickened his steps. A little further on, a terrifying growl began to echo among the rocks. Overcome by his curiosity, the farmer hid behind the bushes and slowly stretched out his head. At the sight before him his knees gave way and his breath caught in his throat.
An enormous lion had torn his ox apart and stood proudly over its prey with bloody claws. When the farmer understood that the thief was a mighty predator, an indescribable terror fell upon his heart. He opened his trembling hands and this time cried out to the sky in horror. "Oh my god, only a moment ago I said I would offer a sacrifice if I found the thief!" he whispered. "But now, if I escape this monster safe and sound, I promise to sacrifice a great bull to you!" Without even looking back, in the panic that his fear gave him, he began to flee from the depths of the forest towards the village. Sometimes a person does not know what he wishes for, and facing the truth he sought can weigh far more heavily than he imagined. Eat a big bite, but do not speak a big word.