Summary
Once upon a time, in a fishing village in Chikuzen, there was a family of fishermen. The fisherman passed away, leaving behind his wife and their two children, a son and a daughter. The son went fishing with his sister, and one day, a debt collector arrived.
"Please wait! I can't prepare the money until my sons return," the old mother pleaded, but the debt collector sternly replied, "It's always the same story. I will stay here until the money is ready!"
While the old mother lamented, the daughter was practicing Bon Odori in the dirt floor of the house. "Mom, this isn't the time to be dancing!" the mother shouted, but the daughter ignored her and continued to dance.
"Can you not hear me! You are my daughter, and you are already eighteen. Your sister-in-law, despite being younger, endures this poverty. You should follow her example!" Angered by her mother's words, the daughter threw her geta (wooden clogs) in frustration and ran out of the house.
"I can't take this anymore!" the angry mother grabbed scissors and chased after her daughter. "Let her go! I will kill such a daughter!" The daughter-in-law intervened, but the mother yelled, "I can't forgive such a horrible daughter!"
The daughter-in-law hugged the mother and gently said, "Please calm down." Later, the daughter-in-law went out and returned with incense and steamed buns. "What a truly kind daughter-in-law!" the old mother cried tears of joy.
"No, I am happy. Happiness will come someday," the daughter-in-law smiled. Seeing this, the debt collector was moved and said, "I have been touched by your kindness. I will forgive the debt," and he left.
Afterward, the son and son-in-law returned with fish, and the mother explained the situation. "I cannot believe your sister would do such a thing! Get out of here!" The son chased the sister away.
Months later, the son remarried a kind girl, and the family began to help each other and work together. "Mom, let's work hard together from now on!" the son said, and the household gradually began to prosper.
