Summary

The Wealthy Man of the Luxurious Village

In a small village, there lived a wealthy merchant named Ginjirō. To flaunt his wealth, he hosted extravagant parties every night, inviting the villagers. However, he was always strict about managing his wallet and never spent money for others.

At first, the villagers envied Ginjirō's luxurious lifestyle. But gradually, they began to notice his greed. The villagers invited to the parties were served only simple dishes and cheap wine, which were vastly different from the lavish drinks Ginjirō consumed. "What a rich man's irony," the villagers would laugh.

One evening, Ginjirō decided to hold a grand banquet. However, when the special dishes prepared by the villagers were brought out that night, Ginjirō surprisingly wouldn’t take even a single bite. He sought only the appearance of luxury and boasted his soulless wealth. Seeing him, the villagers eventually came to a mutual agreement and decided to abandon him.

As a result, Ginjirō became a lonely existence, and his lavish parties became nothing but empty echoes. Like the proverb says, "Gold and dust are equally filthy when they accumulate," his desires ultimately kept people away from him, leaving him with nothing but a dust-like solitude. The villagers gathered with smiles, never mentioning his name, and were able to know true richness.