Summary

The Cheerful Gardener of the Town of Cherry Blossoms and Plums

In a small town, there lived a veteran gardener named Taro. Taro loved cherry trees and took pride in caring for the cherry blossoms throughout the town every year. However, his passion for cherry trees went a bit too far, and he loved cutting them so much that he was eventually dubbed "the fool who cuts cherry trees" by the townspeople.

One day, Taro planted a new plum tree. Since plum trees grow slowly, Taro could not help himself and repeatedly trimmed its branches to shape it. Each time, the townspeople called out to him, "the fool who doesn't cut plums," making him realize that his actions were wrong. Nevertheless, Taro believed in his skills as a gardener and resolved to take good care of the plum tree.

Months later, the plum tree that Taro tended began to bloom beautifully. He was moved by the sight and decided to decorate the plum tree with confidence for a town event. People from all over the town gathered to enjoy the event showcasing the blooming cherry blossoms and plum trees together, and Taro was praised by everyone.

At that moment, Taro reflected on his mistakes and learned the importance of properly caring for both cherry and plum trees. He made an effort not to be called "the fool who cuts cherry trees or the fool who doesn't cut plums" by the townspeople while cherishing and nurturing both trees. He continued to work as a cheerful gardener, enjoying the beautiful flowers every year with the townspeople. He truly realized that proper care was the secret to keeping the trees and the town beautiful.