Week 11 Story: Lying Doesn't Get You Ahead

Seri was a port town with two halves divided by a wide river. One side was significantly more well to do than the other. The less well to do side had a lot of rundown houses, but it was not always so derelict. There was one home which had an implication of wealth, but it no longer showed the opulence of the past. A merchant, who specialized in the sale of brass, copper, and tin objects, was walking down the street and soliciting at each home. He was having almost no luck until he reached the once fancy house. When he knocked on that door, an elderly woman answered, happy to see him. He started into his spiel about how his wares were the best in the city and that owning them would change her life. This woman said that she was in need of some more cooking equipment. She had to inform him that she could not pay though, because since her husband’s death, she had become destitute. The merchant said that she could barter for new cookware. The woman agreed and went off into her house to find something the trade. She found a dusty bowl that sat up on a shelf, grabbed it, and brought it back.

When she brought it back the merchant immediately saw that it was gold and coveted it. She wanted to trade the bowl for a couple of his cookware items. The merchant, thinking he could take advantage of the woman, scoffed at the offer and said that the bowl was worth nothing. The merchant promptly left. Another merchant was making his way around town that day as well. He went up to the same house and offered to sell some cookware to the lady. She said that she could not pay and that the only bowl she had to offer was worthless. She brought out the bowl and showed him. He immediately gasped and told her that not even all of his wares would equal the value of that bowl. The woman was incredibly surprised, but she said she really needed some new cooking equipment. The merchant decided that he would accept the bowl only if the lady would accept all his wares and the cash, he had from selling that week. She agreed delighted. The merchant hid the bowl underneath his cloak and started walking. He passed the other merchant, who was walking back to see the lady. He asked her if she still had the bowl and said that he was willing to trade something for it. The lady cackled and said that she had traded it for all the items she could need. The evil merchant turned and ran after the other merchant, but as he rounded the corner, he saw the other merchant already on a boat going across the river. 

Bad Merchant Throwing Golden Bowl. Source

Author's note:
I really disliked the merchant who attempted to swindle the old woman. I wanted to show him in an even more negative light.

Bibliography

Jataka Tales, Ellen C. Babbitt, Source