The Magic Bag
Once a Prosperous Craftsman
A century ago, there lived a man named Chang La in a village in China. His father was an expert craftsman who crafted exquisite caps. Together, they operated a shop that attracted customers from a wide area, which made them quite wealthy.
A Shift in Fortune
After the death of his father, Chang La lost all interest in his work, as his father had left him considerable property. However, he did not close the shop, fearing that if he did, the god of his trade would be angered. Thus, he continued to make caps and sell them, albeit carelessly and at inflated prices. Unsurprisingly, his customer base dwindled over time.
The Rise of a Competitor
A year later, another capmaker named Bang La arrived in the village. He offered high-quality caps, bags, and pouches at reasonable prices. At the villagers’ request, Bang La opened a shop directly across from Chang La’s, attracting all of Chang La’s former customers.
The Magic Bag
One day, as Chang La observed from his shop, a mendicant approached Bang La and presented him with a piece of golden deer-skin, requesting a bag to be made from it. Once the mendicant departed, Bang La went to work and by evening, he had created a beautiful bag that he hung on his wall.
A Change in Behavior
From the following day, Chang La noticed a significant shift in Bang La’s behavior. The moment Bang La saw someone in need, he would give them a coin or two. Moreover, he offered his caps and bags at half the usual price.
The Temptation to Steal
Chang La grew increasingly curious. One day, when Bang La had his shop closed, Chang La peered through a hole and was astonished to see Bang La shaking the deer-skin bag, which resulted in a handful of gold coins spilling out!
The Consequence of Greed
Consumed by greed, Chang La devised a plan to steal the magic bag. The next day, while Bang La briefly stepped into an inner room, Chang La seized the opportunity to switch the magic bag with another. Overjoyed, he returned home and eagerly shook the bag, only to find that all the gold in his house had vanished!
A Lesson Learned
Panic-stricken, Chang La realized he needed to return the bag to Bang La. Upon arriving at the shop, he found a crowd discussing the theft. Suddenly, the mendicant emerged and said, “Chang La! You need not return the bag. Your lack of faith in your trade has led to this.” He advised that the bag would now serve as Chang La’s only means of livelihood.
The Transformative End
With that, the mendicant left, and his words rang true, as Chang La found himself reduced to begging, using the very bag he had tried to steal for receiving alms. It was said that the mendicant was, in fact, the god of the trade, teaching Chang La a lesson he would never forget.