Once upon a time, in a thriving capital city, there lived a poor but hardworking shoemaker. Each day, he worked from morning until night, repairing shoes to earn just enough to feed his family. Despite the simplicity of his life, he was happy and never complained. He firmly believed that as long as he could work, he would never go hungry. His hands were worn, his clothes faded, but his spirit was unwavering.
One evening, the king of the land, curious about the lives of his people, disguised himself as a commoner and wandered through the city. As he passed by dark, silent homes, one house glowed with warm light. Inside, the shoemaker was still awake, working by candlelight. The king knocked and was welcomed in. Without revealing his true identity, he asked, “What do you do for a living?” The shoemaker responded honestly, “I’m just a cobbler, doing my best every day to provide for my family. As long as I can work, I will always survive.”
Intrigued and wanting to test the man’s resolve, the king asked, “But what if your shop were closed tomorrow? What then?” The shoemaker chuckled and replied, “Only the king could shut me down, and I doubt he’d do something so foolish.” Amused, the disguised king smiled but said nothing. The next day, however, he issued a royal decree: all shops must remain closed.
That evening, the king returned to the shoemaker’s home in disguise. To his surprise, the man was still cheerful. “You're back!” the shoemaker said warmly. “How are you, my friend?” The king asked, “With your shop closed, how did you manage today?” The shoemaker replied, “I found work carrying water for people. It was hard, but I earned enough to feed my family. As long as I can work, I will find a way.”
Impressed but not yet satisfied, the king prepared another test. The next day, he summoned the shoemaker to the palace, this time in full royal attire. The shoemaker, unaware of the man’s true identity until now, was surprised to see the same face beneath the crown. The king handed him a sword and ordered him to guard the city gate. The shoemaker accepted, but as the hours passed, worry crept into his heart. He had no money for food, and his family was waiting. So, using his resourcefulness, he sold the sword’s metal blade and replaced it with a carefully carved wooden one, thinking, “Surely the king will never check.”
Later, when the king returned to inspect, the shoemaker admitted what he had done. “I replaced the blade with wood because I trusted that the king would never actually make me use it. How could anyone tell the difference if it was never drawn?” The king, rather than becoming angry, was impressed by the shoemaker’s boldness and wit.
But he wasn’t finished. That evening, the king gave the shoemaker one last test: he ordered him to execute an innocent servant. The shoemaker hesitated, then pleaded, “This man has done nothing wrong. I beg you to spare him.” The king sternly commanded, “Do it now, in front of me.” The shoemaker stood firm. Drawing the sword, he declared, “If this man is innocent, may this blade turn to wood.” When he unsheathed the weapon, the blade was indeed wooden.
Astonished, the king finally recognized the shoemaker’s courage and wisdom. He pardoned the servant and sent the shoemaker back to his life, praising him for his honesty, creativity, and resilience. The shoemaker returned home not with riches, but with something more valuable: the king’s respect and the satisfaction of staying true to himself.
In the end, the shoemaker proved that real power lies not in wealth or status, but in clever thinking, hard work, and integrity. Even a poor man, through wisdom and perseverance, can change the heart of a king.