Two brothers once inherited a rice field after their parents passed away. The older brother was married with several children, while the younger brother lived alone in a small house by the edge of the village. When harvest season came, they worked side by side under the sun, cutting the rice, tying the stalks into bundles, and stacking everything into two piles of equal size in the middle of the field. Both were tired, but they felt grateful that the season had been generous to them.
That night, the younger brother could not sleep. He stared at the dark ceiling and thought about his brother’s family. The older brother had a wife and several children who needed food, clothing, and care. The younger brother whispered to himself that it was not right for him, a single man with no dependents, to keep as much rice as his brother. He felt a sharp tug of guilt in his chest. After thinking for a while, he quietly slipped out of his house. Under the soft glow of the moon, he walked to the field, lifted several bundles from his own pile, and placed them onto his brother’s. He smiled to himself, knowing his brother would never know who did it and therefore would not be able to refuse the extra help. He believed that giving in silence was the most sincere form of kindness.
On that same night, the older brother also lay awake. He thought about his younger brother working alone with no partner, no wife to share the burdens of farm life, no one to comfort him during hard days. He turned to his wife and said that it felt unfair for his younger brother to receive the same amount when he carried the weight of life alone. His wife nodded with understanding. Together, they quietly walked out to the field. They lifted several bundles of rice from their own pile and added them to the younger brother’s, certain he would never notice who had given them. They believed that supporting family was a responsibility of the heart, not just of blood.
For several nights, both brothers continued doing this. Each believed the other deserved more, and each gave generously, thinking his small secret act would bring comfort to the other. Yet every morning, the two piles of rice looked exactly the same. They grew confused but said nothing, each wondering why the piles never changed despite their efforts.
Finally, one night, both brothers decided to stay awake and watch from a distance to understand what was happening. Under the quiet night sky, they walked toward the field at the same time, each carrying bundles they intended to give away. When they reached the center, they suddenly came face to face, each holding rice meant for the other. The truth revealed itself instantly.
They stopped in their tracks, stunned for a moment. Then their eyes softened, and emotions washed over them. Realizing the depth of each other’s love, they dropped the rice bundles and embraced tightly, tears filling their eyes. In that silent, moonlit field, they understood that true generosity is not measured by how much you give, but by how deeply you care.
Their rice piles remained equal, but their bond became something far richer. It was a quiet reminder that the greatest wealth in life is the love shared between family members.