Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a boy named Rít. Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in by the village blacksmith, who raised him as his own. Soon, Rít learned to help at the forge, assisting his adoptive father in crafting hoes, knives, and other tools for the villagers.
Rít’s adoptive father was a skilled blacksmith, respected and loved by everyone in the region. People traveled long distances, crossing streams and climbing hills, just to have their tools repaired by him. Thanks to the blacksmith, the villagers had the instruments they needed to farm rice and corn, and life in the village was joyful and prosperous. Seeing Rít’s dedication, the blacksmith taught him everything he knew, passing down all the secrets and skills of his trade.
Not long after, tragedy struck. Rít’s adoptive father passed away, and the entire village mourned his loss. Rít was devastated and wandered aimlessly in the forest, unable to find purpose. As he wandered, an old man appeared before him, walking with a cane covered in beautiful, fragrant flowers. The old man approached Rít, patted his head, and asked why he was wandering alone.
Rít explained his sadness over losing his father. The old man offered him a choice: three magical flowers, each granting a single wish. Whatever Rít wished for would come true immediately, and when he grew tired of it, he could simply wish it away. The old man plucked three flowers from his cane, handed them to Rít, and disappeared.
Rít held the flowers and began to imagine the possibilities. Remembering stories his father told about kings, Rít thought of wealth, power, and luxury. With the first flower, he wished to become a king. In an instant, he found himself dressed in royal robes, living in a magnificent palace, surrounded by servants. But after a few days, Rít grew bored and uncomfortable, realizing that being a king was not as enjoyable as he imagined. He wished it away, returning to his simple life.
Next, Rít noticed a wealthy merchant with piles of gold, silver, and valuable goods. Using the second flower, he wished to be richer than the merchant. Suddenly, he was surrounded by treasures beyond imagination. Yet despite all his wealth, Rít felt anxious and fearful, constantly worrying about theft and losing everything. He realized that wealth alone brought more worry than joy. With a sigh, he wished it away, returning to the life of a humble boy with just one flower left.
Looking up at the sky, Rít admired the colorful clouds drifting freely, and he longed to soar among them. He used the third flower and found himself floating among the rainbow-hued clouds, marveling at the world below and the endless sky above. For a while, Rít reveled in this freedom, but even the joy of flying eventually wore off. He wished to return to the ground.
After days of wandering and wishing, Rít began to miss his village and the forge of his adoptive father. Determined, he returned home. The villagers, hearing of his return, came from near and far to welcome him. They urged Rít to continue his father’s work at the blacksmith forge.
The forge, long cold and silent, was reignited. Rít worked tirelessly, hammering the anvil day and night, applying all the knowledge and skill his father had passed down. The villagers soon grew to respect and admire him just as they had his adoptive father. Over time, Rít discovered that true fulfillment came from hard work, skill, and serving the community, finding real joy in the meaningful life he built.