Greedy Goldsmith

A long time ago, yet perhaps it wasn't such a long time ago. In the middle of a small kingdom there was a little village and in the village lived a wealthy goldsmith. He was cunning and made money by fooling people.

One day a poor and elderly man approached the goldsmith. His daughter's wedding was in the coming week so he needed large utensils for the feast. The goldsmith gave him terribly old utensils and charged him a hefty interest. The elderly man had no other option hence unwillingly agreed. 

After the wedding the elderly man returned the utensils along with a small but new utensil and said, "Your utensils have produced a baby. Please accept it along with your utensils." The greedy goldsmith was overjoyed and spread the news in the village that his utensils were magical and produced babies.

In a few days the elderly man approached the goldsmith and said, "Sir, my daughter's In-laws are coming tomorrow, so if you can give me some silverware?" The greedy goldsmith readily gave him silverware.

Some days passed but the elderly man didn't return the silverware. The goldsmith after sending reminders went to the elderly man's place with an envoy of king's agents. The elderly man was well prepared and came out of his house with a sad face and said, "Sir, your silverware fell ill at my place. I had to spend a lot on their treatment but couldn't save them. I have spent immensely for their cremation too. Now please pay me as they were your silverware. The goldsmith was taken aback and called him a liar. The elderly man said, "Sir, everyone in the village knows that your utensils produce babies. So they can also fall ill and die." The villagers supported the elderly man as they had heard the goldsmith's story as well as they had paid hefty interest on the loans taken from him. So no case was registered against the elderly man. And the selfish goldsmith learnt a huge lesson.