The Shepherd and the Rich Man Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, in a distant land, there was a shepherd who worked for a wealthy man. After many years of not receiving his payment and unable to endure the rich man's humiliation, he fled back to his homeland one night. The rich man searched for him but could not find him. After several days of traveling, the shepherd decided to stop for the night at a small house on the outskirts of a village. The house was occupied by an old man and his wife, and it appeared to be both narrow and small.

— Old man, I have come from far away; may I stay the night? — the shepherd asked for permission.

 — Our house is small, and we are barely getting by. I used to have another larger house, but now it is occupied by "demons." They never leave it, cutting my hay in summer and shoveling my snow in winter. They disturb me every day, asking me to find them work. Find another place to stay, my son, — the old man sighed.

— Grandfather, let me stay in that house of yours; I have been accompanied by "demons" many times before, — replied the shepherd. The old man reluctantly let the shepherd enter the house where the demons were said to be. As soon as the shepherd lay down in the main room, the demons surrounded him, saying:

— Find us work, find us work, — and would not let him rest. The shepherd, giving orders to them all, said:

— By dawn, build a large house in front of the window, with a lake in front of it, and with swimming geese and trees growing around it. The demons completed the shepherd's task before midnight and continued to disturb him. After being bothered repeatedly, the shepherd gathered all the demons and said:

— Now, you all turn into sheep and go into this oven, and lie there quietly. — Once the demons entered the oven, the shepherd sealed the opening and top with a large stone. Trapped inside, the demons muttered:

— Just wait, we'll meet again when you're herding sheep, — and fell asleep. When morning came, the shepherd bid farewell to the old man and set out on his journey. After several days of travel, he returned to his homeland. His parents rejoiced and threw a celebration. However, due to poverty, the shepherd had to work for a wealthy man, tending his sheep in the winter fields in exchange for two lambs, a pair of leather boots, and a cloak. One day, while grazing the sheep in the snowy pasture, the demons he had trapped came to greet him. The shepherd began to burn a bundle of reeds. The demons, frightened, exclaimed:

— Oh no, what are you doing? — The shepherd replied:

— I am going to burn you since you won't give me back my gold. — The terrified demons pleaded, "Oh no, don't kill us; we'll bring you our gold right now!" The shepherd extinguished the fire. Before long, the demons returned with their gold for the shepherd. After taking the gold, the shepherd bid farewell to the demons. He hid the gold in an abandoned house in the field and went to show it to the wealthy man. Having never seen gold in his life, the wealthy man said to the shepherd:

— Sell me your gold. — The shepherd replied:

— Take it for 400 sheep. — The wealthy man agreed and exchanged the gold for the sheep. The next day, the shepherd returned with even more gold and showed it to the wealthy man again. The wealthy man bought this gold as well, agreeing to trade it for a single horse. On the third day, the shepherd brought a sack of gold and displayed it. The wealthy man bought this gold for his only daughter and married the shepherd into his family. As time went on, winter passed, and summer arrived. The shepherd took the sheep and belongings due to him from the wealthy man and established his own household with the remaining gold and sheep he had acquired. The fearful wealthy man, scared of the shepherd, distanced himself.