A long, long time ago there lived a poor peasant. No matter how much he worked, he was still poor. The old man had ten children.
A wealthy man resided in the same village and one day he summoned the poor peasant to a lavish dinner. And he said to the old man, "I would do anything to be as happy as you." "But you are so lucky to be rich," the old man replied. And the wealthy man continued, "But old man, you are the happiest person in the village. I have poor health and I have no children. They say that the greatest treasure is health, the second greatest treasure is to have children, and the third greatest treasure is money. All I possess is money. No, old man, you are the happiest person in the village."
The old man was overjoyed, as he realized the wealthy man was right, and he told his wife all about his conversation with the wealthy man. In order to give thanks for the first and second treasures, they went to pray at the local shrine.
The old couple's children had all left home and although the couple had saved a lot of money, they gave all they had, without hesitation, to people who had fallen upon hard times. That is why they became known as "the wealthy poor."
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