Predict

What will the magistrate do?

The county magistrate was coming down the road in his sedan chair. When he saw the commotion, he ordered his guards to put down the chair and bring the two men before him.

“What is the matter?” he asked.

The shopkeeper quickly replied, “Ta-jen, this man made a mess in front of my shop. He gave me a coin to pay for the damage, but when I asked him to wipe up the mess, he wouldn’t do it.”

The magistrate stepped down from his chair and went over to look at the mess. Sour cabbage, rotten eggs, and fish bones were scattered all over the place. Ugh! Ugh! What a smell!

“Why don’t you clean up the mess?” asked the magistrate.

“He wants me to wipe up the mess with my coat,” said the farmer. “It will be ruined if I do so. And this is the only coat I have.”

“Is that what you want?” the magistrate asked the shopkeeper.

“Yes, that is exactly what I want.”

“And you will not settle for less?”

“No, I will not settle for anything less.”

“Well,” said the magistrate to the farmer, “if that is what he wants, you’d better do it.”

“Ta-jen, have mercy! I can’t do that!” cried the farmer. “Without the coat I will freeze to death.”

“I am sorry,” said the magistrate. “But that doesn’t change anything. If you don’t do it, I will have to put you in jail.”

“That is not just!” cried the farmer.

“Hmm…” said the magistrate. He looked angry.

“Ouh! Ouh! Ouh!” cried the guards. “Ouh! Ouh! Ouh!” They looked threatening.

The farmer realized that there was no way out. Reluctantly, he used his coat to clean up the mess. Sour cabbage, rotten eggs, and fish bones. Ugh! Ugh! What a smell! He threw the coat into one of his buckets and stood shivering in front of the magistrate.

The shopkeeper laughed. “Ha, ha, ha!” “Well,” said the magistrate to the shopkeeper, “are you satisfied now?”

“Yes, Ta-jen, I am completely satisfied.” “No more complaints?”