The Dream Merchant: A Fairy Tale

2 March, 2025

Once upon a time, there were two merchants, one old and one young. They often traveled together on business trips. One day, they arrived at the coast near the village of Teraddomai. Exhausted from their long journey, they decided to take a rest.

The older merchant said, “I’m feeling sleepy.”

“Then go ahead and take a nap,” suggested the younger one.

Soon, the older merchant dozed off. As he slept, the younger merchant noticed a fly landing on his companion’s nose and flying towards the island of Sađo. Intrigued, he watched as the fly returned and landed on the same spot.

When the older merchant woke up, he shared a strange dream he had just experienced. “I dreamed of a wealthy man living on the island of Sađo. In his garden, there was a white camellia tree in full bloom. A fly came and told me to dig beneath the roots of the tree, and I found a pot of gold.”

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Illustration.

The young merchant was intrigued and offered to buy the dream. “Who ever heard of buying a dream?” exclaimed the older merchant.

“I’ll give you anything you want. Please sell me this dream,” pleaded the younger man.

“How much will you pay?” asked the older merchant.

“Three hundred coins,” came the reply.

And so, the dream was sold for three hundred coins.

After their trip, the young merchant returned to his village and prepared as if for another journey. Secretly, he made his way to the island of Sađo. There, he sought out the wealthy man’s home and asked to speak to him. “I am a poor man from the province of Echigo,” he said. “I wonder if you need any help around your house or even in your garden.”

“As it happens, I do need a gardener,” replied the wealthy man. “If you’re willing, I’ll hire you.”

From that day on, the young man worked diligently as the gardener. He waited patiently for spring to arrive.

Finally, winter gave way to spring, and the weather warmed up. The trees in the garden began to blossom, but curiously, all the camellia trees bore only red flowers. There wasn’t a single white camellia tree to be found.

Undeterred, the young man persisted in his quest for the golden pot from his purchased dream. He waited patiently for the next spring.

The following spring, the flowers in the garden bloomed once more. One morning, he spotted a camellia tree in a corner of the garden, adorned with beautiful white flowers.

Overjoyed, he sneaked out that night, unnoticed by anyone. With a shovel in hand, he began to dig near the roots of the white camellia tree. Suddenly, his shovel struck something solid.

Carefully, he dug further and uncovered an object that resembled a pot. Elated, he whispered, “This is it! I’ve found it!” Upon closer inspection, he confirmed that the pot was filled with glittering gold. He carefully removed the pot, refilled the hole, and hid his treasure in a place where no one could find it.

Six months passed, and one day, the young man approached the wealthy man. “I’ve been working for you for some time now, and I’m grateful for your kindness. But now, I’d like to ask for your permission to return home and hold a memorial service for my parents.”

“You’ve been a diligent worker, and I have no complaints. You may go,” said the wealthy man. He gave the young man some money for the journey and for offerings.

The young man thanked his employer, carefully packed the golden pot in a cardboard box, and returned to Echigo, where he became the richest man in the region.

**Test your memory with these fun riddles!**

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