Heaving a deep sigh, he took the lowly man to his room and told him, “Please don’t tell this to anybody else.  You should not tell even your wife.  If other people hear about it, it will hurt me and my family reputation.  Please don’t let this secret leak out.”

“Oh, yes! It is not even necessary to ask me.  How could I dare to disclose this dreadful secret to somebody else?  Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, thank you.  I forgive your debt.  I will not take even a penny back.  Please come and see me from time to time so that we may develop our friendship.  Don’t break your promises.  Thank you.”

Thus, the man of low birth did not have to pay the large debt, and whenever he visited the stingy saengwon, he was treated like an imperial messenger.  When the villagers heard the story about the relationship between the saengwon and the man of low birth, they laughed until they cried at the saengwon’s foolishness and the sangnom’s cunning idea as well as his skillful deceit.

The Tiger Catching Fish

It was a cold winter twilight, and the river was thickly frozen.  A hungry old dog-named Nureongi (Yellow Dog) was strolling on the ice, hoping to find a fish.  Although it was unlikely for him to find any, he knew that the people in the village fished through holes broken in the ice, and he hoped to find one that had been lost or thrown away.

A big animal suddenly appeared.   Nureongi’s four legs trembled, but he tried to pull himself together.  He said to himself, “I should be alert even when I am in danger of being eaten by a tiger.”  He stared fixedly at the animal.

It was a tiger, bulky and dreadful.  Nureongi felt dizzy and figured he was dead.  Then the tiger said, “Nice to meet you.  I am hungry because I can’t find anything to eat.  I shall feel better if I eat you.”  The tiger came near, showing his teeth.

At this ominous moment, Nureongi pretended calmness and said, “Uncle Tiger, why haven’t you had supper yet?  Why did you come here?”  “That’s none of your business.  I have come to eat you.  Prepare yourself to die,” said the tiger, licking his chops as if he could eat the dog in one mouthful.