In the tale of the thrifty woman, a young farm girl is rewarded for her hard work.

It was therefore necessary that the boy and his calf brother go out into the world in search of food.  Luckily the bull calf always found plenty of grass to eat, whereas the boy soon felt hungry.  Realizing that this could not go on for long, the clever bull calf said to his brother: “Go to those cowherds who are sitting in the field there.  Tell them that you have a young bull that will fight any of their bulls if they promise you a dish full of rice if their bull should lose.”

“But look at those bulls!” his brother replied, hesitating.  “They are so big and strong that you will never defeat them!”

“Leave it to me,” said the bull calf.  “You just go and talk to the cowherds.”

The cowherds laughingly agreed at once to share their meal with the boy if his little bull calf could defeat one of their big bulls.  Because they thought that he could not possibly win, they came along with their biggest bull.  To everyone’s amazement, though the bull was so much bigger than the bull calf, he was quickly defeated after a fierce fight.  So, the boy got his rice, as much as he could eat.

After the meal the two continued on their travels.  The next day they came upon another pasture full of cattle, and, once again, the boy gave out the challenge. Again, his brother, the bull calf, defeated the biggest bull.  The day after that it was a buffalo bull that the bull calf defeated. The day after that it was a tiger!  Each and every time it was only for a simple meal.

Soon the fame of the boy who owned an invincible young bull spread far and wide.  Even the king came to hear of it.

Now this particular king was a ruthless ruler, a cruel and heartless man who disregarded the ten laws of kingship.  As soon as he heard of this miraculous bull calf, he was determined to own it.  The king summoned the orphan boy to the palace and told him: “I have heard that you have a bull calf that is so strong that it is even able to vanquish a tiger.  Well, I have a bull elephant with a great pair of long tusks, and I insist that you bring your bull calf to the palace to fight him!  If my elephant is victorious, you will become my slave.  However, if your bull calf wins, I will give you a reward.”