Tukang Susu Yang Serakah | The Greedy Milkman Story in Indonesian | @IndonesianFairyTales

Summary

In this tale, Henry, a greedy milkman, waters down his milk to increase profits, hoping to grow rich. Despite his wife Gloria's advice to be content with their modest life, Henry dreams of wealth and luxury. As his dishonest practices lead to increased wealth, the villagers notice the watered-down milk, and soon Henry faces the consequences of his greed. He is cheated in return by sellers, losing his money, reputation, and respect. Realizing his mistake, Henry returns to selling honest milk, learning that true happiness comes from integrity and contentment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Henry, a milkman in a small village, lives a comfortable life but dreams of wealth and luxury.
• 😀 Henry's greed grows as he desires a big house, expensive clothes, and a lavish lifestyle.
• 😀 Gloria, his wife, advises him to be content with what they have and appreciate their current life.
• 😀 Henry, dissatisfied with his work and the smell of cows, plans to become the richest man in the village.
• 😀 Henry decides to dilute his milk with water to increase his sales without buying more cows.
• 😀 His actions lead to increased profits, and he becomes richer, buying a car and renovating his house.
• 😀 The villagers soon notice the watered-down milk and start questioning its quality.
• 😀 When confronted, Henry dismisses the villagers' complaints and arrogantly shuts them out.
• 😀 The villagers, in retaliation, start selling him faulty goods, like stones instead of beans and eggs.
• 😀 Eventually, Henry’s dishonest practices catch up to him, as his reputation deteriorates and his income disappears.
• 😀 Realizing his mistakes, Henry vows to be honest from then on and returns to selling good-quality milk.

Q & A

What was Henry's primary occupation in the village?

Henry was a milkman. He took care of a dairy cow and sold milk to the villagers.

What motivated Henry to seek more wealth?

Henry was dissatisfied with his modest life and dreamt of owning a big house, expensive clothes, and living a luxurious lifestyle, which drove him to seek more wealth.

How did Henry attempt to increase his milk production without buying another cow?

Henry decided to add water to his milk to increase the amount he could sell, which allowed him to make more money without the need for another cow.

What was the villagers' reaction when they noticed the watered-down milk?

The villagers were suspicious and confronted Henry about the poor quality of the milk. They accused him of cheating by selling water instead of milk.

How did Henry respond when the villagers complained about the watered-down milk?

Henry was dismissive and rude, telling the villagers to buy milk elsewhere if they didn’t like the quality, showing his arrogance and disregard for their concerns.

What lesson did Henry fail to learn from the villagers' complaints?

Henry failed to understand the importance of honesty and hard work. He continued to be greedy, ignoring the consequences of his actions and the trust he lost with the villagers.

What actions did the villagers take to teach Henry a lesson?

The villagers began to respond to Henry’s greed by tricking him in a similar manner. They sold him goods like nuts with stones, eggs with stones inside, and a shirt that faded in the rain, demonstrating the harm of deceit.

How did Henry's greed affect his life in the long run?

Henry's greed led to his downfall. He lost the trust of the villagers, his wealth, and his once-thriving business. Eventually, he became poor again and had to sell off the expensive things he had bought.

What was Gloria's role in the story, and how did she influence Henry's actions?

Gloria, Henry's wife, was content with their modest life and advised Henry to be happy with what they had. She represented patience and contentment, contrasting with Henry's greed.

What was the ultimate lesson that Henry learned by the end of the story?

By the end of the story, Henry learned that greed and dishonesty lead to ruin. He realized the value of being content with what he had and the importance of working honestly to earn a living.