Shwe Yi Win University - The Power of Knowledge and Other Stories

The power of knowledge

Long ago, there was a large blacksmith village where only blacksmiths lived. Most of the people in that blacksmith village made iron tools such as shovels, axes, rakes, knives, betel nuts, scissors, and plowshares. At that time, they were engaged in farming, so they produced essential items for the villagers.

The village headman of the village was a wealthy man. He had a very beautiful and intelligent daughter. The eldest daughter, Mala, was famous for her beauty. Many people came to ask for her hand in marriage, but Mala refused to accept any offer. Mala lived happily, taking care of her father and mother.

One day, a young man came to the blacksmith village where the Malas lived. The young man was selling needles in every street and alley in the village. | The young man was selling his needles by praising them.

“A needle... a needle... a needle. It is a very smooth needle, a very sharp needle. The needle’s hole is also very good. It is also a very hard needle. It is a very rare needle. Buy it while you can.”

The people of Panbe village are skilled craftsmen in their own craft, so they are not interested in this kind of needle-selling from another village. However, the village headman's daughter, Mala, finds it strange. So she opens the window and looks out at the needle-selling man.

Just as Mala looked at the needle seller, the young man who sold the needle also looked at her, thinking that he was going to buy her needle. Mala felt sorry for the seller. So she walked over and spoke to him.

"Here, Ko Aap, who would buy your clothes in this big blacksmith village? It would be better if you went and sold them somewhere else."

Malar, having met face to face, spoke thus and looked intently at the needle seller. Then, the strong, muscular young man's gaze returned, and his entire face turned red.

The young man asked, "I deliberately brought this to this village to sell it because there are experts in this area, experts in iron and blacksmithing. Even if you don't understand, the elders will understand. Don't you have any elders at home?"

The village headman overheard his daughter Mala and the needle seller talking to each other. So he called the needle seller into the house.

When they arrived at the house, they kindly accommodated the strange young man who had come to sell needles in the blacksmith village. Then they showed him the needle he had promised to sell.

Then the young man said, "If possible, I would like to show the needle I am selling in front of the blacksmiths in the village."

The village headman called the blacksmiths of the village to his house. When the people gathered at his house, he said that he had come from another village and wanted to show them the needles he was selling. Then the villagers laughed at the whole village calling for needles to be shown.

When the crowd had gathered, the needle seller took a bundle of clothes from his bag, untied them again, and placed them in the hands of the seeker in front of the villagers.

The village headman looked at the needle carefully and asked the vendor.

"Is this the needle you want to sell? Is it the needle and thread?"

"No, it can't be. The needle is in this cartridge case."

The village headman opened the needle at the end of the young man's words. While the village headman was unable to remove the needle, the young man who sold it took it back and used his fingernail to scrape out the glue.

Then he said that what he took out of the needle bullet was the inner bullet chamber. The needle he made was inside all six chambers. He showed a needle bullet being pulled out.

The audience who came to see him were amazed by the unique work. The village headman's daughter, Mala, was also impressed by the young man's blacksmithing skills.

The village headman carefully examined the needle and said, "Your needle is clean, smooth, and sharp. Tell me how many layers of linen and leather it can pierce and sew."

Then the young needle seller wanted to show off his needle skills. While two men were holding the blacksmith's iron rod over a basin of water, he held the needle on the iron rod and struck it with the hammer that was provided. Then the needle went into the iron rod. As he struck it again, it pierced the iron rod and came out and fell into the basin of water. However, the needle did not sink to the bottom of the water, but remained in the middle of the water.

The audience was amazed at the young man's wisdom and praised him. The village headman asked the young needle seller a question.

"Brother, where did you get this needle?"

“This is a needle I made myself. I mixed ground iron, water iron, iron, and iron powder in the right proportions, and then systematically heated it with water and fire, taking a lot of time and patience to make it.”

“Okay, Maung Yin, tell me which city, which village, which tribe, and which tribe you are selling from.”

"In the past, the very famous Thanthay Nan village was the birthplace of Bo Thet Sya and Bha Htay Kywe. Now, that village is just a small village."

When the village headman learned of the lineage of the young needle seller, he was very pleased and explained everything he knew.

“Your Majesty’s uncle, Bo Thet Shai, is the great teacher of your father’s teacher. That’s why you inherited this blacksmithing skill. Bo Thet Shai was a famous master who received the golden belt with the title of “Royal Blacksmith” from the King of that era.”

Then, out of respect for the needle seller's wisdom and lineage, the village headman invited him to stay as a guest in his house, and the entire village took care of him.

The young needle seller is delighted that his skills have been recognized. He has realized that selling needles in this blacksmith village is the right thing to do.

A few days later, the village headman said he wanted to buy needles from the young man. He also discussed the idea of ​​teaching the villagers the art of blacksmithing and smithing in due time. Then the young needle seller decided to settle in this village where his knowledge was valued and accepted.

As time went by, he fell in love with the village chief's daughter, Mala, and eventually got married.

When the village headman died, the needle seller became the village headman of Panbe village.