A clever remark beside a dead mouse sparks a chain of daring, grit, and good timing that turns pennies into power. In one thread, a young trader learns to transform kindness and patience into real capital, moving from molasses and water to ships and silver with nothing but nerve and a mind for opportunity. In the other, a novice monk who cannot memorize a single stanza discovers a simple practice that clears the heart more surely than any book, and a new kind of strength rises where shame once lived. These lives meet across time in a tale told with vivid scenes, crisp pacing, and the quiet thrill of cause and effect. Markets bustle, branches crash in a storm, five hundred horses crop grass, and a harbor pavilion becomes a stage where confidence sells dear. In the monastery, a spotless cloth grows grimy under the sun, and the meaning of impurity shifts from hands to heart. Both journeys move with the same steady pulse of small acts adding up to a turning point. Readers who enjoy folklore with practical wisdom will find a story that rewards close attention and invites retelling. The frame around the tale opens in a mango grove, grows through doubt and surprise, and closes with a bright verse that lands like a bell. Profit and insight share a single lesson here. Begin where you are, work clean, and watch how even the smallest start can carry farther than you think.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.