To practice hearing the sound of his own voice, Chobei shouted ‘Waste paper’ all day.
The boys laughed at him and thought that Chobei was mad and threw stones at home.
Chobei went home that day and he was discouraged.
Chohachi laughed when he heard what had happened. “Chobei, rich people do not sell waste papers. Talk to women and flatter them and then suggest to them that they may have papers to sell.”
So Chobei tried again. He went to the poorer streets.
The women here worked and the old women were talking and children played around the pavement.
Chobei smiled and bowed at the women. “May the Sun Goddess smile upon you. I am very pleased to meet you.” Chobei spoke well and finally studied the women. “Do you have any waste paper to sell?”
The women were thrilled to hear his words. They searched hard in their house for waste paper and gave it to him.
He came to be called as Knightly Waste-Paper Man and soon Chobei came to have good trade.
Chohachi helped him spend the money carefully.
By this time, Chobei and O Tsuis San had a daughter.
Chobei made good money and took good care of his family.
This went on for some time.
The Knightly Waste-Paper Man was calling out in the streets and there Chobei saw a man who fell down the road.
The others thought the man was a beggar.
But Chobei felt sorry for the man and helped him.
Adapted from Japanese Folktales
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