Matsuo the Greedy.

Chapter 1: A Young Man’s Dream

As the evening sky turned golden, Matsuo sat on the porch of his house, staring at the vast rice fields stretching across his small village.

He had just graduated from school, but unlike his friends who were content with becoming farmers, Matsuo wanted more.

He wanted to be rich.

Since childhood, he had seen wealthy people from the city—dressed in fine clothes, riding horses or luxurious cars—while his own family struggled to buy rice.

“I won’t live like this forever. I will be successful!” he vowed.

With that determination, he came up with a grand plan—to start his own business, managing rice fields and selling the crops.

But there was one big problem—he didn’t own a rice field.

Chapter 2: A New Start in Ayakat Village

Matsuo heard about a village called Ayakat, where there were plenty of rice fields but not enough workers to manage them.

“This is my chance!” he thought.

With high hopes, he set off for Ayakat and started knocking on doors, offering his services to manage the villagers’ rice fields.

At first, people were doubtful.

“Can a young man like you handle such hard labor?” an old farmer asked.

But Matsuo didn’t give up. He worked hard, offering cheap labor to gain their trust. Slowly, the villagers started accepting him.

And that’s when he met Ishida, a respected elder who owned vast rice fields.

Chapter 3: Meeting the Ishida Family

Ishida was a kind-hearted old man. He had two children:

• Makochan, his eldest son, who was married and had a son named Takumikun.

• Mikichan, his beautiful and gentle daughter.

The moment Matsuo laid eyes on Mikichan, his heart raced.

“She’s perfect… I want her.”

But he knew he couldn’t rush things. He had failed in love before, and this time, he wouldn’t make the same mistake.

Chapter 4: A Clever Strategy

Matsuo knew the best way to get close to Mikichan was not to chase her directly, but to win her father’s trust first.

He became Ishida’s right-hand man—helping with the rice fields, accompanying him to the market, and even having lunch with him.

Ishida grew fond of him.

“Matsuo is hardworking,” he often said. “Unlike my son-in-law, who only wants to work in the city and refuses to help with the farm.”

And eventually, Mikichan also started noticing Matsuo.

After a few months, they got married.

On his wedding day, Matsuo smiled. But in his heart, it wasn’t because of love.

It was because he now had access to Ishida’s wealth.

Chapter 5: Greed Takes Over

After marriage, Matsuo’s true nature began to show.

He didn’t care about love or happiness. All he wanted was money.

He expanded his business, bought farming machines, and even borrowed equipment from Fusako-san, a wealthy woman in the village.

But an old man named Ottosan started getting suspicious.

“Matsuo is already making a lot of money. Why is he still demanding more?”

The villagers also started whispering about his growing greed.

Chapter 6: The Downfall Begins

Matsuo finally showed his true colors.

“If you don’t pay me, I won’t manage your rice fields!”

The villagers were furious but had no choice. They depended on Matsuo.

However, the news reached Ruku, the son-in-law of Fusako-san.

Ruku was a man who didn’t take threats lightly. He immediately confronted Matsuo.

“Return the machines you borrowed from my mother-in-law, now!”

Matsuo just laughed.

“Those machines are useful to me. If I return them, I’ll have to rent other machines at a higher price. I won’t give them back.”

Ruku clenched his fists. “You have until the end of the month. If you don’t return them, I’ll come with my family and take them back by force!”

Chapter 7: Matsuo’s Fall

Matsuo was now trapped.

If he returned the machines, his profits would drop.

If he didn’t, Ruku would come for him.

He knew he couldn’t win.

So, he made a decision—he would leave the village with Mikichan.

But deep inside, he knew…

He had failed.

He had gathered so much wealth, yet he lost everything.

Chapter 8: Peace Returns to Ayakat

After Matsuo left, Ayakat Village became peaceful again.

The villagers would talk about him with pity:

“He had so much wealth… but why did he always want more?”

The answer was clear—Matsuo never truly loved Mikichan.

What he really wanted was Ishida’s fortune.

Chapter 9: The Lesson of Greed

Matsuo’s greed destroyed him.

He became rich, but he lost trust, love, and in the end, everything.

And the people of Ayakat never forgot his story.

Lesson:

“Those who chase after wealth too much… will lose what truly matters in life.”

That was the fate of Matsuo the Greedy.