Fairy Tales Based on the Brothers Grimm by Katrin Lange
After seven years away, Hans is thoroughly fed up and wants to finally go home. He has completed his apprenticeship and turns down all the career opportunities his boss offers him. All he wants is to return to his village, where the scent of the meadows is familiar to him.
The wealthy merchant, who has come to hold Hans in high regard over the past few years, means him nothing but well and gives him a large lump of gold as a parting gift. The weight of it makes him work up quite a sweat on his journey.
On his long journey home, Hans makes a few interesting acquaintances. Everyone he meets is in some kind of trouble. Everyone needs something he doesn’t currently have. Hans enjoys exchanging things and ideas, especially when everyone benefits. And he’s right, because: What good is the most beautiful lump of gold if Hans can’t bring it home? He needs a horse. And soon he has one. But what good is a beautiful horse to him if he has to suffer from hunger and thirst?
Hans quickly becomes a master of bartering. On his journey, he meets all sorts of wise people, and so Hans is easily tempted by the prospect of relief to shift his interest toward new things.
In the end, he brings home a treasure all his own. On his journey, Hans doesn’t follow any objective standards of value, but always asks himself the very sensible question: How much do I personally need to be happy?
