Going up to him, the President asked him gently what he was sowing.

The old man answered it was foxtail millet. Smiling, the President said why didn't he turn the land into a paddy field where water was expected before the rice-transplanting season.

The old man frankly unbosomed himself, saying he would do so, working all night through, if he could see water flowing there, but he was not sure he would see water so soon.

Never minding his words, the President turned to the officials accompanying him and said his words hinted how much he had suffered from the lack of water. Then he told the old man the water would come certainly in more or less half a month and told him to boldly turn the land into a paddy field and make preparations to grow rice.

Deeply touched by the words of the President, the old man said he would not fail to make it a paddy field.

After the President left, the old man kept to his words with confidence.

Irrigation water flowed into the field soon and heavy ears of rice drooped on the stalks in the former foxtail millet plot.

Looking at the stack of rice in the yard, the old man recollected with deep thanks the advice of the President.