Bunzayemon pointed to Chobei, who was then in the shop, and said: “You brought me that excellent article, there. It’s for that.”
The carpenter misunderstood him and said: “Is that so? I see, for that article. That’s an article rarely found, and I thought it would be a great loss if it was burnt, so before other things I sent it down on a raft from Hachobori to Fukagawa. Then on the way it collided with a ship and the raft was nearly broken to pieces.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You mean that hinoki plank, do you not, of eight inches both in breadth and thickness?”
“No; you don’t understand me, yet. It is your prize for bringing Chobei to me.”
“You mean Chobei San. Ah, I see, I see! I did not understand you. I wondered why you gave me such a handsome reward. But Chobei San has certainly proved to be an excellent man. I thought he was a hopeless fellow. Shall I bring you another Chobei San? I have a lot more.”
“What sort of Chobei is he?”
“The next idlest fellow who depends on me for support.”
Bunzayemon laughed, saying, “No, thank you; I don’t want another Chobei of that kind.”
In this wise, Bunzayemon, by the help of Chobei, undertook various important schemes and accumulated great wealth. Thus in time his fame had sounded through the whole of Japan and he had built a big establishment at Honhachobori,—a street in Tokio, near the heart of the city,—which covered one cho square. Always strenuously pushing forward his business, he at last, as had been his ambition, became the leading merchant in the whole of Japan. As the old verse says: