The old man placed the small box on his back and went back home.
When he opened the box, it discovered that it was packed full of gold coins, beautiful jewels and many other things.
The sparrows had rewarded his kind-heartedness with treasure.
Seeing this, the old man’s wife said, “Why didn’t you ask for the large box? I suppose I’ll have to go and get it myself.”
The old woman wandered through the bamboo forest, occasionally shouting, “Where’s the sparrow with no tongue? Come out, come out, wherever you are,” until she finally found the sparrow.
“I don’t need any food,” she said. “Just give me my gift and I’ll be on my way. I want the large box, by the way.”
When the sparrow showed her the large box, she snatched it away from him, loaded it onto her back, and immediately turned her back on the forest.