Once upon a time, a young man named Gubok lived alone with his mother in a small village. The name Gubok means “seeking blessing or happiness.” The diligent man worked very hard every day, toiling away in the fields under the sizzling sun, and twisting pieces of straw to make ropes and sandals at night. But despite his hard work, his life did not get any better. On the contrary, it was difficult for the small family of two to subsist on. Gubok even had a vague feeling that he would not be able to get married because he was too poor.

One day, Gubok told his mother that he would go to India to pray to Buddha for his blessings. Surprised, his mother tried to dissuade him from traveling to the faraway land. With firm determination, however, he set out on a long journey in search of happiness.

By the time it got dark, Gubok was hungry and exhausted. He knocked on the door of a house he discovered and asked the owner if he could stay for the night. The owner of the house was a beautiful woman, who gladly allowed him to stay and also gave him some food. She seemed curious about the young traveler and asked where he was going. Gubok explained that he was traveling to India to find out why he was so poor and to pray for happiness.

Then, the woman began to tell her own story. “Sir, I’m a widow. Every time I marry, my husband dies. I don’t know why. When you arrive in India, would you ask Buddha if there is any way for me to avoid this misfortune?” Feeling sorry for the unlucky woman, Gubok promised to do as she wished. The next morning, he left the house.

As Gubok continued his journey, he stopped at another house at nightfall, and again, he was allowed to stay. The head of the family was also curious about the stranger, and he asked Gubok where he was going. Gubok gave him the same answer. With a sigh, the man in the house began to complain. “The pear tree in my back yard never bears fruit. I’m very frustrated with that. When you reach India, could you find out why and let me know on your way back?” Gubok said yes and started his journey again.

After a few days, he had to cross a river but there was no boat. While wondering what to do, a large serpent suddenly came out of the water and asked him why he was crossing the river. Gubok, in the same way, answered that he was on the way to India to appeal for a happy life. The serpent then asked Gubok to find out the reason it could not become a dragon and ascend to heaven. The man said yes and in return the serpent took him across the river.

After a long, rough journey, Gubok finally arrived in India. He went to Buddha and asked why he and his mother had to lead such a miserable life. Smiling, Buddha answered that Gubok would make a happy family and soon live a comfortable life. Gubok was pleased to hear that. He also remembered the widow, the man with a pear tree, and the serpent. When asked about their destinies, Buddha replied, “Here are the answers. The lady must marry a man who has a yeouiju(여의주), or dragon ball. Otherwise, she will remain a widow all her life. For the pear tree, gold and silver treasures are buried under the tree. That’s why the tree does not bear fruit. And the serpent has two dragon balls. One is enough to allow it to transform into a dragon.”

So, Gubok started his journey back home. When he met the serpent in the river again, he told it about the secret of turning into a dragon. The serpent lost no time in giving one of the dragon balls to Gubok. He continued his journey, and visited the owner of the pear tree. The owner immediately dug up the treasures beneath the tree and gave some of them to Gubok as a token of his gratitude. Finally, Gubok did not forget to drop by the house of the beautiful widow and told her the whole story. She was willing to take Gubok, who now had a dragon ball, as her husband. So, the two traveled back to his house together and tied the knot. Together, Gubok, his wife, and his mother lived happily ever after.