In a village from a time long ago, there lived a farmer and his wife. They led a modest life, tilling the soil, harvesting the crops, and living off the bare minimum. Their lives were hard, but they made do with what they had.

One day, the farmer arrived home with a hen. His wife, quite surprised, asked, "Where did you get that hen from, dear?" Trying to hide his excitement, the farmer replied, "I bought it with the money I got from selling beans."

"But beans don't fetch that much," his wife mentioned, a little concerned. The farmer hastily replied, "Indeed, the hen was expensive. But trust me, this hen is known to lay eggs frequently. I believe it is a wise investment."

His wife smiled, relieved to see her husband's optimism. "It seems like a good buy then," she said lovingly. They fed the hen and made a cozy nest for it to sleep.

The next day, to their utter disbelief, the hen laid a golden egg. The farmer and his wife were over the moon. "This hen is a true blessing!" they exclaimed. They couldn't believe their luck.

Days turned into weeks, and the golden eggs continued to pile up. The couple's fortune was growing. Their standard of living improved, and so did their standing in the village. They were no longer poor farmers.

However, with the growing wealth, also grew their greed. "How many more golden eggs could be inside the hen?" the farmer wondered. "There must be a small fortune lying within," he mused, thinking about the wealth that he could obtain.

His wife, sensing his thoughts, looked at him gravely. "We must not be foolish. The hen brings us a golden egg every day. Isn't that enough?" she asked. But the farmer was lost in his thoughts and hardly heard her.

"What if I were to take all golden eggs at once?" he wondered. The thought was too enticing. He wanted to be the richest man in the village, and he believed this was his chance.

One night, the farmer made up his mind. He decided to get all the golden eggs at once. So, with a heavy heart and a greedy glint in his eyes, he approached the hen.

The hen, oblivious to the farmer's intentions, looked at him innocently. "I am sorry. Please forgive me," he muttered, tears flowing down his face. But greed got the best of him and he proceeded to do the unthinkable.

To his utter dismay, there were no golden eggs inside the hen, just as his wife had warned. The farmer was devastated. His greed had cost him the golden eggs and the life of the hen.

When his wife found out about the incident, she was heartbroken. The hen had been a miraculous gift to their lives. But the farmer's impatience and greed had taken away their fortune.

Days passed and the farmer's guilt grew. He had let his greed control his actions. The farmer wept at his foolishness. But his tears couldn't bring back the golden eggs or the hen.

The couple spent the rest of their lives living modestly, trying to atone for their actions. They were back to being the simple farmers, but this time, with a heavy heart and a lesson learned.

Never again did they let greed control them. They worked hard, lived honestly, and shared whatever they had with those in need. With time, they regained respect in the village, but the hen was never forgotten.

The story of the golden hen served as a lesson to the villagers as well. The golden hen became a symbol of patience and resistance against greed. The story was passed down through generations, serving as a timeless moral tale.

Despite the passage of time, the story remains unforgettable; a reminder of the destructive power of greed, the importance of patience, and the benefits of contentment. The farmer's lament became a lesson for all.

They say, in that village, every time a hen lays an egg, the villagers remember the tale of the golden eggs. It's a story deeply ingrained in their hearts, echoing the consequences of greed and the virtues of patience.

The tale of the farmer and the golden hen continues to serve as a reminder to not let greed blind us to the blessings we already have. It's a story of wisdom, caution, and the undying human spirit.

Life went on in the village. The crops continued to grow, seasons changed, people lived and died, but the tale of the golden hen remained a constant. It's a tale that survived the test of time, always relevant, and always a reminder.