The events of the story take place in a small town, in ancient times, when a passerby helped Juha carry firewood in exchange for giving him (your reward is nothing) for the service he provided to him. Afterward, they appealed to the judge of the town, who insisted that Juha give the man what he had promised him. Juha used his usual intelligence and cleverness to get out of that problem with extreme simplicity.
The beginning of the story: It is told that in ancient times, Juha prepared to go to the market to sell a lot of firewood, after collecting it with hardship and effort. Juha said to himself with happiness: This lot of firewood will bring me abundant wealth. In the early morning, Juha prepared to go to the market. He carried the firewood, but because of the abundance and heaviness of the firewood, Juha needed a person to help him carry the firewood.
Request for help: Meanwhile, two men passed by Juha, and Juha asked them to help him carry the firewood. Indeed, the two men helped him lift the firewood with him. One of them said to Juha: It is very heavy, may God help you, oh Juha. Then they went on their way.
The big man: After Juha walked with the firewood in the direction of the market, and because the firewood load was very heavy on his back, the firewood fell from him and scattered here and there. Juha began to look around, found a big man, and called out to him with a loud voice, saying: Hey there, hey there. The man came toward Juha.
Juha said to the man: Will you not be kind enough to help me gather the scattered firewood and carry it? The man answered Juha: What is the reward you will give me and honor me for that? Juha answered him: Your reward is nothing. The man smiled and said: Very well, and he helped Juha gather the firewood scattered on the ground, then lifted it onto Juha’s back.
The reward: The man extended his hand to Juha, saying: Where is my reward, oh Juha? Juha answered him in surprise: Your reward? Which reward are you talking about? The man answered him: Did you not promise to give me nothing in exchange for my fatigue with you in gathering the firewood and loading it for you?
The quarrel: Juha and the big man argued a lot about the reward, then they shouted. People came to them to listen to the story of the quarrel, and then they agreed to appeal to the ruler of the town.
The ruler: Juha and the big man went to the judge of the town, and they told him the story. The judge said to Juha: Oh Juha, you must give the man what you promised him immediately.
Juha’s intelligence: Juha did nothing but extend his hand to his bag and handed it to the man, saying: Take what is in this bag. The man took the bag from Juha’s hand with great eagerness, inserted his hand and moved it around all parts of the bag, then pulled it out, saying: There is nothing in the bag, oh Juha. Juha answered him: You have acknowledged yourself that there is nothing in the bag, and I agreed with you that your reward is nothing, so here I am fulfilling my promise to you, and I give you nothing in exchange for the service you provided to me.
From the anecdotes of Juha.