An old farmer, in a small village in rural China was thought to be a little bit odd. He and his only surviving son lived alone, his wife had passed some years ago.
One day, the farmer's only horse broke free of its fence and ran away, off into the bordering wilderness. "Oh What terrible luck! What terrible luck you have," said the other villagers.
The old farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not. I suppose we'll see."
"What?" the villagers thought... They suspected he had become a simpleton. "Of course this was a terrible fate..."
Days passed, when suddenly the farmer's same horse appeared from the forest line, followed by a group of wild stallions. His horse galloped right up to its pen, entering along with 10 of the beautiful new horses in tow.
"What Amazing luck!!!" the villagers cheered! "How lucky you are! You had no horses, yet now your stable is overflowing!! What wonderful fate!" celebrated the villagers.
The farmer replied, "Maybe yes, maybe no.. I suppose we'll see."
Again the villagers were very puzzled and annoyed. "What an absolute fool.. he can't see when good fortune falls right in his lap, the fool! He says 'We will see', but, 'we will see' what?!? What is there to see - it has already happened! I would have danced with joy were this my beautiful fate! Oh, this fool of an old farmer!"
The very next day, the farmer's only son walked out to saddle and break in one of the new wild stallions they had just gained. As he mounted the stallion, it tossed him violently in the air, so that, as he landed, he severely broke his leg. There was nothing to do - the leg was irreparably mangled, crippling him for life.
"Oh What terrible, terrible luck! Your only son, whom you relied on for taking care of you and your farm, has been so gravely injured! SURELY you must admit this is a terrible, terrible turn of events!"
"Maybe so, maybe not. We'll see.."
"Fucking retarded," all of the villagers agreed. "This man is absolutely fucking retarded. He is so dumb, he probably eats horseshit. Does he really need us to explain to him how stupid he is? Does he not understand the difference between bad things and good things? Fuck this guy. No, Seriously - Fuck this stupid old farmer."
The very next day, the king's army rode into the small village, going from family to family, conscripting each and every able-bodied man of the village.
Of all the households, only the old farmer's was passed over, owing to the farmer's advanced age, and his son's terrible injury.
The rest of the men of the village, young and old, left with the king's battalion.
The army went into battle days later, and each of the village's conscripts were slaughtered in their defeat.