The Cuckoo Calls Too Late

Synopsis

Spring has arrived, and the cuckoo, leading its young, flies to the mountain village as usual, calling out "Cuckoo, cuckoo!" to remind people to quickly sow their grain seeds. Its calls draw good-natured laughter from many animals and birds, who all say it's late this year; people have already sown the seeds, and the seedlings are already sprouting. Disbelieving, the cuckoo flies to the fields and sees the ground indeed covered in lush green. With the explanation of its old friend, the scarecrow, the cuckoo understands that people have adopted scientific farming methods, allowing for earlier planting and harvesting. Feeling useless now, the cuckoo, at the scarecrow's suggestion, teaches the young to call out "Early planting, early harvest," but it always feels that this way of calling out sounds awkward.