1. Who did the villagers turn to for help when the crops began to wither?

    • The villagers turned to Saffron, the wise snake, for help when the crops began to wither.

  2. What made this year different from previous New Year celebrations?

    • This year was different because the village’s good fortune suddenly vanished, and the crops began to wither, which was unlike the usual prosperous celebrations.

  3. Why did Ruby suggest asking Oliver the Ox for help?

    • Ruby suggested asking Oliver the Ox for help because he was known for his strength and hard work, and she believed he might know what was wrong with the crops or be able to help in some way.

  4. What was Oliver the Ox doing when Saffron and Ruby found him?

    • When Saffron and Ruby found Oliver the Ox, he was hard at work ploughing the fields, but despite his efforts, the crops were not growing.

  5. How did the friends restore the village's good fortune?

    • The friends restored the village's good fortune by working together. Ruby designed new paths for water to reach the fields, Oliver used his strength to plough the land, and Saffron guided them with wisdom, ensuring careful and patient work.

  6. What did Saffron realize about the village's fortune?

    • Saffron realized that the village's fortune wasn’t lost, but was within them—their teamwork, each person’s unique talents, and their combined efforts brought the good fortune back.

  7. How did each character contribute to solving the problem in the village?

    • Ruby contributed her cleverness by designing new paths for water. Oliver contributed his strength by ploughing the land. Saffron contributed his wisdom by guiding the efforts and ensuring they worked with care and patience.

  8. What do you think is the most important lesson from this story? Why?

    • The most important lesson from this story is that true fortune comes from teamwork and the collective use of everyone’s unique abilities. Each individual’s strength, wisdom, and cleverness are valuable, and when combined, they can overcome challenges and restore prosperity. This is important because it highlights the power of collaboration and how working together can solve even the toughest problems.