A town full of carpenters

From sunrise to sunset, the sound of sawing and hammering filled the air. Every lane had a workshop, every family a craftsman, and every conversation was about wood — maple, teak, or pine.

At first, it was beautiful. Furniture was cheap, houses looked perfect, and everyone felt skilled.

But soon, no one needed another chair. Customers grew picky. Some carpenters began offering discounts. Others said, "Bring your own wood." A few promised "lifetime polish."

Those with real craftsmanship stood out — their tables didn't creak, their joints didn't wobble.

Some earned trust, some earned fame. The rest... earned little. They started working for other carpenters - sanding, polishing, carrying planks...

A few bought new tools — shiny machines that cut faster and straighter. People feared they'd replace workers, but they didn't. The machines only made good carpenters better, and bad carpenters faster at making mistakes...

And so the town kept buzzing - full of sawdust, competition, and quiet dreams - each carpenter building something, but not always for themselves.

• Srujan