![A gathering of raccoon dogs in the forest]
Beside a quiet small Japanese mountain village, there was a thick forest. In the village, there was a kind old farmer who would go into the forest every day to cut firewood or gather medicinal herbs.
One day, the old farmer walked into the forest as usual. He was walking along a familiar path when suddenly he heard a strange sound. He followed the direction of the sound and found a trap, in which there were several raccoon dogs. The raccoon dogs looked very frightened, and their small eyes were full of horror. The old farmer took pity on them and carefully rescued the raccoon dogs from the trap. The raccoon dogs circled around the old farmer several times as if to show their gratitude, and then disappeared into the depths of the forest.
![The raccoon dogs quietly observe the farmer's house]
Day by day passed, and the old farmer still led a peaceful life. But what he didn't know was that those raccoon dogs he had saved had been silently watching him all along. The raccoon dogs found that the old farmer's house was very dilapidated and that he lived alone, having a lot of inconveniences in life. So they decided to repay the old farmer for saving their lives.
The raccoon dogs began to quietly collect various materials in the forest. Some raccoon dogs found beautiful pieces of wood, some found soft hay, and others brought some precious medicinal herbs. They hid all these things in a concealed place not far from the old farmer's house, waiting for the right time to help the old farmer.
![The raccoon dogs start to act at night]
One night, when the old farmer was sound asleep, the raccoon dogs started to act. They quietly came around the old farmer's house, used the brought wood to repair the dilapidated walls, and used the hay to fill the holes in the roof. Several raccoon dogs also put the medicinal herbs in the old farmer's medicine cabinet. These medicinal herbs could treat the rheumatism that the old farmer often suffered from. The raccoon dogs worked very earnestly. They didn't want to wake up the old farmer and just wanted to do these things for him silently.
![The old farmer's surprise in the morning]
The next morning, when the old farmer woke up and walked out of the house, he was stunned by the sight in front of him. His house had taken on a completely new look. The walls were solid and the roof no longer leaked. He walked into the house and found that there were some medicinal herbs in the medicine cabinet that he had never seen before. The old farmer realized that this must be the repayment from those raccoon dogs he had saved. He walked outside the house and bowed deeply in the direction of the forest, his heart full of gratitude. Since then, the old farmer has taken better care of this forest, and the raccoon dogs also appear in the old farmer's field of vision from time to time, as if to tell him that they will always be his guardians.
