A thirsty crow was circling high in the sky when it finally spotted a half‑full clay pot by the roadside, containing just a small amount of clear water. However, the pot’s opening was narrow and delicate—too small for the crow’s beak to reach inside. Even if it stretched its neck as far as it could, it could only just graze the surface of the water, far from being able to drink a single drop. The crow grew frantic, darting around the pot in circles and even trying to knock it over with its wings—but the pot was deep and heavy, refusing to budge. Undeterred, the crow lowered its head to scan the surroundings and noticed countless tiny pebbles scattered on the ground. Suddenly, an idea struck: the crow picked up a pebble, carefully placed it into the pot, and watched as the water level rose ever so slightly. Seeing a glimmer of hope, the crow redoubled its efforts, repeatedly fetching pebbles and dropping them one by one into the pot. As more and more pebbles accumulated, the water level gradually rose—and eventually reached the rim of the pot. At last, the crow’s long‑awaited wish came true: it lowered its head and drank the cool, refreshing water that quenched its thirst.