The story reflects on a man's childhood memory of a conflict with his father over the use of a wheelbarrow. The father's traditional views saw this innovation as a sign of laziness, as the family had always carried feed to the horses by hand. This encounter not only reveals generational tensions but also highlights a resistance to change and efficiency, which were often met with disapproval in his upbringing.

This anecdote illustrates a broader theme of peasant thinking, where the old ways are fiercely upheld and any deviation is seen as a threat. The old man's past mirrors his son's experiences, showing that these entrenched attitudes about work and effort can create a cycle of conflict between progress and tradition.