What does this sentence mean? "Young woodcutter, did you drop this golden axe or this silver axe?"

Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter He only has a broken iron axe. Although he is poor, it proves that the woodcutter is very hardworking. One day, when the woodcutter passed by a small river, he accidentally dropped his axe into the river.

Then the river god appeared and asked the woodcutter, young woodcutter, did you drop this golden axe or this silver axe?