Whether it happened or not, only one bai lived not far from Zaamin. A young farmhand worked for him.
One day the bay scolded a farm laborer over a trifle. He was offended and left the owner.
Bai did not give the farm laborer the money he earned. Then he went to the Qazi (judge).
- What are you doing? With a complaint? - Kaziy asked.
“I have a complaint, Kaziy, I’ll just tell it to you face to face.”
Kaziy thought: “It seems that a little will be useful, I’ll talk to him face to face.”
Kazii sent out his servants and said: “Well, tell me!”
“Sir, I worked as a laborer for the bai, but he didn’t pay me.” Collect the debt from him, please.
Kaziy thought and said:
- First, tell me how much you will give me, and then I will settle your matter.
- Sir, I am a poor man...
“You will receive half of the debt, I will receive half, otherwise I won’t take it,” announced the kaziy. “I’ll call the boy myself and collect your money.” Come here tomorrow morning.
The next day in the morning the bai came to the cazi, said hello and sat down on the carpet.
“Mister,” the bai spoke. - Scold, shame my farmhand. They say he came to you. Don't let such a slacker come to you, sir...
But the bai did not have time to finish speaking when a farm laborer entered.
Kaziy said to the bai:
“Bai, you won’t be able to steal your farmhand’s money.” Immediately, without getting up from your seat, give them to him.
Bai realized: “Hey, the farm laborer promised to give something to the kazi.” He took a moment when the farmhand was not looking at him, spread his arms wide, as if he were grasping something large, and winked.
Kazii thought: “He seems to promise something. It’s better not to miss the bai: he will be more useful to me than a farm laborer.”
Kazii raised his head and glanced furtively at the bai. He again spread his arms wide and winked. Kazii’s heart sank even more.
- Damn your father! - he said to the farmhand. - Slanderer! Thief! Get out of here! Get out of my sight! Otherwise I'll put you in jail!
The offended farmhand left the court.
As soon as he came out, the kaziy said to the bai: “Well, bring what you wanted.”
Bai got up from his seat and went to the market.
And the kaziy rejoices, his heart almost bursts with joy: “What could this be, and even in its entire girth?! Probably a jug full of silver or gold. When will he bring it?
Let the kaziy sit and wait, and you listen about the bai.
Leaving the casium, the bai went straight to the market and bought a large watermelon, the size of a ram. He grabbed the watermelon with both hands and dragged it to the casium.
“Wow, poor guy also brought me a watermelon!” - Kaziy thought.
Then the bai came up and put the watermelon in front of the kazi. “Bai, you even went for a watermelon!” Kaziy was touched.
“We promised, so we will keep our word, sir.” The kaziy’s heart trembled with a bad feeling, but the bai cut the watermelon in two, moved one half to the kaziy, and the other for himself.
- Take it, sir! - the bai treated.
They both ate enough, and what was left was left. Finally, the bai said:
- Well, you ate the watermelon, now don’t listen to that fool. Let us leave, sir.
But Kaziy said:
- Don’t delay, bai. Bring the same thing.
- Mister, Kaziy, I don’t understand what you’re talking about?
- How? Have you forgotten? You then showed that you would give me something big. That's why I scolded the farm laborer and drove him away.
- Yes, sir, now I understand. Yes, it's a watermelon. You saw it yourself, you couldn’t grab it with both hands, you dragged it by force. What else do you need?
“Go,” the kaziy said angrily, “get out of here!” I believed you and lost a lot of money.
Bai got up and left.
And Kaziy even fell ill from grief.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru