In ancient times, the Te region was ruled by an unusually greedy, arrogant and power-hungry ruler. And he made the following rule: every day, after listening to the reports of his subordinates, he sat down in the shade of a spreading banyan tree that grew near the road. Whoever passes or passes by must take off his hat from his head and bow in a low bow. And if the ruler calls out to anyone, he must immediately bring him some kind of gift - be it a chicken or a bunch of bananas. If you don’t have anything with you, be so kind as to work for three or four days in the ruler’s fields.
One day an old woman passed by a banyan tree. She walked from her village to the neighboring one to visit her grandchildren and brought them a gift: eight ripe pineapples and a dozen chicken eggs. The greedy ruler saw the pineapples filled with juice and his mouth began to water. He called the guards and ordered them to take the fruits from the old woman.
“And you, old one,” he turned to the poor woman, “can come to my yard and tell me that I ordered you to pay off for four pineapples.”
It was as if the ruler had given permission to enter his courtyard, but if you try to enter, there are stern guards at every entrance, and angry dogs are growling behind the high fence! So the old woman bowed to the ruler and said:
- O illustrious sir, allow me to present you with these pineapples as a gift. I won’t go to your courtyard for payment; it’s not right for a commoner like me to walk around the estates of official rulers.
The old woman said so and left. And Ngeu, a simple villager, a resourceful and intelligent man, looked after her. Ngeu became angry at the sight of such injustice and decided to get even with the greedy ruler, especially since he himself had long-standing scores to settle with him.
The fact is that for many years Ngeu denied himself everything, from dawn to dusk he bent his back in the field, walked in rags, ate from hand to mouth. And all because he added coin after coin, saving money in order to finally acquire a bull, the best assistant in the peasant farm. He got a shabby, skinny bull, exhausted by hard work from careless owners. Ngeu began to groom and take care of the bull: he fed it richly with green grass, and in the heat, he bathed him in a cool stream, and he plowed on it only in the morning hours. So the bull began to gain strength right before our eyes. Soon he became fat, with shiny sides. Ngeu should live and be happy.
However, the greedy ruler, as they say, had his eye on the poor villager’s bull. I have already tried to take the bull away several times, but Ngeu is not that easy!
On the day when, in front of Ngeu’s eyes, the ruler offended the poor old woman, the peasant finally lost patience. After dinner, he took an armful of straw, rolled it up like a bird’s nest, put a dozen loach fish and one eel inside, then climbed to the top of a spreading banyan tree, under which the ruler liked to sit, and fitted the nest between the branches.
That day, Ngeu and the bull were returning from the field early. Before that, he deliberately bathed the bull in the stream more carefully than usual. Now they are approaching the banyan tree, and the ruler glares at the sleek, handsome bull. And Ngeu walks with his head raised, and is so surprised by something he sees at the top of the tree that he even forgot to take off his hat in time.
- Hey you! – the indignant ruler shouts. “What are you staring at there?” What incredible thing did you see?
- Oh, sorry, illustrious sir! – Ngeu began to justify himself. “I really saw something unusual at the top of the tree.” Look for yourself: the bindweed fish have built a nest there.
- Fish? Nest? – the ruler asked. “What a fool you are, though!” What kind of nonsense are you talking about: the fish have built a nest! Are you planning to make fun of me? Look at me!
“Would I dare to make fun of you, illustrious sir?” Everyone in our district knows that bindweeds love to build nests in tall trees. Just last year I myself removed a nest with fish from the same tree. There was also an eel there. If you don’t believe me, ask my wife, she won’t let me lie.
The ruler decided to make a fool of the simple-looking peasant and said mockingly:
- If you are so sure that you are right, I am ready to bet with you. If you prove that fish make nests in trees, I will give you my robe, an ivory plate - a sign of my official dignity, my estate and land. But if there is no nest on the tree, then, don’t blame me, I’ll take your bull.
Ngeu thought for a moment, showed hesitation on his face, then said:
- What are you talking about! Does a simple villager like me dare to make a bet with a distinguished gentleman? This has never happened before. Besides, let me warn you that you will still lose the argument: with my own eyes I see a fish nest on a tree.
- Don't worry about me! - the ruler shouted. - Better say goodbye to your bull quickly.
And Ngeu has only one concern: as soon as possible someone else appears on the road so that he has a witness. How else will you force the official gentleman to keep his word?! Luckily, two buffalo and oxen traders came out from around the bend. So the peasant says:
“Illustrious sir, to be sure, let’s call these two venerable merchants as witnesses.”
The ruler graciously nodded his head, and the merchants witnessed their dispute. Ngeu was just about to climb the tree, but the ruler stopped him:
- No, let the guards climb the tree. In the meantime, say goodbye to the bull, soon he will be mine. So that you won’t be so offended, you can wear my dress and take the ivory plate. Ha ha ha! Show off at least for a little while in a brocade robe!
Ngeu did not hesitate, dressed up as an important gentleman and sat down under the banyan tree to wait. Meanwhile, the guards climbed the tree. A few minutes passed, and they descended, holding in their hands a nest in which lay a dozen loaches and an eel.
The ruler's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped. Standing there, he can’t say a word. Ngeu thanked the witnesses and released them in peace. Then he ordered the guards to bring all the ruler’s goods and divided them equally among all the inhabitants of the village.
For a long time the cunning Ngeu lived in contentment and happiness, he plowed the land, grew corn and rice, and never forgot to throw an extra armful of hay to his handsome bull.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru