In ancient times, there lived an important official with his son.
The official was very smart. And his son was even smarter. Therefore, the father did not start any business without consulting his son. One day an official wanted to fish. He called his son and began to consult what length to make the fishing rod.
“But the longer, the better,” said the son, after thinking. Then the official ordered the two servants: “Make me a bamboo fishing rod of length by tomorrow...” here he took a breath and finished: “six jan and six chi long.”
The servants bowed respectfully and backed out of the room. But as soon as they crossed the threshold and found themselves in the courtyard, they squatted down and began to laugh. A maid who was washing clothes came up to them, and when she found out what was the matter, she also began to laugh. Soon the whole official's house was laughing - from the decrepit watchman to the little cook.
However, they did as the owner ordered. By morning the fishing rod was ready. That's the fishing rod! It didn’t fit along the yard; I had to put it diagonally.
The official took the fishing rod, threw it over his shoulder and went fishing with his son. They passed one street, turned into another and approached the city wall. This is where the trouble started. The official went through the gate, but the fishing rod did not go through. She rested against the top crossbar of the gate and did not allow the official to go further. The official was confused. But the son said:
- It’s okay, father, I’ll think of something.
He sat down on a stone to make it easier to think, and the official with a fishing rod stood nearby and waited. After some time the son said:
- You need to turn the fishing rod across the gate. And they turned the fishing rod across. But even so she did not pass through the gate.
The official was completely upset. And the son began to think again. This time he thought even longer.
Finally he slapped his forehead and said:
- Now I have found the right way! I'll climb the wall and you'll hand me the fishing rod. And then you go through the gate, and I will give you the fishing rod.
With these words, he began to climb the city wall. But the wall was high, his fingers slid along the smooth stones, and then broke off from barely noticeable ledges. So he waited for half an hour or more and then said with annoyance:
- No, you can’t do without a ladder!
The official looked around and saw a boy not far away, looking at them with interest.
“Come here, boy,” the official said with dignity and beckoned him with his finger. When the boy approached, the official asked:
- Do you know where my house is? “How can you not know,” the boy responded briskly. - Well, then run there and bring a big ladder. For this I will give you three copper coins. - Oh sir! Consider your order fulfilled,” the boy answered and extended his hand for the coins. “But I don’t see the stairs yet,” said the official. “Let’s look into this matter properly,” the boy began. - What is the ladder for? To climb onto the wall. Why climb the wall? In order to drag a fishing rod on the other side of the gate. So, if I drag the fishing rod without the help of a ladder, I will deserve the same, and perhaps even greater, reward, dear sir, as if I had actually brought the ladder.
The official, who did not understand anything, looked at his son. The son wrinkled his brow and said:
- This boy is extremely stupid. Give him three coins in advance - maybe he will become more understanding and still bring the ladder.
The boy laughed, deftly picked up the coins, put them behind his cheek and, taking the fishing rod by the thin end, dragged it out of the gate.
“But the boy is not as stupid as he seems,” said the official. “That’s because an ignoramus always remains an ignoramus,” the son muttered with contempt. “Such ignoramuses do not know how to think at all and make the most complex things too simple.”
And, satisfied with each other, father and son headed towards the river. Whether they caught anything with a fishing rod is no longer our business.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru