There lived an alchemist in one village. He devoted his life to finding a way to obtain gold and silver from simple metals.
As soon as he heard that someone had managed to achieve this, he immediately rushed to the lucky one, trying to find out the secret by any means. However, no matter how hard the alchemist tried, it was all in vain. He spent all his savings on his fruitless pursuits, including his wife’s dowry, but, despite everything, he still believed in success.
One day the alchemist's wife went to the monastery to give alms.
- Well, how are you? – the abbot asked her.
“It’s bad,” the saddened woman sighed. “My husband took up alchemy, got it into his head that he would be able to get gold and silver, and spends his last money on this nonsense. .
“Tell your husband that I know the sure way to get gold and silver.”
As soon as the alchemist heard this news, he rushed to the monastery at full speed.
“I’m ready to tell you the secret, but I don’t have the necessary things for this.” Try to get them.
“Oh my teacher, name these things.” I'll definitely get them!
– Listen carefully! - said the abbot, raising his index finger up. – Deliver me a basket of cuttings of pumpkin, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons and loofah. When you bring everything you need, then we will talk about gold and silver.
The alchemist became sad and, returning home, turned to his wife:
- Tell me, please, where do you think you can get five baskets of cuttings of pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons and loofahs?
- I really don’t know. You can hardly buy so much on the market! - answered the wife.
– I’ll have to grow them in my garden! So he did.
The alchemist planted a lot of pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, peppers and loofahs. They grow, and the alchemist cannot get enough of it.
“Very soon I will have both gold and silver!”
And indeed, the garden produced so many vegetables and fruits that, by selling them at the market, he earned a thousand silver coins. Having cut the cuttings, he loaded them onto a cart and went to the monastery.
“Finally, we have everything that is required to obtain gold and silver,” he turned to the abbot. – What should be done with them?
“Take your time,” he answered with a smile. – How much did you earn from selling vegetables and fruits?
“A thousand silver coins,” answered the alchemist. - So, we have already received silver. - What about gold? How to get gold?
- Well, you are slow-witted, layman. You can exchange silver for gold!
- Thank you, teacher. Now I know the right way to mine gold and silver!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru