Once upon a time there was a boy in the world, such an idiot and a terrible poor man. Day after day he clicked his teeth from hunger and went to bed without eating: there was nothing to buy bread with. The guy would have completely disappeared if it weren’t for the neighbors: at least occasionally they would feed him or give him a trivial job - to go get water or, say, to cut wood and put it in a woodpile. They tried to teach him a craft, so that he could become, like his father, a good worker, a master, - after all, he was a healthy fellow, it was time to get down to business! They sent him into the forest with the woodcutters and loaned him the donkey: let the guy chop the wood and sell it at the market. Yes where there! The guy's head is like an empty pumpkin.
But the guy had both Happiness and Intelligence. It’s just a pity - they betrayed their master, got lost in an unknown place - so he became stupid.
For a long time, the boy’s Happiness and Intelligence traveled around the world, and finally they accidentally met each other.
“Hello, brother Um,” Happiness said, smiling. “We went in different directions and forgot about each other.” What are you missing?
“Yes, just like you,” Um answered with a grin. - But why all these questions?
- Isn’t it clear why? “You realized it, but you don’t want to admit it,” Happiness answered.
- Maybe it's because of the boy?
“Well, you see, you guessed it,” answered Happiness. - Listen, we need to help him. That's no good!
“Well, if you want, I agree, we’ll help.”
They came to an agreement - and let's help the boy. He instantly wised up and no matter what he undertook, from then on he succeeded. To begin with, he asked his neighbors for a donkey and went into the forest, began to look for a larger and thicker beech tree so that he could cut it down, saw it and chop it into wood for sale. He wanted to choose a better tree, and not like it used to be - a bunch of dead wood worth one and a half pennies.
So he chose a beech tree and began to chop as best he could. The mighty tree crackled, fell to the ground, and gold coins suddenly fell out of the hollow. At first the guy didn’t even understand how lucky he was: he hadn’t seen gold coins in his life! Still, he collected them carefully, hid them in a sack - Happiness told him to do so, and then he chopped two huge bundles of excellent beech firewood, loaded them onto a donkey and rode home.
At home, a guy poured coins out of a bag and finally realized: “It’s not good to put everything on display right away. I’d rather do it this way: I’ll take one coin and take a gold hammer for testing. Let him evaluate it, and then we’ll see what to do.” The guy, apparently, has really wised up in earnest.
Zolotobit took the coin and tried it on the tooth, and then etched it with acid. He sees pure gold. He began to bargain with the boy. Well, and then the guy realized: “The coin is probably worth a lot if the cunning old man is fussing so much and doesn’t want to return it!”
The goldsmith told him:
- Demand what you want, but sell me this bronze coin. I need bronze for fine work.
Boy to him:
“I didn’t bring you the coin to sell.” I inherited it from my father, so I wanted to find out its price!
And the cunning man did not sell the gold coin, but he still found out its price, and even realized: “If the goldsmith gives so much, it means it’s worth more. I’ll try again, maybe they’ll give more somewhere.”
The guy took the coin from the goldsmith’s hands and went to another one. Then - to the third, and then sold it to a moneylender for a good price. A boy with a lot of money returned home.
“Aren’t these coins made of gold?” he thought. “I’ll have to find out the price in another city and sell it at a higher price, otherwise they’ll cheat me and even start laughing.”
The boy took his coins and hit the road, walking from town to town, always finding out the price. In the first city I sold one gold piece and got a good price. I came to another city - they gave twice for a coin... In the third - three times. So he wandered all the way to the capital and sold all the gold there, becoming a rich man. Mind and Happiness followed him and helped him. And he decided to engage in trade to increase his wealth. He looked around, found out which goods were in greatest demand, rented shops in the shopping arcades, filled them with all sorts of goods, hired faithful assistants, and so he turned around - well, just like an experienced merchant! Everyone was amazed at the intelligence and wealth of the visiting merchant. And he was very handsome. Buyers flocked to him, because his shops had a large selection, and the price was much lower than that of other merchants, and he knew how to accept a buyer. In a word, things went briskly. The guy became famous throughout the capital city.
The rumor about the new merchant reached the king. The king's entourage marveled at the new shops, and they began to buy all sorts of goods there - everything that was needed for the royal army. And then the tsar himself declared the guy his supplier. He began to sell goods to the king, but remained silent about money. I supplied it for a whole year, but not a word about the payment.
The king was surprised at such patience. After all, other merchants, every month, came to him for money! He called the guy to his place, paid him generously and immediately agreed that the guy would remain his supplier for the next year.
At the same time, the king arranged a feast in his palace, invited the most eminent people: famous military leaders, pashas, governors, all sorts of nobles, gray-haired advisers - in a word, all the nobility. Well, the guy was invited to the feast. He received the royal invitation, immediately went to the tailor, ordered himself a colorful, expensive dress - like something for a court or a wedding - dressed up and went to the holiday. And he looked good in this outfit - a sight for sore eyes, that’s all!
Well, he went to the palace. Intelligence and Happiness did not leave him: together with the guy they came to the king, so that, therefore, at any moment they could help their master, if necessary. They seated the young merchant in a place of honor, next to the pashas, as befits an important guest. Well, the guy, in a smart dress, just seemed like an angel to everyone: he was both handsome and smart - it was impossible to take your eyes off him.
So we ate a little and drank; The queen came out to treat the guests and say a welcoming word to them. Well, the tsar’s daughter came along with the queen. When the girl saw the young guest, she fell in love with him with all her soul. As soon as she left the hall, she immediately demanded: marry me to this young man as soon as possible.
- What are you saying, daughter, is this really possible? - said the queen. - Is it possible to give you to this guy! He is a simple merchant! He's no match for you. Wait for some prince to be your groom, not this lout!
- Mother, he took my heart full! - answered the girl, shedding tears. - Without him, life is not sweet to me. Either tomorrow you will engage me to him, or - I swear an oath! - I’ll lay hands on myself right away. There will be sin on your soul, in the next world you will answer for it!
The princess locked herself in the little room, lay down and began to cry.
And when the guests left, the queen hurried to the king and told him everything. The king went to his daughter and began to persuade her: give up your idea, is he your equal? Where there! The daughter didn’t even want to listen to anything - know, it was not for nothing that the boy’s Happiness and Intelligence worked here!
“Either I’ll marry my beloved, or I’ll take poison tomorrow!” - the princess answered her parents.
Although the king opposed this marriage, it was more for show. In his heart, he was not averse to marrying her off to a young merchant.
“You know what, dear wife,” he said to the queen, “we’ll marry our daughter to someone she likes.” It’s okay that the groom is of humble birth, as long as our daughter is cheerful and happy.
“If you command so, sir,” answered the queen, “let it be so.” Come here, daughter! Have it your way, we'll engage you to your handsome man. Well, go and wash yourself, and then, you ugly girl, kiss your father and mother’s hand so that we can wish you and your fiancé happiness.
Hearing such words, the princess ran and skipped, immediately washed herself with fragrant soap in the bathhouse, and dressed up. And then she came to the king and queen, bowed to them and kissed both their hands with respect. They immediately sent a messenger to the groom with a message: you will, they say, be the king’s son-in-law, the king will give you his beloved daughter as a wife and will bring you into his house. They brought the guy straight to the king, he bowed at the feet of his father-sovereign and his wife and said:
- I am grateful for the great honor. But I’m no match for you and I’m not worthy to be the sovereign’s son-in-law, because I come from the lowest family. That’s why I ask you, if possible, do not do this, so as not to repent later.
“It’s okay that you are of low birth,” the sovereign answered him, “if I want, you will become so high.” Your Happiness works for you, guy. Take this ring here. Be happy, children!
They agreed. The king set a wedding day. He invited musicians to play at the feast and entertain the guests.
The fun went on for many days. And on the last day of the wedding, Happiness and Intelligence met again.
- Brother Um, where have you been? - Happiness giggled. - Do you see how our guy took off? He became the king's son-in-law! But it’s all me! You know, it’s not for nothing that old people say: “Don’t be born smart, but be born happy!”
“Well, know this, Happiness,” answered the Mind, “if I had not supported the guy, he would never have flown so high.” Without me, Happiness is powerless.
- That's it! - Happiness was offended. - What, in vain, or what, did the king say that I work for a guy?
- Well, since you’re stubborn, that’s enough! - answered Um. - Do without me. I'll stop supporting the guy. Everything will immediately go down the drain for him.
Happiness and Mind quarreled, and the guy's Mind left. And this happened on the very night when the guy was supposed to enter the bedchamber for the first time with his young wife.
The guy became stupid again - just like before. They brought the princess to his sleeping quarters, and he suddenly slapped her in the face and kicked her out of the room. The princess was surprised and knocked on his door again. Another time he slapped her and drove her out of the bedroom. The wife knocked for the third time, and the same thing happened again. And what nonsense he spouted! A five-year-old child would probably speak smarter.
The Tsar's daughter was amazed, ran to her mother's bedchamber and told her everything in order. Well, the queen went to the boy to immediately find out what was the matter. And the young son-in-law spun such nonsense that she decided: the guy was really crazy. They reported to the king. The king ordered the newlywed to be brought in and began to talk with him about all sorts of matters. Whatever he asks, the groom will blurt out something that will make the king’s ears wither. He realized that his son-in-law had gone crazy! They took him away, locked him up, and immediately called the best doctors.
“That’s where the happiness ends, queen!” - the saddened king sighed. - Our son-in-law has lost his mind - and it won’t last long!
“Don’t rush,” answered the queen. - Who knows what else will happen! Maybe he'll get better by morning. Well, the guy went crazy with joy... It happens!
- If it passes by tomorrow, good! - answered the king. “If not, I’ll give him a kick in the ass and kick him out!”
Well, what about Happiness? It saw that the guy had become crazy, became very sad, admitted his mistake and set off on his way. I decided to find Um. Found it and asks:
- Go help the guy. He disgraced himself before the king.
“Well, do you understand?..” began Um.
- Guilty! — Happiness answered. - Just help the guy, and now I will always be inseparable from you. I will atone for my guilt! Forgive me!
When Um heard such speeches, he softened and came to the guy again. He immediately came to his senses and realized what he had said at night. He began to figure out how to justify himself to the king.
They reported to the king that his son-in-law wanted to talk to him. The king ordered him to be brought immediately. And the guy brought a complaint to the king: “What is this? Why did they keep him locked up all night?”
- Leave it alone, son! - the king answered him. “You better listen to what my daughter told us.” Why did you slap her three times? Why did you refuse your bed?
And the guy had already figured out what to answer the king, because Happiness and Intelligence were helping him again.
“Yes, my lord, I definitely slapped her three times.” This is what my father bequeathed to me: when I get married, hit my wife three times so that she firmly remembers the three immutable covenants. The first slap in the face is so that she knows that I am the boss of the house, and I would honor my husband. The second is to honor her father, and the third is to honor her mother. This was the cause of concern.
Having heard intelligent speeches, the king forgave him everything, and the guy began to live in the palace with his young wife. Perhaps he still lives in that state today.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru