Once upon a time there lived a farmer with his wife, and they had a son named Kuzma. He was a good boy, but he was lazy and didn’t want to work. One day the farmer’s wife said: “We don’t need such a sloth, let him go and try his luck on the side.” The farmer agreed and took Kuzma to the forest. He built him a hut and gave him an old horse, five chickens and a stupid rooster.
Kuzma lived there, spending day after day in idleness. One day a fox came to the hut, smelling the smell of chickens. And when Kuzma went hunting, he snuck into the hut and stole one chicken. Returning from the hunt, Kuzma was very surprised: what kind of thief visited his house? The next day he went hunting again and on the way he met a fox. Smiling slyly, the fox asked: “How is the hunt going?” “Excellent,” Kuzma answered. “I wish you good luck,” the fox said, grinning. He then quickly ran to the hut and stole another chicken. Returning home and discovering another chicken was missing, Kuzma was very upset: “Maybe this is the fox’s tricks?” he thought.
The next day, before leaving, he locked all the windows and doors. On the way he met the fox again. The sly fox again asked how the hunt was going and, wishing Kuzma good luck, rushed headlong to the hut. But no matter how he tried to get into the house, he could not: the windows and doors were tightly closed. Suddenly he saw a chimney on the roof and decided to enter the house through the chimney.
But Kuzma didn’t go hunting at that time, but hid in the bushes and saw everything. “Well, now I’ll catch you, you nasty thief!” - Kuzma shouted. “Now I’ll ask you!” “Oh, please, kind Kuzma, don’t kill me,” the fox wailed in a pitiful voice. - Now you won't have to work. All you have to do is pay me in advance for my work. Fry me the thickest chicken in fresh butter.
Kuzma, having thought better, decided to take a risk. He roasted the chicken and fed the fox to his fill. Having eaten, the fox said: “Behind this forest is the kingdom of King Thunderbolt and Queen Lightning.” They have a daughter - the beauty of beauties. She is kind, rich and will soon become your wife. - What, what? Will the princess marry me?! - Kuzma laughed. “You’ll see!” - said the fox. “I gave you my word and I will keep it.”
And the fox ran straight to the royal palace. Running into the throne room, the fox bowed politely and politely said: “I greet you.” Your Highness King Thunderman and Queen Lightning. “Hello, little fox,” answered the king. - What do you need? - I came to you with matchmaking. You have a wonderful girl, and I have an excellent groom for her. - But why didn’t he come himself? Did something happen to him? - asked the king, surprised at the fox’s politeness. “Now he cannot leave his domain,” answered the fox. “He rules over all wild animals and must watch over them.” “A strange occupation for my future son-in-law,” said the king. - Let him send me forty times forty wolves. Then, perhaps, I will agree to marry my daughter to him. The fox ran into the very thick of the forest. There he began to cheerfully sing a song about how heartily he had eaten today. Hearing this song, a wolf approached the fox and asked where he managed to have such a good lunch? “I was at a royal banquet for animals,” said the fox. - Why didn’t you come there? I have never seen so much delicious food and so many animals that came there. “How I love feasts,” the wolf said dreamily. “Take me there with you next time.” “Okay,” said the fox, “But the royal cook will not prepare dinner for one.” He usually cooks for a whole flock. Tomorrow at noon, bring here to me forty times forty wolves, and we will all go to the palace together. We'll have a great time there.
The next day, a huge pack of wolves gathered in the forest at the appointed place. The fox led them to the palace, lining them up in lines of forty.
“Your Doubting Highness,” he said. - Here is what you asked for. Count them. Your future son-in-law sends them to you as a sign of his respect. “Thank you,” said the flattered king. - Drive them to the barnyard. I see that my future son-in-law has excellent animals. Why doesn’t he send me the same number of bears as a gift? The fox ran to Kuzma and said: “I’m hungry.” For my plans to succeed, I must look well-fed. Kill me another chicken for dinner, please.
Having eaten, the fox ran into the royal forest. He lounged under a tree and began to sing in a loud voice about how well he had eaten today. The bear heard his song and came up to ask him where he had been.
“You’re so fat, it’s immediately obvious that you’ve eaten well,” said the bear. “Where did you manage to do this?” “I just returned from the royal banquet for the animals,” said the fox, licking his paws. - What a pity, I couldn’t eat a single crumb. And the banquet is still going on. - Wow! - the bear said dreamily. “Can bears go to the banquet?” “If they come with me, then, of course,” said the fox. “But the fact is that the royal chef only cooks for the whole flock.” Let's meet tomorrow. Take with you forty times forty bears, and I will take you to the palace.
The next day, exactly one thousand six hundred bears were waiting for the fox in the clearing. The fox led them to the palace, forming a line of forty. Entering the throne room, the fox bowed to the king and said: “Your Highness, the bears have arrived.” “Excellent,” said the king and ordered the servants to take the animals to the barnyard. “Well, now I want to get forty times forty minks and then I’ll immediately announce the wedding.” The fox rushed headlong to Kuzma. “Feed me again,” he asked. “I have to look well-fed so that we can be lucky in our affairs.”
Kuzma fried him the last chicken and a stupid rooster. The fox, having eaten, ran again into the royal forest. He, having fallen under a tree, again began to sing a song about how he had eaten well today. Soon a mink appeared in front of him and asked where he managed to eat today? - Today at the royal banquet for animals. There were a lot of trout dishes,” said the fox. “Why didn’t they invite me?” - the mink was surprised. “I don’t know,” the fox answered, “but tomorrow there will be a banquet again on the occasion of the wedding of the royal daughter.” If you want, I will take you to the palace. But to make it more fun, take with you forty times forty minks. The next day, leaving the palace, the king saw forty times forty minks marching to the barnyard. He told the fox:
“Tomorrow the engagement of my daughter to your master will be officially announced.” Tell him that I am inviting him to dinner on this occasion. The next day the fox came to the king and said with a concerned look: “My master is very sorry that he cannot come to you today.” “Why?” - asked the king. “He wanted to give half of his gold as a gift, but he did not have containers large enough to weigh it.” If you can lend him your huge baskets for weighing, things will go faster. - Baskets? - the king was amazed. - Okay, take them.
He was delighted that he would have a son-in-law who measured gold in baskets. The next day, the fox ran back to the palace and said: “Your Highness, your future son-in-law will arrive to you today.” He decided to bring all his gold, and you will take as much as you want.
The king clapped his hands joyfully. The fox ran to Kuzma’s hut. “It’s done!” - he shouted from the threshold. “Today you must marry the daughter of King Thunder and Queen Lightning.” Get ready, we're leaving now.” “Are you sure you're not crazy?” - Kuzma asked. - How can I go to the king? I don’t even have good clothes! “Don’t think about it,” said the fox. - Saddle up your old nag and take your saw with you. Leave the rest to me.
Kuzma listened to the fox. He mounted his old horse and rode after the fox. Having reached the bridge over the river, the fox said to Kuzma: “Do you see the pillars that hold the bridge?” Go and saw them down. Kuzma carried out his orders, and the sawn bridge collapsed into the river. “Now,” said the fox, “undress.” Send your horse home and drown your rags in the river. Stand in the water until your skin turns blue. Then climb up that log floating with the current and wait for me. This is the last work in; of your life, I promise you this.
Kuzma scratched his ear in bewilderment, but did everything exactly. The fox rushed to the palace, yelling loudly: “Guard!!!” Guard!!! Your kindest Highness! Help! What a terrible tragedy! Everything is lost, he dies! - What happened? - the king shouted. “Do you know a bridge across the river, not far from your palace?” He collapsed! He could not stand the huge amount of gold that your future son-in-law was bringing you. My master fell into the water. Gold, horses, servants - everything drowned,” the fox wailed.
The king was horrified by what had happened; he was also very ashamed of his old bridge. He sent servants with dry clothes for his future son-in-law.
The servants found Kuzma, barely alive from the cold. They rubbed him with fragrant ointments and dressed him in royal clothes.
When the king saw Kuzma, stately and handsome in luxurious clothes, he hugged him tightly. He promised him to urgently make a new bridge and asked for forgiveness for being the culprit of his misfortune. Kuzma graciously forgave him.
The bells rang, fireworks sparkled, and Kuzma married the king's daughter and lived happily. He took the fox with him to the palace and fed him with fried chicken in fresh butter until the end of his days.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru