One day Ngoi came to the city and entered the service of a European. One day the owner hands him a check and says:
- Ngoi, take this check and go to the bank, they will give you thirty thousand francs.
- Will they give me thirty thousand francs? — Ngoi asked in surprise.
- Well, yes.
- Thank you!
He came to the bank and asked where he could get money. The attendant escorted him, and Ngoi handed the check to the cashier, and he opened a large safe, began counting out one thousand francs: one, two, three, four... and so on until thirty, and then asked:
- Is everything right?
“Hey,” Ngoi replies.
He went down the wide stairs of the bank, but instead of going with the money to the owner, he went straight to his home and rejoiced beyond words. Having hidden some of the money at home, he and the rest went shopping. First of all, Ngoi bought bicycles: one for himself, one for his older brother, and one for his middle brother. And then he went to the post office and sent five thousand francs to his parents.
Finally the owner had enough of Ngoi. He called the bank, but they only answered that the person he sent had indeed received the money three days ago.
- What could have happened to him? - the European asked himself. On the fourth day he called his servants and said:
- Go and see if Ngoi is at home? Perhaps he got sick? Then take the money he received from the bank by check and bring it here quickly.
So two servants come to Ngoi, what do they see? He sits quietly in front of the house and drinks palm wine!
They say:
- Listen, friend, the owner sent us to you.
- Is that so? Why? - Ngoi was surprised.
And they answer:
- I suppose you know it well!
- I have no idea! - Ngoi exclaimed. However, he put on his best new suit, put on his hat and went to the owner. Seeing the smart Ngoi, the owner gathered all his patience and asked:
“Where are the thirty thousand francs for which I sent you to the bank?”
“But you told me to take them for myself,” Ngoi replied calmly.
- What nonsense! - cried the European. “I told you to get it and bring it to me.” Where's the money?
- And I’ve already spent them! - answered a pleased Ngoi.
The owner became furious and dragged Ngoi to court. There the judge asks Ngoi:
- How dare you spend other people's money?
“It’s not my fault,” Ngoi answers him. “The owner said: “Take this check, go to the bank, and they will give you thirty thousand francs.” I thought that this check was for me.
The judge decided that the European himself had made a mistake by inaccurately explaining his order, and acquitted Ngoi. All he had to do was return the money that was still left to the owner. That was the end of the matter.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru