They say that in the old days, during the dry season, senior officials often drove people to hunt. This hunt brought many troubles to the common people. We had to wander for a long time through distant forests and give the hunted animals to the elders. That was the way it was, and no one dared to break this custom.
Only the mischievous Kuoi could dare to play a joke on the official foreman. And so, on the night before the hunt, Kuoi took a bamboo tube with boiled rice, a good piece of fried meat to the place where hunters usually stop for a rest, and hid them in the bushes. Then, not far from the place where the foreman was taking the prey from the people, Kuoi hid the deer he had caught.
As soon as the day dawned, the calling sounds of a gong were heard in the village. And everyone - some with a spear, some with a bow - gathered in the square. One Quoi continued to sleep, curled up under the covers. The foreman noticed that Kuoi was not among the hunters, got angry and galloped to his house. The foreman ran into the house, pushes Kuoi in the side, and the cunning man does not even think of getting up, muttering in his sleep to leave him alone. The sergeant-major finally stirred him up, and Kuoi kept repeating:
“How can I, venerable sir, go hunting when I have nothing prepared—the rice is not cooked, and the spear is not in stock.”
The foreman did not want to heed Kuoy’s pleas, dragged him out of the house and drove him to hunt.
Kuoi walks, drooping, muttering something plaintively, and only one answer to all questions:
“I fell asleep, forgot about everything, didn’t even have time to cook rice for the road, didn’t have time to ask my neighbors for a spear and bow and arrows. Apparently, I cannot escape punishment. I need to say a prayer so that the deities will have mercy on me...
The road passed by the temple of the god Then, and Kuoi jumped out from the crowd of hunters and dashed straight into the gates of the temple. The senior official decided that the sly man intended to sneak away, rushed after him, ran into the temple and saw: Kuoi bent over the smoking incense and whispering something.
- Hey, Quoy, are you planning to run away? - the foreman shouted menacingly.
“You, venerable sir, did not wish me well, did not leave me at home so that I could cook rice for the journey, prepare a spear or a bow.” So I came to complain to God Then. Only now I'm not afraid of you! God sent me a magic staff! - And Kuoi raised the bamboo stick high, threw it over his shoulder and joyfully walked out of the temple.
From such words, the official foreman became even more incensed and ordered the hunters not to give Kuoi rice or help him in any way during the hunt.
“Let's see how the bamboo stick can help you out! - the foreman thinks with gloating. “Wait with me, I’ll soon get even with you...”
The hunters came to the place where they usually make a halt to refresh themselves. Kuoi’s fellow villagers feel sorry for him, everyone is ready to share rice with him, but the foreman does not allow it, he vigilantly watches everyone so that no one dares to come close to Kuoi.
Only Kuoi doesn’t care at all - he sits and sings songs. The foreman got angry, ran up to Kuoi and ordered him to immediately, even from underground, get some rice for himself, and if he did not carry out the order, he would skin him. The villagers were afraid for their favorite, the merry fellow Kuoi, and he smiled and said:
“I haven’t had time to get hungry yet.” But as soon as I want to eat, the magic staff will immediately deliver everything to me.
- So please serve some boiled rice here immediately! - the sergeant-major shouted and grabbed his gun. - Otherwise I'll shoot you!
Kuoi was not at all afraid, stood up calmly, raised his staff and cast the following spell:
- Oh magic staff! O magical staff! Send me rice, send me meat! - And with all his strength he threw the stick into the bushes.
The sly man waited a minute, rushed into the very thicket, where his staff hid, and then came out of the bushes, carrying a bamboo tube with boiled rice and fried meat. The villagers saw such a miracle, clapped their hands with joy and shouted. Only the official foreman was silent, his eyes were bloodshot from anger, just like he was about to burst.
Kuoi shared rice and meat with everyone. The hunters ate, rested and began to prepare for the hunt. Only Quoi doesn’t think about anything, doesn’t show any concern. He made himself comfortable under a tree, lit a fire and warmed himself up.
This time the official sergeant-major remained silent, but thought to himself: “Okay, sit down and warm yourself! Only the time will come to hand over the loot, and if you don’t hand it over to me, blame yourself!..”
When evening fell, the hunters began to gather, each carrying his own prey - some a fox, some a hare. Quoi alone is not going to carry anything.
“Hey, Quoy,” the foreman shouts, “are you thinking of rebelling?”
“You know, venerable one,” the cunning man humbly answers, “that I have neither a spear nor a bow.” And they themselves ordered that no one should help me on the hunt. Can you really catch a beast with your bare hands? So I have nothing to please you with.
- Where is your magic staff? - asks the foreman.
- Thank you, sir! “After all, I completely forgot about the staff,” the cunning man responded joyfully. “Now I’ll get whatever game I want!”
Kuoi raised his staff and cast a spell in a loud voice:
- Oh magic staff! O magical staff! Send me a fat deer! - And threw a bamboo stick into the bushes.
Then everyone heard the plaintive cry of a deer, rushed into the bushes, and there a tied deer lay! The hunters shouted with joy, surrounded Kuoy, and congratulated him. One senior official stands there, unable to say anything, his mouth open, his eyes bulging. Now he looks at the deer, now at the bamboo staff. And then the foreman decided to take possession of the magic staff. It is not suitable for such a miracle to belong to a commoner.
“Listen,” he addressed Kuoi in an insinuating voice, “you are very lucky.” But why do you need a staff? What are you going to do with it? Give it to me, and I’ll give this gun for it.
Kuoi realized that the foreman had fallen for his trick, shook his head, and never agreed. The cunning man waited until the foreman forced all his fellow villagers to beg him, only then, with great reluctance, he agreed:
“So be it, venerable one, out of respect for my fellow villagers, I will give you my staff.” But please fulfill my two conditions: return the prey to all the hunters and swear not to hold a grudge against me if suddenly the staff does not want to obey you.
- Let everyone be witnesses, I accept both of your conditions!
Kuoi took the gun from the foreman and handed him a bamboo staff. The official foreman received a magic staff and became proud.
- I return to you people everything that you brought! - he exclaimed. “I don’t need your pitiful offerings anymore.” From now on I own a magic staff, and the largest animals and birds will become my prey. First of all, I want to get a tiger! Look, O people!
The official foreman, imitating Kuoi, raised his staff and uttered a spell in a thunderous voice:
- Oh magic staff! O magical staff! Send me, the senior official, a big tiger! - And threw a bamboo stick into the bushes.
The stick rustled in the bushes, but there was no tiger growl in response. The foreman looked at the bushes, rode up to them on his horse, parted the branches - no one! Only the nimble squirrels rushed in all directions!
The villagers then realized how Kuoi had fooled the senior official, and the surrounding mountains trembled with friendly laughter. People laughed at the greedy foreman for a long time, and his hands shook with rage and his face turned purple.
The sergeant-major yelled, demanding the return of his gun and hunting spoils, and moved his horse towards the people. But the hunters were not afraid, they put out their spears, raised their bows and everyone laughed right in the face of the official gentleman. The foreman got cold feet and galloped away, not even daring to turn his head.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru