Once a fox fell in love with a peasant. I came to him and let’s declare our love, and he answered - they say, I can’t love you, I have a wife.
“You’re a fool,” says the fox. “Your wife is angry and grumpy, sloppy and ugly, she doesn’t love you and has been wanting to get rid of you for a long time.”
“Well,” answered the peasant, “such is my fate.”
That's where the conversation ended...
The fox stole a large cauldron, filled it with water and put it on fire at a crossroads. A peasant's wife passes by and asks:
- What are you cooking here, fox?
“I collected happiness, luck and wealth from all parts of the world,” the fox answers, “I put them in a cauldron and brewed a witch’s potion.” Whoever bathes in it will become more beautiful, richer and happier than everyone else.
“And if I take a bath in the cauldron,” asks the insidious woman, “will I become more beautiful, richer and happier than everyone else?”
“Of course you will,” the fox answers, “but I’m preparing that brew for myself and won’t allow anyone else to plunge into it.”
- Is the brew ready? - asks the peasant’s wife.
“It’s been ready for a long time,” says the fox. “Now I’ll take off my skin and climb into the cauldron.”
Before the fox had time to finish these words, the woman jumped into the cauldron and was boiled. And the fox, without hesitation for a long time, took off her skin and put it on herself. Then she turned her face to the east and began to read spells, one longer than the other. Before the sun had time to hide behind the treetops, the fox turned into a beautiful girl, looking like a peasant’s wife, just as a beautiful daughter looks like her ugly mother. A peasant comes home, and his young wife greets him at the threshold with a bow. I entered the house, and everything was tidied up, there was not a speck of dust to be found, there were silks and dresses everywhere, and gold and silver coins glittered in the chests. The peasant was surprised and delighted, but did not show it. He had a hearty dinner and went to bed with his young wife. So they lived in contentment and bliss for a year, but one rainy autumn night a wandering Taoist knocked on their door and asked for an overnight stay. The peasant gave shelter to the Taoist, went out to accompany him to the gate in the morning, and the guest said:
- Do you know with whom you share food, shelter and bed?
The peasant smiled and asked:
- Will this knowledge make my life better?
The Taoist thought for a moment, shook his head and, without saying anything, went on his way.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru