One day, two sailors set off on a journey around the world to find their destiny. They sailed to an island where the leader of one of the tribes had two daughters. The eldest is beautiful, but the youngest is not so much.
One of the sailors said to his friend:
- That’s it, I found my happiness, I’m staying here and marrying the leader’s daughter.
“Yes, you’re right, the leader’s eldest daughter is beautiful and smart.” You made the right choice - get married.
- You didn’t understand me, friend! I will marry the chief's youngest daughter.
-Are you crazy? She's so... not really.
- This is my decision, and I will do it.
The friend sailed further in search of his happiness, and the groom went to get married. It must be said that it was customary in the tribe to give a ransom for the bride in cows. A good bride cost ten cows.
He drove ten cows and approached the leader.
- Leader, I want to marry your daughter and I’ll give ten cows for her!
- This is a good choice. My eldest daughter is beautiful, smart, and worth ten cows. I agree.
- No, leader, you don’t understand. I want to marry your youngest daughter.
-Are you kidding? Don't you see, she's so... not very good.
- I want to marry her.
- Okay, but as an honest person I can’t take ten cows, she’s not worth it. I'll take three cows for her, no more.
- No, I want to pay exactly ten cows.
They got married.
Several years passed, and the wandering friend, already on his ship, decided to visit his remaining comrade and find out how his life was. He arrived, walked along the shore, and was met by a woman of unearthly beauty.
He asked her how to find his friend. She showed. He comes and sees: his friend is sitting, kids are running around.
- How are you living?
- I'm happy.
Then that same beautiful woman comes in.
- Here, meet me. This is my wife.
- How? Did you get married again?
- No, it's still the same woman.
- But how did it happen that she changed so much?
- And you ask her yourself.
A friend approached the woman and asked:
- Sorry for my tactlessness, but I remember what you were like... not very much. What happened to make you so beautiful?
“It’s just that one day I realized that I was worth ten cows.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru