One khan decided to check how the people carried out his orders. He ordered his viziers to declare that his subjects should not do anything and should not light fires at night.
The viziers reported to the khan that the order had been announced and the people were carrying it out exactly. Khan disguised himself as a beggar and went around the city at night. He was walking down a dark street when he noticed a light. He approached the house, opened the door and asked for alms.
A shoemaker lived in this house. He was sitting at work. When the beggar entered, the shoemaker stood up and handed him a small cake.
“After all, there was an order from the khan that no one should do anything and that no candles should be lit at night,” said the beggar. “Why don’t you carry out the will of your master?”
“You received alms,” said the shoemaker, “so go with God.” The Khan who gave such a command is a fool! Judge for yourself, if I didn’t work, how would I exist? I'm a poor man. From my work every day I receive four tenigs of benefit and four tengi of loss.
Khan did not object to the shoemaker’s words and returned to his house. He called for the viziers and told them:
“I believed that you were smarter than ordinary people, and therefore I singled you out from others and showered you with favors. Now I will ask you a question that you must answer. From my activities I receive daily four tengi in loss and four tengi in profit. So this is how much profit I have
and how much benefit? I give you three days: if you do not answer me this question or do not find a person who could answer it, I will order you to be executed.
Three days passed, and the viziers still could not solve the question asked. They were about to flee from the wrath of the khan, when at that time a shoemaker came to them and declared that he would guess the khan’s question if he was given a good reward for it.
The viziers with great joy gave the shoemaker four thousand dili and took him to the khan.
“Oh takhsyr,” said the shoemaker. “I receive four tengi for loss and four tengi for profit in the following way.” I give one tenga - I pay a new debt, I give another tenga - I pay off the old debt, I throw the third tenga into the well, and my wife and I live on the fourth tenga.
“Everyone understands that you spend one tenga on yourself and your wife,” said the khan. “But you explain to us where you spend the other three tenga.”
The shoemaker said:
“I give one tenga in return to my son so that he can feed me in my old age.” I pay one tenga as an old debt to my father and mother for feeding and raising me; finally, I throw one tenga into the well, that is, I feed my daughter.
Khan liked this answer from the shoemaker, and he made him his vizier.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru