There lived an old man with two sons in the same village. The time has come for the old man to die. He called his sons and said:
- My dear children, I leave you an inheritance. But it is not inheritance that will make you rich. Three pieces of advice are more valuable than money, more valuable than goodness. If you remember them, you will live in abundance all your life. Here are my tips, remember them. Do not bow to anyone first - let others bow to you. Eat all foods with honey. Always sleep on down jackets.
The old man died.
The sons forgot about his advice and let’s live for our own pleasure - drink and walk, eat a lot and sleep long. In the first year, all my father’s money was spent; the next year, all the livestock was spent. In the third year, they sold everything that was in the house. There was nothing left to eat. Elder brother says:
“But my father, in addition to the inheritance, left us three pieces of advice.” He said that with them we will live in abundance all our lives.
The younger brother laughs:
- I remember these tips, but what are they worth? The father said: “Do not bow to anyone first - let others bow to you.” To do this you have to be rich, and nowadays you won’t find anyone poorer than us in the entire district. He said: “Eat all food with honey.” Do you hear, with honey! Yes, we don’t have stale cakes, let alone honey! He said: “Always sleep on down jackets.” It would be nice to wear down jackets. And our house is empty, not even the old felt mat (felt bedding) remains.
The elder brother thought for a long time, and then said:
“You’re laughing in vain, brother.” We did not understand our father’s instructions then. And in his words there is wisdom. He wanted us to be the first to come to work in the field at first light, and then everyone who passed by would be the first to greet us. When you have worked well all day and return home tired and hungry, even a stale flatbread will seem sweeter than honey. Then any bed will seem desirable and pleasant to you, you will sleep sweetly, like on a down jacket.
The next day, just before dawn, the brothers went to the field. They arrived before everyone else. When people go to work, they are the first to greet them, wish them a good day, good work. The brothers did not straighten their backs all day, and in the evening the cake with tea seemed sweeter to them than honey. Then they fell asleep on the floor and slept like on down jackets.
So they worked every day, and in the fall they reaped a good harvest and again lived in abundance, and the respect of their neighbors returned to them.
They often remembered their father's wise advice.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru