One poor man worked for a blacksmith, he worked faithfully. For his work he received shelter and food. So twenty years passed. And the poor man was about to leave, he asked the blacksmith to pay him for his work. The blacksmith became sad:
- Stay, work for at least another year. – he says, “You were like a son to me, a good helper in everything.”
“When I left,” the worker answers, “I left my young wife at home.” She promised to wait for me for twenty years. So I can't stay any longer.
There is nothing to do. The blacksmith took his worker to a secret room and gave him three gold pieces.
“Go with God,” the blacksmith said goodbye. “I didn’t give you a very big reward, but that’s all I have, because a blacksmith doesn’t live well.” But if you ever need help, come to me.
That's where we parted. The worker set off on his way to his home village.
On the way, he met three travelers who were walking in the same direction as him - two young men, and a gray-haired old man could barely keep up with them. The young people got into conversation with the former blacksmith's assistant. They asked him about where he worked, how much he earned and where he was going and told him about himself. And the old man was silent and, smiling, watched the birds scurrying through the bushes along the road.
-Who is this silent old man? – asked the former blacksmith’s assistant.
“This is our father,” the young men answered, “And he is silent because he is more interested in listening to the conversations of birds, he knows the bird language.” He is so wise that his every word is precious, he never wastes them.
- And how much is his advice worth? – asked the worker.
- For a few words he takes gold. - There was an answer to him.
The worker thought: “I will not become poor if I give the old man one gold piece for his wise advice.” With these thoughts, he took out his pocket and gave the gold one to the old man.
- Don't go into troubled waters! - he said.
As they walked on, the worker looked at the old man as he listened to the chirping of the birds, and thought: “I wonder what this old man will say to me if I give him the second gold?” And he took out the second gold one and gave it to the old man.
“When you see vultures circling above the ground, come and find out what happened there,” said the old man and fell silent again.
“Wow,” thought the worker. “I’ve seen birds circling above the ground so many times, but I’ve never come to find out what’s going on. I’ll give the old man my third gold piece, it doesn’t matter what happens with him or without him.” And he gave the old man the last coin.
“When the time comes to decide something, first count to twenty-five.”
Soon the four travelers reached a fork in the road, and it was time for each to go in his own direction. They said goodbye, and the worker walked further towards his village. Soon a river blocked his path; he had to cross it through a ford. But the water in the river was seething and swirling. The former blacksmith's assistant remembered the old man's first advice - not to go into choppy waters and decided to relax on the shore and think about what to do next. He sat down on the grass and took out a piece of bread.
Then the sound of hooves was heard and a horseman appeared on the shore.
- Why don’t you cross the river? – he asked the worker.
“Yes, I don’t want to go into rushing water,” he answered.
“What an eccentric,” the rider thought, spurred his horse and it rushed into the water. They were spun in a whirlpool in the water, the rider drowned, and the horse managed to get back to the shore. The worker caught the horse and galloped off to look for the bridge.
Soon he found a bridge and continued on his way. As he drove past a ravine, he saw vultures circling above it. He remembered the old man's second advice, turned off the road and galloped there to find out what had happened there.
There he saw three dead men, pistols and a bag full of gold coins lay nearby. These were robbers who could not divide the money, quarreled and shot each other. The former blacksmith's assistant took the bag of coins and continued on his way.
And finally, he reached his native village. Before entering the house, he decided to look out the window. He saw a festive table set, at which his wife and a man he did not know were sitting. The man was sitting with his back to the window.
The worker shuddered in surprise, pulled out a pistol and wanted to shoot his unfaithful wife. Yes, I remembered the old man’s third advice in time - count to twenty-five before making a decision. And while he was counting, the man stood up from the table and said:
“I’ll go, mother, in search of my father.” How many years have passed since we saw him.
- When he left home, you were three months old. Twenty years have passed, son.
“Oh, I almost caused trouble,” thought the former blacksmith worker and shouted out the window:
- Wife, son, come out to meet the guest!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru