Once upon a time there lived an old bridle. He had three sons. When he died, he left each one a piece of silver.
The brothers did not know what to do with the inheritance. And at this time, rumor brought to them that the beautiful daughter of the khan was showing her face to the one who would pay one hundred pounds of silver, and many young people had already seen the beauty.
The brothers decided to follow the example of others. The elder brother went first. Before reaching the Khan's palace, he met an old man.
- Salaam alaikum, well done! Where are you going?
- Vaaleikum assalam. I’m going to look at the beauty of the Khan’s daughter.
- Tell me, well done, what would you prefer - to see a beauty or to listen to the old man’s advice?
- Why do I need advice from stupid old people? “I’d rather take a look at the beauty,” answered the elder brother.
The old man wished him good luck, and they parted ways.
The elder brother paid sakh silver, and he was shown a crooked maid under the guise of the khan’s daughter. He returned home and began to boast that he had seen the khan’s daughter and to describe her beauty. Then the middle brother set off on his journey. He also met an old man who asked him:
- Oh well done! What is better - to see a beauty or to listen to the advice of an old man?
- Why do I need advice from stupid old people? Of course, I would rather look at the beauty! - answered the middle brother.
The old man also wished him good luck, and they parted ways.
The middle brother paid sakh of silver and was also deceived - they showed him a crooked maid instead of the khan’s daughter.
Finally, the younger brother set off. And he met the same old man.;
- Salaam alaikum, good fellow!
- Vaaleikum assalam, venerable old man!
They talked, and the old man found out that the young man was also going to look at the beauty of the khan’s daughter. Hearing this, the old man asked:
“What’s better—seeing the khan’s daughter or listening to the old man’s advice?”
The younger brother preferred the old man's advice.
“Listen to me,” said the old man, “and you will not only see the beauty, but also take possession of her.” Go to the khan's palace, stand under the windows of the khan's daughter's bedchamber and loudly knock on the hammer with a piece of iron. When they ask you: “Who are you?” - Answer that he is a silversmith. Then you will be allowed into the palace. The rest is up to you.
The old man wished the young man success and left.
And the younger brother did everything as the old man advised: he took a large hammer and began to hit it with a piece of iron.
- What a noise! - the khan’s daughter got angry.
The maid opened the window and saw a young man hitting a hammer with an iron.
“There’s some fool here hitting a hammer with an iron,” she said to her mistress.
The khan's daughter became interested and ordered to ask who he was.
“I’m a silversmith,” came the answer, “I make various jewelry and sell it.” And I knock in order to call buyers.
“He must have jewelry,” thought the khan’s daughter. “It wouldn’t be bad to take possession of them.” Plus he's stupid. After all, no one hits a hammer with an iron!”
On her orders, the young man was allowed into the palace.
“Feed him,” the khan’s daughter commanded.
They brought food. The guest began poking his forehead and ears with a piece of bread.
-Who eats like that? — the khan’s daughter asked in surprise.
“I don’t know how to eat myself,” the guest answered plaintively, “my mother fed me all the time at home.”
And the khan’s daughter began to feed her youngest son, and she herself was delighted: they say, it is easier to deceive the helpless.
When it was time to go to bed, the guest was made to sleep in a separate room. And the khan’s daughter crept up and saw through the crack
ku that the guest is lying on the bare floor, and a blanket, mattress and pillow are lying around.
- Who sleeps like that, fool! - she shouted angrily. “Now lie down properly!”
“Oh, the light of my eyes,” answered the young man. “After all, I myself do not know how to sleep, and therefore every night my mother sleeps next to me.”
- What should I do with you? — the beauty was confused. She had to lie down next to the guest.
They spent the night together, and the next morning... the youngest son slowly left the palace.
So decide what is better - to see a beauty or listen to the advice of an old man?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru