There lived a young guy named Umcheni. He had a younger brother whose name was Vindya. The brothers worked for the rich man Baegda. Baegda had a lot of deer. He was unmarried. After tending the rich man's reindeer, Vindya did all the housework: he carried firewood and water, and cooked food. From constant hard work, Windy's hands were covered with wounds and burns. Sometimes the rich man ordered Windya to get meat for him from a boiling cauldron with his bare hands, and Windya did this because he was stupid.
When the rich man Beegdy went somewhere, Umcheni said to his brother:
- Brother, why are we suffering so much? I herd deer day and night, but I walk around in torn clothes and am constantly hungry. Even though you are preparing food for the rich man, you are also starving, and your hands are burned and covered with wounds. The rich man does not feed us, one eats the prepared food, and we only get leftovers. What can we do to become real people? “I can’t think of anything,” says Vindya, “you come up with something.”
One day, returning from the herd, the elder brother said to Winda:
— When I was herding deer, I found grass. This herb has a pleasant smell and taste. Deer eat this grass and get better from it.
“If you can eat it, then bring it to me,” asked Vindya.
“Okay,” says Umcheni, “I’ll bring it.”
Umcheni went to his deer, which were grazing near a small lake. Wild onions grew on the shore of the lake. Umcheni pulled out two onions and took them to his brother. He brought it and said:
-Here, eat!
Windya tasted the onion and said:
-What a delicious herb! Brother, where did you find her?
“One man gave me this herb,” said Umcheni. -Where is that man? Show it to me! I want to ask him for this herb.
“If you liked it,” said Umcheni, “I’ll ask for more for you.”
The next day Umcheni again brought wild onions and said to his younger brother:
“You boil the grass along with the meat and give it to Beegda to eat.” He will like this food, and he will definitely ask you where you got the grass. Then you tell him that my brother has found a kind, rich owner. Whatever his brother asks of him, he gives it to him. So the rich man gave him this grass.
Umcheni went to the deer, and Vindya cooked the meat along with wild onions.
Beegdy returned to his yurt and felt an unusual smell at the entrance.
— Vindya, what does that smell like? - asked Baegdy.
“Umcheni brought tasty herbs and taught me to cook it along with meat,” answered Uinya.
-Where did he get this grass?
“My brother found himself an owner, very rich, with large herds of deer,” said Vindya.
Baegdy began to eat meat cooked with wild onions, and he really liked it.
The next day, when Umcheni came from the pasture, Beegdy asked him:
- Umcheni, where did you find such delicious grass-food? — I found a very rich owner. Whatever I ask, he gives me.
Beegdy says:
- Ask him for more edible grass for me. I really liked this herb.
“Okay, I’ll ask,” says Umcheni, “only you have to help me.” My master lives in the lake. Let's go to the lake together. When we arrive, you tie me with straps and leave me on the shore. If this is not done, the rich man will not produce edible grass.
“Well, what kind of person can live in a lake,” says Baegdy, “you’re deceiving me!”
- No, I’m not lying! Let's go to the lake and take a look!
Went. Umcheni hid two onions in his pocket. We came to the lake. We came to the very edge of it. The lake is smooth and transparent, like a mirror. As soon as they approached, two shadows appeared on the surface of the lake.
Umcheni, pointing to the reflections in the lake, said:
- Well, Beegdy, do you see my rich owners? Baegdy believed: he mistook his reflection and the reflection of Umcheni for the people living in the lake.
There were deer grazing on the shore of the lake. Their shadows were also visible in the lake. Umcheni said:
- Look, Beegdy, how many deer the owner of the lake has! Then Umcheni, carefully so that the rich man Beegdy would not see, began to wave his hand, holding a wild bow in his hand.
- Look, look, Beegdy, the owner of the lake wants to give me edible grass.
Baegdy was very surprised:
“What you said is true, Umcheni, there is a rich man in the lake.” Ask him for some edible grass quickly before he disappears.
“I’ll ask,” said Umcheni, “but he won’t understand my words.” He will give it if I am tied with straps. Go get some strong straps and tie me up! Beegdy ran to the yurt and brought strong belts.
“Well, now tie me up,” says Umcheni, “and put me near the lake itself.” I will ask for as much edible herb for you as you want.
Baegdy tied up Umcheni and left him on the shore of the lake until the morning.
In the morning Beegdy came to the lake and asked Umchen:
- Well, did the owner of the lake give you some edible grass?
“He said that overnight a lot of this grass grew near the lake. Untie me, let's go see!
Baegdy untied. Then Umcheni led him to the place where he had previously found thickets of wild onions.
“Here is the edible herb that I begged from the owner of the lake,” he said.
- You are a good person, Umcheni! Now let's ask the owner of the lake for deer and something else.
“Okay,” said Umcheni, “we’ll ask in a while.”
They returned home. Beegdy began to treat Umcheni well, stopped beating him and began feeding him deer fat and good meat. After some time, Umcheni says to the rich man Beegda:
“Now we can ask the owner of the lake for something again.” Now you go to him and ask for deer and a beautiful wife.
“How will I ask?” asks Baegdy.
- Ask the same way as I asked. Let's go to the lake, I'll tie you with straps.
Baegdy agreed. We came to the shore of the lake. Umcheni tied Beegdy tightly with belts, and then said:
- Well, now go into the lake!
Having said this, he pushed Beegdy into the water. Beegdy drowned. And Umcheni and his brother Uindya began to own all the property and deer of the rich man Baegda.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru