Once upon a time, there lived a bear in the world—young and very wealthy. His father had previously owned many companies across countries around the globe, but when he grew old, he handed over all management to his son, Bear Pavlovich. The family's main source of income came from farms and fields where various crops were grown.
The heir had studied at a prestigious university somewhere abroad and was completely uninterested in his father's affairs. He delegated all his responsibilities for growing various crops to a farmer who was a true professional in agriculture. The farmer's name was Ivan.
He had a large family: a beautiful wife, four sons, and two daughters. And, of course, there was never enough money for everyone: the girls needed to buy pretty dresses and jewellery, and the sons had to change their phones and tablets every month—they were so active and constantly lost or broke their things.
Bear Pavlovich, in his foreign land, took no interest in the fields. And so, when it came time to harvest, the young manager became absorbed in a new entertainment—computer games—and had no concern whatsoever for the turnips, which had been planted across two whole hectares. Every day Ivan called his boss, the bear, to ask permission to harvest, but the bear was always too busy. The farmer called by phone and sent emails, but got no response. And only one way was found to reach the manager—Skype.
Hello, Bear Pavlovich! Why can't I reach you?! It's time to harvest the turnips, and you won't answer!
The farmer cried indignantly into his laptop screen.
Why should I care? All that matters to me is the money from these turnips. You cut the tops using that modern equipment my father bought, and throw away the roots.
Replied the bear.
What are you saying? The roots are the most valuable part of the turnip, not the tops!
The farmer shouted even louder.
So, who's in charge here? Who's the boss, me or you? So do what I tell you.
Grumbled Bear Pavlovich and disconnected.
How can this be!
Thought Ivan.
There will be no profit if I do as the bear says, but I have to feed my family.
And so the farmer decided to outwit the bear. He dug up the roots himself and sold them abroad for a good price, and sent the tops to Korea as the bear had instructed. Of course, there was no profit, and the bear urgently contacted the farmer.
Listen, Ivan! Why was there no profit from our turnips? Did you do everything I said?
Yes! I sent the tops to Korea and processed the roots with the new equipment and threw them away!
The farmer answered confidently.
Strange. Well, soon it will be time to harvest wheat. Let's try the opposite—we'll sell the roots and throw away the tops. Do you understand? Watch out, farmer, don't mix it up!
Don't worry, Bear Pavlovich, I'll do everything perfectly!
The farmer answered with a sly grin and disconnected.
With the wheat harvest in the fields, Ivan acted just as cleverly—he did everything correctly and properly, while doing the bear a favour by following his foolish orders.
What on earth is happening again?
The bear shouted menacingly into his laptop screen.
Why is there no profit again? Did you mix everything up?
Well, bear, I did everything you said—I sold the roots and threw away the tops.
The farmer answered calmly.
Then why didn't we make any money at all, absolutely no profit? Is wheat really that cheap these days?
Cried the enraged bear. It turned out that the old father, who had handed over all his affairs to his son's control, had learned of everything that was happening, and as it turned out, had made a foolish mistake.
From that point on, the father bear stopped indulging his son: no pocket money, no new stylish things, nothing was bought or given. He even took back the new Lamborghini and bought an old Lada instead.
And so the farmer outwitted the bear, accumulated money for himself, and provided his children with a long and happy life.
Read new fairy tales so that nothing like this ever happens to you.
