Once upon a time there lived in the world a bear, young and very wealthy. His father had previously owned many companies across countries around the world, but when he grew old, he handed over all management to his son — Bear Pavlovich. The main source of income for the family came from farms and fields where various crops were grown.
The heir studied at a prestigious university somewhere abroad and was completely uninterested in his father's business. He delegated all his responsibilities for growing various crops to a peasant named Ivan, who was a true professional in agriculture.
Ivan 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 beautiful dresses and jewelry, 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 abroad was not interested in the fields at all. When it came time to harvest, the young manager became absorbed in a new entertainment—computer games—and had no interest whatsoever in the turnips that had been planted across two hectares. Every day Ivan called his boss the bear to ask permission to harvest, but he was always too busy. The peasant called by phone and sent emails, but got no response. Only one way worked to reach the manager—Skype.
Hey, Bear Pavlovich! Why can't I reach you?! It's time to harvest the turnips, but you won't answer!
The peasant cried indignantly into his laptop screen.
Why should I care? All I need 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 peasant shouted even louder.
So who's the boss here? Who's in charge, me or you? Just do what I tell you.
Grumbled Bear Pavlovich and disconnected.
How can this be!
Thought Ivan.
There will be no profit if I do what the bear says, but I need to feed my family.
And so the peasant 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 peasant.
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 peasant 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? Be careful not to mix it up!
Don't worry, Bear Pavlovich, I'll do everything perfectly!
The peasant answered with a sly grin and disconnected.
When harvesting wheat in the fields, Ivan acted just as cleverly—he did everything correctly and properly, while appearing to follow the bear's foolish orders.
What is happening again?!
The bear shouted menacingly into his laptop screen.
Why is there no profit again? Did you mess everything up?
What do you mean, bear? I did everything you said—sold the roots, threw away the tops.
The peasant answered calmly.
Then why did we get no 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 entrusted all his affairs to his son's control, learned about everything that was happening, and realized he had made a mistake.
From that day on, the father bear stopped indulging his son: no pocket money, no new stylish things, nothing was bought or given. He even took away the new Lamborghini and bought an old Lada instead.
And so the peasant outwitted the bear, accumulated money, and provided his children with a long and happy life.
Read new fairy tales and nothing like this will ever happen to you.
