In faraway Tibet there lived a mule called Jojin.
And what was so important about this mule of ours? Just... nothing!
He was the laziest mule in all of Tibet.
There was no laziest and most stubborn mule than him. His owner, old Mr. Wang, was troubled: "What am I to do with this animal? If I put a load on his back, he doesn't even move, he looks at me reproachfully with those mule eyes of his...
So I take a bit of it away Β from him, but he doesn't even move again. So I take another bit of it away from him again...
And in the end it ends up that I carry the whole load myself and the mule walks with only one light bag on his back! I have a such a trouble with him..." lamented Mr. Wang.
One day, when he was going to the market with his mule to sell the small goods he had made, they met a lively old man on the path leading through the mountains. He was walking briskly and whistling a cheerful song, looking happy and in good mood.
"Good day," Mr. Wang greeted him as they passed on the path.
"Good day," the lively old man returned the greeting, because in Tibet people respect each other, greet each other and like each other, even if they don't know each other. Tibet is a spiritual place of goodness.
"How are you doing with that mule?" the traveler wondered.
"Ufff...," Mr. Wang wiped his sweaty forehead with a tired hand, "we're going to the market. To sell goods."
"But, you're carrying the whole load on your back, you're bending hard under it, you're walking slowly and stumbling as if someone had put a whole mountain on your back!" the traveler wondered.
"Well, what else can I do? My mule is so lazy and stubborn that when I load it, it doesn't want to move!"
The quick-witted old man took a good look at Mr. Wang with a searching look, scratched his head, then looked thoughtfully at the mule, was silent for a short moment, and then said triumphantly: "I know how to help you!"
"How? I'd be glad for any advice..." Mr. Wang sighed.
"That's easy! Look..." said the clever traveler and fished in his travel bag. He took out a tasty, long and fragrant carrot with an enticing green top. He put it in front of the mule's nostrils and the mule, as soon as he inhaled the smell of the carrot, wanted to bite into it immediately. However, the clever old man jerked away with the carrot and laughed.
"That will work!" he said cheerfully and then took out a string and a leather strap from his bag. Then he took his travel stick, fastened it to the mule's back with a strap so that the stick protruded in front of the mule's head. He tied a carrot to the end of the stick. As soon as the mule smelled the carrot again, he wanted to bite into it. But he couldn't reach the carrot and so he took a step. However, the carrot, tied to the stick in front of his eyes, moved with him.
This made the mule angry, so he took another step. But the carrot remained at the same distance. The mule snorted and almost ran to get a bite of the carrot. At that moment, the smart old man took the heavy load off Mr. Wang's back and placed it on the mule. The mule sagged under the weight of the load, but he didn't pay attention because he wanted to bite the carrot.
Mr. Wang and the clever traveler laughed until they were clutching their bellies.
"Well, now he'll get to the market without any trouble, even with his load," the old man winked at Mr. Wang with delight. "Don't forget to give him some carrots to eat at the market. Let the poor mule have a reward for all the hard work he's done for you."
"I'll buy him a whole bunch of carrots at the market, let him enjoy himself," laughed Mr. Wang.
"And if you do it like this every time, you will never have to carry a load on your own back again," smiled the traveler.
"Thank you very much. I will do it exactly like that!" Mr. Wang beamed with happiness, "but... How can I repay you? For your advice?"
The clever old man just waved his hand: "That's not worth talking about. People should help each other."
"That's true," agreed Mr. Wang, and with these wise words they said a warm farewell and each went his own way.
Yes, that's right, children. People should help each other. And if someone knows something, they should be happy to tell others. Help them so that we can all live better. Then the world will be more beautiful and we will live happily in it.
And one more small note at the end of the whole story.
When Mr. Wang reached the market, he told everyone what had happened to him and showed everyone his lazy mule, how he was walking furiously under the weight of his load, in order to bite the juicy carrot that hung on a stick and dangled happily in front of his nostrils.
People liked it very much, they laughed about it and started telling stories about it. When someone did not do something right, was slow in judgment and action, and did not want to work, the saying began to be used about him: "You are as lazy as Mr. Wang's mule!"
Over time, Mr. Wang and this legend were forgotten, and the simple but apt saying remained among the people: "You are as lazy as a mule."
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π₯π₯π₯ The END π₯π₯π₯
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