Українська / A2
Добре торгувалось
Один чоловік ходив містом і шукав мастило для коліс воза. У крамницях блищали дорогі речі. Продавці сміялися, коли він питав про мастило.
Чоловік зайшов у найбагатшу крамницю. Там сиділи два продавці.
— Добрий день! У вас є мастило?
— Ні! Ми продаємо тільки дурнів! — засміялися вони.
— Тоді ви добре торгували, — відповів чоловік. — Залишилося тільки двоє!
English summary · includes the ending
A travelling trader walks through a city looking for tar, a dark substance used to grease cart wheels. The shops shine with silver and gold, but these costly goods do not interest him. He asks for the simple material he needs.
The shopkeepers laugh at his question. He moves from one shop to another, each richer than the last, until he enters the richest one. Two merchants are sitting inside. He greets them politely and asks whether they have any tar for sale.
The merchants laugh and answer that they do not sell tar: only fools are sold in their shop. Their answer turns an ordinary question into a joke at the visitor’s expense.
He turns their claim against them. Business must have been very good, he replies, since only two such fine examples remain for sale. His quick answer makes the two insulting merchants themselves the unsold goods in their own joke.
Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
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