Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a barber who was known for his cleverness and wit. He wasn’t very wealthy, but he had an immense reputation for his quick thinking and problem-solving abilities.
One day, the barber was on his way to the palace to cut the king’s hair. As he walked through the forest, he came across a large tree where he decided to rest for a while. He sat under the tree, and soon, he fell into a deep sleep.
While he was asleep, seven robbers passed by and saw him. They noticed the bag he was carrying and decided to rob him. They gently picked up the bag and checked its contents. To their surprise, they found only barbering tools and a few coins. Disappointed, they decided to wake him up and ask him if he had any hidden wealth.
The barber woke up to find himself surrounded by the robbers. They demanded that he hand over all his valuables. The clever barber quickly thought of a plan. He calmly said, “I am just a poor barber, but if you let me go, I can show you a treasure hidden in the forest that will make you all rich beyond your wildest dreams.”
Intrigued, the robbers agreed to let the barber lead them to the treasure. He took them deep into the forest, walking for hours, until they reached a large boulder. The barber pointed to the boulder and said, “The treasure is buried under this rock. But it is cursed, and only I know the way to safely dig it up. If you try to do it without me, you will all be turned into stone.”
The robbers, fearing the curse, agreed to let the barber dig up the treasure. The barber pretended to dig around the boulder, all the while thinking of a way to escape. After some time, he told the robbers, “The treasure is very deep. I need all of you to help me dig. We need to be very careful to avoid the curse.”
The robbers, eager to get their hands on the treasure, started digging furiously. The clever barber, taking advantage of their distraction, quietly slipped away and ran back to the village.
When the robbers finally realized they had been tricked, it was too late. They had dug a deep hole but found no treasure. Angry and disappointed, they abandoned their search and left the forest.
The barber returned to the palace, and when the king heard about his clever escape from the robbers, he was highly impressed. The king rewarded the barber with a bag of gold coins and praised him for his quick thinking and bravery.
From that day on, the barber’s reputation as a clever and resourceful man spread far and wide, and he lived a comfortable and respected life in the village.
And so, the story of the clever barber reminds us that intelligence and wit can often be more valuable than wealth or strength.