Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, lived an ordinary farmer. He rose early every day to work, planting, watering, and weeding, never slacking off. The villagers said he was not only hardworking but also exceptionally resourceful. When faced with a problem, he always found a brilliant solution.
One day, as the sun was setting, the farmer had just finished his work and was about to return home. As he walked past his field, he suddenly saw a pile of glowing coals on the ground, still smoking, as if burning.
Startled, he asked, "Who would be burning something here so late?"
He walked over and saw a small, dark figure standing on the coals. The creature had a pair of curved horns and tiny wings on its back. It looked strange and unremarkable, not at all human.
The farmer immediately understood: It was a demon!
The Devil's Proposal
The farmer didn't run away. Instead, he asked, "What are you standing here for? Is there something buried down there?"
The devil nodded and said, "There's a lot of gold and silver buried down there—more money than you've ever seen in your entire life."
The farmer's eyes lit up at this. But he quickly calmed down and said, "This land is mine, and everything on it should belong to me, too."
The devil thought for a moment and said, "I'll give you the money, but you have to agree to one condition."
"What's the condition?" the farmer asked.
"For the next two years, half of what you grow will belong to me," the devil said.
"How will it be divided?" the farmer asked. "Which half will be yours?"
The devil said, "I'll take the half above ground."
The farmer smiled and said, "All right. What's above ground is yours, and what's below ground is mine."
The devil thought this was fair and agreed.
Year One: The Secret of the Radish
The following spring, the farmer began sowing. But this time, he didn't plant wheat or corn. Instead, he planted a large field of radishes. Did you know? Radishes grow underground, and their leaves grow above ground.
A few months later, the radishes were ripe. The devil arrived, ready to take his half.
The farmer took a pair of scissors and cut off all the green leaves above ground, neatly handing them to the devil.
The devil looked at the pile of dry leaves and was furious: "What's this? I can't eat anything!"
But the farmer smiled and said, "Didn't you say you wanted the above-ground part? These leaves are the above-ground part. The radishes below ground are mine, and I'll keep them."
With that, he dug the large radishes out of the soil, put them in a basket, and happily took them home.
The devil stamped his feet in anger, but he had no choice but to leave. Before leaving, he said, "I've been tricked this time! Next time, I won't take what's above ground! I want what's underground, and you take what's above ground!"
The farmer nodded and said, "Okay, we'll divide it however you say."
Year Two: The Wisdom of Wheat
The following spring, the farmer began planting again. This time, he planted wheat.
Unlike radishes, wheat bears fruit above ground. Wheat ears grow on top of the stalks and are what people eat.
When the wheat was ripe, the farmer went to the field with a sickle and cut off all the ears, leaving only the short stalks stuck in the ground.
Soon, the devil returned. He thought he would get the wheat from the ground this time, but he saw only short stubble. The roots were useless and inedible.
The farmer had already carried the full wheat ears home.
The devil leaped up in anger, "You've tricked me again!"
The farmer smiled and said, "You said you wanted what's underground, so I'll give you what's above ground. I didn't lie to you, and I didn't break my promise."
The devil, realizing he'd been tricked again, burrowed back into the ground in shame, never to be seen again.
The farmer dug up the treasure the devil had mentioned and hid it, living a peaceful life from then on.
What does this story teach us?
This story may sound like a fairy tale, but the lesson it teaches is actually very simple and useful.
### Wisdom is more important than strength.
The devil may seem powerful; he can fly, transform, and speak with authority. But he's actually not very good at thinking. He only takes things literally, not thinking flexibly.
The farmer, though just an ordinary person with no superpowers, is willing to use his brain and find solutions. He knows how to exploit the rules to avoid being put at a disadvantage.
This demonstrates that sometimes, brains are more valuable than brawn.
Rules are understandable and can be used wisely.
The devil assumed that the rules he set must be obeyed. But he didn't expect the farmer to interpret them from a different perspective.
The first time, the devil asked for "aboveground," and the farmer planted radishes—keeping the useful underground parts for himself.
The second time, the devil changed his mind and asked for "underground," and the farmer planted wheat—taking the useful aboveground parts.
The farmer didn't lie or break his promise. He simply used the rules wisely to best advantage himself.
Just like in life, we must learn to understand the rules rather than blindly follow them. Only by understanding the rules can we protect our own interests.https://fairytales.cc/the-farmer-and-the-devil/
Cleverness is not deception
Some might ask, "Is the farmer playing tricks? Is he trying to trick the devil?"
No, he isn't. The farmer didn't lie or hide anything. He divided the food according to the agreement each time, simply choosing different crops to maximize his profits.
This isn't deception; it's wisdom. True wisdom lies in following the rules while also being able to think of better solutions.
Don't be afraid when facing a powerful opponent
The devil represents a powerful, terrifying force. Anyone else would have been frightened and fled, or would have hesitated to negotiate.
But the farmer was different. Seeing the devil, he didn't panic. Instead, he calmly inquired about the situation and dared to negotiate.
He wasn't afraid of the opponent's strength; instead, he believed he could prevail. This kind of courage and confidence is also a key component of success.
In life, we often encounter people or difficulties that are more powerful than us. But as long as we remain calm, prepared, and use our brains, we can find a way out.
Why is this story so popular?
This story has been passed down for many years and is loved by many because it tells the story of a small person who triumphs over a powerful opponent through his wits.
Unlike some stories where the protagonist relies on magic or divine help, the farmer here relies entirely on his own ingenuity.
The story also has a clear rhythm. The two farming processes are exactly the same, but the results are completely different, making it both interesting and inspiring.
Most importantly, it teaches us:Ordinary people can be powerful, as long as you're willing to use your brain and find solutions.
Summary
This story teaches us:
- Don't be intimidated by appearances; powerful people aren't necessarily smart.
- When faced with a problem, think a few steps ahead and you'll always find a way out.
- While following the rules, you can also protect yourself with clever strategies.
- Even when facing a powerful opponent, with confidence and a method, you can win.
So, the next time you encounter a difficult situation, don't give up quickly.
Stop and think: Is there another way? Can you look at the problem from a different perspective?
Perhaps, like the farmer, you too can use your wisdom to solve problems and achieve victory.