Wisdom story: The greatest liar challenge

There once lived a very stingy and shrewd businessman who thought that he was more clever than the rest. He was a tough negotiator and in every deal he made he had to have the upper hand or he would back out. His reputation as a tough negotiator and a successful businessman spread across the land, but that is not all. Word also spread about his beautiful daughter, which the businessman cared about the most and was very protective of. She was the only person that he didn’t say no to and was willing to do anything to make her happy. Soon the daughter grew up and wanted to get married, but her father was not ready to let her go. So he devised a challenge and told his daughter that she may marry any man that wins it. The challenge was simple, the challenger can tell the shrewd businessman two very good lies and make him say “That is a lie,” at least for one of them. But on the other hand, if the challenger doesn’t succeed in doing so he has to work for free for one year in the fields. The word of the challenge spread like wildfire and many young men couldn’t resist the chance to win a marriage to such a beautiful young woman, not to mention to be entitled to inherit all the wealth of the businessman when he dies. Many men accepted the challenge but no matter how good the young men thought their lies were, not one of them succeeded in getting the businessman to say “That is a lie.”

Some time passed and a good number of unfortunate young men were already sweating on the shrewd businessman’s fields when another young suitor appeared at his door wanting to win the challenge. “Allow me, please, to tell you a lie like you’ve never heard…” “Okay, try it,” the shrewd businessman willingly agreed. And without hesitation, the young man started to tell his story, “While I was on my journey here I meet some farmers who were transplanting rice seedlings. In one of the fields, I saw the farmers spread bamboo mats over the newly planted rice seedlings. I have never seen this and I found it strange so I asked them for an explanation. This is what they answered: Through the holes in the mat, the rice seedlings sprout more evenly than they would otherwise. There are no problems with weeds on the top and in the fall when harvesting, we only have to raise the mats in which only ears of rice remain. No extra work is needed, it is easy and fast.” The shrewd businessman looked at the young boy and replied, “I have never heard of such a thing, it could be a lie or it could be true. It is definitely an interesting story. Now please continue and tell me a lie, but remember make it a good one or tomorrow you will start working on that field there.”

“Quite right,” agreed the young man. “I know very well what awaits me if I’m unsuccessful.” And so he continued “A long time ago, your grandfather and my grandfather lived in the same village. At that time, your family was quite poor, and as I have heard, your grandfather borrowed a considerable sum of money and was not able to pay it back before dying. On his deathbed, your grandfather made a promise to my grandfather and father, “I cannot repay this debt at the moment, but it will certainly be repaid by my sons and grandsons and if need be by their sons”. Since words alone were not enough, your grandfather also signed a certificate of indebtedness, which he handed to my grandfather. You see I have heard how wealthy your family has become and I have come to claim what rightfully belongs to me and my family. I have the certificate with me, and if you wish to see it I am more than happy to show it to you.” The young man pulled out an old crumpled piece of paper from a pocket on his chest and handed it to the rich man with the respect that befits such a document. The paper read: “I acknowledge that I have borrowed 100,000 gold coins. Since I will die before I can settle the debt, I pass the debt on to my sons and grandsons and their children until the debt is settled.”

The face of the shrewd businessman turned red, and he was so angry at the young man that he started stuttering, “This ca-ca-ca-ca-can’t be. This is a l-l-l-l…” and before he finished the sentence he remembered what is at stake and bit his tongue. For the first time in his life, the shrewd businessman didn’t have the upper hand and could not leave the deal he himself made. The problem was that if he confronted the young man and said that the young man is lying he would for the first time in his life lose in a deal he made. On the other hand, if he would not call out the young man’s lie he would lose most of his fortune. After a long and painful pause, the shrewd businessman finally accepted defeat and finished his sentence, “Lie! That is a lie!” In the end, the shrewd businessman came to the conclusion that if someone was clever enough to win his challenge he would be good enough to take care of his daughter and when the time comes his businesses. Also in the meantime, he would get to keep all of his coins.