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Nasreddin and the Pauper
A starving man, with hardly any money in his pocket, passed a small shop where they were roasting meat. The nice smell of the meat made him even hungrier. Because he didn’t have enough money to buy any meat, the poor man went to the baker and bought some bread instead. He then went to sit outside the other shop so he could enjoy the taste of the bread combined with the smell of the meat. Once he had finished his bread, the shop owner came to him and said, “Since you enjoyed the smell of my roast so much, you’ll have to pay for it!”. Because the poor man didn’t have any money to pay, the shop owner dragged him to Nasreddin, who, in the meantime, had become a capable judge. The shop owner told Nasreddin: “This man was scrounging for the smell of my roast, while eating his piece of bread. I expect him to pay for what he enjoyed, but he refuses.” Nasreddin, struck by this unusual request, asked the owner, “How many pieces of silver do you want for the smell of your roast?”
The owner explained, “He owes me five pieces of silver! Five pieces for the smell of my roast!”
At this request Nasreddin took five pieces of silver from his pocket and tossed them on the table making a clinking sound. He then asked the owner, “Did you hear the sound of these five pieces of silver?”
The owner replied, “Of course, your honour! It was a pleasant clink! What are you trying to say?”.
Nasreddin ruled, “As this poor man fed on the smell of your roast, you shall consider yourself paid with the sound of my silver. You shall now leave content.”
The shop owner left in shame and Nasreddin invited the pauper to his own home to enjoy a meal together.