In a small village, there lived a headman known for his remarkable ability to resolve even the most challenging problems swiftly. His reputation was so solid that the village didn’t require a police force—something unusual in those times. The secret to his success? A clever advisor who was always by his side, offering sound advice no matter the issue at hand.
However, the headman’s reliance on this advisor did not sit well with everyone. Over time, the villagers became envious. They wondered why the headman depended so heavily on one man to make decisions that affected the entire community. This envy soon turned into a plot to separate the two, driven by a mix of jealousy and suspicion.
Determined to cause a rift, the villagers began spreading false and malicious rumors about the advisor to the headman. They painted him as untrustworthy and manipulative, hoping to turn the headman against him. But the headman, wise as he was, didn’t pay any heed to these baseless accusations. He knew the value of his advisor’s wisdom and kept him close, treating him not just as an employee, but as a trusted friend.
Despite their failed attempts, the villagers were persistent. One day, they gathered together and insisted on testing the advisor’s intelligence in front of everyone. They believed that by challenging him publicly, they could finally expose him as a fraud and convince the headman to dismiss him.
The headman agreed to their request, but with one condition. “You don’t need to do anything drastic,” he told them. “I will ask him a few questions in your presence. If any of you can answer these questions as well as he does, I will consider removing him from his position.” Confident in their plan, the villagers agreed.
The day of the test arrived, and the headman began by asking the villagers a seemingly simple question: “How many crows are there in this village?”
The villagers were taken aback. They burst into laughter, mocking the headman for asking such a ridiculous question. “We thought you were wise,” they jeered, “but now you’re asking us to count crows?”
Unfazed, the headman turned to his advisor and posed the same question. The villagers watched eagerly, certain that the advisor would falter. But without hesitation, the clever man responded, “There are exactly 88,325 crows in this village.”
Stunned, the villagers couldn’t believe what they had heard. They immediately challenged him, saying, “If there are more crows than you said, you must leave the headman’s side. If there are fewer, you must also leave.”
With a calm smile, the advisor replied, “If there are more crows than I said, it means some have come as guests from other villages. If there are fewer, it means some have gone as guests to other villages.”
The villagers were left speechless. Realizing the depth of the advisor’s wisdom, they hung their heads in shame. They admitted their mistake and acknowledged that the headman’s trust in his advisor was well-placed.
This story reminds us of the value of wisdom and the importance of trusting those who have earned it. It’s easy to let jealousy cloud our judgment, but true leadership is about recognizing and embracing the talents of those around us. The headman knew this, and his village thrived because of it.