Once, cherries were being sold at cheap prices in Mulla Nasruddin’s town. As Mulla was a good negotiator, his friend asked him to buy some cherries much below the already low market price. Mulla haggled with the merchant for over fifteen minutes, and was able to buy them at a very low price. He then went to his friend’s house and said, “I really gave the merchant a performance. I flattered him. I pleaded with him. And believe it or not, I convinced him to sell me thirty pounds of cherries for the money you gave me.” “That’s amazing!” the friend exclaimed. “So do you agree that I am entitled to some reward for my work?” asked Mulla. “Of course,” the friend replied. “All right then. Since I did all the work, I should get to keep all of the cherries,” said Mulla, leaving his friend’s house with all the cherries.
Mulla, the Good Negotiator
