The Farmer Who Outsmarted a Genius With One Question
While waiting for a bus, a highly educated scholar said to a farmer who was also waiting:
— “While we wait for the bus, let’s play a guessing game to pass the time. I’m highly educated, and you’re a farmer, so let’s agree: if I beat you, you give me 1 dollar; if you beat me, I’ll give you 10 dollars.”
The farmer thought for a moment and agreed.
The scholar asked first:
— “Why are car wheels made round instead of square?”
The farmer thought for a while but couldn’t answer, so he paid the scholar 1 dollar.
The scholar continued:
— “Why can a huge ship float on water?”
Again, the farmer couldn’t answer and paid another dollar.
The scholar asked again, even more confidently:
— “And what makes airplanes able to fly without falling?”
The farmer scratched his head, thinking, “If only he asked about farming, I’d win easily…” and reluctantly paid the third dollar.
Then the farmer said:
— “Now it’s my turn to ask a question. What kind of creature climbs a mountain in the morning on four legs, and comes down in the evening on nine legs?”
The scholar thought deeply. He searched through all his knowledge of animals, but nothing matched. After a long silence, he finally took out 10 dollars and handed them to the farmer, then asked:
— “So… what creature climbs the mountain in the morning on four legs and comes down in the evening on nine?”
The farmer quietly took one dollar, gave it back, and said:
— “I don’t know!”
