The Price of Salt

Che had gathered his friend for supper and was brewing a juicy piece of meat. Suddenly, he noticed they were out of salt.

Che called his son. “Go to the village and buy salt. But pay the fair price for it; neither pricier nor cheaper.”

His son was surprised. “I understand I shouldn’t pay more, father. But if we can bargain a little, why not save some money?”

“In a large city, this is advisable,” he said. “However, in a small city as ours, the entire village will notice it.”

His guest overheard their conversation and wanted to know why one shouldn’t buy salt for less.

Che answered, “Those who sell underpriced salt, do it in a desperate need for money. Those who take advantage of the situation, show disrespect for the sweat and battle of a man that worked to produce something.”

“But that is too little to destroy a village.”

“In the beginning of the world, injustice was scant as well. But everyone that came afterward added something, thinking it was not important, and see where we got today.”