This story was told to me by my Peter's partners, and I heard it from several representatives of the local business community.
One of our businessmen, or as they are called, oligarchs, who did not fall from the forefront because of the constant stories of very original content, began his commercial journey in the northern capital as an entrepreneur on the then standards just above a good middle hand. In general, a simple new Russian, with a Mercedes, but without islands and castles.
At that time (94-95), it was very fashionable to have speaking papagaies, and the big papagaies, who already spoke well, were considered especially chic. But to get such a bird even for large birds was a problem - importing was only illegal, and to train the bird to speak well was not so easy. A really steep bird cost 2-4 thousand green, and some copies were sold at the price of jiggles. According to rumors, one local businessman in those years in the office had a cage covered with a blanket. When he lifted the cover, the huge blue poppy who sat in it began to scream exhaustedly, "I will not give you money! All for Election! To the elections!” until he was covered with a carpet again.
In general, our "new" decided to acquire a speaking miracle and went to the bird market. But unfortunately, suitable for a proud demonstration to partners, the poppy was never found. Either the bird is small, or speaks a few words - in general, "the boys will not understand." But suddenly at the end of the trade row, the "new" with his assistants saw a man dressed in a telogreek, in whose cage was sitting something that attracted the attention of a large number of visitors. As they pushed away the crowd, they saw a huge frog in the cage. The sova (per it was a phyllin) was really huge and occupied almost the entire cage. The man was clearly from a distant village, but the market knew well. When asked about the price, he immediately named 3,000, and as many as he was not tried under various pretext to bend the stuck "new" and his assistants, firmly stood on his price, hotly telling what he was worth to catch such a large specimen and even put it in a cage.
The breakdown came at a time when our “new” named its final price at 2500, and showed by its appearance that it would not be traded any further.
The man looked at them sadly and said, “Well guys, give me 3,000, it’s just $100, is it money for you?”
“Do you sell for rubles?”This voice of “new” with assistants was probably heard in the whole market.
On the face of the man appeared the recently lost opportunity to buy used jiggles and upgrade the cellar.
I bought the sauce :)