Hello!

In my service, from time to time I have to accompany recruits to the assembly point. Two hundred kilometers of travel, then — a day in a hotel, waiting for the results of tests for covid … There is enough time for talking, for communication.

By the way, I would never agree with those who scold our youth and say that they are no good. In fact, guys are like guys, well, a little stupid due to their age, often ignorant (thanks to the modern education system!), Lovers of boasting and splurge … But quite humane and open, not vile … And there are other people among them such interesting personalities!

For example, during the winter conscription campaign, in the group that I accompanied to the assembly point, there was such a village boy Danya. Calm, quiet, friendly. The rest of the guys are troublemakers, talkers. For two hours of the road, each of them managed to lay out his life story almost from birth. We talked about education: is it necessary to study after 11 classes or not. Most of the guys after the army planned to go to college, some to the university. One Danya said that he did not want to study, he did not need it.

I became curious, and in the hotel, over tea, I talked to him.

The History of the Village Tribute

“Danya, why don’t you want to study further?” I ask. «What for? — the guy answers, — in the area that interests me, I already know a lot, and I can study further without universities! I do not calm down: “But with education there will be more opportunities to get a well-paid position!”. Danya pulls at his ear, grins and asks: “But well-paid — how much money is that? I’ve earned a million in a season without any education. You have a higher education, can you earn that much?”

I was a little effaced … No, a million a year is weak for me … Naturally, I took an interest in what the guy does, does he administer groups in VK or maintain someone’s Instagram accounts, well, or upload some garbage on Tik-Tok, which such the nerds are watching…

“No,” Danya says, “it’s all nonsense. And I have my own apiary. This year I made 108 hives in omshanik.

Beekeeping is a real science. And a lot of hard work. Photo from Yandex. Pictures. Beekeeping is a real science. And a lot of hard work. Photo from Yandex. Pictures.

I ask: «Are you helping your father?» “No,” he says, “he helps me. And then, only physically, pull out the hives in the spring, load them onto an UAZ to take them to the apiary, bring them in in the fall, and then put them in a omshanik. Well, it helps to wear jars of honey. My father is not a beekeeper, he does not like bees, he is a paramedic. And I do my own apiary. From 11 years old.

Previously, an apiary (small, hives 12) was kept by my grandfather, I helped him. I was very interested in everything related to bees. They have a real, perfectly organized society! But then, one year, almost all the bees died at my grandfather’s house in the winter, and only two hives remained. Yes, and grandfather began to get sick, and told me to pick up these remaining hives. I took it. In seven years, the apiary has grown to 108 hives.

My honey is very tasty, because in the summer I put an apiary in a good place. Lots of regular customers. But in general, our mother is responsible for sales, she finds customers through the Internet.

Now I don’t know how many bees they will save there this year without me. I’m already thinking, if there are 30 hives left, then it’s good. With bees, after all, not only in summer, there are many worries with them in winter. ”

I ask, what are you going to do with the money when you serve? “We’ll see,” he says, what will remain of the apiary. If they are lost, they will have to be rebuilt. And if at least half survive, then I will buy myself a car (from my hands, of course) and, probably, I will start building a house … I will need to at least choose a site and pour the foundation … Well, why do I need an institute? «

And indeed: why does he need an institute?

The guy amazed me with his intelligence. And after all, such a modest, ordinary, in life you would not think that such a hard worker and such … a wealthy person. How many adults do we have who have a million in a bank account?