A neighbor visiting Hodja’s house after hunting, brought him a hare as a gift. Delighted, Hodja had the hare cooked into a stew, and shared it with his guest. Presently, however, one countryman after another started to call, each a relative of the man who’d brought the hare. No further presents were forthcoming.
Hodja cooked some soup from old hare stew, and shared it with his guests. At length Hodja grew exasperated. One day yet another stranger appeared. “I am the relative of the relative who brought you the hare.” He sat down, like all the rest, expecting a meal.
Hodja handed him a bowl of hot water mixed with salt and spices. “What kind of soup is this?” asked the stranger. “You are the relative of the relative of my neighbor, aren’t you?” Hodja replied. “And that is certainly the soup of the soup of the hare which was brought by him.”