I only remember one story from my freshman year in college. Two brothers went into the kings basement to steal stuff. The first brother caught caught in a stickum trap, and with the first brothers permission, the second brother cut off the first brother’s head so that the king wouldn’t have known who perpetrator was. The second brother performed several more such hi-jinks, until the king decided such a clever man should marry his daughter. My paper on it for college maintained that two wrongs don’t make a right, but three or four might.
Herodotus also thought the Egyptians were extremely effeminate and uncivilized, defecating in public, but eating in private. He made them sound disgusting.
As he enters the castle gate the guard won't let him enter unless he gives half of his tribute to the King to the guard. Seeing as it is a goose and can't be cut in half, Simple Olaf tells the guard that the king will probably give him a present, and that he will give half to the guard.
When he gets to the door of the castle there is another guard, and they make the same arrangement.
When Simple Olaf gives the King the goose the King is impressed by such a fine bird and asks what Simple Olaf would like as a gift.
Simple Olaf asks for 100 lashes! The King of course says that he can't do that. And wonders why such an odd request. After his explanation the King has the two guards whipped, and makes Simple Olaf his right-hand man.
I imagine many cultures have similar stories. Where a common person can get elevated to a high status through cleverness and ability.