"Miracles Happen": Bashkortostan Woman Turns Down Cash, Wins Car
Lyudmila Melnikova chose the mystery prize over a cash offer on the game show.
A resident of Mezhgorye in Bashkortostan came to «Field of Miracles» (16+) — she did not guess the word, but refused 170,000 rubles (about $1,700 at current rates) and won a car. She will presumably drive home in the car. UFA1.RU recounts how the game went.
During her segment, Lyudmila Melnikova played a tune on the accordion.
The participant was Lyudmila Melnikova — she was born in Verkhny Avzyan (95 kilometers from Beloretsk), in a family of four children. She herself has two children and the same number of grandchildren; her elder daughter is 29 years old, her son is a fourth-year student. She received musical education in Chelyabinsk, now works as a choir master in Mezhgorye, leading three groups at the culture and leisure center.
The host reveals car keys as the grand prize in the chest.
Together with one of her groups, they danced. Then Lyudmila presented gifts: strawberry jam, Bashkir honey, and a «fiery drink» (apparently not kumis). She also gave an accordion — saying that her father and mother can play it, so she learned a bit herself.
«Why did I come here, not to sit and grieve, why did I come here — to play in »Field of Miracles«. I love when it blazes, I love when it burns. I love when Leonid Arkadyevich talks to me about love,» sang Lyudmila.
She said that her classmates asked her to «tug on the host»s mustache.« He silently agreed. The Bashkortostan resident tugged and said: »Real!« She did not guess the next letter. When it was Lyudmila»s turn to guess again, the «Prize» sector landed on the wheel.
«The whole village is watching, all of Mezhgorye is watching. Prize!» said Lyudmila.
Meanwhile, in the first trio, a metro driver from Kazan was playing — with him, Leonid Yakubovich tried to haggle for 50,000 rubles (about $500 at current rates) so that he would refuse the prize. The stakes rose to 100,000 rubles (about $1,000 at current rates), but the Kazan resident still chose not the money — he received a TV and stereo system.
In Lyudmila«s case, the host said that he himself was afraid to open the chest, and then suggested asking her relatives in the audience for advice — the support group chose the prize.
«They»re crazy,« muttered Yakubovich.
After that, he called the Bashkortostan resident over and immediately offered 100,000 rubles (about $1,000 at current rates): saying, you can buy so many gifts with that. Lyudmila refused the money. Yakubovich raised the stake to 150,000 rubles (about $1,500 at current rates) (and then to 170,000 rubles (about $1,700 at current rates)). The woman chose the prize.
At first, it seemed in vain — the chest contained champagne. But a little later, the host pulled out car keys. The cherished «A-a-a-car!» was not uttered, but it was implied.
«Believe me, miracles happen, they do occur,» said Lyudmila.
On social media after the program aired, Lyudmila wrote that she cried after the episode — from happiness and because there are people who love her and the group with which she came to the TV show.
Recall that earlier in the program, former candidate for mayor of Ufa Komil Sirazetdinov participated. He presented gifts to the host, including kumis, which Leonid Yakubovich drank together with the Ufa resident«s son.
