“I have been appointed as an Assistant Judge in the region! From this moment, I am a fifth-ranking noble! And you,” He turned to Goat Toanio,
“From now on, you may adorn your hair with golden flowers as the wife of a nobleman! Two joys arrived in quick succession. Blessings in abundance filled our household! And all this brought by my newborn son, hence I name him Kwan Ko Si Bangsawan Kecil (Little Nobleman)!”
Of course, Shi Men celebrated this joy. The neighbors were sent longevity noodles, and they came to congratulate Shi Men, not only for the birth of his son, but also for his appointment as a nobleman! Indeed, Shi Men's happiness seemed complete. Why not? Wealth piled up, a healthy body able to indulge in all kinds of pleasures, from delicious food, watching performances, listening to music, enjoying the fragrant aroma of the blossoming garden, surrounded by young beautiful women vying to serve and please him. And now added to this was something that was previously lacking, that is, position, rank, glory, and honor, a great name! However, is this what is called happiness? No doubt, all these are pleasures, and indeed, pleasure is what we humans always chase in this world. However, is there a limit to pleasure? And even more doubtful, is pleasure everlasting? Usually, those who can enjoy pleasure are those who do not yet have it! Those who imagine the pleasure of having a lot of wealth are those who are poor. Those who imagine the pleasure of having a high-ranking position are those without position. Those who fantasize about the pleasure of having many wives are those who are not yet married, and so on.
What about those who already have what they consider as a means of pleasure before they own it? It's clear that the first time they get it, there will be a feeling of satisfaction and happiness, even perhaps bliss. However, how long can such happiness last? Alas, it turns out that pleasure is followed by boredom and disappointment, and desires become increasingly fertile, increasingly furious, increasingly greedy. Everything that has been achieved will lose its appeal, and the eyes are directed far ahead, to things that have not yet been owned, which are considered far more enjoyable than all that has already been owned! And we are swept away in a vicious circle of pleasure, boredom, disappointment, and thirst for other things that have not yet been owned.
A month has passed. Last month was a tremendously busy month for the Shi Men family. Father Cou the tailor, along with his seven assistants, was busy every day making new formal clothes for the new official. Then, notification and introduction letters had to be made, congratulation statements received and replied. Then a good day was chosen by the fortune tellers, to determine the opening day or the beginning of the duties borne by Shi Men as an assistant judge! With all greatness and pride, that day Shi Men was announced as an official, a nobleman.
Followed by a grand celebration, and not forgetting the allies or the fellowship of Shi Men's sworn brothers who were honored in a grand feast. The nine of them partied, accompanied by four call girls, among them were Bi Hwa and Gin Nio, two of Shi Men's regulars from the past. Only Kim Lian couldn't feel the joy in her husband's household. Her love for her husband only sought her own pleasure. No matter how fortunate her husband's fate, if she herself did not directly enjoy it, she would not welcome it with joy. On the contrary, she liked sitting with a gloomy face in front of the mirror in her room. Even though she was dressed as beautifully as possible, she thought it was useless.
Since the birth of the baby, she had felt how increasingly rare Shi Men visited her, becoming colder towards all her dear charms. Her husband kept praising the baby and its mother, and preferred to stay in the room of his sixth wife rather than in the rooms of his other wives, including herself. And this greatly annoyed her. She was done styling her hair. Releasing steam because of being upset, she also strolled through the garden. As she passed near Mrs. Peng's hut, she heard the baby's cry and she stepped into the hut. The baby was being cared for by a nanny specially brought in to care for the child. The nanny was left by her husband who became a soldier, a thirty-year-old woman with a decent face and clean skin, named Yu I.
“Why is he crying so loudly?” Kim Lian asked Yu I. “He wants to go with his mother who is still in the main house,” the nanny replied.
“La-la-la” Kim Lian approached and rocked the baby. “Still this small, just born already recognizes his mother. Let me take him to his mother!”
“Madam, please don't take him out. He's afraid of the madam, and he will mess up later,” the nanny warned.
“Shut up, you nag!” Kim Lian snapped.
“I will hold him on a pillow. What can he do to mess me up?” Kim Lian picked up the child roughly, sometimes hugging him to her chest and sometimes swinging him roughly.
“Look what I brought!” She exclaimed while laughing to Goat Toanio who was sitting leisurely on the front porch. “This kid is looking for his mother.” And once again she swung and lifted the child above her head.
“Hey, Ngo-moi (fifth sister), why are you so careless in rocking that child? He will become frightened!” Goat Toanio reprimanded.
“His mother is inside. Liok-moi (sixth sister), come out! Your child is looking for you!” she shouted inside. Surprised, Mrs. Peng ran out.
“Ah, you should have left my child in my room with the nanny,” she reprimanded Kim Lian.
“There was absolutely no need to bring him here. Look, I see a wet stain on your clothes, feel it now!”
“He was crying for you, I felt sorry.” Kim Lian defended herself. Mrs. Peng took her child, held her child securely to her chest, and took him back to her hut.
''How dare you hand my child to the fifth lady!” she scolded the nanny.
“She forced the child from me and took him away angrily so I did not dare to resist her,” said Yu I. Meanwhile, after becoming a Father and an official as well, there was a major change in Shi Men's life. Twice a day he went to the office, where he held meetings and discussions with Official Hou, his colleague, or sat on the bench with him. His work duties took up much of his time and he found them very tiring. In short, he now had no time at all to continue his previous lifestyle, roaming in shops and pleasure houses.
Even he no longer had time to hang out and have fun with the eight friends who were his sworn brothers. Only Ying Po Kui and Cia Si Ta, two of them who had been his close friends and subordinates since the old days, still liked to visit him. As an official and nobleman, he now had to keep his dignity more. One day, a horseman arrived, delivering a letter from the Chief Guard Ti, the chief guard of the Prime Minister's Palace. The letter reminded Shi Men of his request which had been submitted through Lai Pao, asking Shi Men to find a young girl to become his concubine. And with that letter, he sent ten ounces of gold as expenses for finding the girl.
“Ah, how could I forget this matter!” Shi Men said in front of Goat Toanio.
“We must quickly send Auntie Hong and Auntie Pi to find a suitable girl for Ti-Ciangkun (Officer Ti)!” The two matchmakers were called and assigned to find a beautiful and smart girl, and one day, when he was riding his horse back from his office, Shi Men saw Auntie Hong. He quickly asked Siauw Thai who always followed him to call Auntie Hong.
“How is it, Auntie Hong? Have you found the girl you're looking for?” The old woman grinned.
“I've been searching hard throughout the city without success. Finally, by chance, I found a beautiful and sweet girl, not yet fifteen years old. A budding flower that is beginning to bloom beautifully and fragrantly. She has a beautiful face, a petite and slim body. Small feet, smooth and clean white skin. Her mouth ah, the girl named Mei Li is indeed a choice. Kongcu (Young Master) eh, sorry Taijin (Great Man) himself would fall in love just by seeing her.” Shi Men laughed.
“Don't joke. This time, the girl is not for me. Whose daughter is she?”
“Whose daughter? Taijin does not need to look far. She is the daughter of Taijin's own shop manager, that is Han Tao Kok, with his first wife. If Taijin wishes, I will negotiate with her father and set a day so that Taijin can see her himself.”
“Alright, negotiate with him, and don't forget to note her birth date and signs.” Two days later Auntie Hong came to visit Shi Men bringing a note about Mei Li's birth. From the note, Shi Men knew that Mei Li was indeed the daughter of Han Tao Kok, fifteen years old, and born on the fifth day of the fifth month.
Glossary
- Kwan Ko Si Bangsawan Kecil - Name given to Shi Men's son, translates to 'Little Nobleman'
- Goat Toanio - Shi Men's wife
- Shi Men - Main character of this chapter, newly appointed as a noble and Assistant Judge
- Ngo-moi (fifth sister) - A term of address for fifth wife
- Liok-moi (sixth sister) - A term of address for sixth wife
- Yu I - Nanny hired to take care of the newborn child
- Ying Po Kui and Cia Si Ta - Shi Men's close friends and subordinates
- Chief Guard Ti - Chief guard of the Prime Minister's Palace who requested for a concubine
- Auntie Hong and Auntie Pi - Matchmakers tasked to find a suitable girl
- Siauw Thai - Shi Men's follower
- Ti-Ciangkun (Officer Ti) - Another name for Chief Guard Ti
- Kongcu (Young Master), Taijin (Great Man) - Terms of address for Shi Men
- Han Tao Kok - Shi Men's shop manager, father of Mei Li
- Mei Li - Daughter of Han Tao Kok, chosen to be Ti-Ciangkun's concubine