"Oh God, forgive this innocent woman." Kim Lian lamented and wept.
"Indeed, I never did anything wrong while you were gone. Every day, I embroider with Yu Lok, and every night I lock my doors and take early rest. I have never used the side door. If you do not believe me, just ask Cun Bwe."
"Yet, I heard you gave him a hair tie, three hair clips. Your lies are pointless," Shi Men roared angrily.
"They are spreading slander about me!" Kim Lian denied. "All those stories are mere fabrications from that foul-mouthed village woman who hates me because you love me. May she be cursed, may her mouth rot, and may she die a painful death. The hair tie and hair clips are here, with me. Do not believe such slander. If that little bastard admits anything, it means he has lied!"
"Hmm, do you recognize this object?" Shi Men took out the fragrant pouch he found on Kin Tung earlier and showed it to Kim Lian. "How did this end up on his body? Are you still going to deny it, you shameless woman?" Shi Men's anger flared up again, and the horse whip made a cracking sound as it struck her smooth pale skin.
"Ahhh, forgive me, Kongcu, I will tell the truth," Kim Lian squirmed in pain.
"I... I lost this pouch in the garden. My belt loosened while I was strolling in the garden with Mong Yu Lok. The pouch must have come off and fallen to the ground, but I didn't notice until later when I lost the item and couldn't find it. Who would have thought that little bastard would take it? I swear I never gave it to him."
Shi Men was stunned. His concubine's words matched Kin Tung's confession that he found the item in the garden. Shi Men looked at Kim Lian, who was still kneeling naked. Her body was so enticing, attractive even in pain, arousing even in tears. Seeing this, Shi Men's frozen and hardened heart due to jealousy and anger melted. He called out to the servant Cun Bwe, who quickly came over. Shi Men pulled Cun Bwe's hand and sat on the bench, cradling the servant who had become his lover.
"Now it depends on you what I should do with this mistress of yours. Are the stories about her illicit relationship with the young gardener true? Speak up." Cun Bwe was not a fool, and she saw the benefits of siding with Kim Lian.
"All of it is a blatant lie, Kongcu. I am always with the mistress. We never part from each other, like cheeks and lips. All those stories are pure fabrications and vicious slander. Kongcu should not believe such false rumors." The servant's words reassured Shi Men. He threw away his horsewhip and ordered Kim Lian to get dressed. Then he called Siauw Giok, the second servant, and ordered her to serve food and wine. After the food was served, Kim Lian knelt down and offered the first cup to Shi Men, who accepted it.
"I forgive you," he said. "But in the future, while I am not at home, use your time to cleanse your heart. Close the gates and doors on time. Don't think about inappropriate things. If I hear about any more wrongdoings, I won't forgive you again."
"I will always obey Kongcu's orders," said Kim Lian, bowing four times. Thus, the incident ended well for Kim Lian, who almost faced a disaster due to her own actions. But no matter how, the incident hurt Kim Lian's heart, and she kept herself confined to her own hut. On Shi Men's birthday, two days later, when many guests visited the house, Kim Lian did not appear. When Bi Hwa, Shi Men's new lover, along with Li Kiao, Shi Men's second wife who became Bi Hwa's aunt, came to visit Kim Lian, the woman ordered Cun Bwe to close all the doors of her hut.
The two visitors had to leave without seeing Kim Lian, and they were very embarrassed. When Shi Men came to visit Kim Lian that night, he saw his fifth wife in a pitiful state. Her lush hair was unkempt, her beautiful face was pale and gloomy. Kim Lian performed her duties as usual. She helped Shi Men unbuckle his belt, change his clothes, and wash his feet with warm water. She served her husband with total affection and submission, and only after seeing Shi Men exhausted and satisfied beside her, did she pour out her deeply suppressed feelings.
"Koko (Brother), who among your wives truly and sincerely loves you as I do? The love of other women is like morning mist that will vanish as soon as the sun rises. They are ready to sit in the new bridal chair as soon as you die. I am the only one who understands and knows you deeply, Koko. If only you would try to understand me! Can't you see that all those rumors are intentionally spread out of hatred and jealousy, seeing how much we love each other? I wouldn't be surprised if they are now planning another scheme to stab me in the back. And now you insult and embarrass the woman who truly loves you wholeheartedly." Kim Lian wiped her tears and was pleased to see a shadow of sympathy on her husband's face.
"Don't you realize, Koko, by tormenting me, you are torturing your best and most loving wife? When you recently kicked Siauw Thai in the leisure house, I didn't utter a single word of criticism. Goat Toanio and your third wife can testify. My only concern was whether you would ruin yourself by mingling with those heavily made-up women. Remember well, Koko. Women like that only love your money, not you. Don't be influenced by such women. Trust me, your only faithful and loving wife."
Thus, with gentle words, Kim Lian coaxed with sweet words and soft caresses, with the warmth of her body. However, it seemed that Kim Lian's persuasion and warnings no longer affected Shi Men when a few days later he had already gone to the leisure house owned by Aunt Li. At that time, Bi Hwa was serving guests at the dining table. Seeing Shi Men's arrival, Bi Hwa quickly ran out of the room and went to her own room, wiped off her makeup and lipstick, removed the jewelry attached to her body, changed into simple clothes and then she threw herself on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. Not long after, Aunt Li appeared to greet Shi Men.
"Ah, it's been a long time since we've had the honor of your visit, my esteemed brother-in-law." "Yes, the hustle and bustle of my birthday party kept me from leaving the house."
"I hope our visit the other day didn't cause you discomfort." "Not at all. Oh, where is she?" Of course, he was referring to Bi Hwa.
"Ah, she has changed a lot since returning from your house. She seems troubled about something. Every day she just sleeps and doesn't want to get up. She never leaves her room."
"That's strange. Well then, let me go up and see her." When Shi Men entered his lover's room, he saw the girl collapsed on the bed, her hair a mess, her face pressed into the pillow, and she didn't move when Shi Men entered.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Why have you been sad since returning from my house a few days ago? Is there someone or something bothering you?" Bi Hwa didn't answer for a long time. After Shi Men repeated his question several times, she finally answered as if a dam had burst.
"What do you want coming to find me when you have that fifth wife of yours at home? Even though I was raised in a leisure house, I too have my merits and I would only need to step up a little to match a wife like her! The recent visit to your house was not because of invitation but because of familial relations with your second wife, to convey congratulations along with my mother. Your first wife received me with kindness, gave me clothes and gifts, asked me to visit again. We, from the leisure house, also have manners. We deliberately visited your fifth wife's hut to pay respects. But what did she do? She refused to come out and told us through her servant that she didn't want to see anyone. Is that how one behaves politely? Is that how an educated person behaves?"
"Don't take it to heart," Shi Men comforted. "She was upset that day. But if she dares to behave like that towards you again, I will whip her!" Bi Hwa quickly covered Shi Men's mouth with her finger.
"Wild man, do you really have to whip her?" "Ha-ha, if only you knew!" Shi Men laughed.
"How can I control my wives if I'm soft? Twenty or thirty lashes! And if that doesn't help, I'll cut her hair!
"Hmm, you're just talking big. Your brutality will melt into tenderness and affection as soon as you get close to her. I can't witness your boasting. If I can see a chunk of hair cut from her head, only then will I believe the cruelty you boast about.
"Hmm, just wait, I'll prove it." The next morning, when Shi Men was about to leave the leisure house, Bi Hwa reminded him,
"Don't come here again if you can't prove your promise!" When he arrived at his house, Shi Men was still influenced by Bi Hwa's words and he went straight to Kim Lian's hut. Kim Lian greeted him with a sweet smile and helped him remove his shoes. But suddenly, Shi Men barked,
"Kneel and take off your clothes!" Kim Lian was so shocked that cold sweat soaked her body. She knelt but did not undress.
Glossary:
- Kongcu: A term of respect used in the context of the story, equivalent to "Master" in English.
- Yu Lok: A character in the story, likely a servant or close confidant of Kim Lian.
- Shi Men: The name of a main character in the story, Kim Lian's husband.
- Cun Bwe: Another character in the story, likely a servant in Shi Men's household.
- Kin Tung: Another character in the story, who is mentioned to have had a fragrant pouch belonging to Kim Lian.
- Mong Yu Lok: A character in the story, mentioned in the context of being with Kim Lian in the garden.
- Siauw Giok: A servant in Shi Men's household, commanded to serve food and wine.
- Bi Hwa: A new character introduced later in the story, Bi Hwa is Shi Men's new lover.
- Li Kiao: Shi Men's second wife, who is also Bi Hwa's aunt.
- Koko: An informal term of address for an older brother or a man of similar age in Indonesian, used by Kim Lian to address Shi Men.
- Goat Toanio: A character mentioned as a witness to a past event in Shi Men's house.
- Siauw Thai: Another character whose association with the main characters isn't clear in this chapter, only mentioned as being kicked by Shi Men in a past event.
- Aunt Li: An older woman mentioned later in the story, likely an elder or superior in the leisure house that Shi Men visits.