“Koko, at least tell me what wrong I've done. I would rather die than endure torment every day. Why can I never please you, even after trying a thousand ways? You seem to want to kill me with a blunt knife, torturing me slowly.”
“Take off your clothes!” Shi Men barked again, calling Cun Bwe and shouted, “Bring me my whip!” But Cun Bwe did not obey him. When Shi Men repeated his command, Cun Bwe approached trembling as she saw her master kneeling on the floor.
“Cun Bwe, please help me. He wants to hit me again!” Kim Lian pleaded with a pitiful voice.
“Do not serve him, Cun Bwe. Just take that whip so I can beat her!” Cun Bwe could no longer contain her anger and curiosity. Kongcu, aren't you ashamed of yourself? What has she done to you? Without reason, just because of hearsay, Kongcu you want to punish her. It’s so curious and cruel!” Having said that, Cun Bwe ran out of her mistress's room. Shi Men laughed and turned to Kim Lian. “Come here, I will not hit you. I just want a lock of your hair. Would you give me a lock of your hair?”
“Koko, my whole body is yours, whatever you want, take it. I don't know what you want.”
“I want a lock of your beautiful hair.” “Why? For what?”
“To make hair ornaments.”
“Really? Well, you can have a lock. But promise you won't use it for evil purposes.”
“I promise.” Kim Lian let down her hair down and Shi Men cut a beautiful lock of hair. He wrapped it carefully and kept it in his pocket. Kim Lian rested her head on her husband's chest.
“You know, Koko, I'm ready to do whatever you ask,” she said with teary eyes.
“There is only one thing I ask of you, do not torture me. I won't fuss if you are sweet to other women, but don't be cruel to me, Koko.” The next day, Shi Men visited Bi Hwa and proudly handed over a lock of Kim Lian's black, lush, and fragrant hair.
At that time, under the reign of the Song-Tiauw dynasty, the lives of the nobles and the wealthy were indeed steeped in excessive worldly pleasures. The officials fattened their bellies with corruption and bribery, out of a hundred officials, there may not be two who did not participate in corruption and take bribes. Especially the pleasure of collecting beautiful women, could be said to be a hobby for the nobles and the wealthy like Shi Men.
At that time, a woman's dignity was very cheap, village women were still traded like merchandise. The rich lived in excess, the poor even sold their daughters. Shi Men, in addition to his advanced and large trade, managed by his representatives, only immersed himself in the pursuit of pleasure, especially the pleasure of pursuing beautiful women. For him, it seemed like he never knew satisfaction. One day, a neighbor and good friend, also his sworn brother in the group of nine, invited him. When that afternoon, Shi Men came to visit Hua Ce Shu, his neighbor's house, he immediately entered the front porch and almost collided with the lady of the house, Mrs. Hua. Since the atmosphere there was a bit hot, Mrs. Hua was wearing thin clothes.
Her dress was open at the neck, revealing the upper part of her breast mound. Under her long dress, two small legs in red silk sandals embroidered with a Hong bird were visible. Her hair was tied with a silver ribbon, and both her ears were adorned with beautiful gemstone earrings. Her solid body was of medium height, and her face round like a watermelon, her face's skin was reddish white and fresh healthy, looked beautiful and radiant, a pair of eyes that were so clear and full of challenge and attraction, made Shi Men's heart pound. Mrs. Hua reciprocated Shi Men's respect with a bright smile, then excused herself. A female servant invited Shi Men into the living room and invited him to sit. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Hua appeared from behind the door.
“Please wait a moment, sir,” she said in a melodious voice, “My husband is out for business but he will be back soon.” A female servant came to serve tea. Then Mrs. Hua's voice was also heard from behind the door.
“May I ask for your help, Kongcu? If my husband invites you to drink liquor today, would Kongcu prevent him from staying there too long? Because right now I am alone with my two female servants.”
“Alright, So-so (Sister-in-law)” Shi Men answered and at that moment the servant reported Hua Ce Shu's return. Mrs. Hua quickly disappeared from the door. When the two friends met, it turned out Hua Ce Shu invited his friend to visit Bibi Wu's vacation home. That day was the birthday of Gin Nio, Hua Ce Shu's lover who lived in that holiday home, "the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month." Shi Men accompanied his friend and remembering the message from the beautiful hostess earlier, Shi Men persuaded his drunk friend to go home. After Hua Ce Shu, who was staggering, was welcomed and led into his room, and Shi Men was ready to go home, Mrs. Hua appeared in the living room to thank Shi Men. The sweet and beautiful lady paid her respect to her handsome guest, and in a melodious voice said,
“Ah, surely my crazy husband is drunk again. Kongcu has done a great job bringing him home in the afternoon.” Shi Men respectfully bowed.
“No need to thank, So-so. Any command from your lips is etched in my bones, I will certainly carry it out. Plus, we are indeed neighbor. It was not easy to persuade him to go home. When we passed Bibi Cong's vacation house, he saw the beautiful Siang Bi standing in the doorway. If I had let him in, he would not have come home all night. It's strange and curious. How can a husband neglect a wife as beautiful as you! He is foolish and unforgivable!”
“You're right, Kongcu, I myself am dizzy seeing my husband's habit of leaving home. Can I hope for your help to keep an eye on him, Kongcu? I would be very grateful from the bottom of my heart for this kindness.” Shi Men smiled. He was not a green man. He is a man who has mingled a lot with women, already knows the character of women. Facing this young lady, seeing her gaze, her smile, hearing her words and seeing her attitude, he knew that the beauty had opened the door wide enough for him. With a meaningful smile, he bowed.
“Rest assured, So-so. I will watch and monitor him carefully.” Mrs. Hua thanked and excused herself. Shi Men returned home satisfied because he got a new possibility to enjoy a new beautiful experience, entering the garden of heaven whose door was opened by Mrs. Hua earlier.
The conversation between Mrs. Hua and Shi Men left a deep impression, not only on Shi Men, but especially in Mrs. Hlua's heart. She was a woman who had hot blood, and she didn't feel enough satisfaction from her husband. Only because she was a wealthy woman with a high position, of course, she did not find a way to satisfy her desires, fearing that it would degrade her dignity. Now, meeting Shi Men, her heart was moved and attracted. Shi Men was an attractive, handsome and brave man, wealthy and respectable because he was considered. So, seeing the way Shi Men spoke to her, this lady already knew that the neighbor “had feelings” for her. One night, Ciu Hwa, Mrs. Hua's servant, came to see Shi Men. Seeing the servant, Shi Men quickly approached.
“Is there something your mistress wants from me?”
“Yes, the lady wants to talk to Kongcu. The master is currently not at home,” the female servant whispered.
“Please Kongcu wait under the dividing wall between our gardens tonight.” Shi Men nodded and with a joyful heart, also full of tension, he waited in the darkness of the night near the wall that separated his garden from the Hua family's garden.
Suddenly a dog's bark was heard from behind the wall fence. Then the sound of a cat on top of the wall. He looked up and saw Ciu Hwa, the servant, signaling him from the top of the wall. Shi Men quickly put a stool near the wall and climbed over. On the other side, a ladder had been set up so that Shi Men easily descended it into the Hua family's garden. Immediately he followed Ciu Hwa and entered a room lit by the soft light of a candle. And in that room, Mrs. Hua welcomed him, in transparent thin clothes, with disheveled hair, graciously inviting him to sit and serve the welcome wine.
“But what if brother Hua suddenly comes home?” Shi Men asked cautiously.
“Ah, I gave him permission to go until morning. And our two servants accompanied him. I'm alone with my two servants, and Grandma Bi, my nanny who guards the door and she is very trustworthy.” The worry disappeared from Shi Men's heart and he welcomed the outstretched hand of the sweet beautiful hostess with great joy. They sat side by side, drinking from one cup.
Glossary
- Koko: an Indonesian honorific, used to address older brothers or males of a higher social status.
- Shi Men: a character in the story, presumably a wealthy and influential man.
- Cun Bwe: another character in the story, seemingly a servant or subordinate to Shi Men.
- Kim Lian: a character in the story, presumably Shi Men's wife or woman.
- Bi Hwa: a character in the story, context suggests a woman of status or importance.
- Song-Tiauw dynasty: the ruling dynasty in this part of the story, it is a historical or fictional dynasty in the context of the story.
- So-so: an Indonesian term to address a sister-in-law or a female of a similar relationship.
- Bibi Wu and Bibi Cong: characters in the story, presumably women of status or importance.
- Gin Nio: a character in the story, context suggests a woman loved by another character, Hua Ce Shu.
- Hua Ce Shu: a character in the story, a man who seems to be a friend and neighbor to Shi Men.
- Siang Bi: a character in the story, presumably a beautiful woman who attracts men.
- Grandma Bi: a character in the story, presumably an elderly woman who guards the door for Mrs. Hua.