“Ahhh, now I understand why I should accept the fifty ounces of money, it's to buy that new house!” he said with a cunning gleam in his eyes.
“And rest assured, the amount won't stop at just fifty,” his wife added.
“We will receive even more. If we acquire a new house, clothing, and jewelry, what's the harm if I let him fool around with me a bit.” Her husband nodded, imagining the large sum of money he would receive from his boss. He knew his boss's character well—woman-crazy and extraordinarily generous when infatuated with a woman, and his wife had everything to make Shi Men infatuated.
“If he comes again tomorrow while I'm at the shop, treat him well and sweetly, and act like I know nothing about your relationship. We must use this opportunity to amass wealth without working hard.”
“Of course, you're happy because you enjoy the plentiful rewards from little work. If only you knew the suffering your wife endures to earn all this!” The husband and wife looked at each other for a while, then burst into laughter and hugged each other.
Kim Lian felt deeply sad. She had tried everything, from pleading with tears to offering the sweetest affection, to win back Shi Men's heart, but it was all in vain. Shi Men returned to his new lover Wang Liok Hwa, or Mrs. Han on Lion Street, and Kim Lian's shadow was forgotten again. Even on his birthday, Shi Men didn't feel the need to stay in her cottage. Instead, Shi Men spent his entire day in King Kamala Temple, accompanied by his two close friends Ying Po Kui and Cia Si Ta, and Goat Toanio’s older brother,
also Mrs. Peng’s older brother, to celebrate naming the Temple for his son to protect him from evil spirits. It wasn't just Priest Bu who was present, but at Shi Men's request, all sixteen priests attended the ceremony and celebration. Shi Men even decided to spend the night in the temple. Dejected, Kim Lian sat with her co-wives in the main house, where Goat Toanio, as the first wife, lived. They waited in vain for Shi Men's appearance. Meanwhile, Goat Toanio was in her bedroom, accompanied by a female priest named Wang Nikouw. Seeing the lady of the house looking mournful, Nikouw asked,
“Why do you always seem sad and never appear happy?” Goat Toanio sighed deeply.
“How can I be happy with my fate like this?” She then explained that in the eighth month, when she was climbing the attic stairs of her friend's house, she slipped and fell, causing a miscarriage.
“Ah, that is truly sad, madam, who knows, maybe that child could have grown up to be a meritorious son. But even the sixth mistress, who recently joined our family, has given birth to a son."
“God's will be done!” Goat Toanio said resignedly.
“However, Toanio, I think I can help in this matter. Our temple's head priestess, Pi Nikouw, has a herbal formula that she once tried on Mrs. Chen, the wife of the Secretary of the Ministry. Mrs. Chen, who is about the same age as you, had no children, even though she had miscarried several times. But after she drank Pi Nikouw's herbal formula, she recently gave birth to a healthy son. There is just one condition for this medicine.”
“And what's that condition?”
“The medicine must be mixed with the placenta of the first child. The placenta must be washed with liquor, then dried and burned to ashes. Well, these ashes need to be mixed with the medicine, and taken on an empty stomach, unseen by anyone. Pregnancy will occur within a month of consuming this.” Hearing this, the gloomy face lit up with new hope.
“Wang Nikouw, you must help me and plead with Pi Nikouw to visit me.”
“Very well, Toanio, and I will prepare the potion. However, I don't know where I should look for the placenta.”
“I will provide the money for it.”
“All right. I will inform you once the potion is ready. It should not take more than half a month.”
“But this must remain a secret between us.”
Glossary
- Shi Men: A character in the story, known to be woman-crazy and generous when infatuated with a woman.
- Kim Lian: Another character who is trying to win back Shi Men's heart.
- Wang Liok Hwa: Shi Men's new lover, also referred to as Mrs. Han.
- Ying Po Kui and Cia Si Ta: Shi Men's close friends.
- Goat Toanio: First wife of Shi Men's household.
- King Kamala Temple: Where Shi Men spends his birthday along with friends and priests.
- Priest Bu: A priest who is present during Shi Men's birthday celebration at the temple.
- Wang Nikouw: The female priest who accompanies Goat Toanio and offers her a solution to conceive a child.
- Pi Nikouw: Head priestess of the temple who has a herbal formula that helps women conceive children.
- Mrs. Chen: Wife of the Secretary of the Ministry who used Pi Nikouw's herbal formula and gave birth to a healthy son.