A WASTED KNIGHT
Meeting with Uncle Tie Shi

Wiraksara was still grumbling when the man asked her

get into the house.

“Have it, don't fuss with a guy like him, free

you just serve it. Please sit down I'll make you some food. You must be

tired after traveling far,” he said calmed himself down

Wiraksara sat on the chair that the old man had prepared, he

looking around the room of that simple cottage. The cottage is not so

big but looks clean. He walked around the cottage and the front yard.

Diligent people, all kinds of vegetables are grown here,

maybe so as not to bother looking for food outside or not

the palace did not give him food? Inner Wiraksara.

Soon the old man went back in

the front room serves arak, boiled yam and Chicken Team and sauteed salted mustard

accompany their dinner. The old man then called him in to sit down

with him at the dinner table. He poured wine into the cup for Wiraksara then

say

“Well young man, this

my homemade wine, please try.”

Wiraksara immediately inhaled the aroma, the wine was scented

like the smell of flowers. But when he drank it, the wine was delicious

much more delicious than the wine he used to drink.

“Huh amazing, this wine must have gone through the process

long fermentation huh?” Ask Wiraksara.

The middle-aged man chuckled at hearing that

“It turns out your knowledge of wine is quite good too, yes it is true arak

this I have kept for 8 years underground, we named this wine under the name Arak Virgin Red. I kept it to welcome guests

special who might visit this cottage. I have been waiting for a long time,

but until now there were no guests I really considered special. New

this time I have a special guest. It seems you're not from Champa

the Land of Anam (Vietnam). But your Chinese is good and fluent, who

your name is young and where are you from?”

“My name is Wiraksara, from

Nusantara.  I am a messenger from

Majapahit Kingdom,” said Wiraksara while gulping his wine back.

“Wi La Sa? Ah your name is hard for me to spell, well I will

call you Sala just so it's easier to spell?”

Wiraksara just smiled and understood him. His friends

in Lasem, which comes from China, it is also difficult to pronounce its name well and

thats right.

“It's okay, I don't mind being called by Sala. Then

what's Locianpwe?” name Ask Wiraksara again.

“My name is Tie Shi, don't call me by name

Locianpwe, I am not a person worthy of respect with that call.

Just call me Uncle Shi, let's go eat it. This food is all the result

own farm and livestock. Those palace men never gave me

food, so I had to find my own groceries to survive in

here,” said Tie Shi.

Wiraksara took the team's chicken meat with chopsticks,

the chicken meat was tender on his tongue, a typical Chinese Chicken Team seasoning

it consists of wine, ginger, sesame oil and garlic mixed into one

in his mouth, it didn't feel fishy at all. No wonder Wiraksara ate with

greedy until his mouth dabbled to make his new friend who sat in front of him

smiling saw.

Wiraksara misbehaved, only realized his mouth was already

dabble with delights when eating Tie Shi dishes.

“Oh, sorry if I look greedy so my mouth is dabbling,

my stomach is so hungry,” Wiraksara said with a shy smile.

The old man chuckled and said

“It's okay, in our place, if guests are treated

the food was eating until his mouth dipped, it was a pride for us, he said,

because that means his guests love our cuisine.”

Wiraksara was stunned for a moment and laughed

“Different from our custom, people who eat up his mouth

beeping will be considered as a person who does not know manners.”

They laughed together realizing the difference in customs in the two

the country.

“And we eat by hand to bribe

food, not using chopsticks.”

“Oh, I see, if in our place people who bribe

food by hand sorry to be considered a barbaric person,” Tie explained

Shi with a serious face.

roar with laughter.

“Ha ha ha let's celebrate this difference.”

“Yes I know a little about your country, Ma Huan used to be a lot

tell me,” said Tie Shi.

“Ah, Mr Ma Huan? Yeah, I know him, he's Admiral's secretary

Cheng Ho who is in charge of documenting Cheng Ho's journey to the places that

exiled. He was tasked to record all of it in detail until

the habits of people in every country that Cheng Ho visited were also recorded.  Ma often visited the palace

West Majapahit,” said Wiraksara.

“Why did you get here? I know guests from

friendly country has always been treated well by the Emperor,” Tie Shi said.

Hearing Tie shi's question, Wiraksara returned grieving, saying,

head down. I am truly sorry that he took this task from

Wikramaward. He should have run away from his duty so he didn't become

the Emperor Yong Le's.

“I am innocent, but Emperor Yong Le begged

the mistake made by my King to me,” Wiraksara lirih said.

Tie Shi was stunned to hear Wiraksara's story and returned

enquired

“What really happened?” ask Tie Shi again.

Wiraksara finally tells the story of the Paregreg war tragedy

that killed 170 Chinese delegates who were visiting the palace

East Majapahit.

“That is why on that occasion the Emperor has demanded

Majapahit to pay compensation of 60,000 gold tahil,” said Wiraksara.

“60,000 gold tahil? Really a very large amount.”

Wiraksara nodded and told me back

“I was made a debt guarantee by the Emperor as so

the payment of the indemnity installments went well. But that number is very

it's tough for our country that has just been hit by war. Ah, I shouldn't have

being here.”

Wiraksara downed his wine and then re-enjoiced

his dish. A cold wind blew into the window that was still open, Tie Shi

quickly respond, he immediately closed the window.  He knew his guest had just come from a land with a sun

it always shines all year round and never experiences a winter like

his country.

“I can give you a fur coat if you're still cold,”

Tie Shi offered his services.

“Thank you Uncle Shi,” Wiraksara said with a smile.

“Then what is Uncle's duty here?” Ask Wiraksara

Tie Shi looked stunned for a moment hearing Wiraksara's question

“Oh, I .. I am the steward of horses in this palace, there are about

20 Ponytails that I have to take care of every day,” said Tie Shi a little nervously.

Damn, that means they told me to be a steward

palace, this is an insult to Majapahit, Wiraksara thought

furiously.

“They told you to be a steward of horses with me. Possibly

it's a little hard at first if you're not used to it. Especially when there are horses

which hurts or gives birth, but it happens rarely,” Tie Shi said.

After eating Tie Shi said to Wiraksara

“Near the kitchen is a small room former room of my friend

who died a month ago, you can sleep there. Sorry if that place

uncomfortable.”

“Why did Uncle's friend die? Is she sick?” Ask

Wiraxar.

“He was targeted by Second Prince Gao Xhu's arrow,” revealed

Tie Shi's.

Wiraksara was surprised to learn how worthless life is

humans in the Kingdom of China. He wanted to ask further but Tie Shi had already

go leave.

******

The morning had come, but the sun had not yet set its light

even though it's 06:00 in the morning. Tie Shi had prepared a meal of porridge

plain on his desk and a pot of tea.

“You eat first before work,” Tie Shi said when

look into Wiraksara's room.

That morning Wiraksara felt his body was fresher, no

as usual, this time the cold air towards the beginning of autumn is not

make him as cold as ever if he visits China in season

deciduous.