Young Master Liem
Chapter 17 Together at the nadir

When the Sweet Man came to his senses, he was surrounded by friends who used to play with him. Bulik Ningsih has reported the news of the death of Si Manis' father through the village leader, who immediately made people flock to the house of the Sweet One.

Si Manis' father died at about eight in the morning, according to the usual people who died in the village, the body will be buried on the same day, so it is likely that the Sweet One did not have long to see his father.

“Parjiyem, who is patient yes,” one of his friends entertain.

If Parjiyem sees his playmates, he feels life is so simple, just to play around until his parents call him home. But he no longer thinks about playing. It feels, the more he grows up, his life feels increasingly strange.

His friends are also partly married and have children, even though their age is not far from the Sweet, still a dozen years. Often it is the parents who snatch away the wonderful adolescence of a daughter, only to satisfy her own ego.

In the village of Si Manis, girls who are quickly married are considered valuable, while those who are slow to marry will be branded spinsters, as if it was a disgrace. Child marriage is like a race, like a sack race. Who gets married quickly, he is the winner, no matter the fate of the child after the marriage.

No wonder many married children still burden their parents, can not live independently, because their parents do not teach about independence. But the thinking of people in the village of Si Manis on average is still so simple, most of them also never get into school and illiterate. The work done was mostly menial work with low wages that was just enough to eat.

That's what makes the Sweetie dare not expect more. If he is still alive and well enough to eat, then he feels lucky. Not thinking about high expectations and expectations. The more hopeful, the more frightening it feels. If that hope does not come true, then only pain is accepted. Not expecting is the same as not waiting for the pain to come.

When he met his friends again who tried to cheer him up, the heart of the Sweet One was somewhat relieved. Wan Siang could see that Sweet was able to get up again and greet his friends.

No one ever thought that the return of the Sweet One with the aim to see his father, was the day of his father's return from the mortal world. Fortunately Wan Siang accompanied Sweet, so that the girl did not need to experience all the heartbreaking events alone.

Previously Wan Siang was devastated. That time it was Sweetie's turn. Both are now at their lowest points in life. Their feelings are one in sadness.

Wan Siang financed and took care of the funeral of Si Manis' father well. He asked the village chief and locals for help by giving money as a token of gratitude. The funeral went very well. After everything was done, Wan Siang invited the Sweet One back to his house.

The Sweet decided to distribute his money which was given by Wan Siang, but he had wanted to give the money to his father. Some of the money was given to Ningsih's bulik who had taken care of his father, enough to make ends meet for six months. Some of the Sweet One shares it with his friends who live in shortage. He kept a few guilders as a handle.

***

Sweetie has no life force. His eyes were blank and he was often daydreaming. He remembered the togetherness with his parents first, until he forgot to take care of himself.

“You ate first, you haven't eaten before. If you do not eat it will hurt,” said Wan Siang.

Sweetie didn't answer, she just shook her head like a lost person of sanity.

“Do I need a bribe? Want yes, if I bribe,” persuaded Wan Siang.

All his life, Wan Siang never served women, but at that time he willingly brought a tray of food and water, as the Sweet One had done to him.

Wan Siang scooped up the food and persuaded the Sweet One to eat.

“If you do not want to eat, your father and mother will be sad. He said the dead can still see his family alive. You don't want them to be sad, do you?”

“No, Mr.”

“Then eat, let me feed.”

After being persuaded then the Sweet One wants to eat and drink, of course by being fed by Wan Siang. The man was very happy that the Sweetie wanted to eat, even though only half the plate was finished.

“Sorry so inconvenient Mr.”

“I promised your father to take care of you, which means you are my responsibility. Real men can't break promises.”

“Now I have no one else,” said the Sweet with a bright look.

“You're not alone, there's me.”

The Sweet turned towards Wan Siang. After losing his parents, there was no one else he could hold except the man. With all the events that happened to the Sweet One, Wan Siang wanted to immediately open a new business, to strengthen himself and also for the sake of the woman who now lives dependent on him. The man wants to knock himself and the Sweet One out of a slump, fighting from the lowest point of life.

Wan Siang had never taught his mother what affection was, and how to express that feeling. Actually he loved Siaw Cing, but he always did things that annoy his sister as a sign of affection. It even made Siaw Cing upset.

Kala Wan Siang was injured, the first compassion he received was from the Sweet One. Wan Siang began to learn how to treat the wounded and the sad. It is by paying attention to the basic needs of the person.

“Sweet, do you want to be a filial child?” Ask Wan Siang.

“Of course, Mr.”

“Then follow your father's last will, let me take care of you. From now on you don't think of yourself as a debt-relieving woman. Consider myself your protector. Don't consider yourself inferior to me. Although we are now in the lowest point of our lives, equally sad and hurt, but that is what makes us equal.”

The Sweet was surprised by Wan Siang's statement. His father's will has changed the Chinese man's mind. Suddenly the girl had to change her mindset about Wan Siang. What a remarkable change.

“Now don't call me Sir. Therefore a subordinate calls to the employer. Call me Koh Wan Siang. From now on you should get used to my name, my name is Liem Wan Siang.”

Sweet is more surprised, than ever people always say, what is the meaning of a name. But someone of a high degree always deserves to be called Master by all his subordinates. The necessity of calling a name with such a close call immediately made the Sweet One gasp. His view of Liem Wan Siang as someone who bought it from his father had to be abolished. So the man was no longer the master who bought him like a slave, but rather a protector, like a warlord who protected a precious royal princess.

“T... Signore... “ Sweet Stuttered.

“Do not call me Mr.”

“Later you will get used to it,” Wan Siang smiled.

***

Because of Wan Siang's statement the other day, Wan Siang's behavior to Si Manis also changed. It gives the Sweetie leeway and rights as a free man. Now the Sweetie has the right of opinion, and the right to accept or reject the wishes of Wan Siang. No more coercion and restraint. That way, the Sweetie was released to go wherever he wanted, do something he wanted, although in the end he had to go back to the house Wan Siang who became his protector.

Because of treating the Sweet One like a free man, Wan Siang became much better in the view of the Sweet One himself. The girl felt that the kindness she received from Wan Siang was a sincere kindness, thus making the Sweet One also encouraged to do good to Wan Siang with a sincere heart.

The Sweetie also did not need to sleep in Wan Siang's room to accompany him. He can sleep in his own room.

“Actually Koh Wan Siang can do anything, there is no need to fulfill the father's will, because my father is also not an important and respected person,” said The Sweet.

“Who said your father wasn't important? If there is no father, there is no you.”

“Yes, but what does it all mean, what does it mean to me in the eyes of Koh Wan Siang?”

Wan Siang stared fixedly at Sweet, trying to convince the girl that the words that would slide from her lips were true.

“You are an important person for my life, I love you.”

Wan Siang's speech this time sounded serious, precisely because it was the Manis so misbehaved, did not know what to answer. But his heart was deeply touched and his heart was pounding.

“Do you love me too?” Wan Siang asked softly.

The one asked lowered his face and remained silent.

“If you are silent, means the answer is yes,” Wan Siang gives a trap statement that makes the Sweetie not wrinkled.

“Why can it be, Koh?”

“Say that if a girl is proposed and just shut up, that's a sign the answer is yes.”

“Then is your answer really not?” Wan Siang was getting more and more urgent for Sweet.

“Not Koh,” The Sweet becomes blushed, her cheeks are red like apples.

Liem Wan Siang smiled to see the look on the face of the Manis who smiled shyly which added to her beauty.

“I'm happy if you smile often, more beautiful,” Wan Siang started to fight.

“I'm ordinary Koh, not beautiful.”

“I even wanted to call you Beautiful now.”

“Don't Koh, I'm shy.” The Sweetie felt soaring into space, but also embarrassed.

“Don't be shy, it's a reality.”

“Don't call Beautiful Koh, Sweet just as usual, so others are not confused either.”

They bargain like sellers and buyers in the market.

Wan Siang like getting permission from Si Manis to be his closest person, the girl also began to open her heart to the handsome Chinese youth.

***

The Sweet never felt the affection that a man used to give to a woman. Wan Siang gave him that experience.

To comfort the Sweet from the grief after his father's death, Wan Siang took him for another walk. They repeat the two-way paddled streets to Chinatown, but this time Wan Siang never let go of the hand of the Sweet One from his grasp.

“Why is my hand held on Koh?”

“Let's not be lost, here's rame,” Wan Siang make excuses.

“If lost I can go home alone Koh, right I have paved the way.”

“Yes if you get home, if kidnapped by people on the street how? I'll blame your father later.”

Wan Siang was indeed a good protector, but it made the Sweet Man ashamed of being seen by everyone who passed by them. Among those who happened to cross paths was the person who later gave information to Ny. Liem that his son had been holding a Javanese woman while paddling in Chinatown. A big news that will shake the life of the Chinese woman.

In Chinatown there is a monument whose function is also as a place to stick to various kinds of advertisements. One of the ads caught Wan Siang's attention. Advertisement of Bal Tiga cigarettes, production of Nitisemito's NV Bal Tiga, one of the richest men of the era. It also says, buy Bal Tiga cigarettes as much as possible, exchange them with lottery coupons and get a bike. Suddenly Wan Siang got an idea for his new venture.

Author says hello:

Hello dear readers, hopefully not bored ya follow the story of Si Manis and Liem Wan Siang. To provide support to the author, please like and comment as much as possible. You see, the next chapters will be more challenging, so that the author adds enthusiasm. Your support is valuable:)