Young Master Liem
Chapter 2 The talisman of wealth

That was the beginning of Parjiyem was brought to the house of Young Master Liem. He should be happy to be able to live in a new house whose beauty is like a palace, but that is not what the young Javanese girl felt. At night, she cried and felt alone. The people he had just met were all foreign and he did not know how to deal with it.

The parjiyem is like a bird in a cage, whose owner arbitrarily bought the bird from a man in need of debt repayment. The bird is lonely in its cage, when it should be able to fly or make friends with other birds in the wild.

At that place, Parjiyem was always in his room, once out to see the situation in the house. His appearance was indeed shabby, because his clothes were ugly, as Wan Siang said. Chinese people love to see women dressed beautifully in bright colors, while Parjiyem's clothes are only dark or dull white because they are often washed.

The sun rose again, indicating a new day, and as Wan said the day before, Parjiyem will be bought new clothes. That morning Wan Siang saw the girl sitting on the floor like a daydreaming person. The waiters were busy serving food with various kinds of side dishes.

“Why stay there? Here eat first,” Wan Siang ruled like a king to the ladies-in-waiting.

“Iya, Mr.” But Parjiyem remained seated on the floor.

“This is sitting at the dining table with me,” Wan Siang's orders.

“Ndak pantes, Sir,” Parjiyem dare not.

“Come sit here,” said the young master, harder. Parjiyem did not dare to refuse even though for all his life he had never eaten a table with a rich man; he was sitting on a chair in front of Young Master Liem Wan Siang.

Parjiyem never saw food served that much on the dining table. He used to eat rice with one type of vegetable, if lucky, the vegetable will be accompanied by a type of side dish. Rarely does he eat meat because it is expensive, at most once a year if the donation of sacrificial meat on the Eid al-Adha.

Now that was plastered in front of him, in addition to rice, there are also dishes in the form of vegetables of two types, side dishes of four types, one of which is Wan Siang's favorite roasted duck. If this is the daily food of his employer, it is no wonder that the man grew well with high intelligence as well. While Parjiyem does look skinny dry and does not feel smart.

Parjiyem scooping vegetables and side dishes a little, the habit in his house first, he was forbidden to take many side dishes so as not to run out quickly, because the food must be eaten throughout the day. While Wan Siang always eat fresh food, food cooked in the morning just for breakfast. During the day he used to eat out and at night will be cooked a different menu again.

“Eat a lot, your body is very thin. Spend vegetables and side dishes,” said Wan Siang. In order to comply with Wan Siang's wishes, Parjiyem took more vegetables and side dishes, then began to eat. All his life, he had just tasted such good food.

“I don't like women who are too thin, not nice to see,” said Wan Siang.

“My body from the past is like this,” replied Parjiyem.

“Each of them you have to eat a lot here, so as not to be thin anymore, yes.”

“If you don't like skinny women, why did you take me?”

“I do not like skinny women, but I take you not because interested. I want to prove the words of my confidant, you don't need to know the matter.”

Parjiyem was further confused by Wan Siang's words, but he was afraid to ask again, so he continued eating as much as he could. After that he was invited to a Chinese clothing store in Chinatown area. Wan Siang ordered the shopkeeper to choose some clothes suitable for Parjiyem, but he wanted them to be brightly colored. Now the girl has a lot of new clothes.

"Your face is ugly, from now on you wear clothes that are more appropriate to wear" said Wan Siang.

Wan Siang bought at least ten kebaya stels with a matching length of cloth. Everything is brightly colored, accompanied by interesting motifs, including two clean white kebaya pieces.

Wan Siang had never bought clothes for a teenager and he felt a little like a parent to Parjiyem. Suddenly he remembered his younger sister, his name was Siaw Cing. Siaw Cing was not far from Parjiyem and he loved his sister very much.

After going to the clothing store, the Chinese man took Parjiyem to lunch in a shop whose noodles are famous for being delicious. Although Wan Siang is rich and can always eat in expensive restaurants, but he is never shy to eat in a small shop as long as the food is good. The noodle shop is also still located in the Chinatown area of Semarang as the business center of the Chinese people.

“This is the most delicious noodle shop here, you have to try,” said Wan Siang.

Chinese people really like good food, because food is considered an important element in their lives. What does it mean to live and work hard if you can not eat well, at least that is what Wan Siang's mind. As for Parjiyem, good food is a luxury. Eating three meals a day just to live is good.

When they returned home, inside Wan Siang's house there was Uncle A Seng. Uncle A Seng was shocked when he saw Wan Siang walking side by side with a teenage girl.

“Have not gone with the tonics again you?” asked Uncle A Seng to Wan Siang.

“I'm again lazy same nonic-nonic, they're all the same.”

“I mean, because they all asked to marry?”

“I'm not thinking of getting married, not interested in marriage. Better to be a free man.”

“Do not want to be like me, married but still can have some mistresses?” said A Seng.

“Uncle A Seng is often dizzy because of that,” led Wan Siang.

“Pusing yes, but happy also yes, hahaha..” Uncle A Seng laughed nonstop, his fat stomach was shaken and his eyes narrowed even more.

Uncle A seng began to pay attention to Parjiyem, he could not understand why the skinny Javanese girl could be at Wan Siang's house.

“What's your name, Nduk?” ask uncle A Seng.

“Parjiyem, Mr.”

“Sweet is also this child, good to be called Sweet only,” said Uncle A Seng to Wan Siang.

That's how the beginning of Uncle A Seng gave the nickname to Parjiyem. After that Uncle A Seng always called Parjiyem as the Sweet One. That way Wan Siang was also used to the nickname. Parjiyem's real name was not mentioned.

Parjiyem begs to go to his room, so Uncle A Seng and Wan Siang can talk alone.

“So he's your mistress now?” ask Uncle A Seng.

“Uncle A Seng would have said that the Chinese can be rich if they have a store of Javanese women. I'd like to try to prove it myself.”

“Yes, it is indeed said people, but there has been a lot to prove. Why do you think so many Chinese have Javanese mistresses? Yes it is so felt.”

“I got the boy as his father's debt payment. But it seems like his father purposely loved his son to me. His father once said he was sick, not knowing until when he could survive, but he had a daughter to look after. He also lost continuously if gambling, many debts.”

“Obviously he was on purpose, probably because he thought he was going to die soon, so he was looking for someone to give up his daughter. Surely he wants his son nurtured by a rich man like you,” Uncle A Seng argues.

Wan Siang always believed in the opinion of uncle A Seng. Like in the novel Three Kingdoms (Sam Kok), if Liem Wan Siang is Lauw Pie (Liu Bei), then A Seng's uncle is Cukat Liang (Zhuge Liang). Cukat Liang was an intelligent and reliable war strategist, as well as a trustworthy person. Because of Cukat Liang's strategy and opinion, Lauw Pie could become king of the Siok (Shu) kingdom, one of the three great empires in China at that time.

At that time Wan Siang considered Parjiyem as just a talisman of wealth. He had to make sure that the Javanese girl continued to be in his house, and that the girl's entire needs were met.