Young Master Liem
Chapter 38 Du Pavillon

Hotel Du Pavillon* seems to be a historic place for Wan Siang and the Sweet in their struggle for happiness. The hotel was a two-story villa built in 1847. In 1913, Du Pavillon underwent a major renovation.

Semarang was preparing to hold the Coloniale Tentoonstelling, the largest exhibition in Southeast Asia, the following year, 1914. The purpose is to accommodate guests who hold exhibitions, who come from various countries.

The number of rooms plus 50. Du Pavillon employs 18 staff who are average Europeans, as well as nearly 100 local waiters to serve the needs of the guests. The managers are experienced people who manage hotels in Paris and England.

At the hotel was provided 80 horses, along with a horse carriage, which serves to take guests wherever they want. There are also 12 luxury cars available for important guests. There is also a restaurant that serves European cuisine, which is very popular. Because at the hotel, a lot of guests who come from Europe. Including important guests of the Dutch East Indies colonial government.

No wonder if the Sweet feels Hotel Du Pavillon like a palace from a far country. Guests at the hotel are indeed spoiled with various facilities, of course, at a cost that is more expensive than hotels with quality below. Wan Siang paid all by cheque, as he was also unlikely to carry large amounts of cash.

When he woke up from his sleep, Wan Siang saw that Sweet was well dressed and dressed. Wan Siang then asked the waiter to deliver breakfast to the room. Wan Siang deliberately chose to stay at the hotel so that all needs regarding food and clothing hygiene were guaranteed.

“Day Monday we will take care of your identity letter, also to the civil registry office so that our wedding documents are quickly completed,”, said Wan Siang.

The Sweet one smiled. He could hardly believe that Wan Siang had taken such a step in fighting for their love. Soon, the man she once considered her master would become her rightful husband.

As a businessman who has been accustomed to taking care of various licenses with the Dutch East Indies government, Wan Siang knows very well how to make all his affairs run smoothly and finished in a short time. It was also due to Uncle A Seng's advice. All matters concerning matters with the Dutch East Indies government can be immediately resolved by giving a receipt money in a sealed envelope to the relevant officer.

After expressing his intentions and goals to the officer at the civil registry, Wan Siang handed him an envelope containing money with a face made as friendly as possible, and the words as smooth as possible.

“This is just a thank you sign, because you are ready to take care of our wedding letter. May God give health and smoothness in working to Mr.”, Wan Siang told civil records office officials with his friendliness.

The officer Wan Siang spoke to, an educated native who was probably from the lower classes of men, who had been putting on an authoritative pretentious face, became withered like butter heated on a stove.

“It is our duty to help the community. One week later, the marriage certificate was completed. So you can grab here next Monday,” said the officer, as his hand grabbed the envelope given by Wan Siang.

Wan Siang turned his head towards Sweet while smiling meaningfully. The Sweet so blushed, because soon she will be the wife of Wan Siang. If she remembered what it meant to be Wan Siang's wife, her face became increasingly red.

Officers at the civil records office usually ask about the name and the area where the two brides came from. Sometimes there is a question as to why they decided to get married. But after seeing the look on the faces of Wan Siang and the Sweet One, plus the envelope he had just received, the officer felt no need to ask their intentions and goals for marriage. Love has been drawn from the faces of both.

As soon as he arrived at the hotel, Wan Siang either with the intention of teasing or scaring the Sweet One, he said something that made the Sweet One's ears redden.

“Another week yes, remember.”

“Iya Koh, I also heard earlier. It looks like Engkoh who can't wait another week,” said the Sweet with a shy face but also wanted to tease Wan Siang.

***

The day before, precisely on Sunday, Wan Siang invited the Sweet One to Uncle A Seng's house and told them the plans of the two of them. Also the story of how they were forced to elope.

“We want to take care of the wedding here first, just returned to Kudus. So I beg Uncle A Seng to temporarily hold the affairs in Kudus,” said Wan Siang.

Uncle A Seng seemed to understand the circumstances of Wan Siang and the Sweet One. He was very happy, but also happy for both of them.

“Uncle A Seng doesn't know what to feel happy about. Glad, because you guys are finally together. Sad, because your marriage is not celebrated and attended by a large family. But Uncle will always wish you both the best.”

“I'm happy, all this time Uncle has supported me. Including supporting my relationship with the Sweet One.”

“Since the beginning Uncle knew you guys would fit in. Only Wan Siang initially did not realize that the Sweet was originally beautiful.”

“I never thought of taking the Sweet One to be a wife. It's not her face that makes me want to make her a wife. If that beautiful is a lot. But who patiently faces me and sincere heart that is hard to find.”

“Which wife, Uncle?” goda Wan Siang's.

“...Everyone!” The louder the laughter of Uncle A Seng, accompanied by Wan Siang.

***

Because he had taken care of the marriage license, Wan Siang so treated the Sweet with a little other than usual. He could suddenly hug the Sweetie from behind, which usually made the girl startled.

“Engkoh now like nempel with me, how about the marriage certificate so later?”

“If the marriage certificate is so, yes it is not just tacky.”

“Engkoh now likes to scare me, I am a virgin who knows nothing.”

“If you don't know, I'll tell you later. This afternoon we went to the hotel restaurant. You wear the nicest kebaya, then dance as beautiful as possible.” Usually Wan Siang order food and ask for service to deliver it to the room.

The Sweet obeyed Wan Siang's request. He wears his most luxurious and nice-looking hazard, red in color. Wan Siang wears after a complete coat all white. They had lunch at the hotel restaurant, which serves Rijstaffel, the Dutch term for an indigenous meal that goes hand in hand with European cuisine, accompanied by rice and served in a special way.

Rijstaffel is usually served by native servants dressed in all-white uniforms, and served during the day. Consisting of rice, vegetables and side dishes as an appetizer, European dishes such as biefstuk and hutspot as the main dish, the last fruits as dessert.

Various dishes are on the dining table, making the Sweet will be amazed a lot and complete. They were both well served by native servants dressed in white.

“A lot Koh food.”

“This is to celebrate our wedding. Even if it's just the two of us, our marriage should still be celebrated, even in a simple way.”

“I understand Engkoh's feelings. Of course Engkoh is sad because our marriage is not like other people.”

“Parjiyem, do you want to accept me, Liem Wan Siang as husband, in good health and in pain, love and sorrow?” Ask Wan Siang.

The Sweetie felt very moved at the time Wan Siang asked such a thing, before she answered the question, her eyes seemed to be glazed over. The handsome man in a white suit in front of him had sacrificed many things for the sake of his happiness.

“I received Engkoh, in good health and in pain, joy and sorrow. I want to be the wife of Koh Wan Siang.”

Indeed the celebration seemed so simple, compared to the wedding celebration in general. But the meaning is very big for Wan Siang and the Sweet One. From that day on, Wan Siang was determined to make the Sweet always happy, replacing the suffering they had both experienced up to that point.

“From now on, my life goal is to keep you happy,” Wan Siang said.

Remarks:

Hotel Du Pavillon now changed its name to Hotel Inna Dibya Puri located in Jl.Pemuda, Semarang. Closed in 2008, due to the increasingly fierce competition in the field of hospitality. Fortunately, before closing, Mr. Otor had been to the hotel around 2007 for interview purposes while looking for a job. Of course the shape of the building is not the same as the time of the Dutch era. It was the favorite hotel of President Soekarno and Suharto.

Hotel Inna Dibya Puri, now inoperative.