Young Master Liem
Chapter 9 Tio San Ing

Lady Liem, mother of Liem Wan Siang, lately very restless, because in his dreams he often saw Tini, the nanny of Wan Siang who he had been expelled disrespectfully. Remember that 18 years ago.

“I have never taken Madam's jewelry, it has been seven years I babysit Young Master, why should I take Madam's belongings at this time now?” Tini cried bitterly because she was treated improperly.

“I don't want to know, just you have to lift your foot from here right now,” said Ny.Liem without shady aling-aling.

“Oath to God, Mistress. I didn't take anything. I have not been treated fairly, someday let God act on this injustice.”

Hearing that, Ms.Liem shuddered in horror. But in order to cover up his fear, he instead said something even more cruel than before.

“You're a lowly person, get out of here fast. I don't want to see your face again!”

“Remember my words Madam. Later Young Master Wan Siang, the child that Madam is proud of, will love and marry the person whom Madam considers lowly.”

“Dare to swear me you are! It's there quickly go!!”

The curse was never forgotten by Ms. Liem, even though eighteen years had passed. Because of Tini's words, Mrs Liem always tried to find a mate for Wan Siang, of course, the chosen ones were girls from well-respected families. But Ms.Liem's efforts failed. The boy seemed uninterested in the girls of his choice and the ones already at the proposal stage ended up failing, just like what happened with Miss Sie back then.

Mrs. Liem grew more worried when Wan Siang said that for a while he had no desire to get married.

“Mama, please stop setting me up. I am now wanting to live alone,” so said Wan Siang when her marriage was canceled due to problems with Miss Sie.

Mrs. Liem was agitated, but at least the woman saw no sign that her son was attracted to people he considered inferior. That seemed to be quite a relief to him.

But that night Ms.Liem again saw the face of Tini who was saying a curse. His heart was restless again, his heart was pounding. Fear spread throughout his body. He was encouraged to visit Wan Siang's house the next day.

***

Mrs Liem has a maiden name Tio San Ing, her family reckoned because her father was a pachter* of thousands of acres of land in the Purwodadi area. The land was planted with rice and worked by low-wage farm laborers. The agricultural products made the Tio family rich, making them a family that is quite prominent among the Semarang Chinese.

Tio San Ing since childhood lived a life of treasure, whatever he wanted to be surely obeyed by his parents. But the girl has a bad temper, the busyness of her parents makes her a child who likes to seek the attention of her father and mother by throwing a tantrum, one of which is her favorite to hurt animals. If he had a pet, he always had the desire to torture him. A parrot once gifted to her was squeezed to death. Her parents were worried about their daughter's cruel behavior, but could do nothing about it.

If Tio San Ing was scolded for her cruel behavior towards animals, or her hurtful words of servants, the girl would shut herself up and not want to eat all day. It made both her parents weak and chose to be quiet, rather than seeing her child starve.

If her mother's father was more attentive and not too busy, the girl should have been taken to a psychiatric doctor, so that her soul problems could be resolved as early as possible. But the rebirth made Tio San Ing become so and his cruel nature eventually carried over until he grew up.

Tio San Ing grew up to be a very beautiful girl, but also inhuman. His words often hurt people, especially the helpers who worked for him. Not surprisingly, many do not work at home. The long-lasting helper was a man of steel mentality with a high degree of patience, also the most adorable-mouthed in front of the woman.

The combination of beauty and vices is enough to make Ny.Liem respected and feared by everyone, including his own children.

That day Mrs.Liem visited Wan Siang's house in a classic Chinese red dress, not forgetting to decorate herself with powder and lipstick in bright red, so it looks very charming.

Coincidentally, the one who opened the door was Sweet, because the servants were busy. The Sweet at that time wore a white kebaya that made Ny.Liem think Sweet one of Wan Siang's aides, because the native aides usually wear white kebaya, white kebaya, as a contrast to the hostess who is usually dressed in colorful.

Mrs. Liem sat on a chair like a queen sitting on a throne.

“Hey you, make me tea,” orders Ny.Liem to Sweet.

“Good Mistress..”

With his own hands, the Sweetie made tea for Wan Siang's mother. Her hands trembled as she served the tea in front of the Chinese woman. When Wan Siang just came home and watched the sight of the Sweet serving tea with his face down to his mother.

“Why is Mama here?” asked Wan Siang, his feelings were not good.

“Can't you if you want to meet your own child?” Mrs. Liem asked back.

“I'm sure Mama would want something from me again.”

“True. Mama wants you to stop being a bookie.”

“Why do you want me to stop being a bookie?”

“You know, Mama is now hanging out with the wives of Kongkoan members*. Shame to have a bookie. If you continue to be a bookie, how can you get a soul mate from a respectable family?”

“I haven't thought about marriage, Mama don't have to bother telling me to quit my job.”

“I have no interest Ma. There is Sun Kwan.”

“You know whose son Sun Kwan is? He's an illegitimate son, not a pantes to be the leader of our family company. Mama wants boys Mama leads.”

Wan Siang chose silence, not to argue.

“Pokoke Mama don't want to know yes, you have to obey what Mama says!” said Ms.Liem with a high tone, making the Sweet One who heard her scared.

Thank goodness Ms. Liem did not linger to visit Wan Siang's house. Wan Siang was so upset because his life was disturbed again by the wishes of the Mama. But as a child who was taught the values to always obey and respect parents, he did not dare to argue further. A little bit of it puts pressure on Wan Siang, as he often experienced as a child.

After Ms. Liem left, Wan Siang approached the Sweet One.

“Where are the people, why are you serving tea?”

“The lady told me to make tea, sir. So I made and served that tea.”

“Just have a helper in the kitchen, no need for you to make and deliver. You're not here a maid, understand?”

“Ngerti, Mr.”

Seeing the appearance of the Sweet who wore a simple white kebaya that looked not much different from the servants, made Wan Siang realize one thing. The girl can no longer look like a maid, so that if her mother comes again, she can find out the position of the Sweet One in the house. Wan Siang wanted to make the Sweet a symbol of resistance to the will of his mother who always demanded him to marry a Chinese woman from a rich and distinguished family.

He took the Sweet to a clothing store in Gang Warung.

“Let him the most expensive kebaya clothes here, but no one is white,” Wan Siang orders to the store waiter.

The waiter was very happy because there were people who would buy the clothes at the most expensive price. When the expensive kebaya-kebaya was issued, Sweet seemed amazed by its beauty. The material is good, neat seams, with colors and motifs that invite admiration. The Sweet himself is not sure if he deserves to wear such expensive kebaya.

“I see your clothes have been a lot of constriction, so I bought more recently. Then the clothes I bought you once, don't wear them again. From now on you wear clothes that are more pantes,” said Wan Siang.

“Iya, Mr.”

Wan Siang bought a dozen kebaya and also a high-grade batik trench cloth, he told the waiter to send the clothes according to the address he gave. Because then he and the Sweetie went to the jewelry store.

“Please choose the most suitable jewelry for him, complete, from earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and konde stitches, all from 24 carat gold and the one with the diamond,” Wan Siang said.

The jeweler immediately chose the jewelry to wear the Sweet, from their choice, Wan Siang seemed satisfied.

“Sweet, from now on you wear all this gold jewelry, let you ndakanggep maid again.”

“Good, Mr.”

The Sweetie did not know what prompted Wan Siang to be so emotional, so in an instant he changed the Sweet to look like a queen. Though the man is usually calm and not much expression.

The Sweet came home with all his new jewelry, he also still wears the jade bracelet that Wan Siang gave him first. Then Wan Siang gathered all his aides in the living room.

“From now on, all of you must obey all of his commands,” Wan Siang orders to all helpers.

“Iya, Mister,” answer them all in unison.

“She is not a helper in this house.”

“Understanding, Mr.”

All the helpers immediately glanced towards the Sweet, the girl appeared to be wearing diamond-encrusted jewelry that looked big and expensive. That sight alone had made all the servants aware of the position of the girl in Wan Siang's house, so they did not hesitate to consider the Sweet One as his master, as Wan Siang wished.

Remarks:

Pachter: Land tenant for all produce, including land for fish ponds, which the Dutch allowed for the Chinese.

Kongkoan: Association of Chinese people of the position appointed by the Dutch East Indies government. Kongkoan served as an extension of the Dutch to take care of everything related to the Chinese.