Chapter 1
A young and well- built man called Ah Seng just move into our kampong. After failing to locate his relative who supposed to stay in our kampong, he has no way to go, so he settles down just beside the waste land of our kampong, building an attap shelter for himself, and start farming varies kind of vegetable.
At first not a single one in our kampong man or woman has any interest in him. Ah Seng, however, also did not bother or appear to have any interest in our quiet and simple daily life, his only contact with us is when he sells some of the vegetables that he farmed in our morning pasar.
Thing changes after this morning event; we saw Ah Seng running from the back of his shelter toward his usual selling spot in the pasar, his hand is holding a plastic container filled full with water, his face so excited looking into the container, shaking...
We realise there is a very big and shinning golden fish inside the tank of water, Ah Seng told us he got to discover this golden fish in the early hour of this morning just beside our kampong main river, the odd looking golden fish laying beside the bank of the river crying for help, felt pity for the creature, Ah Seng finally decided to use the plastic container tank to safe the life of the golden fish.
Strange thing happened right after the fish was safely put into the tank, Ah Seng told us, the golden fish appear to know his kindness, in return, the fish vomits a precious looking and colorful stone into Ah Seng's palm! No one in the street believing the story of Ah Seng, "Bluffing!" "Don't bluff!" everyone said.
The same night, all of the kampong folks are attracted by the bright light coming out from Ah Seng shelter, it appeals that the stone vomited by the gold fish this morning in return of the kindness of Ah Seng is, in fact, a much valuable object, they call it "Night Shining Pearl" in the far east, this stone can turns the energy it conserves from the day light into lighting at night! The whole kampong feels much excited, proud and lucky for this "Night Shining Pearl" is rumored to be able to bring about good prosperity!
Ah Seng while still living with his simple peasant live, feel changes around him. He realises that the kampong folks long deserted him are now trying to go near or connected with him, or try to communicate and, finally in a short period of time he is accepted as part of the kampong family! Ah Seng feels secure, worm and at home in the new environment, he seems to make up his mind to make this place as his long term settlement….
Not only that, thing happens in an unexpected way.....
Chapter 2
One late night, under the cover of the cloud, a thief breaks into Ah Seng house intending to steal the “Night Shining Pearl”. Unfortunately, he is captured by Ah Seng immediately after he set his foot on the soil of Ah Seng bed room. Even thought, this guy has his face covered by a black color mask, Ah Seng can identify him right there, he is Mr. Siva from the corner of Jalan Kampong 3, he stays with his 80 year old mother and two still schooling sisters, Siva uses to beg Ah Seng for some term in his purchases, knowing Siva’s situation and understand that he is the only financial tower of his 4 members family, Ah Seng usually gives Siva 2 months term for his purchase.
“Why do you want to do this?” Ah Seng asks, “……..” Siva remains silent as he knows how it hurts to break a friend’s truth. “You shouldn’t have even think of this,” Ah Seng says,”Even if you success in stealing my precious stone, you can’t exchange it for much value, you know you are at the low level of our society, you do not know anyone who can pay you well to risk this one time!”, “All you will get may be a few months comfortable life, that’s it man! It’s not worth it to risk this one time for a criminal record that will be attached to you for the rest of you life, you have no one in the power that will help you, what will happen to your two sisters and your aged mom if you are lock up in jail?!” With that final word, Siva breaks down and beg forgiveness from Ah Seng, no one know what their last conversation is, all we know is Ah Seng just did not make an official report.
Chapter 3
One day after much hard work from the padi field, Ah Seng decides to return to his shelter as the sky turning from bright sunny day to dark cloud and than showering. As Ah Seng step out from the bath room into his bed room, he sees Mei Ling laying provocatively on his bed, wearing only a lace nightie showing almost every inch of her sweet, sexy, young and healthy body. Also a young and healthy man, Ah Seng gives no thought at this second, who care after all, no one will blame me, this is so normal that we shall mate, he jump into his own bed and…
Mei Ling, a young professional coming from a wealthy family from our kampong, holding Ah Seng’s strong and hard body with her two arms and whispers seductively into Ah Seng ears, ”If you give me your golden fish and the Night Shining Pearl as the gift, I’m all yours tonight…you can do what ever you like on me….”. After much careful thought, Ah Seng has cool himself down and say, “It’s not worthy to give up your virginity just for material gain gal, you should find a husband that love and adore you for the rest of your life, and living happily ever after, with your kids and family!”, “Who know your future husband might bring you even more satisfactory life better than you now risk stamping a historical dirt into your pure and clean record! This dirty record will follow you for the rest of your life!” Realising her almost not returnable mistake, Mei Ling thank Ah Seng for giving her a chance toward a greater future.
Chapter 4
One day after returning from the pasar, he finds out that the much respected 66 years old kampong chief is waiting to see him in front of his shelter. Pak Rudin has been the Chief of this kampong for as long as anyone can remember, the only memory people has is he always win in the election; his face is plastered with welcoming smile and his worm hearted way of speaking have long won over most of the kampong folks. He talks to Ah Seng in the most sincerely way as he can and as he ever could, “Ah Seng, my son, ever after you first move into our kampong, my instinct tell me that you are a much capable young man our kampong ever has, since you have lost both your parents in a much tragic way earlier, I decide to look after you as my own son for you well being, I have always taken you as the most valuable human asset our kampong owns, I promise to promote you as the future chief of this kampong as I see the quality inside you!.”
Ah Seng seems to be very touched by what Pak Rudin has said. “As a wise and much experience man in this area, I also come to advise you to leave those ugly and problematic making golden fish and Night Shining Pearl as soon as possible, for it does not only blocking the future self development of yours, they also corrupt you into believing that you are blessed and do not need to work hard, it brings no benefits to you at all! You must leave those materialistic for your own good! As a father, I will not harm you or trick you, I hope you will listen to me.”
Ah Seng curiously asks,” How do I leave those evil object as I have no nothing else left toward a greater dream? Can you help me?” The Chief Pak Rudin immediately answer,” Don’t worry kids I’ll take care of that for you, I suggest we shall sell those evil objects to someone else for a compensation, this way we are both win-win, you get to get rid of those evil spell and in the return has some sort of monetary compensation in hand, and the other party gains what he wants. Hmmmmmmm…what do you think if I suggest you sell both the golden fish and the Night Shining Pearl for 1000 kilo of gold? What do you think?” After a short period of silent, Ah Seng answers,” Thank you Pak, if you can help me get rid of those evil objects, I do not need 1000 kilo of gold, just do as best as you can lah, may be 800 will be sufficient.” . Hearing this, The Chief Pak Rudin almost burst out laughing from the deepest part of his lung, but as a much knowledgeable and well experienced man, he uses to hide his feeling very well, this time no less, for he know the Night Shining Pearl alone can bring him a fortune (may be 20 times of 1000 kilo of gold), especially if it’s used in the right way, for example if the Pearl is to be given as a gift to the Minister and even the…., hahahahaha, it’s worth not even a mere monetary can count!
Pretending to be calm so that he can act normally, Pak Rudin rushes back to his kampong chief official resident and straight away bring out 800 kilo of gold to Ah Seng. Ah Seng almost knee down crying for the kindness of Pak Rudin from saving him from the evil spell. Today, both men are the happiest man on earth!
Chapter 5
As night falls, Pak Rudin realises no only that the Night Shining Pearl dose not shine at all, the golden fish seems to turn upside down while swimming in the water! Calling all the members of his family and the rest of relatives, Pak Rudin and his men rushes to Ah Seng’s shelter only to find that it was abandoned!
Ah Seng disappears just like his strangely appearance at the beginning of this story….
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