THE FISHERMAN'S PRIZE - (PART 7)

 

 THE FISHERMAN’S PRIZE

  (PART 7)

 After Yoansu had exited his old room, he quietly went over and seated himself across from his father who’d also had a change of clothing.

Ensa was quick to rush over with a new pot of tea for them, but the old man pushed it aside and asked his wife to bring them the wine instead. “This is a time for celebration!”  He scoffed, “why begrudge us the wine?”

“But husband,” Ensa countered, “you’d drunk the last of it the day before yesterday in company of Zianko. There is not a drop of it left in the house!”

“Oh, I forgot.” Shamefaced Kaimu lowered his head.

Yoansu did not like hearing of his father’s renewed liaison with that vile, loathsome neighbor. Hadn’t Zianko been forewarned to stay away? I guess he needed a stronger incentive!  Inwardly Yoansu made a note, to take care of it personally, at first opportunity.

“Oh, I nearly forgot, I have brought you some, Father.” Yoansu excitedly interjected, suddenly recalling the rare vintage he’d packed as a special gift for Kaimu. “Let me go and fetch it for you.”  So, saying, he went to his room, unfastened a large bundle and removed from it two large jugs of fine wine in very ornate containers, which spoke volumes of their high cost (worth).  He then gingerly carried them one at a time to the table in the living room.  Kaimu opened his eyes wide in happy anticipation, his mouth already watering and saliva gurgling in his throat; he absentmindedly licked his lips.

“You can afford this?”

Gloating, the son simply nodded. “Let me do the honors father.” He then humbly proposed. Upon latter’s consent, Yoansu quickly broke the seal and filled the two cups that Ensa had provided.

“What about you, mother? Please join us too.” Yoansu would have insisted, but she’d waved a hand in dismissal, firmly declining the offer; then rushed off, saying she had multitude of things to do. This put an abrupt end to Yoansu’s scheme of next inviting Jiense.

As the two men toasted to each other’s health, and gulped down the wine, Ensa knowing her husband's greed, had quietly carried off the second jug to a shelf in the kitchen, to be consumed at a later time. 

Kaimu sneered, seeing this from the corner of his eye, while he had raised the cup to his lip, but said nothing.  As his son filled his father's cup repeatedly, the other consumed it with eager frequency. 

Afraid that her husband would get too drunk and misbehave, therefore scaring off their new daughter-in-law so soon after her arrival, Ensa rushed some tidbits for them to consume; then positioning herself behind her husband's back, gave her son a discrete signal “to slow down with his service!”  The son, understanding, affectionately grinned, and nodded his head to her in assent when Kaimu’s attention was diverted to the choice bit of morsel in front of him.

In a very short span of time that they had conversed, father and son had covered most of what had transpired in each other's absence. 

Yoansu spoke of his many hardships till he’d finally reached Kuno town.

               Contented to staying there and travelling no further, his first act had been to seek cheap lodgings, then to gain honest, decent employment.  The first task had been easy enough to attain, but the second had been harder than imaginable.

As Ensa rushed about, she could not help but utter a sigh, for her heart broke hearing of her son's (imagined) endured hardships.  Kaimu ignored Ensa, but the son gave a consoling smile to his mother without breaking his story.

    Wishing to stay on the true moral course, he’d worn down the soles of his feet trying to gain legitimate employment of some worth.  All he could find, however, had been the most demeaning jobs, that of which he’d cared not to extrapolate on.

“I’m proud of you son.” Ensa at this point coming over had padded her son’s cheek. Encouraged by this response, Yoansu then sewed a lengthier yarn.

According to him eventually his perseverance and tenacity had paid off. He’d gained lawful employment at a reputable teahouse, with still more promising prospects. Before long he’d furthered his position, with his diligence, and became an assistant manager.  There he’d stayed adding up his adequate earnings till it amounted to a respectable sum, after which he’d planned to return home with it.

As such, Yoansu took delight in spinning a convincing fabrication and pulling wool over these foolish but nevertheless much beloved parents.

All this time for the sake of peace, Kaimu had masked his growing resentment and mounting anger at this apparent, rather insulting deception. Not at all blinded to his son’s arrogance and other character flaws as Ensa, he’d detected far too many irregularities and numerous inconsistencies in his son’s accounts. Only, out of deference to his wife, he’d kept his tongue.

Yoansu rounding his story, then had steered the conversation to a point where ceasing the opening, the chance, he renewed his inquiry about Jiense. But, once more, Kaimu avoided responding (averted replying) to his son’s question and instead, rather bluntly shepherded (maneuvered) Yoansu’s attention to yet another topic of conversation.

 Though this further intrigued Yoansu, knowing his father's stubborn and temperamental nature he consigned himself to exercising patience.  Ensa and Jiense meanwhile had busied themselves in the kitchen, readying the supper.  Jiense had felt quite uncomfortable at first being inundated under the burning gazes of Yoansu but deeming it to be nothing more than an idle curiosity on the part of the son, she’d dismissed it eventually and gave it no further thought. 

Finally, the new daughter-in-law Tufan made her grand entrance, emerging from the room all refreshed, powdered and rouged- which made her look totally out of place, and even absurd.  Instead of going over to the womenfolk to offer her help, she accepted the man’s polite invitation and brazenly set herself at the table between them, to be waited on. 

Ensa, the most understanding mother-in -law, overlooked Tufan's arrogant indiscretion and thoughtlessness, and bore her no contempt, something that another in her palace most certainly would not have done.

The storage space at the side of the kitchen meanwhile had been hastily prepared as the new designated sleeping quarters for Jiense.  As it were, the entire dwelling consisted of two bedrooms and one big living room, where they did everything: cooking, eating, entertainment, reading, weaving, sawing etc.  When they had company, as means of privacy they pulled at the string, which lowered a straw mat curtain from the ceiling and divided the living room into two, concealing the kitchen.  After further division, it was the makeshift room at the corner of kitchen that now served as Jiense’s sleeping quarters at night.  During the day, her bedding would be folded and placed in the old couple's bedroom for storage. 

All the preparations for dinner completed, the womenfolk sat themselves at the table as well to consume the rich fare that Ensa and Jiense had done their best to produce.  In this happy atmosphere they toasted endlessly to their future happiness, harmonious relationships and long life.  Of course, since Jiense was still considered part of the family, she was included in their celebration at the dinner table, and even came to share a drink or two with them when they proposed a toast to the newlyweds.  The exciting sounds of happy chatter and laughter ensued well into the night. Finally, the young women were allowed to retire, while Ensa seated well off to the side, stayed up to finish her mending tasks.

In this more private atmosphere, Kaimu then broached the more delicate subject, the acquisition of Tufan, with Yoansu.

“You see, in the same street, at the opposite corner from this teahouse, there was another business establishment, which had many customers streaming in and out of it all the time.” Yoansu now, without abandon, relinquished the rest of the story.  “This place livened up at night, and the most exciting sounds of music, happy chatter and laughter emanated endlessly from it until dawn.  The vitality of this place kept me both curious and sleepless many a night, despite my exhausted state.”

“My discreet inquiries revealed that this place was what was known as ‘House of Pleasure’.  A section of it was reserved for gamblers.” Yoansu leaning forward in a softer voice added. “And another section was earmarked (assigned, apportioned) for the customers to pass their time in the company of loose women, ones that have abandoned all moral conduct and offer services of the most intimate kind to men for a specified price.” Then continuing in a low voice, Yoansu could not resist, in teasing the old man’ with his elaboration of tantalizing accounts and shocking specifics.

Despite his mounting interest, Kaimu all through it all had maintained his stiff composure, and assuming high moral air, now and then, even showed a frown on his face. “I was appalled!  I mean I had heard that cities contained such places, but I had no idea that this town contained one as well.”

Yoansu wanted to roar out loud but playing along, he stifled his laughter. Then feigning modesty, he quickly added, “But I digress.”

Ensa had cocked her ears, trying to overhear the soft-spoken words of Yoansu, but to her chagrin, she’d still missed most of it.  Now she wondered to what “such places” her son was referring.

“Since my curiosity had been aroused,” the son continued, “I don't know how, but, despite my prior resolution, one day I found myself in the interior.”

Overlooking his son’s indiscretions and wanting to ease his mounting apprehension, Kaimu at this point hastily interjected: “Well, I hope you went to the section where only the men congregated.”  He could not bring himself however to say, and I hope you are not leading to the fact that this girl you brought home as your wife came from such a place! 

Surmising this, Yoansu gave a wry smile and shook his head in the negative (from side to side). Leaning back, he then continued, “There, at first, I remained as an observer, buying only a drink or two so that I would be inconspicuous, and watched over their shoulders the strange gambling games they played.  These, I later learned, were slap-yurkin, sondure, and dap-gurken games.  Of course, it was far more sophisticated in form than the kind played in remote areas.  However, over time, I was drawn to the games and took part in them myself.” Yoansu feigning shame admitted.

“Soon I’d become addicted and played frequently, always gambling my day's or week's wages, and even going without food.”

“What an innocent account.” Kaimu mused. “I could almost believe him.”

“Tisk, tisk, tisk,” Ensa was heard expressing her disapproval and disappointment as she shook her head.

“Be quiet, woman!” Kaimu snapped.  “Instead of eavesdropping, why don't you go to bed?”

Though angered, she’d restrained her retort and not wishing to break harmony, she’d simply lowered her head.

Some things never change! Yoansu shook his head, then throwing a sad look at his mother, inwardly asked. Why do you put up with his antics (insults)?

“You always provoke me, making me look (appear) the villain!” Kaimu (surmising this) grumbled plaintively.

“As I was saying,” Yoansu, for the sake of peace, quickly resumed his tale. “My addiction to gambling of course gave me serious concern. But I kept telling myself that one good win was all I was aiming for; then I would quit, take all my winnings and go home.”

What a good son!  Ensa could not help but praise him inwardly. 

Kaimu averted his son’s eyes, to hide his skepticism. Yeah right, wolf in sheep’s clothing!

“Well, father, my fortune came in twofold, in the same night!”

At this point the old fisherman donned a strange expression and a broad smile across his face.  He then turning to his wife winked. “Imagine that!  Two-fold fortune must run in this family's stars!” 

When Yoansu asked what he had meant by that, Kaimu waved a hand in dismissal, saying, “Never mind...Get on with the rest of your story.”

“All right,” Yoansu conceded, “As I was saying, one night I was on a lucky streak.  It was like I couldn't lose, I kept on winning greater and greater sums.”

 Ensa gasped, as if enraptured by the same anticipatory feeling of this spoken moment. 

“In a very short time I had amassed quite a fortune, and before me was a huge pile of (money) funds that I could not have earned in ten years of hard work.  I became deliriously happy, beyond any imagination.”  Yoansu exhaling reached for his drink.

“And no one accosted you! No one tried to steal it from you?” Ensa could not hold back.

Yoansu smirked. “Of course, there’s always that danger mother, but not if one handles things right. First of all, as added insurance, one should offer a reasonable portion of one’s winnings to the proprietor of that place, in order to gain his protection. That will enable you the right to have the ‘so-called’ bodyguards. This is the unwritten law. It was these bodyguards that escorted my wife and me most of the way; being relieved of their duty only a short distance from here. How else do you think we got here in safety, in one piece and with this entire luggage too?”

I forgot there’s an honor system among the crooks! Kaimu inwardly scoffed. 

Filled with a grand vision of all that money, Kaimu rubbed his hands together in a jovial mood.  Surely his son must have brought a good chunk of it with him, home! Why else would he be crowing about this fact?

 In the past proud Kaimu’s long standing policy had been to reject any sort of help. Co-dependency on anyone, especially on this “no good son” would have been unthinkable. But then again, things had changed! Now a pragmatist, “survival” being paramount, he would not scoff at this present boon opportunity. 

 Yes, all this talk had to be a prelude to a great gift.  Kaimu had already made up his mind to accepting the money. That way after a brief visit, Yoansu in good conscience could return to his chosen lifestyle.

A frightening thought just then, however, crossed Kaimu’s mind. He knit his brows as the deep frown etched itself across his face.  What if Yoansu had spent most of the money on a dowry and other worthless stuff for this woman (Tufan), which her sophisticated kind always craved; not knowing there was a free wife waiting for him at home?  What if Yoansu’s intent all along had been (was) to dispose of this burdensome creature on them, knowing their desperation for a grandchild?

Since Kaimu had quickly shifted his gaze from Jiense’s direction to their son’s room, Ensa, who’d been idly rocking her body back and forth, noticed this sudden change and abruptly halted (stayed).  She held her breath in fearful anticipation of the consequences. But Kaimu, displaying unusual patience and self-control, maintained his composure and continued to listen.

In all this time Yoansu had been lost in his own private revere, paying no heed to the gravity of ensued silence. After placing his half-emptied cup down, he resumed his narration.  “At another table an old customer of the house had suffered heavy losses, and was asking for an extension on his credit, insisting that he was good for it.  Being their regular customer, he claimed, no demanded, they owed him this courtesy. His request, however, was flatly denied and he was politely asked to take his leave.  Not only did he refuse but also growing indignant, he then raised quite a row, hurling abuses at the proprietor.  He had lots of supporters, you see, and the proprietor was put in a bind.  On behalf of the gentleman, they demanded that he be given another chance, one final deal in order to recover his losses. The gentleman meanwhile reasserted that he felt his luck would change.”

'What a fool!” Kaimu interjected hotly.

Yoansu’s face flushed red, but continued nonetheless, without rebuking or giving any credence to this rude interruption. “I had picked up my pile and was on my way out, when his eyes spotted me.  Coming right over, he then very politely introduced himself as Yuksul Wugan then asked to borrow some of my winnings.  I tell you, father, I was dumbfounded.  Not because of his request, but that such a fine gentleman would condescend in public to ask me for money.”

“And why not,” Kaimu at this point exploded.  “I hope you did not lend him a zukon!”  Angrily he added, “Imagine that the gall!” 

What if he’d been wrong, and most of the proposed amount had been squandered on her, as the means of acquisition/ barter/dowry? Kaimu inwardly asked. It had suddenly occurred to him, that the gentleman's family name was the same as their new daughter-in-law.

In response to Kaimu’s outburst, Yoansu had grimaced and lowered his eyes to conceal his amusement. After clearing his throat, he resumed his narration. “Now, I hesitated since he was a stranger and all... I mean, he wasn't family.”

“Quite right,” Ensa was heard heaving a deep sigh. Their relief, however, was short lived.

“But Mr. Yuksul Wugan, calling on his friends to bear witness, made me an oath that he would pay his debt to me in full, plus interest by this time tomorrow or he would forfeit his daughter to me in its stead.”

I knew it! Kaimu scoffed inwardly.

“I remained silent, partly out of shock.  I had never heard of such a thing; I mean, throwing one’s own child into the barter as easily as that!  Not something a respectable family would do surely, yet he did not look to be one from a poor family.”

Ensa shook her head, echoing her husband’s silent disapproval.

“Still hesitant, I sought to get away, to ponder on the concern.  But his friends, by then encircling me rushed forth with persuasive arguments to hasten my decision. They assured me that I had no reason to fear any loss, saying that he was as good as his word and that his daughter, a rare beauty, should be more than enough collateral. Therefore, I was a fool to even be hesitating.”

“Aiyyyahh, I’ve never heard such a thing!” Ensa could not hold her peace, while Kaimu's face darkened.

“So enticed, I complied with his wishes and loaned him the required sum.” Yoansu quickly added.

“So, they bamboozled (hoodwinked) you into giving them the money… But not the entire tally (tot), I hope?” Kaimu grumbled.

“No, only a small portion of it was spent on that.” Yoansu lied.

 “Well after I loaned him the amount, I made my way through the crowds and left the premises quickly, disappointing all those that tried to persuade me to stay and to participate in the game, or at least watch to see how Mr.Yuksul Wugan fared. You see, father, I remembered your good advice that the best time to quit anything was while the going was still good.  That's why I sought to leave prematurely.  I could not trust myself to remain objective and not be coerced back into another game.”

“In another words, you kept your wits about you.” Kaimu ejected sternly, not at all impressed.

“That night, I am ashamed to say, I entertained fanciful thoughts,” Yoansu blushed, admitting this: “I’d hoped he would lose still more and be unable to cover his debt. Then I would gain myself a wife.  It did not matter if she was ugly, a wife was a wife!”

Kaimu appeared saddened and seemingly agitated. He rose from his seat and giving an excuse of needing to relieve himself, he darted outside. 

Even Ensa had guessed the rest.  “Imagine; losing good money for a wife when there was no need for it!  But how was he to know?” 

“What a worthless son I have!” Kaimu grumbled under the blanket of stars. His mind then reverting to Jiense, his eyes upturned to the sky, he hissed. “So, my good fortune was a sham.  The Gods have had a good joke and are now laughing at me; he ground his teeth anew as he went about doing his business. 

When he returned with a blank expression, his wife surmising his thoughts remained fearful lest her foolhardy husband unleash his terrible temper and ruin this otherwise joyous union.

Yoansu had also sensed that something was amiss but chose instead to disregard it. Besides, he was thoroughly enjoying himself and he thought himself to be quite clever with his rather convincing spun yarn. But how could he be an offspring of such a gullible pair?  During that respite (brief interval), he’d once more inwardly questioned himself, as he’d done dozens of times… even though his arrogant self knew the answer all too well.

Nevertheless, ironically, he was bound to them out of filial piety and love.  He was the prisoner of his affections, and the deep bond of love that existed between him and more precisely his mother- which could never be disputed or broken! Thus far, he’d been the invisible force of protection that had enabled them their long, relatively untroubled life. Admittedly, his was a dangerous line of work. But he shuddered to think what might have befallen his parents, had he not taken this recourse. If only this proud fool of a father knew how much he owed his son! One day, Yoansu made self-promise, when in private and away from Ensa’s hearing range, he will let him know! Then let him be so smug!

Yoansu with indifference had watched Kaimu walk across the room with a lowered face, fetch his chewing herbs (contained in a pouch) and then begrudgingly settle himself in the chair across from his son. He popped a dried piece into his mouth and offered the same to Yoansu.

Yoansu never liked the bitter taste anyhow; he simply shook his head.

“Suit yourself.” Kaimu shrugged, accepting the spittoon that his wife had provided for him.

 “Well, let’s hear the rest of it.” He intoned with cold irony as he leaned back.

 

(END OF PART 7)

 

 

(THE EXCITING STORY OF THE FISHERMAN'S PRIZE WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT POST-  PART 8)