Dagon Golden Arrow - Brings good luck

He is lost, I am lost.

More than two years before the war, in a room on the top floor of a three-story building on Bogalay Market Street in eastern Yangon, a fairly well-groomed man in his forties sat in a swivel chair in front of his desk one evening, puffing a cigarette from a silver cigarette case on the table.

All human beings earn their living through their professions and crafts, and only those who earn their living through their professions live in peace and tranquility. They do not eat their minds and easily acquire material wealth. Therefore, those who do not give importance to meritorious deeds and rely on their intellect and diligence, even if they are not rich, sit in the middle of the line. If meritorious deeds and benefits are equal, the diligent person benefits ten times more, and the lazy person benefits twenty times more. The person who is enjoying the taste of gold flake cigarettes and is smoking peacefully is the commission broker Maung Maung Oo, who has remarked that "a person who is intelligent and lazy in the world will never lack money."

After graduating from Kushin School, Maung Maung Oo worked as a reporter for three or four Burmese newspapers, as an assistant editor for an English newspaper, as a cashier at a department store, and as a senior clerk at a bank. Maung Maung Oo performed his duties well, but he was always on the lookout for a job and never found a permanent job. While working as a bank clerk, he helped an Indian man who had forged a cheque to the tune of one hundred thousand. The man escaped to India and escaped. Although the crime was true, Maung Maung Oo managed to evade the law and get away with it by hiring a friend to cover up the crime. However, the bank directors, convinced that Maung Maung Oo was involved in the scheme, fired him.

Maung Maung Oo had passed the third-grade bar exam in the second week of 1927, so after quitting his job at the bank, he decided to use his skills and became a lawyer by hanging a sign under the building that read, "Maung Maung Oo, a lawyer by order of the Lord."

When he was a lawyer, Maung Maung Oo became quite famous because he could use his deep intelligence rather than the law. In cases, Maung Maung Oo was able to handle them without focusing on legal information and how to buy witnesses, so people who were unfairly prosecuted and those who wanted to oppress the other party would come to Maung Maung Oo. At that time, Maung Maung Oo was not only an ordinary lawyer, but also received a share of the profits. Therefore, one case that Maung Maung Oo handled was equal to four cases that other lawyers handled. Maung Maung Oo, even as an ordinary third-rate lawyer, could rent a room for one hundred a month and live in luxury with luxurious furniture.

Sitting on a chair facing Maung Maung Oo's table was a woman in her twenties, with a graceful appearance and a strong, muscular build. Maung Maung Oo put a stub of cigarette into a silver plate and then rubbed it out.

"What's up, Sein Sein, what do you think of what you said?"

The young woman did not answer, tears streaming down her face.

"Tell me, Sein Sein asked my brother."

"...a very good man, a very good man, a man who will become a god"

“Why are you so angry, Sein?” “What’s wrong, you’re pregnant… pregnant… pregnant for two months, you know?” “What’s wrong, Sein? It’s a ritual.” “Oh… don’t say these things, just say you’re not going to get married again.” “After giving birth…” Before he could finish his sentence =

"When have you ever heard of having children and getting married? Oh... I know, about your older brother, of course. This girl is a fool."

Sein Sein was crying loudly, wiping away her tears with the sleeve of her shirt. Sein Sein's sobs were clearly audible in the quiet room on the top floor.

 

Maung Maung Oo took a cigarette and lit it, then said, "This Sein Sein, I know that your brother is a schemer. There is a reason why you can't get married right now, Sein Sein. Your brother has been supporting you regularly. After the baby is born, we will invite about forty or fifty elders from the area to get married. Isn't it important to stay with your brother?"

"Where are you planning to take another wife?" "I won't take her, Sein."

"Okay, if you're a schemer and you come up with any kind of plan, you won't get a diamond. That's it. I'll trade you for a saint's life, you know."

"Diamond is very angry"

“You understand about women, don't you?” Maung Maung Oo didn't say anything back, but continued to smoke cigarettes. Maung Maung Oo knew that Sein Sein was a tough girl. Not only did he know, but he was also a 'noob' at women, so he smiled inwardly at Sein Sein's words.

"Okay... It's getting dark, Sein Sein. My brother has an appointment with a client at half past seven."

“I have to ask you something, big brother.” “What’s wrong, Sein Sein?” “What if you don’t get married after having a baby?” “Oh.. oh.. why don’t you get married, Sein Sein? I took you because I love you.”

"No. These kinds of things are common. Tell me specifically, how long after you give birth will you get married?"

“How long do you want me to wait?” “Tell me, brother. This is not for talking.” “Okay... three months, Sein Sein.” “Brother, keep your promise.” “Don’t worry, Sein Sein.”

Sein Sein stomped his feet and left the room.

When Sein Sein went downstairs, Maung Maung Oo stretched out and said, "Well... women are creatures that are just as vulnerable as men. When I think about it, it's pitiful, but even if I just feel sorry for them, it won't be enough. There's another story. ' Oh... Maung Maung Oo... Maung Maung Oo. It's one thing to take them because I like them, and another thing to take them because they like them, so it's all a bunch of different things," he muttered to himself, lighting a cigarette and making up his mind.

Fourteen years before the above incident, there was a wealthy politician named U Maung Maung, whose wife was a landowner and when he married U Maung Maung, she owned about ten thousand acres of land. The house and land on U Maung Maung's side, and the full amount of gold and diamonds on his wife Daw Aye Khin's side, and the ten thousand acres of land, made the life of the couple peaceful and prosperous. U Maung Maung had worked as a school teacher for eight years after graduating from BA. When he married Daw Aye Khin, he quit his job as a school teacher and bought a house and building on Boundary Road and lived peacefully.

U Maung Maung is a generous person in charity and a top contributor to clubs. He is the chairman of every club, the chairman of every street committee, and is involved in almost every club in the city. Daw Aye Khin is also in agreement with her husband. The couple has a good attitude, a generous donation, a wealth of material resources, and a councilor who can communicate with senior officials. In the upper class world, there is no one who does not know U Maung Maung Daw Aye Khin. In this way, U Maung Maung's life journey has been smooth and smooth, without any obstacles. However, how peaceful and comfortable the home is

Whether it's a prison or a bad karma, it's like oil that finds its way in, and the following happens.

While working as a schoolteacher, U Maung Maung fell in love with a young teacher named "Yee Yee" at first sight, and that love continued until he got engaged to Daw Khin and got married.

Finally, Yee Yee had a child, and U Maung Maung kept Yee Yee in the village of Sut Khin and visited her once a week to socialize. However, as a person with a big face, this matter did not reach the world of the rich and famous, and it was only scattered outside. Therefore, Daw Aye Khin was completely unaware of this matter, and some people who knew her well kept it a secret for fear of upsetting Daw Aye Khin.

Thus, time passed, and the landowner, U Maung Maung, suddenly died of pneumonia.

The time we are writing about is about six months after U Maung Maung passed away, and the widowed girl, Sari Ri, was left with only one daughter. While U Maung Maung was alive, he had given her enough to live on every month, but she had no clothes. At that time, her daughter was about six years old, and the mother and son were living in poverty. Some people took pity on Ri and approached U Maung Maung's wife, Daw Aye Khin, and told her about the situation. She suggested that she take care of her, as she was a bad-tempered person.

Legally, the daughter is U Maung Maung's child and has the right to half of U Maung Maung's property. True. However, fearing that such a public act would harm her husband's honor, Ri Ri, a good wife, is suffering and enduring hardships.

Just as flies can smell "smell," Maung Maung Oo has also smelled Ri Ri's business very well.

There are many “tauk” (money-lending) brokers in Maung Maung Oo who are always looking for ways to make money. They are always sniffing out any legal way to make money.

Maung Maung Oo approached Mrs. Yee Yee through U Tha Dun, the head of the ten households in Tot Khin village. Yee Yee initially refused, fearing that it would harm her late husband’s honor. However, when Maung Maung Oo gently talked about how he could easily get even a hundred thousand from Daw Aye Khin, a widow who was worth over two hundred thousand, Yee Yee finally agreed. Then Maung Maung Oo began to work. He brought a photo of Yee Yee and U Maung Maung together, six letters from U Maung Maung, a gold watch that U Maung Maung had signed, a locket with a gold chain that U Maung Maung Maung had attached to it, and a gold chain locket with U Maung Maung Maung’s photo. U Maung Maung signed his name and requested the furniture purchase list and vouchers from Ye Ri as evidence, and then had Ye Ri sign a “letter of representation” authorizing him to represent him in the matter.

With such a strong arsenal, Maung Maung Oo planned to excavate the treasure trove from Daw Aye Khin.

In this case, it would be right to sue, but the process would be expensive and time-consuming. So Maung Maung Oo approached Daw Aye Khin directly and sought ways to resolve the matter without suing.

So Maung Maung Oo wrote a detailed account of the events from the time U Maung Maung and Yee Yee began to meet, and finally, he said that the matter was in his hands, that he did not want to disturb the children and wife of a good man, but that he had to suffer because it was unavoidable , and that he wanted to come to his office to discuss the matter in person, as if a snake were not dead and a stick was not broken. He specified the exact date and time for the visit.

When the appointment day arrived, a black Opel car pulled up in front of Lawyer Maung Maung Oo's office. A tall, white woman, about fifty years old, dressed simply and elegantly, took one look at the lawyer's sign and went upstairs. It was U Maung Maung's wife, Daw Aye Khin.

When I entered the office, Maung Maung Oo stood up and greeted me with a bow.

"Come, Your Majesty, come."

Daw Aye Khin looked at Maung Maung Oo with a fixed face, then sat down on a wicker chair facing Maung Maung Oo at the table.

"It's really painful to cause trouble for the Queen. But the matter is not over yet, and the other party's client asks us to do it, so we have to do what we have a duty to do."

"Yes, of course. How much more does your Majesty think the case is worth? If it is true, then..."

Before he finished speaking, "I don't want your Majesty to have any doubts about the truth of the matter. We have a lot of solid evidence on our side. For example..."

Lawyer Maung Maung Oo pretended to open the desk drawer with a key.

"Let's just say it, these are long. Let's just get to the point and say how much we want it."

"It's not about how much you want it, sir, but according to the law..."

"...the letter of the decree states that you want to end it peacefully, not by law."

"That's right, sir. That's right. I'm here to mediate so that there is peace without losing the love between the two sides."

"So this matter is in the hands of the commanding officer." "Speak, sir."

"So tell me, how much can we finish it? We can't mess it up in any way. The child is also not U Maung Maung's child. Whether it's true or not, the honor of the deceased cannot be harmed. We must take full responsibility for what has been completed once and for all."

“I am responsible, Your Majesty.” “Okay.... How much can I do this for?” “I am asking for one hundred thousand, sir.” “One hundred thousand... yes.” “That is correct, Your Majesty.”

"Not too much, sir. I think your client is too greedy for other people's hard work."

"Actually, not much. I dare say that, legally, you should get four times more than this."

"But you can only get a case if you have money, right, Your Majesty?"

"Don't think so, Your Majesty. Even though I don't donate these days, I still have people who pack tea. If I were to find someone with a half-clothed robe, I would throw away fifty thousand for this kind of thing."

Daw Aye Khin suddenly became agitated and looked at Maung Maung Oo's face. "Maung Maung Oo also looked at me. But he pretended not to see and was just putting his cigarette into the silver plate."

"A lot, Your Majesty... a lot. I can't give it to you in any way. Let this girl have whatever she wants."

"What will happen if I say this once? I will also respect the face of a dead person. We know how sweet the reputation of the minister is in the city and in the countryside. We must also respect the fact that the reputation of such a great man must be restored only after death."

"It's a lot... a lot. There's no way I can pay it. I don't have that much money to pay."

"... How much do you think it will cost, Your Majesty?" After thinking for a moment, "I'll give you thirty thousand, no matter what. It's become a treasure." "That's too little, Your Majesty." "Not too little. It's even more."

"If it's fifty thousand, I'll make it happen, Your Majesty."

After bargaining, Daw Aye Khin finally agreed to pay forty thousand.

In this case, Maung Maung Oo's lawyer was not a small one. Because he had told Ye Ri that he would ask the King for about ten thousand won, Maung Maung Oo would ask for thirty thousand won. Therefore, Maung Maung Oo was anxiously awaiting the thirty thousand won.

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you this money yet, Your Majesty. I will give it to you at the beginning of next month."

"No problem, sir, I'll arrange it."

"As ordered, everything must be settled from the beginning. Once the matter is settled, not a single detail about this matter must be raised in the future."

"I guarantee this, Your Majesty. If you get this money, the girl won't stay here, she'll go back to the forest."

"So if you get money from your wife, it's all done at once."

“Okay, I’ll give it to you at four o’clock in the evening on the second day of the English new moon .” “Where should I come?” “You don’t have to come, I’ll come myself.” “Will you give me a check, Your Majesty?” “What’s the fuss about checks? I’ll give you cash.”

"Oh... I have to say one more thing. The people who unfairly extort our money should not live long."

"What kind of order is this, Your Majesty?"

"I'm not saying anything else. I can't say whether the material we're looking for is pure or not. In the forest, two people who returned our cow died of a bug bite and the other hanged himself. And once, my husband's watch and fountain pen were stolen by a servant boy. It only took three or four days. He was killed by a car on the road."

"I think it's a coincidence, sir."

Even so, Maung Maung Oo's heart was filled with sorrow.

"I pray that this does not happen to my client. And I am not trying to squeeze this out. It is a legitimate case."

"I pray the same, Your Majesty. I am only talking about it. We took the money legally. If we took it illegally, Your Majesty, we cannot know. Our guardian spirits will know. Please... allow me to return it."

When Daw Aye Khin returned, Maung Maung Oo was deep in thought as he finished three cigarettes.

On the evening of July 2nd, when the rain was falling, Maung Maung Oo was walking along the corridor, smoking a cigarette and looking at the clock in his room. . While waiting for Daw Aye Khin, he imagined that he had heard what Daw Aye Khin had said. However, this was just superstition, and for a Buddhist Burmese man who believed in the benefits of karma, there was nothing to think about. In addition, he also thought that the person who directly asked for the money from U Maung Maung and Daw Aye Khin was the teacher, and that he was just a middleman who received a fee, so he had nothing to do with it.

It was four and five minutes past midnight, but Daw Aye In had not yet appeared, so he looked out the window and watched. He sat back in his chair and was about to light a cigarette when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He opened the door and Daw Aye Khin entered the room. Maung Maung Oo made a comfortable seat for Daw Aye Khin.

Daw Aye Khin looked at her watch -

"I'm a little late. I had a nice chat with a friend on the way."

“I won’t be late. Your Majesty’s watch is a little fast.” “What about his signature and contract?” “I’m ready, sir.”

Maung Maung Oo took out a contract that was in a long envelope inside the safe and read it to Daw Aye Khin. The contract stated that first, it stated that Mrs. Yee Yee’s accusations were written down, and Daw Aye Khin denied them. However, in order to avoid any legal action, she gave Yee Yee forty thousand baht, and Yee Yee promised not to say anything about this matter in the future. It was also signed by Yee Yee herself. U Tha Dun and himself signed the contract as witnesses.