Golden Peacock - New Detective

Chapter (1)

About a mile north of Katha is a small village called Zarit Chaung. It has about 50 houses, and is inhabited mostly by Karen Christians, with a small church and a monastery on a nearby hill for the small number of Burmese Buddhists. The western part, which leads up to the monastery, is on a slope, and the eastern part is higher and more level than the other parts. In the eastern part of the village, which is more elevated and more imposing, a large house stands higher than the other houses and is visible from the polo field to the north of the town.

The house belonged to U Tun Pyae, a timber merchant who was very influential in the area. U Tun Pyae had once competed with large companies such as BBTC Company and Steel Brothers Company, which were major timber traders. In addition to buffaloes, cows, and elephants, he also owned large houses near the market in Katha, making him a very wealthy man.

U Tun Pyae came to this position partly because of his own ability, and partly because of his marriage to Daw Thita, the only daughter of the richest man in Katha, U Thant. Daw Thita gave birth to his only son, Maung Than Tin, who died when he was about 5 years old. Two years later, when U Thant died, his younger son, Maung Than Tin, inherited all of his grandfather U Thant's property, and at the age of 7, he became a rich man.

U Tun Pyae, however, remarried when Maung Than Tin was 8 years old, and after giving birth to two siblings, Maung Thu Daw and Tin Kyi, the second wife also died. After that, U Tun Pyae no longer had any desire to marry, but lived happily with Maung Than Tin, his son from his first wife, and Maung Thu Daw and Tin Kyi, his sons from his second wife.

The eldest son, Maung Than Tin, inherited many things from his mother, was handsome and pure, and was a very active boy. While he was still at the English School in Katha, he had many lovers and was "sprouting" with girlfriends. He had enough to study English up to BA and MA. However, his father, U Htun Pyae, knew his son's nature and could not trust him. When he finished 10th grade, he did not send him to college and instead hired him as his assistant in the woodworking department.

However, Maung Than Tin did not hold that job for long and after flirting with girls in the city and around the world, one day he stole 500 baht from his father and disappeared from home.

After the death of his two wives, U Tun Pyae had a good disciple named U Thaw Kyaw, who took care of all the household matters, including cooking and baking. U Thaw Kyaw had married a widow in the north of the village, but he only visited her occasionally, and she lived and ate in a small room in U Tun Pyae's house day and night.

At the time we are writing this, his son Maung Thu Daw was 16 years old and his daughter Tin Kyi was 14 years old. U Tun Pyae himself was unwell and was lying in bed in a room upstairs, guarded by his two siblings.

One night, at about 8 o'clock, U Sokwe closed the courtyard and house doors and went into his room. As he was about to read the book Zinatha Pakathani, he heard a voice coming from near the courtyard asking if U Sokwe had slept.

U Sokwe, recognizing the voice, got up from his seat and opened the door of the house and the courtyard. A man, about 25 years old and with a handsome appearance, entered the courtyard.

" Alo Ko Ba U Pak, when did you come back?"

" I just arrived today. I had to get up immediately after hearing that U Tun Pyae was not well."

Maung Ba Oo was the son of a wealthy man from the west of Zarit Chaung village. He disappeared at the same time as Maung Than Tin, the son of U Tun Pyae, and was the same age as Maung Than Tin. They both disappeared when they were about 20 years old, so it had been 5 years since then, so they were both about 25 years old at the time.

" I'm surprised. They both disappeared without a single note. They were two people who could live together."

"You haven't heard anything from Maung Than Tin, have you ? You haven't asked for money?"

"I haven't heard anything since I left. I didn't ask for money either. I think I took 500 baht when I left. Didn't you go with Ko Ba U?"

Then Maung Ba Oo didn't seem to want to talk about it, just shook his head. Then

U .. “How long has it been since U Tun Pyae was sick?”

"It's been about 3 months, so let's talk about it. U Tun, I don't think this mountain will go up."

U .. “What about you, brothers and sisters?” –

"They are waiting in U Tun Pyae's room. Do you still want to see him?"

" Yes , I would like to see you for a while."

Then U Thaw Kyaw went up to the house and found U Tun Pyae sleeping. He brought his two siblings, Maung Thu Daw and Tin Kyi, along with him . Maung Thu Daw was only 16 years old and a quiet boy, while Tin Kyi was only 14 years old and had a lively, lively, and pure appearance. When she grew up, she could see signs that she would become a very beautiful young woman.

When the two siblings saw Maung Ba Oo, they greeted each other with a friendly manner, as if they were from the same village but had been separated for a long time. Tin Kyi, in particular, was a lively girl, and she took the lead in welcoming them, while Maung Thu Pyaw usually only supported what her sister said.

The three young men were entertaining Maung Ba U by recounting everything that had happened in the past five years, while U Thaw Kyaw prepared the tea utensils.

Kyi ..“Koba Oo has been missing for 5 years, what happened?”

U .. “Let’s say it’s all over the country.”

Kyi.. “Will you go back this time?”

" I'm not going back. I'm thinking of taking over my biological father's contract job."

Kyi.. “We haven’t met any of you before, have we?”

U.. with a sad face, "How can we meet? We're not going together."

Kyi .. “I can’t say. They disappeared together, so I’m just asking if they’ve met.”

U.. Cut the conversation short, "Mr. Tin Kyi, is your father okay?"

Kyi ..“It’s not like there’s a lot. It’s like one day is gold, one day is silver. Today is a little better. I’ll tell you that Ko Ba U came to ask.”

"Oh, I'll tell you later. I'll come and see you later. I don't have time today. I'll go back when the rain has stopped."

" I 'll come visit you too, Ko Ba Oo."

"Oh, come on, my man, one day you'll be able to shoot a gun, right?"

"I prefer sitting and reading magazines and novels rather than walking around, Koba Oo."

U. .. “My man is hiding in the house. I will take him back. I will go, U. Sokry.”

When Maung Ba Oo left the house and went to the courtyard, Maung Thu Taw stayed behind. However, since she was a talkative girl, she followed her to the courtyard while talking.

Kyi..“I want to ask you something, Ko Ba Ko.”

U.. “Ask me, what are they?”

Kyi .. “Do you know why our brother disappeared?”

U.. “Why would you know that it’s not true?”

Kyi ..“I think Ko Ba U knows. If you know, tell me, Ko Ba U. Let me know.”

Maung Ba Oo pretended not to know and tried to hide, but could not bear the scrutiny of Tin Kyi.

" I'm a little bit perceptive, I guess. But I'm not talking about it now. I'll tell you later if I have to."

Kyi ..(Happy) “I think so, when will I tell you?”

U.. “Don’t ask too much, U Tin Kyi, I’ll tell you one day.”

Kyi ..“Brother, keep your promise. I will tell you.”

"I'll tell you, don't worry. I'll take you back."

Maung Ba Oo left the courtyard and the two siblings went upstairs. Sowry closed the courtyard and the door of the house and was about to read again as usual, when he heard a knock on the courtyard door again. As U Sowry put down the book and went back to the courtyard, he saw a man standing outside the door in the moonlight. He said, "Oh, my God, Maung Than Tin, what is it?" Today is the day when the missing people return.