Golden Peacock - Collection of Short Stories, Volume Six

Male child

Chapter (1)

One evening, a group of young Burmese people were drinking tea and chatting happily at the National Tea House on Seikkantha Road in Yangon. The tea house was a little more expensive than other Chinese and Korean tea houses, but it was decorated in a neat and elegant manner. The owners were also very well-dressed, and the clerks from the High Court and the Secretariat were very friendly. Although these clerks worked in different offices, they often met in the tea house, so all the customers laughed and chatted like old friends.

On the evening we are writing about, a group of six young men were sitting at a large stone table in one corner, talking about football. Even during his writing career, Maung Tin Myint was a generous man. Other young writers used his house as a place to eat and drink, and the writers who lost horse races would stay in his house for five or ten days. Maung Tin Myint's salary was only 150 kyats, but he was a young man and did not like gambling or drinking, so he could feed and care for his friends who were running away from home. He could also lend five or ten kyats to those who were in need, and all the writers loved him like a brother.

Maung Tin Myint was always ready to do good to others and to say kind words, but he was also a strong and manly man. Once, some Pashu people came to Yangon and were showing off their Manila boxing skills, and among them was a very good boxer. This boxer was so famous throughout the eastern countries that no one dared to fight him. The manager of the Manila boxing gym advertised that anyone who could fight him three rounds without losing would be given a reward of 100 kyats. Maung Tin Myint had been a first-class boxer when he was a student and had not fought for a long time, but it was a shame for the whole nation that no Burmese should be left out of the limelight by such a brazen and arrogant advertisement. He didn't want to be beaten, so he went out to fight a boxer. Although Maung Tin Myint was afraid of being beaten by a boxer, he was brave and courageous, and he was also a skilled fighter. He had won a prize of 100 kyats for three rounds of beatings without giving up. The manager was so impressed with his skills that he offered him 500 kyats a month if he wanted to make a living as a boxer, but Maung Tin Myint refused.

When Maung Tin Myint entered, the people drinking tea in the picnic area invited him over, so Maung Tin Myint sat down in a chair with a slouched expression. One ... When did Ko Tin Myint return from Mandalay?

Another person ... Your face is pale and you feel nauseous. What happened?

Another one .. “I guess the Taung Pyone festival was a lot of fun.”

They greeted each other and asked questions.

"Myint.. What are you talking about?"

One.. We don't have to talk about it, this is just Than Nyunt talking under contract. The way he says it, a person who can break into someone's house is a real hero..

"Myint.. Why is it so hard to break into a house? If you have feet and hands, you can get in."

"Nyun.. Easy to say, sir, but hard to do."

"Myint..I'll break in, what's the use of you?"

Nyunt..Are you pretending?” One..Don't pretend, if he's going to bet, would you dare to bet?

"Nyunt.. I dare to bet."

"High..what will you bet?"

"Nyunt.. You want to bet, bet."

"One... Do this, tonight we have to break into the building one by one, and the loser will have to feed the five of us here at the Continental Hotel for dinner."

"High..' Diamonds, please."

"Nyunt.. You'll lose, don't do it."

One..You're not hot, if he loses, he'll feed you. Don't you dare bet?"

"Nyunt.. I have a diamond, please bet."

After that, the friends talked about other things, and when they were about to part, they reminded Maung Tin Myint about the bet...

"One.. How can you prove that you cheated?"

"Myint.. I will write my name TM on the inside of the door I broke."

"Nyun... I like it... I like it."

After that, the friends left the party and dispersed.

Chapter (2)

When Maung Tin Myint returned from a visit to Mandalay, he returned by sea, as one who was free, and boarded a mail ship in the second class. While he was returning, he caught sight of a young woman of about 20 years of age who was in the first class. He tried to make friends with her, but since he was in the first and second classes, he could not find her. So he asked the ship's clerk if there was any room in the first class. It was very crowded that week, and the first class was filled with European passengers, so he gave up the idea.

Seeing a woman who looked like the girl's servant in the third row, he tried to make friends with her, but the woman seemed suspicious and refused to let Maung Tin Myint go. But that idea also failed. When they stopped at the ports on the way, the girl went down to the shore and drove into the city, and she met Maung Tin Myint's eyes for a while. However, she did not get closer to him.