The Musafir
Dinner; River Stream
Mantingan did not turn or answer, there was no intention of him to have dinner. Isn't dinner not on the deal? After all, Mantingan suddenly felt that he had to read the Blood Wind Palm even more thoroughly, there was little chance that it was not a true book.
Dara again called Mantingan, even now he approached her.
“Why didn't you answer?”
“I'm not hungry.”
“But did you know that it really harassed me. Come appreciate me a little bit.You should also know that your life is still in the shadow of death."
Mantingan turned his gaze towards Dara. I see the girl smiling. Mantingan let out a long sigh before standing up from his stool, it seemed like he did not have much more choice.
“But before that, I was about to ask,” said Mantingan.
Dara scrunched her forehead. “What is it? Just say.”
The Mantingan took out the Blood Wind Palm Book and raised it right in front of Dara's face. “Is this book really a true book?”
“Of course, what is wrong?”
“I didn't find any silat science here.”
Dara looked at Mantingan as if Mantingan was a fool. “That's certainly reasonable. The book is only understood if you have a teacher from the White Wind College, therefore the price of this book is very cheap, because no one can understand the contents of the book.”
“Then why did you sell this book?”
If this book cannot be understood by anyone, then why is it sold as a book of silat? Of course, if this book is not able to understand it, because the members of the White Wind College have been exterminated by the Taruma government. Mantingan certainly felt deceived, he bought this book with almost all his money.
If only at the auction had Dara said that the Book of Blood Wind Palm was a book for display only, then surely Mantingan would not have bought it. If it had been like this, what should the Mantingan do with the Blood Wind Palm Book?
Dara smiled awkwardly. “I know that I was wrong, so I invite you to dinner.”
“Nyai, I don't want silat exchanged for dinner.” The mantle said coldly. “Is His way of making money like this?”
“I've ordered dinner for you as a sign of apology, is that not enough?”
The mantingan did not end up thinking in Dara's way of thinking. What Mantingan needs is silat, not dinner.
No matter how luxurious and expensive the food was, Mantingan remained unwilling if it was exchanged for silat. His money was also left a little after purchasing that Blood Wind Palm Book, whereas the White Wind Institution could hardly be expected. Then, how does Mantingan master the science of silat? How can the Mantingan avenge the deaths of Rara, Arkawidya, and Birawa?
But in the end, Mantingan let out a long breath, he had released the 70 pieces of gold. It is impossible for Mantingan to demand that this book be returned, it is not a wise deed. The coat nodded slowly, making Dara smile again.
“Then let's go to the dinner table, I've ordered a lot of good food from all over the city for you.”
Mantingan immediately thought of the fate of children who died in the dry season due to no food, while here food like wasted.
“What are you waiting for again? Don't hesitate, let's eat!”
The mantan first washed his hands in a bowl of clean water, then began to bribe the grilled fish meat. The taste of this fish can be Mantingan admitted to be very delicious, I don't know how much it costs if it looks like it is already very luxurious like this. There are also some lalapan and sambal, the rest are vegetables.
“We've had enough of a conversation,” said Dara then. “What's your name?”
“Mantingan.” The mantel answered briefly.
“Only ‘Mantingan’ only?”
“Call it so.”
Dara smiled faintly before bribing the food. “And if I may know, what work are you in right now?”
The mantelan thought for a moment before shaking.
“If there is no work, where do you get money?”
The mantan stopped his movements and looked at Dara in a moment. “I feel that you don't need to know.”
“Alright, I just want to make sure you don't steal.”
“I earn money is not stealing as blatantly as robbers, nor stealing secretly.”
“I know you insinuate me.” Dara laughed softly. “But believe me, Mantingan, I do not steal secretly or openly. Let me tell you, it is natural that I raise the price of goods. Why is that said natural? Of course it was because the auction guests had partly come just to see me. The auctioneers who hired me did not mind that, even the guests themselves felt happy.”
To be honest Dara felt astonished at Mantingan. Mantingan did not show any interest in Dara at all, even Mantingan tended to ignore him. And until now, only Mantingan was not happy the price of his goods was raised by Dara, even though it was an honor for the other auction guests.
But it goes against the principle of Mantingan, that physical beauty is not everything. Physical beauty will wear off with time, physical beauty also often makes a lot of serious problems. But if that beauty is in one's mind, and its beauty lies within, then it will mature over time.
Now Mantingan thought, can Punawarman be said to be a failed king because it did not succeed in purifying the noble minds of his people? If the great king were to dig a river with his mighty hand, wouldn't he also have to dig a river of clear virtuous thought for his people to drink? Wasn't the king reportedly building a river for the irrigation of rice fields?
For Mantingan, the glory of a kingdom lies not only in how persistent it is on the battlefield or how sophisticated its equipment is, but in how high and clear the noble people are. If only the people were clear-headed, then certainly the people in his government were just as clear. If all that can be achieved, then there lies the glory of a kingdom.
People like those auction guests were certainly not people who had clear noble minds, whereas they were people from Taruma. Dara is also one of the people who are not too clear-headed, it looks like the girl is using her beauty to make money.
Mantingan still hopes Punawarman realized that not only does he need to dig a river for agriculture, he also needs to dig a river that drains a clear noble mind for his people, a noble mind that only has one source. That hope can still be maintained, considering Punawarman has only two years to occupy the throne of Tarumanagara.
