The Day The Crows Flew By (Part 3)

...and now the 3rd part of the story. It starts to go deep.....

“Money! ...money! At least ten thousand bucks!” Ah Kow exclaimed.

Both were bewildered and at least for a minute, looked at the money in astonishment. They had never seen anything like that in their lives! In fact, $100 was the biggest amount they had ever seen – the $100 “Ang Pow” Hor Pek gave them the last Chinese New Year.

“Let’s count it,” Ah Tit broke the silence.

“Okay, okay ...but not a word! Not a word to anyone else,” said Ah Kow and he nodded his head in agreement.

This is the life. This is indeed the life. Counting money in the sun. It was another 15 minutes before they finish counting and for the first time in their lives, Ah Kow and Tan Ah Tit found counting fun.

“Naw!...” Ah Kow grunted, “...only two thousand and five hundred! Nearly all are one dollar bills! But hah!...we're lucky, let’s take it home – it’s a gift from God!”

Sand smacked off their pants and ready to leave, Ah Tit noticed something else in the trunk. He quickly gesticulated to Ah Kow and without hesitation Ah Kow moved his hand in to pull it out. It was a small piece of paper and on it was written chinese characters, a message. Ah Kow and Ah Tit being illiterate could not understand what it meant.

“Ah Tit, you keep the money in your hut first,” said Ah Kow as he slid the message into his trouser pocket, "...I’ll ask my wife to tell me what it means."

What is the message all about?

Both men were pondering. Not a word was uttered as they walked back to their sampan to fill their catch into four pails and then plodded along their usual muddy track to Hor Pek’s shop.

Hor Pek was busy supervising his workers weighing fishes and prawns delivered to his shop.

He just handed $15 to Ah Kow without even looking at what he had brought in.

“Just leave your catch there!” Hor Pek shouted to Ah Kow.

What a measly sum...both men said to themselves as they left Hor Pek’s shop.

“Ah Kow, you keep the $15. I still have some money with me. Moreover, when we divide the share of the money we found, seven dollars and fifty cents won’t mean anything,” Ah Tit suggested.

“...and ooei Ah Kow!! ...we go back after lunch to see who is behind all this.”

Ah Kow nodded in agreement.

Ah Kow’s wife Bee Ai is only 31.

Hastily match-made to Ah Kow five years ago after cancer took the life of his first wife, she is an excellent wife.

Naturally.... for Ah Kow has no off-spring from his first wife but Bee Ai is now three-month pregnant with his soon-to-come bundle of joy.

(More to come...)