The Golden Pillow (金枕头)

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION ANY RESEMBLANCE IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL

1976, NORTHERN THAILAND

Renniang!

Wait for me!

Thank you. Let's go.

I'll take you to the market.

Thank you.

Mother! I brought you some ice!

We still have some left. Why did you buy more?

Business has been good these days. You might go short of ice.

-Have your breakfast. -Thank you, Mother.

Mother, Zhi told me that laborers are needed at the rice warehouse today.

I'll make a trip there after unloading the fruit.

Don't go. It's tough for you.

I must go. It's Vesak Day tomorrow.

You won't be setting up the fruit stall.

We'll have no earnings for the day if I don't go.

You're not a worker there. Will they hire you?

-Somebody will recommend me. -Who?

Zhi's mother told me you'd bullied Zhi.

I didn't! I help him unload fruit when he can't manage.

-Don't bully him, all right? -Yes, Mother.

Zhi must have told tales.

-What did you just say? -Nothing.

A cup of ice water, please.

Renniang! Hurry! The boat is leaving!

Go! Zhi is calling you.

-Then I'll get going. -Okay.

Mother! I'll be late for lunch!

Renniang, hurry!

Take care!

GOLDEN DRAGON GOLDSMITHS

Soybean milk and fried dough sticks, please.

-Morning, Uncle Bo! Have a seat. -Morning.

Is your son back yet?

No. I guess he'll be back after Vesak Day.

We're so far away from Bangkok. Otherwise, you could visit him.

Yes, I'd love to visit him. But the long hours on the train put me off.

Exactly.

GOLDEN DRAGON GOLDSMITHS

-It's Young Master Guang. -Guang.

Uncle Bo, morning!

Morning. Young Master Guang, Xiaodan isn't here yet.

Are you through? You're so noisy!

Patience, Young Master Guang. Come and have some soybean milk.

Yes.

Xiaodan.

I know you have a car. But there's no need for you to hoot the horn!

The neighbors will scold you!

I won't do it again if you don't like it.

Stop chatting, we don't have time.

Father, I'm not going to the fruit stall with you today. I have something else.

-Why aren't you going there today? -I don't want to go. So?

Young Master Guang, if she's not coming, then let's go.

Where are you going? I'll drive you.

I don't need you to!

Xiaodan, I have something for you.

-What is it? -It's money.

Why are you giving me money?

Count it and you'll know.

The truck is here! Renniang, after it!

Make way, make way.

Zhi!

Little boys, take it easy.

Renniang, this is sweet.

Go, go. Just go.

-Big brother, can you speak Mandarin? -What do you want?

Yes.

How much is this?

600 baht.

How much is this?

-Miss, may I help you? -Please ask her how much this is.

-How much is this? -600 baht.

She says 600 baht.

That much? What about 200 baht?

-What about 200 baht? -No.

She says no. How much now?

300 baht.

-Is 300 baht okay? -No, 350 baht.

She wants 350 baht.

-All right, 350 baht. -Okay, 350 baht.

Thank you.

Renniang, what are you doing here? Come on, let's go!

-I'm off! Bye! -Let's hurry.

Hurry!

Quick, we're late.

We're late!

I'm here to load the rice.

-You're late! Go away! -We're late?

Forget it, Renniang. It's all right earning less money.

Look at that guy over there! He's so slow and he's carrying rice!

Xiaodan!

Renniang, what took you so long? I've carried three sacks already!

You said you'd get me the job. How come you're doing it yourself?

They started working. I had to stand in for you.

I'm so sorry, and thank you!

Xiaodan!

Hey!

-I've been looking for you, Xiaodan! -Leave me alone!

Young Master Guang, Xiaodan was helping me--

Stay out of my affairs! Go away!

Xiaodan!

Xiaodan, I don't want to nag you, but you shouldn't be here. It's dangerous!

Don't carry two sacks at one time!

Renniang, what's the matter?

You think you're very strong?

I didn't mean that.

I'm just trying to earn a bit more money.

Very well, let's have a bet and see who is stronger and faster!

I don't gamble.

If you two carry all the sacks, there'll be none left for the others!

If I win, you'll have to leave this place!

If you win, I'll pay all their wages!

Renniang, take him on.

-Renniang, are you confident? -Well…

No problem!

All right then.

Renniang!

Don't be so happy just yet!

‪Go for it!

Renniang, hurry!

Renniang, quick!

Are you all right?

You won 100 baht!

It's 100 baht! Hurray!

Renniang, we've bought so much. Your mother will be pleased.

Yes!

I've not had chicken for ages, Renniang. Is this really for me?

Yes. You're my true friend.

Thank you! Don't leave me out when more chances come along.

Of course!

Thanks, Renniang! Keep it up!

Renniang, shall we go to the temple tomorrow?

Aren't you going to the Golden Pagoda?

-I've changed my mind. -But why?

Anyway, I've spoken to your mother. We're going to the temple near your place.

Fine. I'll show you around the place.

Okay!

Mother, I'm home!

Auntie.

I'm back, Mother.

Auntie.

Hello, Xiaodan. Join us for some noodles.

Renniang brought a lot of things.

Where have you been?

Renniang swayed a lot of people today.

Where did you go?

I went to carry rice.

Carry rice?

All this cost at least 30 baht. How many sacks did you carry?

Three sacks?

No, over 30 sacks.

30 sacks?

He would only get 30 baht. It wouldn't be enough to buy so much.

How did you get so much money?

Stop eating.

I earned it. I didn't steal or rob it.

Yes.

If that's the case, why won't you tell me?

I had a competition with Young Master Guang. I won.

So it was a bet?

He was forced into it. Young Master Guang made him do it.

You tell me yourself.

Mother, I'm sorry.

It's no use saying all that.

I've told you time and again not to gamble.

You don't seem to heed my advice.

I didn't want to take him on. He made me do it.

Auntie…

Xiaodan, your father works for Old Master Zhang.

You should have spared a thought for him.

Return the money to Young Master Guang.

Okay.

But… we've spent all the money.

What are we going to do? I only have 20 baht in my pocket.

Even with all this, we won't be able to raise 100 baht.

How should we give all the money back?

It's all my fault. I shouldn't have had an ice-cream.

Renniang, I've got some money here! Use it first!

I'll pay you back as soon as I have the money.

We'll see.

Zhi!

-Zhi, what are you doing? -I'm slaughtering the chicken.

-What! Is it done? -Slaughter?

-What are you doing with my chicken? -I'm taking it to Young Master Guang.

-It's mine! -Forget it.

-Let's go! -Hurry.

Renniang!

Take these feathers with you too!

Let's go.

You must have had a hard time.

-How do you do? -How do you do?

-Are you Wei? -No.

Uncle Zhang, I'm Sai Wei.

I'm Sai Wu.

I see, you are Wu. And you're Wei.

The moment I received the letter from your dad,

I made the arrangements. The guest rooms are ready.

Hope you'll have a good time here. The appointment too has been arranged.

Thank you.