His father was surprised and asked, “You wish to [[172]]make money? How can you make money without money? Siang-Sze is a long way off and it will cost you much to go there. Then you will need more to be a merchant.”
Kong-Hwa said, “Give me enough to reach Siang-Sze and I will go.” He insisted until his father beat him and said, “Now go back to school. I will hear no more of this.”
Kong-Hwa was keen and determined. He borrowed money, quietly, a little here and a little there, and then he ran away to Siang-Sze.
For many days his mother tried to find him. She did not think he would go far by himself. Finally she learned that he had gone to Siang-Sze and gave up searching for him.
Nine years had gone by when a man from Siang-Sze told of seeing Kong-Hwa there. His parents wrote to him, but no answer came. Thirteen years passed by and they thought, “We shall never see his face again.”
One day Kong-Hwa, who still lived in Siang-Sze, said to a friend, “I must go home now, if I can get money enough. I have learned some life lessons and now I am going.”
His friend said, “We have good times in Siang-Sze. Why do you leave?” [[173]]
“It is not the place where I ought to be,” answered Kong-Hwa. “I have tried many things here and in all the thirteen years have not had success. No one will have me for a bookkeeper. I tried to be a merchandise agent, and in two months I was discharged. I then worked in a bank for forty days, when they paid my salary and told me to go. To-morrow I need money to pay my rent, three months due; but I have no money. I order clothes, and they say, ‘No money, no clothes.’ I ask friends to lend me some, and they do not even answer me.
“I see now I have been very foolish. I have been here thirteen years and I try to have a good time. I drink, I smoke, I dance, I go to theaters and halls every night—every night. I spend all of my money when I have work. Now I have no work; all my friends have left me; they will not trust me for a piece of silver. I have been very bad. I was a bad boy at home. My mother was good and gave me many lessons which I would not learn.
“Because my mother was so good, I have no excuse for my miserable condition now. I must go home and show her I am sorry at last. I know now that in all the world there is no friend like a mother.