Chapter 7: Bukka Gists and the Trader’s Daughter

As Musa Danladi go, my trusted people reduce.

Yes, Office of Steward dey my hand, but every small thing dem dey record and report—too much wahala. Sometimes, even to sneeze na report matter.

People wey I fit use freely still small. Palace dey full, but real friend na rare.

One day, I wear simple cloth, go bukka with Okoro Chukwudi, hear noise. We sit for back, dey chop moi-moi, dey watch crowd.

"Wen family finally get scholar son-in-law, but the boy turn back, talk say na hunger make am gree marry, so the marriage no count."

"See useless person."

I listen, hear say one rich Wen family girl, wey dey do river sand business, fall for poor scholar. Her family, as she beg, support the guy, wait make he pass WAEC come marry am, so she no go shame as trader wife.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, traders—trader na last for status.

Trader no fit become chief. No matter how rich Wen family be, dem no fit write council exam. Now, scholar just use them, dump their daughter, they no fit do anything.

Now, Scholar Chinedu dey talk say he no get anything with Miss Wen, and person dey post break-up letter for bukka, crowd full everywhere.

"That Miss Wen too get mind. How trader pikin go dream marry scholar?" one small scholar boy talk. His mouth sharp, but e no get pity.

People just dey look am bad. Some people hiss, others just dey shake head.

Some spit, some bone face, some curse am. The market women dey whisper, some dey pity Miss Wen.

Then one man laugh. "You talk well."

"Trader pikin no fit marry scholar. I hear Amara for palace na trader daughter too. She no marry Scholar Chinedu—maybe na because he no want am. Last last, if she see Scholar Chinedu wife, she go kneel." His voice loud, e want make everybody hear.

Bukka burst laugh. Scholar vex, shame. "You—you be Wen Zikora from Wen family, na why you dey defend your sister!"

I turn small, see young man with fan, no send them. "Scholar Chinedu never work for ten years, dey write exam from fifteen reach twenty-eight, all na Wen family dey feed am. If marriage no dey again, make we balance account."

The guy wear fine cloth, gold chain, fan get palm tree painting—money choke. He waka slow, show say e no dey fear anybody.

He face scholar. "All these years, Scholar Chinedu chop 3,600 naira from Wen family. Since you dey talk for am, why you no pay?"

Scholar face red; him cloth show say he broke. "Na lie! How I go pay—" His voice high, but body dey shake.

I laugh. My laugh scatter small boys, everybody look my table.

"If you no fit pay, why you dey talk for am?" I smile. "In fact, na you suppose vex pass."

"Scholar Chinedu enjoy for ten years, now waka free. This one go warn girls and their papa. Help for time of need no go happen again: Scholar Chinedu no need am, but you nko?" I dey lecture, but my voice soft, make dem reason am.

Scholar face pale. Wen Zikora laugh, salute me. "Oga, your mouth sharp."

I smile, nod. I see respect for him eye, he dey size me up.

Scholar vex. "I go pass exam, marry good wife, carry fine babe! Wen family just dey find money—how dem go reach my level!" His pride still dey, but e dey hide shame.

I think small, ask the young man, "You be Wen Zikora?"

"Omu’s palace dey do special exam—anybody fit write, no matter background. Only talent matter. If you get interest, try am." My voice loud, make everybody hear.

Him palm tree eye shine. "How you take know? Crown heir really dey open-minded like this?"

I just smile, no answer. For my mind, I dey hope say e go spread the word.

I signal Okoro Chukwudi make we go, as I dey go, I pat Wen Zikora shoulder small.

"Young Master Wen, you fit spread this news reach right people inside three days?" My voice low, but I look am with trust.