Pang Min's men also respected Mak Qori because the woman often helped the villagers cook goat curry when there were kenduri events, whether for weddings, the Prophet's Birthday, the descent of the village children, or the commemoration of seven days of death. When people wanted to eat goat curry with tender meat and the aroma of spices that lingered in their nostrils, the residents remembered Mak Qori.
When the guerrillas celebrated their milad, Mak Qori was also the one who cooked the goat curry. The men chopped up dozens of kilos of fresh goat meat, the men also prepared dozens of liters of thick coconut milk, as well as other spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper, cumin, and coriander, all of which were available in sufficient quantities, including marijuana seeds which were believed to make the goat meat more tender. But it was Mak Qori who processed all of these spices in the right proportions. The mouth-watering aroma of goat curry wafted as far as the wind could carry it. Many admitted that just by smelling the aroma, their saliva dripped.
At that time, the guerrilla commander was also present and was impressed with the goat curry concocted by Mak Qori. She finished a goat head by herself after being satisfied sipping the curry sauce from the plate. It could be said that Mak Qori had done a service in the struggle, even Pang Min also enjoyed Mak Qori's curry. It was not right for her to be shot just because she sold rice to the soldiers.
Two of Pang Min's men dared to go against their commander's orders by reminding Mak Qori for the second time. The guns were not yet fit to go off for Mak Qori. They asked Mak Qori to stop delivering rice to the army commander. "Otherwise, we won't be able to contain Pang Min's anger."
"Oh, is that so?" Mak Qori exclaimed. "So I'm guilty of selling rice to the soldiers. What about cigarette and water sellers, Wak Sabi who sells coffee should be banned too. Every morning, dozens of soldiers drink coffee at his stall. Why aren't they banned?!"
The two young men realized that Mak Qori was right. However, they still advised Mak Qori to stop delivering rice to the army officers, at least for the time being. "Or if you want," suggested one of the young men, "just mix a little poison in the curry. After that we will protect Mak Qori and her family, even her children and grandchildren."
