Marlon pressed the play button, and the video from that morning at the market began to play, revealing the reality they had witnessed firsthand.
The screen flickered to life, showing the hustle and bustle of the marketplace. At first glance, everything seemed peaceful—vendors and customers chatting casually, negotiations taking place with laughter, a soft murmur of voices blending with the scent of spices and fresh vegetables.
But the longer they watched, the more small, questionable details began to emerge.
1. Bigger Discounts, Price Wars!In the footage, a vegetable vendor eagerly called out to shoppers.
"Ma'am, this spinach is fresh! Only five thousand for two bundles!"
Not far away, another vendor turned and immediately countered, "Five thousand for two? I'll give you three bundles for five thousand!"
The first vendor refused to be outdone. "Three bundles? I'll give you four for the same price!"
Riri frowned. "Is this a price war or just wounded pride?"
Pak Herman chuckled. "If this keeps up, they'll be giving spinach away for free."
Romo nodded thoughtfully. "This kind of competition isn't healthy. If they keep pushing like this, small vendors will go bankrupt."
Marlon skipped to another part of the recording.
2. The "Lowest Price" ClaimNow the screen showed a fruit vendor proudly proclaiming, "Every vendor here gets their stock from me! I definitely have the lowest prices!"
Marlon eyed the screen skeptically. "That's a hard statement to verify. It could be true—or just marketing."
Romo added, "Or maybe it's cheap because the quality is… well, you know."
Pak Herman smiled. "If something's too cheap, something has to give. Either quality, profit, or honesty."
Riri pointed at the screen. "Zoom in on the bottom of that fruit pile."
Marlon zoomed in, revealing some overripe, decaying fruit hidden beneath the fresh ones on top.
"There it is," Riri said. "Classic strategy. Put the good ones on top, hide the bad ones underneath."
Pak Herman nodded. "And strangely enough, they all use the same trick. Maybe they really do get their supply from the same source—not because it's cheaper, but because they've all learned to sell the same way."
Romo sighed. "Back in the Prophet Muhammad's time, misrepresenting goods like this was strictly forbidden. He once said, 'Whoever deceives in trade is not one of us.'"
Riri crossed her arms. "So compared to Islamic business principles, this clearly doesn't align."
3. Thuggery and Loan Sharks on the LooseMarlon fast-forwarded to another part of the video. A large man in flashy clothing approached a vendor busy with customers.
"Sir, the payment from yesterday still isn't settled, right?" he said in a low but firm voice.
The vendor looked nervous. "Yes, I'll pay this evening. Don't worry."
The big man patted his shoulder. "Don't forget. If you're late, the interest goes up."
Pak Herman crossed his arms. "Here we go. Market thugs disguised as loan sharks."
Marlon shook his head. "It's the same story across generations, isn't it?"
Romo sighed. "This is what makes life harder for small vendors. They need fast capital, but the interest traps them in a cycle of debt."
Riri stared at the screen with concern. "So in this market, there are two kinds of wars: a price war between vendors, and a survival war against loan sharks."
Pak Herman leaned back in his chair and exhaled deeply. "So tell me—do you still believe this morning's market was truly peaceful?"
Marlon closed the laptop and looked at them. "Peace on the surface, chaos underneath. Just like we discussed this morning. False peace."
Romo added, "Just like this country."
They exchanged glances and smiled wryly.
Pak Herman picked up his tea and took a slow sip. "Sometimes I miss the old days."
Riri smirked. "Why? Were there no market thugs back then?"
Pak Herman chuckled. "There were. But back then, if you complained too much, you might disappear without a trace."
Marlon and Romo laughed, though there was a trace of bitterness in their voices.
Marlon then tapped the table. "Alright, in that case, we need to find a way to compare this data to a more ideal system."
Romo nodded. "We could look into literature and conduct deeper interviews."
Riri smiled. "Our journey is still long."
Pak Herman raised his teacup. "Take it easy. What matters is keeping a cool head. If things get too heated, we'll just hang out in the city forest again."
They all laughed. And in that room, even though the discussion was heavy, there was a warmth that made their quest for truth feel just a little lighter.
After Marlon closed the laptop, the atmosphere in Pak Herman's house remained cozy. The tea in their cups was starting to cool, but their conversation only grew more engaging. Pak Herman leaned back in his chair, looking at the three young people in front of him.
Pak Herman: "If you two are really serious about digging deeper into the market scene, I can introduce you to one of my regulars, Mrs. Siti. She's been selling at that market for years. You can get real facts—and the myths that circulate there—straight from the source."
Marlon nodded enthusiastically. "That would be great, sir. We really need insight from someone on the inside."
Riri: "Market myths? What do you mean, sir?"
Pak Herman smiled faintly. "Plenty. From myths about pricing and competition, to bizarre beliefs that circulate among traders. Some people believe that when their shop is empty, it's not because of poor strategy, but because a competitor 'sent something' their way."
Riri chuckled. "Seriously, sir? That sounds like something out of a soap opera."
Pak Herman shrugged. "Well, that's how it is. Sometimes common sense loses to beliefs passed down for generations."
Marlon raised his hand as if in class. "Speaking of myths, there's something that's always made me curious. We've often heard since we were kids that Islam was brought to Indonesia by traders from Gujarat, right?"
Romo: "Yes, that's what we were taught in school."
Marlon: "Well, I once talked to a scholar who gave a different take on that. He said Islam didn't just come with Gujarati traders—it was brought by ulama who happened to be skilled in trade. They didn't come to trade for profit, but to preach. Commerce was simply a way to support their daily needs."
Pak Herman raised his eyebrows. "Interesting. So it wasn't Islam brought by traders, but by religious scholars who could also trade?"
Marlon: "Exactly! They came to the archipelago as missionaries, not mere merchants. But because they were capable traders, they could sustain themselves independently. That's why Islam was accepted so quickly here—they came not for material gain, but with the true intent to spread Islamic teachings."
Riri tapped the table lightly. "So they were nothing like some people today who turn religion into a business?"
Romo gave a faint smile. "Right. Their preaching wasn't commercialized. They came with sincerity, not with a price tag."
Pak Herman chuckled. "If they were around today, people might think they were selling motivational seminars, huh?"
Marlon laughed. "No, sir. They weren't selling dreams. They brought real change."
Riri nodded. "But if that's true, why do we still mostly hear the version that says Islam was brought by Gujarati traders?"
Romo paused for a moment before replying. "Maybe because it's a simpler narrative to teach in schools. Saying Islam came through traders makes it easy to picture—foreigners arrive, do business, and spread Islam on the side. But explaining that they were scholars who traded only to survive makes the story more complex."
Pak Herman sipped his tea. "And history is often written by those with more influence. Maybe there was a reason someone preferred the narrative that Islam was just a side effect of trade, not part of an organized religious movement."
Marlon smiled with satisfaction. "Exactly what I meant. Sometimes we need the courage to dig deeper than just accept what we've been taught since childhood."
Riri took a deep breath. "So it's kind of like what you said about the market, right? We only see the surface, but there's so much happening behind the scenes that we need to understand."
Pak Herman nodded slowly. "Welcome to the adult world, kids—where nearly everything has a hidden story behind it."
They all laughed softly. What started as a conversation about markets had now turned into a deep discussion on history. The night grew later, but their desire to uncover the truth only burned brighter.
Romo leaned back in his chair and looked at Pak Herman thoughtfully. He stirred his tea for a moment before speaking.
Romo: "Pak Herman, I slightly disagree with what you said earlier. History isn't just written by the influential—it's written by the winners. There's a quote I often remember: 'The winner is the king, the loser is the outlaw.' The victor becomes royalty, the defeated becomes a criminal."
Pak Herman raised an eyebrow. "Ah, that's a bit more blunt. But what do you mean by that, Mo?"
Romo put down his teacup and leaned forward, lacing his fingers on the table.
Romo: "Here's what I mean, sir. In history, we often see those in power determining their version of the truth. If they win the war, they're called heroes. If they lose, they're labeled rebels. But the ones who lose might also have had noble intentions—it's just that history didn't favor them."
Riri looked at Romo with interest. "So, you're saying truth in history is... relative?"
Romo: "In many cases, yes. Take colonial history, for instance. The Dutch once labeled our national heroes as rebels. But to us, they're freedom fighters. Similarly, when a group seizes power, they can write history from their point of view, while the opposing side gets erased or vilified."
Pak Herman nodded slowly, as if beginning to see Romo's point. "So in your view, history isn't just in the hands of the powerful, but the victors?"
Romo: "Exactly. The powerful may hold the pen, but it's the winners who get to write the story. Any alternative version that doesn't fit their agenda can be erased, twisted, or buried."
Marlon chimed in. "So that applies to Islamic history in Indonesia too? That the 'brought by traders' version might just be more convenient for certain parties?"
Romo gave a faint smile. "It's very possible. Maybe there's a bigger interest behind that simplified narrative. Presenting Islam as a byproduct of trade makes it sound passive, as if it happened by chance—not as a purposeful, organized effort by missionaries."
Pak Herman stroked his chin and smiled. "Hmm, interesting. I guess we really do need to read history with a more critical mind—not just swallow whatever we're taught."