*
“Hurry up and pour it out!” Yang Jie Kang loudly said. “You’ve been shaking it so much the oil is going to come out.”
“Just see how interesting Ah Xiang Po’s family is, to send two bottles of chilli sauce all the way here on a 40-hour train ride,” Zhang Yuan laughed. Both his and He Luo’s dorm rooms have just installed a phone. Every day, the 10 to 11 pm is their unmissable love hour.
“That I haven’t experienced. I spend every weekend lazily at home. Even when I want to help, my mom would throw me out of the kitchen like she’s swatting away a fly.”
“You’re mocking me! Go and stand at a corner, I’ll punish you to stand there!” Zhang Yuan said fiercely, then chuckled. “Burning my kitchen down, breaking my house’s bowl, all that is better than making a fool of myself in your house.”
“My mom always complained about the girlfriend of so-and-so, how she breaks things even when she’s trying to help. I don’t want your parents to have that kind of impression of me,” he said.
“Then you’re my family’s little labour,” He Luo retorted. “Little labour, go and help my dad harvest rice one day! A bag of rice, and then another bag of flour.”
“They’re not my boyfriend. Then are you going or not?”
“Majestic?” He Luo burst out laughing. “My father’s students back then are all disrespectful [in a joking manner] with him. Whatever top ten teachers competitions, he’ll definitely be ranked as the most gentle teacher!”
“He’s okay now,” she replied. “I wrote a letter home a few days ago, it’s like high pressure water gun. As soon as they read it, their tears begin gushing.”
“Just be cute with them,” He Luo answered simply. “Thinking about it, they must have missed us.”
“You’re not even by my sideee. I’m aloneeee every day, even when I’m carrying water and riceee. I’m so loneeely, how can I practice being cuteeee.” He Luo took on an exaggerated Taiwanese slang, her mouth pouty and tone a little whiny. She couldn’t stand her own voice and goosebumps broke all over. Tong Jia Ying who had just walked out of the bedroom happened to hear. She nearly dropped the basin she was carrying, and her eyes and mouths were rounder than usual.
“Everyone in my dorm is playing,” He Luo giggled.
“Big boss, I’m not the one who said that earlier!” Ah Xiang Po panicked, trying to come up with an excuse. “It’s Da Gang who said you sound like a greasy, kept man.”
“It’s just some class notes, who will take a closer look! Besides it doesn’t even belong to any of us.” Ah Xiang Po walked over to glance at the paper before hurriedly returning to his original spot, maintaining a safe distance from Zhang Yuan. “Such delicate writing, how feminine.”
He Luo had spent an incredible amount of effort to collect information on the graduate school examination. Cai Man Xin only managed to borrow the test-takers’ notes on the final day before the winter vacation. “They finished the exams today and had already gone out to celebrate,” Cai Man Xin told her, a little apologetic.
“What’s the hurry?” Zhang Yuan had asked. “You can just photocopy it slowly, or wait until the next semester.”
“Look at how smug you are,” Zhang Yuan smiled and held onto her hand, kissing her little finger.
“Don’t be like that. A wife is like a cloth, a brother is like a limb, isn’t it?” Ah Xiang Po immediately turned away. In his opinion, northeast boys would really cut you down if they want to. Their local speciality was the underworld.
*
The parents earnestly told their child to do their homework seriously, even preparing fruit and tea. But the moment they walked away, the child would pull onto He Luo’s sleeve and talk to her about [drama character] Xiao Yan Zhi’s big eyes. Once the topic was brought up, perhaps they would only waste three to five minutes, but it would soon develop out of control. If the parents push the door open to check on them, the little girl would immediately change her tune. “Teacher He, see if what I just said was correct?”
Further, Zhang Yuan’s birthday was coming up. She already had her eye on a present and began saving up to buy it for him.
He Luo replied, “This is the classic version of the Rambo series. Every time we pass by the mall, this is what he’s looking at.”
He Luo laughed. “I also said that to him once.” Seeing that Tian Xin wanted to continue to study the knife, she immediately stopped her. “Forget it. Don’t break the knife, you can only twist it 90 degrees. If you break it, both you and I will be anxious.” She grabbed a flannel cloth and wiped away their fingerprints on it. She placed it back in its holster and back into its matte leather box lined with black velvet. Putting it down, He Luo thought of Zhang Yuan’s surprised expression when he would receive this gift. She imagined how he would subtly tell others that, “My girlfriend gifted me this.” She really couldn’t help her happy smile.
He Luo laughed. “Exactly. It’ll be hard to even sell you off for a few hundred yuan. Whoever spends money to buy you is buying suffering. Who has the money to feed you this little mistress?”
*
“I-I know-know… b-big boss lately has a lot of m-m-money to spend…” Da Gang’s tongue was knotted. “B-but you’re more and more forceful(?).”
“Kao. Am I making money to feed you guys?” Zhang Yuan laughed. “I might as well go to the farms in Jiangbei to rear pigs.”
Da Gang extended his wide palm to high-five him. “T-There’s still Little Lady He.”
“If you really want to, go and ask Chocolate,” Zhang Yuan replied. “I’m not close to her.”
“Eat, eat, eat. Sooner or later there’ll be a stamp on your body saying ‘Safe to eat.’”
Zhang Yuan took the can, fingering the cover ring on it. “I’ll give you the stamp. I have other arrangements.”
On Labour Day, He Luo and Tian Xin returned to their hometown. The atmosphere there picked up about a month later than in Beijing, the willow were just beginning to blossom flowers and the streets were scented with the smell of fresh leaves. Every breath they took felt refreshing and clear.
Inside the car, Mom asked, “Tian Xin this girl is still so cheerful. Does she have a boyfriend?”
“If she has one, then she has one. How can you say ‘considered’?”
“Then what about you? Do you consider to have a boyfriend or not?” Mom asked nonchalantly. “If you have one, then bring him to mom and dad to take a look.”
“It’s still the same one?” Dad turned around to ask.
“It’s good that you’re still together! We were worried that there’s any changes in your relationship since it’s been so long and you hasn’t bring him home yet,” Mom immediately added. “We were worried you kids are not stable enough, breaking up as fast as you got together.”
“Is he at Tsinghua?” Dad suddenly asked.
“Didn’t you say his results are very good and he’s very smart?”
“So he floundered when it comes to the entrance examination. He’s indeed smart, works hard, and even has a good head on his shoulders. But education is very important.” Dad’s tone rose at the end of his sentence, sounding very earnest. He Luo frowned. “Isn’t it just a test? Is there a need to put so much importance on it?”
*
Da Gang interrupted, “Kao. Haven’t you had enough of angering us on a daily basis? We all know your Little Lady He is just awesome, she takes care you from A-Z. If you’re leaving, then just go, what are you showing off for?”
She had already read the two books Zhang Yuan gave her. Since she had rode the train all day, even if it was a bed seat, it was inevitable that her entire body would be stiff. She stretched to loosen her muscles. Da Gang thought she was bored of waiting and immediately pushed forward his laptop. “If you’re bored, you can play a game on my laptop. Zhang Yuan will be back soon, I guess someone has a problem with their laptop. He’s been really busy lately, there were many who called him to fix their laptops.”
Next to the frame was a Swiss army knife box atop a stack of textbooks. When she opened the box, there was a neat stack of calling cards inside. The compartment where a knife was supposed to sit was empty. She guessed he was keeping it on his person. As she returned the box back to its original position, she noticed an oil-stained sheet of paper underneath the textbooks, its sides curling. She shook her head. Looks like even guys who are handsome and neat on the outside are all dirty on the inside. She removed the textbooks and wiped each one clean, until she got to the oil-stained papers. She found the writing on it very familiar, and when she observed more closely, what she realised shock her.
Zhang Yuan smiled, waving his hand. “It’s fine, I’ll just tell her the truth.”
“Stop being angry. When you become angry, you’ll get wrinkles. If you become a grandma, I won’t want you anymore.” Zhang Yuan rubbed her nose and then patted her lower back. “My master, you’ve a hard time riding the train. This humble one will massage you. It’s my fault for not guarding the treasure you bestowed to me properly, but it’s not a death-worthy sin is it?”
“Who said I didn’t read them? I’ve read everything.”
“The greatest mystery of Taichi is that there are strokes even where there isn’t any. Have you read Zhang San Feng? It tells you to forget all methods.” Zhang Yuan tried to pull He Luo up on her feet. “Come, come, I’ll teach you beginner Taichi. See, make a hand motion as wide as a watermelon, and then pull it down like you’re wielding a knife.” He held onto He Luo’s arm, easily making Taichi motions.
“I did read it carefully.”
“I know you did well in your last exam, and that every university has similar syllabus.” He Luo frowned. “But most times, exams test your attention to detail.”
“Who told you so? You have never taken the exam before.” He Luo pursed her lips.
“I heard from someone else.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He Luo smiled, a little bitterly. The two of them also heard rumours from others, there was no point arguing the accuracy of each other’s standpoint.
“I’m not very hungry.” He Luo was telling the truth. She has been very travel-worn, she was so tired she hadn’t had any appetite at all. Zhang Yuan can’t help but hold onto her hand, all he felt was coldness.
*
“Luo Luo is still so young, she has no such thoughts.”
“She’s still a kid, what does she know about being suitable or not.” Mom turned to look at He Luo. “You can’t even see what future has in store for you.”
“Why, did your family buy a big sack of rice and need a labour to carry it upstairs? Then I must stuff myself before going over,” Zhang Yuan laughed.
Zhang Yuan replied, “You haven’t officially meet my parents yet either.”
“If you feel there’s such a need, then I’ll go,” he said. “Let me go and buy some souvenir.”
“You know what I’m worried about.” Zhang Yuan stopped smiling. His pager started ringing. After a quick glance at the screen, he shut it off.
“It’s still okay. Aren’t you also tutoring someone?” Zhang Yuan said. “We’re contributing all our income to the national telephone line.”
“That’s why the pay also that much higher.” Zhang Yuan took out a robotic cat toy from inside his backpack. “Look, it’s Doraemon.” When he pressed at the toy’s arm, an innocent mechanical voice rang out: I love you, I love you.
“You’re still thinking about the exam?” Zhang Yuan asked. “I really don’t have time lately. Besides, reading those material right now may not be helpful for me three years from now.”
Zhang Yuan understood the underlying meaning in her words. “Not just fixing laptops. I still have something more important going on.”
He Luo placed the cat on the bench. “Really, how should I put it. Do you really know how to differentiate which is important and which isn’t!?”
It was actually this kind of childish request. He Luo felt helpless. “What are you worrying about? Then you keep it.”
“Then I’ll really not take it.” He Luo was half-joking, not understanding why Zhang Yuan was being so narrow-minded on the matter.
“I really won’t take it,” He Luo said, grabbing her backpack as she got up.
“You!” He Luo bit her lip and watched as Zhang Yuan turned to leave. She wanted to pick up the robotic cat but with a few pair of eyes who were watching the show observing her, she couldn’t let go of her ego to do so. She sighed deeply and left in the opposite direction.
It was just a year.
She felt a cool sensation, rain was dripping from her nose down her cheek. It was actually raining. She quickly got up and ran towards the teachers’ building. As the light and sparse spring rain fell on her, she couldn’t help but remember the robotic cat on the park bench. Would there be people to adopt it or is it still there by its lonesome? No one saw it, no one bothered. After the rain cleared, perhaps it will be treated as a dirty, worn toy and thrown in the bin by the cleaners.
One step followed by another, she walked away. All the sweet-and-sour taste of their reunion had changed flavour. Instead of depending on each other, they had become simply accommodating of each other. From anticipating each other, they avoided each other. Once upon a time on a street in the summer, no matter how much they talked to each other, they never ran out of words. Even when there was silence, there was a sense of tacit understanding. She really wanted time to stop, so they would never change. There were so many between them that they could not face directly, there were more and more topics that were forbidden to touch upon, silence became awkward. As soon as they stopped talking, it was as if their hearts were gradually growing further and further apart.
“That female student! Ay, don’t go, I’m calling you.” A middle-aged lady called from under an umbrella, shouting.
Hugging the robotic cat in her arms, she rushed home. The thing was completely drenched from the rain. He Luo wiped her face dry and then washed the cat with washing powder. Suddenly remembering that the cat was the kind that can emit voices, remembering that it was likely an electronic device, she quickly took it out from the water. She tried to press on the arm. There was indeed something in the cat’s soft belly, but it wasn’t the box-shaped battery container. When she probed further, she found that it was a velvet-covered jewelry box.
*
Her parents’ car was parked outside the provincial university. He Luo ran all the way across the street. The wind outside Zhang Yuan’s dorm was fiercer than ever and she saw he was only dressed in a thin khaki-coloured sweater.
“You hurriedly made a call and rushed me to come down,” Zhang Yuan replied quietly. “I don’t dare to go against your imperial edict.”
“What’s there to see?”
“You’re being proud of your claws again…” Before he finished, his eyes brightened.
“Is it left hand?” Zhang Yuan desperately tried to suppress a smile. “Why do I remember it as being the right hand?”
“Isn’t it the same whoever puts it on? Silly.” Zhang Yuan faintly made a ‘heng’ sound, but still removed the ring from her finger and placed it on the fourth finger on her right hand.
“I’m not wrong.” Zhang Yuan laughed out loud. “You’re the one who made me wear it for you. You’re already going back on your word now?”
The two of them laughed, hugged, and kissed. None of them wanted to be the first to let go, because they both know, they must not let go.
[illustration by No-eul]