The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories. Shouhua Qi
“Come in so we can talk,” Xiao Ju led Ah Fu into her home.
“This is your home? Oh, so big and beautiful!” Ah Fu couldn’t stop looking around, his eyes wide-open. “Where did you get the money to buy such a big house?”
With tears in her eyes Xiao Ju told her story. When it was over, she held him in her arms. “Do you hate me? Can you forgive me?”
His head low, Ah Fu said: “No use talking about hate or no hate. It’s all because I’m poor and have no knack for anything. I don’t understand why this world is becoming so practical and cruel.”
Wiping away her tears, Xiao Ju looked up and said: “Ah Fu, don’t go and work at that factory any more. I’ll support you.”
Ah Fu almost laughed aloud: “You want to support me? You?”
Xiao Ju nodded: “Yes, I will support you. He gives me lots and lots of money anyway, enough to support me, and you, too.”
Ah Fu wanted to say something, but Xiao Ju put her hand to his mouth.
Afterward, Xiao Ju kissed Ah Fu and said, breathlessly, “Ah Fu, you know in this whole world I only love you. Be sure to come often.”
Ah Fu asked: “What if I run into him, if I come often? Then we’ll be finished!”
Xiao Ju gave Ah Fu another kiss and said: “Blockhead! Come often doesn’t mean come every day. He comes only on odd days, not on even days. So, why don’t you come on even days, to be safe.”
Ah Fu said: “Okay, I’ll come on even days.”
So from then on Ah Fu came over every even day. Once he was here they’d talk some sweet nonsense first. Before long Xiao Ju would make the first move. When it was over, Xiao Ju would give Ah Fu a big sum of money. At first Ah Fu didn’t feel comfortable taking the money. Xiao Ju said: This money is free, free of charge or anything. Take it and put it aside. It’ll come in handy. At this, Ah Fu took the money.
From then on Xiao Ju was not bored any more. On odd days the fat cat came while Ah Fu came on even days. Everyday someone came to be with her. Odd days she would harvest lots of money; even days, she would harvest lots of “love.”
Ah Fu was not the same poor Ah Fu any more. Now he had a cell phone, a motorcycle, and everything he needed. On even days he would harvest lots of money, too.
Ah Fu would hold Xiao Ju in his arms and say: “We can’t go on sneaking around forever.”
Xiao Ju nodded: “I know. How about this: give me two years so that we can save up enough money for the rest of our lives. Then we’ll go back to our home village to have kids and enjoy life.”
Ah Fu said: “Okay, two more years.”
One day Xiao Ju was taking a stroll in the street when she saw an affectionate couple walking ahead of her, the man looking quite familiar. So she followed them out of curiosity.
The woman said: “Why do you come to be with me only every other day?”
The man said: “On even days I have to go to work. Why, I am with you on all odd days. Not enough?”
The woman said: “We can’t go on sneaking around like this for the rest of our lives! When can we be together like a real couple?”
The man said: “Soon, in about two years. By the end of the two years I will have made enough money to support us for the rest of our lives. We can build our home and have kids.”
Heavens! That man was none other than Ah Fu! Xiao Ju fainted before she could cry “Foul!”
(2002)
You Are My Only One
Wei Jinshu
Both Honghong and Qingqing are very good girls. Honghong is outgoing while Qingqing is quiet, each charming in her own way. That makes it so difficult for me to choose. Even though nowadays it’s really no big deal for a man like me to be going out with two girls at the same time, I still don’t want them to know.
In matters of love women are more devoted than men. They are most dead serious about their feelings and least tolerant of their men hot in love with one in the morning and chasing after another in the evening. I have to juggle between the two girls with extreme care.
If I have to choose between Honghong and Qingqing, then, I’m more inclined toward Honghong because she seems to have a lot more going for her. Yet what I am not happy with is Honghong has been ambiguous with me. We’ve been going out for months and she won’t even let me kiss her. Qingqing is quite different. She is so devoted and soft like water and we have been thick and cozy together. If I have to break up with her, I would find it hard to tear myself away. Since my relationship with Honghong is yet to be secured, under the circumstances, Qingqing isn’t a bad backup, or runner-up.
In order to win Honghong’s heart, I decided to write her a love letter. I’ve been in love ever since I was 14 and writing love letters is my specialty. Despite my knack and expertise in love letters, I still went all out in drafting this particular one. I pondered over each word and sentence long and hard and polished things left and right so the whole thing flowed lyrically, sounded smart, and throbbed with passion. Even I myself was touched by it when I read it over one more time. I gave this letter a title: “You Are My Only One!”
In the letter I recalled every single beautiful moment we shared together, retraced the steps of our emotional journey, and projected how beautiful our life together would be. I emphasized over and again that she was my one and only love, which I would cherish in my heart forever and ever. I thought that upon reading this letter, Honghong had to be touched profoundly. About this I was one hundred percent positive.
Having finished the letter I sighed with relief. Then, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t mailed the letter for Qingqing that I had written a few days ago. So I took it out and intended to take it to the post office together with this new letter.
As I was putting the letters into the envelopes I thought: I should mail the one for Honghong first and see how she will respond? If my letter really moves her and wins her heart, Qingqing won’t be that important any more. And that touchy-feely letter for Qingqing, well, there will be no need to send it anymore. If, I mean if, Honghong remains unresponsive, it won’t be too late to mail Qingqing’s letter. Only a few days’ difference.
Yes, that’s the way to do it. Once I made up my mind, I sealed the letter for Honghong resolutely, hurried to the post office, and tossed the letter into the mail box.
Once home I held the letter for Qingqing in my hand and, since I didn’t have much else to do, I pulled the letter out of the envelope. Just one glance and I jumped up in shock. Right in front of me on the very top were these words: “You Are My Only One!”
Damn! This was the letter intended for Honghong. Which meant I had put the letter for Qingqing into Honghong’s envelope.
I bolted up and went flying to the post office hoping that I could take back the wrong letter. I got there in time to see the green postal truck disappearing around the corner, leaving behind a dusty cloud. I almost fainted.
It’s all over. It’s all in Heaven’s hands now. I hated myself so!
The following day the most feared thing happened: Honghong’s reply letter arrived. At this time, somehow, I became calm, resigned to my fate.
I opened the envelope and pulled out that familiar color paper. In front of me was Honghong’s neat and graceful handwriting:
Ah Ming:
How are you? Oh, how I miss you!
I am so touched by your deep, heartfelt feelings for me and so grateful. Do you know that my feelings for you are just as deep and heartfelt? Oh, I will never forget for the rest of my life the beautiful time we have spent together ever since I got to know you. Yes, Ah Ming, thanks to you, I feel life is so beautiful,