Beauty's grace

Author: Zhang Henshui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This restaurant had a canopy in front, with one broken table and a tray piled with oil sticks and buns. Over there, a birdcage was hung, surrounded by blue cloth. Inside the canopy was the dining area, with a stove on one side and several sets of seats on the other. Next to the seats stood a pile of yellow clay walls with a doorframe dug into them, but no door—only a half-length curtain of gray cloth hanging there. However, a red note was pasted on the doorframe, reading "Private Room." Wang Jun led him into the room, and both froze. There sat a girl in a gray silk cheongsam, her head bowed, her hair in a braid, working on something with twine under a paper window. Though she was from the countryside and wore no makeup, her lively eyes and white teeth still revealed a hint of charm. She was startled when she suddenly saw a soldier enter, but Wang Jun smiled and waved at her, saying, "Don't worry, this is my friend. Tell your father to prepare three dishes, a bowl of soup, and a large pot of wine for us." The girl smiled and replied, "Mr. Wang, are you drinking too?" Wang Jun said, "With good friends around, how could we not enjoy a few drinks?" The girl smiled and left. Wang Jun and Hong Yi sat down and started drinking tea. Before Hong Yi could speak, Wang Jun said, "Why did I come here? It was all because of Chang Qing. She told Chen Donghai everything about our past relationship. He couldn’t vent his jealousy, so he secretly reported me to the authorities as a swindler and had me arrested. But I had no actual swindling to be found. The authorities realized they were in the wrong and released me after ten days. At that time, no one from the Willow Creek stood up for me—not even Liu An, who was hoping for financial help from Chen Donghai. After my release, I no longer wanted to associate with those scoundrels and found a new job through a friend. A friend jokingly told me that a rural elementary school was looking for a teacher to teach music, physical education, and crafts, paying only fifteen yuan a month. I was desperate to change my environment, so I readily agreed. My friend didn’t believe me at first, but after urging me several times, he introduced me here. Rural life is very simple; eating and living on just four or five yuan a month is considered luxurious. The remaining ten yuan, however, was useless. Here, there’s no need to wear a suit, no fancy restaurants or theaters, no cars or horse-drawn carriages, no upscale bathhouses or barber shops. Beyond the village, you’re close to nature, and nature doesn’t cost a thing. Now, besides teaching, I spend my time reading for leisure. I wake up at six, turn on the light, and go to sleep. I have no worries or troubles, and I’d like to teach here for the rest of my life." Hong Yi laughed, "You’ve had quite a shock. Do you really hate Chang Qing?" Wang Jun said, "No, I’m grateful to her. If she hadn’t pushed me, I would never have grown as a person. I’m just a form of entertainment for the idle class. Everything I have today is thanks to her." Just as he finished, the girl brought in wine and dishes, her head bowed, smiling faintly. She left, and Hong Yi sighed, "Men are always like this. After being hurt by a woman, they say they hate her, but when she shows kindness, they can’t do without her. I’ve probably always been unlucky with women. Our commander said we’ll go to the sand dunes to farm when the war ends, and I wholeheartedly support that—I’d never want to see this bustling city again." Wang Jun said, "Then, General Hong, you must hate Xiao Nan to the core." Hong Yi replied, "No, I’m just as grateful to her as you are. Without her pushing me, I would have remained a coward and a parasite my whole life. What good would that have done? It was her relentless pressure that made me a man. Now I fight for the country, and you teach children for the country—we’re both self-reliant and worthy of being Chinese citizens. For this alone, I should be grateful to her, not hate her. Come, let’s drink to our good fortune." With that, he raised his glass and downed the wine in one gulp. Wang Jun drank his too and smiled, "A woman like Xiao Nan—whether she harms others or herself, I’ve seen enough." As he spoke, the girl from the restaurant was bringing in dishes. Wang Jun continued, "But not all women are the same. Some are bad, and some are good. San Niang, what do you think?" Wang Jun looked at her and then asked, "Why are you serving the dishes yourself today? Did the waiter leave?" San Niang replied, "He didn’t leave. Oh, he did." Wang Jun asked, "Did we scare you when we arrived?" San Niang smiled, "Why would I be so timid? It’s warmer in here, so I’m working here. Soldiers are people too—I’m not afraid of them." With that, she smiled and left. Hong Yi said, "Mr. Wang, have you sown more seeds of longing here?" Wang Jun shook his head and laughed, his eyes fixed outside the window. He chatted, "Hmph, it’s this cold weather—why hang the birdcage outside? Won’t the bird freeze to death?" Saying so, he ran outside and brought the cage in. Peeking under the blue cloth covering the cage, he found a small bamboo bird huddled at the bottom, motionless. Its feathers were still a beautiful mix of deep purple and emerald blue, but its eyes were closed, and it wasn’t moving at all. Wang Jun held the cage in shock and exclaimed, "Oh! Chang Qing is dead!" Hong Yi laughed, "You said you didn’t hate her, why are you cursing her?" Wang Jun replied, "I’m not cursing her. I often think that this beautiful little bird, though it had food and shelter, was too confined—just like Chang Qing. Now that it’s dead, Chang Qing is locked in that small bungalow of Master Chen’s. She’s probably just as trapped as this bird." He set the cage down and sat silently, pouring himself a drink. Hong Yi nodded, "Though you’re a bit emotional, I believe you’re right." He also poured a drink and they both drank. Their past grievances forgotten, they talked cheerfully until suddenly, a series of trumpet calls rang out. Hong Yi stood up and said, "The assembly call is sounding—we’re about to march. It’s a pleasure to have met you here. Goodbye." He shook Wang Jun’s hand and patted his shoulder, smiling, "I swear, I’ll never be fooled again. I hope you won’t fall into traps either. Life has given us many blessings, and its lessons are plenty too." As he spoke, he hurried toward the door, feigning urgency. Wang Jun hurried to see him off, but by the time he reached the center of the road, a girl carrying a basket of radishes passed by, and the handle broke, spilling the radishes all over. Hong Yi, in his haste, stepped on one of them, feeling terrible. He bent down to pick up the radishes and return them to the basket. When he looked up, he saw the girl was even more beautiful than the one at the restaurant. She smiled and said, "Thank you," before carrying her basket away. Turning back, Hong Yi saw Wang Jun and the restaurant girl waving from under the reed canopy. They all smiled. After standing there for a moment, Hong Yi heard the assembly call still sounding and quickly hurried on. He thought, "Picking up radishes almost made me late for the roll call." Wang Jun stood behind, laughing, "That’s my good friend. Let’s see him off." San Niang smiled and nodded, and the two followed. They walked slowly, chatting, until they reached the road. Hong Yi joined the army company and marched off into the endless plains under the sunlight. Wang Jun watched as a dust cloud rose from the middle of the plains, stretching to the horizon where the dry trees met the horizon. He sighed, "I didn’t expect him to become a soldier." San Niang asked, "He was always going to be a soldier, wasn’t he?" Wang Jun replied, "He’s just like me—a refined scholar." San Niang asked, "How can he be like you?" Wang Jun thought for a moment and smiled, "Without you, I wouldn’t have taken the teaching job in the rural school." San Niang glared at him and laughed, "Hmph! Men always lie. Scholars lie even more. You just said women are harmful, didn’t you?" Wang Jun said, "Not necessarily. Not all women are the same. You..." As he reached for her hand, they both laughed. They grew closer once again, and their future would undoubtedly bring more joy and sorrow. But that would be another story—no need to dwell on it. This is why there are so many troubles in the world, and why romantic novels are always so popular.