Water follows the sky

Author: Compiled and Selected by the Creative Research Department of the Chinese Writers' Association
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-03-01
Features: Literary works must possess substantial intellectual depth and artistic characteristics, while debates must hold literary value. The debates between authors and works must have generated significant impact in the literary world or among the general public. This is the principle guiding the selection of this book. Considering the acceptance of most readers, the selected works primarily focus on novels, arranged in chronological order. One or two works are selected each year or every three years based on the actual literary debates of the time. Thus, this series of books constitutes an important part of the history of contemporary Chinese literature from a fresh perspective. To gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of contemporary Chinese literature, owning this series will be highly beneficial. The format remains consistent: following each debated novel, two representative commentaries with differing opinions are provided, and some also include the author's own interpretation of their work or a discussion of their creative experiences, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions after a comparative review. Water Follows the Sky is the 2003 selection of the "Debated Works Series of the New Period."
A young boy named Shui, riding his bicycle, dashes forward like the wind on the embankment. The sun beats fiercely on his head. His scalp feels scorching hot. His face turns crimson from the heat. His red vest is soaked through. His originally pale skin has been tanned to a bronze hue. Since dropping out of school, Shui has been doing manual labor for months, and his arms have visibly developed muscle. Shui's face lacks a smile, and he looks cool and aloof. His legs pedal the bicycle with rapid, uniform, and swift movements, as if operated by an electric mechanism. He glides past the laborers on the embankment with the wind at his back. Some shout, "Shui, why are you rushing so fiercely? Are you going to die?" Others call out, "Shui, don't work so hard. Come over and chat with me for a bit." The young Shui pays no attention to them. The only sound in his ears is the whistling wind. The shouts are mixed with the wind and are inaudible, swept away behind him. The embankment road is uneven. Shui's bicycle is old and rusty, making a clattering sound as it rolls. His body bounces along with the road's unevenness. This bouncing fills Shui with excitement, as if he were the wind itself racing across the embankment. The young Shui is truly excited. Yet, he doesn't know why he feels this way.
At noon, Shui's sister, Shuihong, brings lunch to the embankment. Shuihong tells Shui that his aunt, Tianmei, has found him a job at the town's recycling station. She urges him to go home immediately and take her place. Shui doesn't want a job. He feels that working means being tied to one place, unable to go anywhere, suffocating. He prefers being a farmer, free and unbound. Shui immediately refuses. Shuihong says, "If you don't go in the afternoon, the recycling station will find someone else." Shui replies, "They can find whoever they want; it's none of my business." Shui has his own mind. He doesn't talk much and only speaks after thinking things through. Shuihong is helpless. She says, "It's your own business, and I don't care." Shui thinks, "When has my business ever needed your interference?" Shui eats his meal in silence. Shuihong engages in idle chatter with another woman who came to deliver food. The woman asks, "Is that recycling station run by the three local bullies from Yutou Village?" Shuihong confirms, "Yes." The woman asks, "Are the bullies related to you?" Shuihong replies, "They are my aunt's sister-in-law's husband." The woman says, "I heard the bullies have taken a mistress in the city. Does your aunt know?" Shuihong dismisses, "Don't talk nonsense." The woman then asks, "Is your aunt's sister named Tianmei? She is really suffering. She has so much to say but can't find the words." Shuihong exclaims, "Stop talking nonsense! Did you hear me?" Shui doesn't listen to their conversation, but their voices somehow drift into his ears. His heart leaps. He asks Shuihong, "Is the recycling station where Tianmei works?" Shuihong confirms, "Yes." Shui jumps up immediately. He looks at the vast, golden river and suddenly sees a figure of a red-clothed woman shimmering on the water. Her face is flushed, and she emanates a faint scent of perfume Shui has never smelled before. Shui thinks, "Oh, it's Aunt Tianmei." He finishes his meal in a flash, without wiping his mouth, and dashes off on his bicycle along the embankment. The young Shui thinks, "I must help Aunt Tianmei."
Tianmei sorts through the waste materials she received in the morning. She wears a straw hat and ragged gloves. Her sweaty shirt is torn at the edges, and a yellow towel hangs on her shoulder. She constantly wipes her sweat, but it's useless—the shirt is already soaked, and the outline of her inner layers is visible through the tight fabric. Outside the recycling station lies the road leading to the countryside. On both sides of the road grow green crops, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. The yellow road looks like a strip of cloth, seemingly tossed far away without intention. It stretches so far that its end is indistinct. A small red dot appears at the far end of the strip, strikingly noticeable amidst the sea of green. Tianmei pulls up her hood and gazes into the distance. The red dot grows larger, moving steadily toward her. Tianmei recognizes it—a young boy in a red vest riding an old, rusty bicycle. The bicycle makes a clattering sound, and the chain seems ready to fall off at any moment. Tianmei stands still, watching as if waiting for the chain to break. The red-vested Shui rides straight up to Tianmei and slams on the brakes. The scorching sun burns his face red. Sweat streams down his face like rivers. His eyes sparkle, and a smile plays on his lips. He is handsome, beautiful, and full of joy. Tianmei asks, "Who's your family? You look familiar." The young Shui exclaims, "Aunt Tianmei, it's me! I'm Shui!" Tianmei is astonished, "Shui? Which Shui?" Shui replies, "My aunt Tianxiang is your sister. I've seen you before."
Tianmei immediately recalls this Shui. Thinking of him brings back amusing memories. She can't help but laugh. The young Shui knows what she's thinking and blushes even deeper. He laughs too. As he does, he thinks, "Aunt Tianmei hasn't changed at all. Not even her laugh."
Ten years have passed. Shui had visited his aunt's house for fun back then. Tianmei had just gotten married, and her sister, Tianxiang, was also staying at her sister's house. Tianxiang took Shui to see the bride. Shui tiptoes closer to Tianmei and suddenly steps back in shock. It's Tianmei's scent that surprises him. He's never smelled anything like it, and his head feels dizzy. Shui says, "Aunt, you smell so nice." Everyone laughs. Tianmei's husband, Sanba, even kisses her while laughing. Then he says, "Of course, my wife is the only one who smells nice." Shui, seeing Sanba kiss Tianmei, asks, "Can I kiss your face?" Everyone laughs again. Sanba shouts, "Others can't, but you, little rascal, can." Amidst the adults' teasing, Shui does kiss her. The scent of Tianmei becomes even stronger, filling Shui's nose. He sneezes repeatedly, his nose running. Sanba laughs, saying, "Kid, remember, kissing other women will give you a cold."
The sun still shines brightly. Under its light, both Tianmei and Shui recall everything from back then. Shui feels a bit shy. Tianmei laughs. She says, "Ah, Shui, you've grown up so much. You're such a handsome young man now." Shui wants to say that Aunt Tianmei is still young and beautiful, but the words don't come out. Shui says, "My aunt Tianxiang asked me to help you." Tianmei asks, "Is that so? Your aunt Tianxiang is sending you as my helper?" Shui replies, "My aunt Tianxiang asked me to help." Tianmei says, "But you're still a child." Shui says, "I'm not. I'll be eighteen soon." The young Shui says this while tilting his face up. The sun falls upon his cheeks, illuminating every crevice. Everything is bright and clear, even the fine hairs visible. Tianmei suddenly sees a transparent, adorable young boy, and her heart fills with joy. Tianmei says, "Alright. You can start working tomorrow." Tianmei leads Shui into a small room. At the corner of the room stands a small bed, neatly made with blue sheets. Tianmei explains that there was an old man who helped her before. He caught a cold recently, kept coughing, and refused to go to the hospital. He died three days ago. Tianmei reassures Shui, "Don't be afraid. He didn't die in this bed. He died in the hospital." Shui says, "I'm not afraid. I'm full of energy." Then Tianmei adds that there are only two people at the recycling station, and the work is overwhelming. In the morning, they collect waste, and every few days, they must sort and deliver it to the county headquarters. The headquarters is the main station, where Sanba works. Since there are many people there, Sanba doesn't manage much. On their return, they also handle household chores for Tianmei—cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes. Sanba insists that Tianmei keep meticulous records every day, as he is very strict about money, wanting everything to be clear and precise. Therefore, when there's a lot to do, she is completely overwhelmed. Shui eagerly says, "Aunt, with me here, you won't be so tired. My parents say I'm hardworking." Tianmei laughs, saying, "That's good. Then I'll be relieved."
Tianmei's house is opposite the small room, separated by a recycling materials yard. In the middle of the yard lies a narrow path, just a few meters away. Walking across it and turning slightly, you can see Tianmei's door. The door of Tianmei's house is green, with a green frame. It's adorned with New Year paintings—red backgrounds with black figures, with thick lines. On the left is Qin Qiong, and on the right is Guan Yu. Shui thinks it shouldn't be these two figures together, but he can't recall who would be better to place. Tianmei notices Shui standing by the door, admiring the paintings, and says, "Sanba put these up. He wanted heroes to watch over me." Tianmei says this with a hint of coldness in her smile. The smile catches Shui's eye. He thinks, "Sending two heroes to watch over Aunt Tianmei? What does that mean?"
Shui follows Tianmei into the kitchen. The kitchen is small and dim. Tianmei turns on the light, which is dim and low, almost touching her head. Tianmei says, "This room has no windows, just a ventilation fan, but it's still very hot." Shui replies, "It's not hot. It's better than outside." Tianmei asks, "Can you cook?" Shui says, "Yes. I've helped out at my uncle's restaurant." Tianmei smiles, saying, "That's great. I didn't expect you to be so capable at such a young age." Hearing Tianmei's praise, a smile appears on Shui's face. Tianmei also smiles, looking at Shui and saying, "What a handsome young man. You look even better when you smile."
That night, Shui sleeping in the small room dreams. He dreams that a flood breaks the embankment. Tianmei falls into the water, struggling and crying. Sanba stands on the shore, waving his hands, urging Guan Yu and Qin Qiong to save Tianmei. Both heroes say they can't swim, and they hesitate. In their hesitation, Tianmei is nearly submerged in the water. Shui thinks, "Aunt, you can't die!" He jumps into the water. He fights the flood. After winning, he drags Tianmei to the shore. Sanba shouts at him, startling Shui. He doesn't know why Sanba is shouting. Shui looks at Tianmei. Her clothes are dry. She stands on the embankment, her robes fluttering in the wind. She covers her face with a smile.