Pomegranate

Author: Jing Wenzhou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Lin Li stood lightly, waiting quietly. With the natural flow of light music and Liu Qiaoyan's graceful movements, Lin Li quickly merged into the rhythm of yoga. Two suns rose simultaneously. Sunlight and Buddha light illuminated the fifteen-square-meter living room. Chest out, abdomen in, arms extended, legs bent, feet hooked, head lifted—by the time the entire movement was completed, Lin Li was like a silver swallow ready to take flight. This swallow, clad in a milky white tight-fitting exercise outfit that wrapped around its unfull-figured hips and chest, was as ethereal as a butterfly specimen with its fat drained away, its loose folds settling into the layers of skin, appearing somewhat clumsy and naive compared to the dynamic Liu Qiaoyan on the screen. Red light rose, reflecting on the pomegranate tree on the balcony, its lush green leaves highlighting a few red pomegranate sprouts like a blazing fire. The screen's images flickered and changed, the natural melody sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes melodious, sometimes vigorous, and Lin Li was completely immersed in the intoxicating realm of nature. Legs drawn in, feet together, hands clasped and raised high, the swallow transformed into a bamboo shoot—or perhaps a wooden sculpture—standing firmly under the Buddha light. The milky white tight-fitting outfit accentuated the slender, slightly oval face and her large, deep pools of eyes, revealing a slenderness rare in her fatter days. The wind, water, human voices, and bird calls, accompanied by the light music, all vanished into the waves of the sea. After completing her yoga, Lin Li didn't even have time for breakfast before rushing into her bedroom to get dressed. She sprayed hair gel on her freshly trimmed hair, sprinkled perfume on her neck and clothes, and carefully applied a touch of light lip color. Then she chose a water-blue suit to wear, complementing her slender and ethereal figure like a mermaid fresh from a bath. Lin Li rarely dressed up for herself. In the past, she lacked the time; now, she was past her prime—her forties—how could she compare to a girl in her twenties? Besides, beauty isn't solely about dressing well. Even with her best efforts, Hui'niu, the wife of Luo Yang in "Rickshaw Boy," couldn't look any more beautiful. Conversely, if you have good temperament and are naturally attractive, you can still be captivating without makeup. Lin Li was one of the latter. Not dressing up didn't mean she didn't love beauty. Lin Li loved beauty—beautiful things, beautiful environments, beautiful clothes, and of course, beautiful works and beautiful people. Lin Li slung her usual black handbag and descended the stairs lightly. After an hour of morning exercise, the impurities and muddiness in her body were dispelled, and as she bathed in the morning sun, a halo seemed to rise in her heart. It was a rare happy day—the activity in her class was being filmed by the TV station today—so why not dress up a bit? Lin Li poured all her joy into her light steps, stepping through the morning dew and arriving at Experimental Middle School quickly. "Good morning, Teacher Lin!" Before entering the school gate, the two female teachers approaching from the other side greeted Lin Li. "This suit is really beautiful on you, Teacher Lin!" The school gate was open, and the two giant hands carved above the crimson marble pillars on both sides seemed to embrace their lovers, enveloping all who entered. In the center between the hands, a banner reading "Celebrate the 20th Teacher's Day with Great Enthusiasm" stood prominently. People walked under the banner. The sound of students' bicycle bells, teachers' greetings, and the security guard's warnings to parents and outsiders came one after another. Lin Li entered the campus. The campus was very clean, and the fountain in the central square was spraying water columns up powerfully, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes slow, sometimes rapid. Under the sunlight, the splashing water looked like thousands of sparkling pearls scattered down. In front of the Mirror Screen Mountain, the students and teachers entering the school were adjusting their clothes. Lin Li walked over, glanced at the mirror screen, gently brushed her bangs, and then turned to head toward the office building. The office building was located on the east side of the campus, with a row of four student dormitories behind it. In front of the building stood the Hilly Garden, facing the three major landmarks of the campus. Although it was early autumn, the roses were still blooming freely, releasing their fragrance; dahlias and cockscomb flowers stood tall and beautiful. Chrysanthemums were lush green, patiently waiting for their blooming time. The row of apple trees by the east side of the garden were covered in greenish-white fruits. And pomegranates—the pomegranate trees at both ends of the garden and orchard had lost their summer's fiery brilliance, but the mature pomegranates among the lush green were still visible. The office building was in an "U" shape, three stories high, with a traditional brick-and-tile roof structure, echoing the comprehensive building on the west side of the campus. In the bulletin board in front of the office building, neatly written in chalk was: "10:00 AM Today, the TV station will come to our school to film a program. Classes with scheduled programs please prepare." Lin Li glanced at the notice and turned to walk toward her classroom. Class 3 of Grade 8 was on the third floor, west wing of the teaching building. P2-3