Three lives of love

Author: Ye Wenling / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: "Aunt, are you home? That's good, I'm coming over to your place. I have something to tell you!" I heard it was Mengmeng, her urgent voice tinged with a hint of sadness. Something unusual must have happened! I felt uneasy, but I couldn't avoid telling her about the engagement I had to attend. I said, "If you can wait, I'll come home and then invite you over." Such gatherings wouldn't take long, I estimated. "What do you mean, going to meet literary friends?" The tearful tone in Mengmeng's voice immediately vanished, replaced by surprise. "Aunt, why don't I come with you too! I'm coming to your place right now! No, no, I'll just go straight to Lakeside Residence to find you!" Before I could reply, she hung up the phone. Well, that was fine. Though Mengmeng's request was a bit abrupt, and she wasn't part of the Writers' Association system, the TV station and us were practically "close relatives." If tonight's gathering could ease some of her worries, it wasn't a bad thing.
The round tables at Lakeside Residence were filled with distinguished guests. Before I could even take in the main invitees and guests, Mengmeng, seated in a prominent spot, had already caught my eye. There was no avoiding it. Whenever and wherever Mengmeng was present, her beauty and style always stood out like a swan among chickens. Tonight was no exception. Her neck adorned with a pearl necklace, white as jade, and dressed in a black dress, she looked like a Venus statue under the moonlight and lights. Though her pale face was slightly ashen, her spirit was vibrant, her eyes sparkling like black gems. I signaled her with my eyes and quietly explained to the host of the evening, the President of the Writers' Association. The kind old president, who knew Mengmeng well from her frequent appearances on TV, genuinely welcomed her as an unexpected guest to our gathering, whether as a guest or the host.
After the president delivered a brief welcome speech, casual conversation began. Mengmeng slipped over to my side like a kitten. She was truly enchanting tonight, but as someone unskilled in cosmetics, I didn't know what perfume she was wearing. Mengmeng whispered close to my ear, "Aunt, didn't you say Dutch friends were coming? Where are they?" "Dutch friends?" I was taken aback, realizing she had misunderstood. "Just now, didn't you hear the president introduce the guests as from Henan's literary circles?" It turned out she had misheard "Henan" as "Holland" over the phone! "Oh!" Mengmeng's eyes dimmed instantly, and she slunk off to the corner like a kitten again. I understood she no longer cared about the "Henan" guests. But I couldn't fail to be warm to the other guests. After all, Henan was my second hometown, and I and Binsheng had spent difficult years by the Yellow River in the Central Plains. I had no idea when Mengmeng quietly slipped away, as she didn't say goodbye before leaving. To be honest, I wasn't satisfied with her behavior that night. Though it was just a small misunderstanding, it was no surprise that Mengmeng wasn't interested in the strangers from Henan. But why should an unfamiliar "Holland" make her so delighted? Upon reflection, I couldn't blame her. With the spirit of openness in full swing today, most young people certainly didn't see "Holland" and "Henan" as comparable.
After the gathering ended and I returned home, just as I stepped inside, Binsheng said, "The guests are waiting for you!" It was Mengmeng again. She held a book and curled up in a wicker chair in my study, completely absorbed in it. Her relaxed posture was just like my daughter, who had returned home from her summer break at Peking University. I glanced at the cover of the book. It was a recently borrowed book from a friend who studied foreign literature, still considered "semi-censored" at the time—Love in the Time of Cholera. The book was hidden behind the second row of bookshelves, but now that Mengmeng was at my home, she could easily pull it out. I called her softly, and she lifted her long lashes to blink at me twice, her face filled with confusion. The expression on her face was asking, "Did you finish?" I nodded.
P88-89