89Change of Luck
Ms. Jiang, this is Pang Qian, Mister Ostrich’s Miss Crab.

Before the Spring Festival, Pang Qian’s family moved to a new house. It was the house that they’d renovated last year. Pang Shuisheng used his hard-earned money to hire a building and design company to take care of the renovations, so their house looked especially nice.

Pang Qian had a bright and stylish room, and her father considerately had a large wardrobe built for her to house all her clothes and shoes.

After the end of the year, Pang Qian returned to Shanghai and continued her internship. Zou Liwen had become a lot more patient while teaching her. He even started taking her along on business trips and let her see the operational flow of the project. Before she had to present her thesis for graduation back at school, Pang Qian was already able to complete some smaller tasks on her own.

In May, the cla.s.s went to the Shengsi Islands for their graduation trip. They went to the sea, watched the sunrise, ate seafood… Yang Lu and Sheng Feng held hands and took a romantic walk along the seash.o.r.e, and their joyous laughter could be heard from afar. Pang Qian stood in the distance and watched their figures walking away. Wu Feiyan walked over to her side and started chatting with her.

She wrapped her arm around Pang Qian’s waist and said, “Hey, Crab, tell me the truth. Does seeing the two of them make you feel a bit uncomfortable?”

“Why would I feel uncomfortable?” Pang Qian laughed and shook her head. “No, really.”

Wu Feiyan said, “I wonder if Sheng Feng’s going to stay in Shanghai after he finishes his postgrad degree though.”

“Probably.” Pang Qian lifted her head and looked up at the blue sky. She stretched her arms out and put on a bright smile. “If two people want to be together, they’ll figure something out in the end. Let’s just wait for our invitations to their wedding banquet!”

Pang Qian smoothly graduated in June. She wore her graduation cap and gown and took lots of pretty graduation pictures. Pang Shuisheng and Jin Ai’hua were both extremely excited at her graduation ceremony. Pang Shuisheng’s face was glowing. Watching their little naughty daughter become the beautiful and good person before them now, their hearts were bubbling with happiness.

Pang Qian became the positive example in her family, the one you show as an example when teaching your kids. Although Pang Qian wasn’t the most studious among the kids in their (extended) family, she’s the one who improved herself the most.

Everyone knew that Pang Qian’s track record in school wasn’t that great ever since primary school. She was a glutton and loved to play, and she’d been beaten and scolded many times by Jin Ai’hua and Pang Shuisheng. She’d once been at the bottom of her cla.s.s in junior high, and she’d even been ranked last in her cla.s.s in high school before. For all of her first year in high school, she was always ranked among the bottom of her cla.s.s. Pang Shuisheng would always come home angry after the parent-teacher meetings.

Everyone thought that Pang Qian getting into a top high school was luck, that she’d only get into a tier-3 university at best. But then later, she got into a top university and graduated with a job at an international investment company. Jin Ai’hua’s older sister asked her, “Will Pang Qian make 5,000 each month after she becomes a full-time worker?”

Jin Ai’hua harrumphed. “5,000? Are you kidding?!”

“Not even 5,000? Qian Qian’s in Shanghai, so she should make at least 5,000 to survive. If she doesn’t make that much, shouldn’t she just return to E City and find work for 3-4,000? She could save on rent and live with you guys.”

Jian Ai’hua laughed, her chin raised up in the air. “Our Qian Qian will have an annual salary of 250 thousand. That’s 20 thousand a month, 20 thousand!”

“Aiyoyoyo!” Jin Ai’hua’s sister was taken aback. “What bank does she work for? Her salary is so high!”

Jin Ai’hua stuck her nose in the air, “She’s at an international investment bank, an investment bank! An international one, do you understand!”

Pang Qian rented an apartment in Pudong and took the metro to work every day. Her office building was nearby the Oriental Pearl Tower, so she saw that tall, magnificent tower every day through her window.

A few years ago, she’d stood at that tower and pointed to the tall buildings around it, saying, “I’m going to work there in the future!”

And several years later, here she really was.

Only, there’d been someone standing beside her back then. And now, she didn’t even know where he was anymore.

Pang Qian began her career, and work was more busy than she’d ever imagined. Sometimes, even while working in the office, she had to run around. Her apartment really became a place that was just for sleeping. Pang Qian had to work overtime nearly every day, or else go to social work gatherings, and sometimes she’d have to go on business trips. She got a pa.s.sport and an entrance permit to Hong Kong and Macau. The first time she went to Hong Kong, she played at Disneyland, Ocean Park, and went shopping for lots of things. The next time she went, she also bought a pile of things. She finally calmed down the fifth time she went.

The company arranged a trip abroad every year. At the end of 2007, Pang Qian left the country for the first time and went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. She returned to E City for the Spring Festival and brought a whole bunch of gifts – perfume, skin care products, Disney toys, watches….

The entire family went to Pang Shuisheng’s bright and s.p.a.cious new house for the New Year’s dinner. Everyone complimented Pang Qian for being pretty, having nice skin, having a good temperament, and doing do well at work.

Her younger uncle said, “Raising a daughter like Pang Qian is what it means to successfully accomplish something. Pang Qian, now your parents only need to worry about your marriage.”

Pang Qian said, “Uncle, I’m not even 23 years old yet.”

“You can start looking though. Date for two years and get married at 25. Just perfect.”

Pang Qian laughed out loud, “I’m very busy with work now. There’s no time to date at all.”

Her younger aunt gently nudge Jin Ai’hua and whispered to her ear, “Sister-in-law, Pang Qian isn’t still caught up in the past, is she? That boy without arms who used to live next door to you?”

Jin Ai’hua’s complexion changed as she coldly said, “Nonsense! There’s no such thing!”

Pang Qian was truly very busy, such that she wasn’t even able to get together with her old school friends. On the weekend, she went shopping with Wu Feiya, who asked her if she was really still waiting for that “missing boyfriend.” Pang Qian thought for a moment and then said, “Let me tell you something. In the beginning, there was a guy at the company who seemed to be interested in me. He always tried to invite me out. One afternoon, he called me to eat lunch together at the noodle shop downstairs, so I went.”

“And then what?”

“It was just the two of us eating noodles. He ordered kimchi and beef noodles, and I ordered braised beef noodles. After our orders came out, we ate. After we ate a little, I did a naughty thing.”

“What?”

Pang Qian smiled and said, “I told him that my braised beef noodles were really delicious and asked if he wanted to try some. He said no, but I didn’t listen to him, and put some of my noodles into his bowl. I told him to try it, that it was really delicious.”

Wu Feiyan frowned, “You’re so gross. They’re noodles that you ate. How could you give them to someone else to eat after that?”

“I did it on purpose. Didn’t he say he liked me?” Pang Qian looked strangely at Wu Feiyan. “When you’re eating with your boyfriend, you wouldn’t eat anything in his bowl?”

“I’m kind of a germaphobe, so I wouldn’t.” Wu Feiyan, “What happened after that?”

“Then that guy went crazy. He just stopped eating and said he was full.” Pang Qian laughed out loud for a bit. When she stopped, she said, “Feiyan, was I really bad? Actually, I wouldn’t eat the food in his bowl either, whether he’d eaten from it or not. I don’t even eat the things from my parents’ bowls. But in this world, there is one person who’s bowl I would eat from. And I’m sure that he would similarly agree to eat from my bowl.”

The global financial crisis. .h.i.t in 2008, which heavily affected the industry. Many companies were laying off employees, and a few in Pang Qian’s department were even let go. She went to work in constant fear of being laid off, but Zou Liwen always protected her.

In 2009, the economic situation grew a bit better. Zou Liwen asked Pang Qian privately as he was planning on quitting and returning to E City. He would jump from department manager to vice president of a company. Pang Qian didn’t have any hesitations and readily agree with his decision. Although she would get a raise and promotion if she stayed on, Pang Qian felt very grateful to Zou Liwen. She was thankful that in the bleakest year, he still stood in front of her and protected her. His salary was even affected by it a bit. Pang Qian had always been a pa.s.sionate person. She knew that if Zou Liwen were to quit his job here, he’d have to build his own personal circle of trust. And she was going to be one of those loyal soldiers.

At the end of the year, Pang Qian followed Zou Liwen as they resigned from work. Before she left Shanghai, she ran over to the Bund and found a digital photo place and spent 20 dollars for a photo of herself against the Huangpu River and Oriental Pearl Tower.

The picture taken date was printed in the bottom right-hand corner: 2009/12/5.

Pang Qian opened her phone and looked at a photo in her alb.u.m. The same scenery on a small Polaroid, the color faded quite a bit. In the photo, there were two kids standing next to each other, smiling happily. The date: 1999/7/17.

Her fate with this city started the summer of that year. It was ten years later now, and she was leaving this place. She felt a bit regretful. She once made a promise with someone that she would traverse all the corners of the city, eating all the delicious foods and seeing all the beautiful views. She even hinted that she’d give him an answer when they got to college.

But in the end, she was here by herself, spending six years alone in this city.

Pang Qian returned to E City with her luggage in tow, just as she’d once told Gu Mingxi. After three years of experience at an investment banking firm, she was armed with many skills as she entered Jialai Investments. She was even able to manage her own project. She went on a business trip on her own, calmly going about, dragging her luggage behind her in an unfamiliar city. She shed that young ang inexperienced student air. A smile brightly shining on her face, she would no longer be able to bring back that pureness and simpleness she once had.

Pang Qian got her driver’s license and bought a car. She had numerous high heels and lots of beautiful clothes and jewelry. When she had a little bit of free time, she would go shopping or have a meal with Zheng Qiaoqiao. Zheng Qiaoqiao graduated with a degree in English, so she was working at a foreign enterprise. Her salary was quite good. There was also Sun Mingfang, who’d become an accountant. She was also single and she often had coffee or played ping pong with Pang Qian.

Pang Qian quietly pa.s.sed her 25th birthday. Since that night that Gu Mingxi called her, she hadn’t received another call from Z City for four years.

Even after returning to E City for half a year, she still kept the phone number she’d registered in Shanghai. You could temporarily stop service for your phone in E City, but if you stopping your service in Shanghai was permanent.

After dinner, she went out alone and walked until she reached the Golden Compound. Of course, the compound was already gone.

The shopping / business center had been completed and was now the newest hub of E City. Pang Qian walked around the square. On the light summer day, a group of elderly ladies had put on some loud music and were twisting and dancing around. Across the way, a few young teachers were teaching a group of kids to skate.

There were lots of small shops and peddlers at the square along with residents out for a walk. Pang Qian saw a man selling sausages and quickly walked over. She spend 1.50 for a skewer.

After just a single bite, Pang Qian immediately spit it out. This wasn’t a sausage, it was clearly flour. (Note: I’m guessing this is like a corn dog then.)

She suddenly started laughing and laughing until tears came out. She decided to finish the sausage. Many years ago, this was something extremely delicious in her eyes. She couldn’t eat it and could only look at it. Then the person beside her would always say, “Alright, stop looking. Your saliva’s dripping. There’s some money in my pocket. Take it out yourself and buy a stick.”

The fountain in the square suddenly started, clear water spraying out, as if dancing along with the festivities. A lot of children gathered around the fountain, playing around. Pang Qian stood off to the side with her arms folded. She smiled as she watched a bit, and then she looked up to the sky.

The Milky Way wasn’t very clear, but in such an open s.p.a.ce, she could actually see it.

Pang Qian knew she was very silly. A lot of people called her a fool. Yan Lu, Wu Feiyan, and Sheng Feng didn’t know that person. If they wanted to call her a fool, then so be it. But why did Zheng Qiaoqiao, Sun Mingfang, Zhou Nanzhong, and w.a.n.g Song also call her a fool?

China was so large, with some billions of people. And that person was hiding somewhere among them. Pang Qian knew that he was on his own right now. She could even guarantee that he’d always been single. She imagined how difficult his life must be, but she believed he wouldn’t let go, that his face still carried that smile and warmth.

She didn’t know how she’d be able to find him. She tried Kaixin001, Renren (social networking sites), and her school’s networking site, but it was obvious that he’d never logged in to these places.

She didn’t even know what city he was in now, or what kind of work he was doing. He didn’t have a college degree, and that made Pang Qian disheartened.

She looked back up at the Milky Way, silently making a wish.

I want to find Gu Mingxi. I want to find Gu Mingxi. I want to find Gu Mingxi.

In December 2010, Zou Liwen sent Pang Qian up north on a business trip. She dragged along her luggage and went there alone, staying for two weeks. As she was about to return home, a large snow storm hit.
– – – –

Pang Qian and Yu Jialei came out from the dining room, both heading to their car. It was nearly Christmas so all the shops on the street were filled with decorations. (Note: This is roughly where end of ch.71 / start of ch.72 left off, before we started the trip into the past.)

Pang Qian looked around absently when her phone rang. She picked it up and was immediately happy. “Hey, it’s you? Xie Yi.”

“Are you in E City?” Xie Yi’s voice carried a joyous tone. “I’m stopping in to E City tomorrow for some work. Let’s grab a meal together.”

“Tomorrow? Okay,” Pang Qian said. “Call me when you get here. We’ll pick a place, my treat.”

“Okay, I’m driving. See you tomorrow.”

Xie Yi hung up the phone, feeling quite refreshed.

That morning, there was a meeting at work where one department was reporting about their recent project. They started talking about TV and film rights to a story. Xie Yi wasn’t interested at first, until an employee said the name of the story– My Miss Crab.

Xie Yi felt a sudden emotion and quickly told the employee to bring him the ill.u.s.trated book.

The employee told him about how hot the book was recently. The author was very popular but also very mysterious. A lot of companies were trying to get the rights for TV and film production and the price was skyrocketing.

Xie Yi was currently the boss at a media company. They produced promotional and serial content. Eight of their productions weren’t very successful, but two were really popular, making their company some money.

Xie Yi quickly flicked through “My Miss Crab,” and was so excited that he couldn’t help calling Pang Qian. He grabbed at his hair, and tried to figure something out.

The next day, Pang Qian slacked off again. She sat at her desk, flipping through the ill.u.s.trated book for the nth time. She read through the final part over and over again.

Mister Ostrich’s mother left him. She became an angel and flew to the heavens.

Before Mister Ostrich’s mother left, she promised him that in their next lives, they would be reunited as mother and son.

Now, Mister Ostrich was left on his own. He wondered, what should he do?

Brother Shark told him that he could go find Miss Crab.

Mister Ostrich shook his head. He had/was nothing now. Even if he found Miss Crab, what would be the point?

Mister Ostrich thought, the first thing he had to do was to become self-reliant.

…

Mister Ostrich liked the warmth of the southern regions, so he went to the southernmost island in the animal kingdom.

In that place, there was a beautiful and large sea, a fine and sandy beach, simple and honest islanders. All year long, he could wear light clothes. Mister Ostrich finally left that cold north. He felt that he would never need to feel the cold again.

Mister Ostrich found simple but happy work. In his spare time, he could use his skills to earn extra money. And so, his days pa.s.sed just like that. Mister Ostrich’s life got back on track. He didn’t need to be cold or starve. He even had his own ostrich nest.

Everything that had pa.s.sed felt like a dream. If he told this story to other people, they’d probably just feel that Mister Ostrich was very pitiful.

But Mister Ostrich wasn’t pitiful. Right now, he was very happy. You ask, does he remember Miss Crab?

Of course, he remembered he very deeply.

This story has yet to end. Mister Ostrich has created two conclusions.

The first. After time pa.s.sed, Mister Ostrich completely lost his Miss Crab. And Miss Crab could never find her Mister Ostrich. The two of them walked their own, different paths. One went left as the other went right. Many years later, neither recalled that lost age of youth.

The second. Mister Ostrich remembered his mother’s words. Mama Ostrich said that one day, he could go to find Miss Crab. If she were still single, he could try to pursue her again.

Every time Mister Ostrich imagined the scene, he couldn’t help smile, because it was really just too perfect.

But no one understood the cruelty of the world better than Mister Ostrich. A lot of beautiful things in life had false appearances, and a lot of the once beautiful things had now shattered to pieces.

Was Miss Crab single right now? Mister Ostrich didn’t know. He just felt that he’d already disappeared from her life for so many years now. How could he just suddenly appear and disturb her life now?

So, this is a story left to be continued.

Or maybe there would never be an answer.

– Mister Ostrich, Qixi 2010

After she got off work, Pang Qian grabbed her bag and charged to the first floor. Xie Yi was already there waiting.

Pang Qian felt something was amiss when she saw him, because his smile was especially sly. He dragged Pang Qian to his car and just kept smiling strangely without a word.

Pang Qian didn’t know what to say. “Did you take the wrong medicine? What are you smiling about?”

“I found out a big secret!”

“What is it?”

“Hey Crab, did you know that there’s this very popular ill.u.s.trator-author?”

Pang Qian was extremely disappointed. “I knew awhile ago. Gu Mingxi! Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Wow, you already knew?!” Xie Yi was even more disappointed. “Ah, whatever. I have another bombsh.e.l.l for you!”

He pulled Pang Qian to a particularly foreign feeling teahouse. They walked inside, turned a corner, and made their way to an elegant looking private room.

There was already a woman sitting inside, about 30 years old, her face extremely graceful. When she saw Xie Yi, she stood up. “CEO Xie, h.e.l.lo. I’m Jiang Qi.”

Xie Yi shook hands with her calmly and exchanged business cards. Then he introduced Pang Qian and Jiang Qi.

“Pang Qian, this is Jiang Qi, Wenlan Publishing’s editor and the sole editor in charge of Mister Ostrich’s works.”

Pang Qian was shocked.

And then he said to Jiang Qi, “Ms. Jiang, this is Pang Qian, Mister Ostrich’s Miss Crab.”