49: Filial Piety vs Love

Z

hengqing put Yin Ting’s diary awaycarefully. He decided to go shopping for craft supplies with Yin Tin in the NewYear, so she could teach him and they could make entries together.

He did not have the time or mind todo these kinds of romantic things, but he could cherish what she did.

Beautiful things were easy toforget. That was indeed true.

Zhengqing thought of his past andrealised he could only remember pain. He remembered his first year of college,it had been a cold winter, he did not have a warm jacket. There were no lightsin the dormitories and the faculty buildings were also locked. (Zuben: Thismakes no sense.) He could only run up and try and warm up under the street lampthen run back to his dorm, he ran many laps that winter. At the end of thatyear, he succeeded in getting a scholarship, he was joyous. He still rememberedthe looks of derision he got from his cla.s.smates; they despised him for beingpoor and rustic.

There were many details he did notremember. He only remembered the hardship - success; to be successful – one hadto endure hardships.

“There was no end to success, likehappiness,” Xiaoting had said this. She was right, there was no end. He wasgetting happier; he had a career and he had her.

The next day; the 30th,went blandly past. There was work, meetings, more work, more meetings. Becausehe wasn’t seeingYin Ting he worked overtime. If he could do more work, then hewould be free over the New Year break to spend as much time with Xiaoting as hecould. They would go to the cemetery one day, shopping the next and spend allday at home the last.

Yin ting called him that evening totell him where the party was. She asked if he was working overtime. He saidyes, and told her to be careful on her way. She agreed then rang off.

Later on that evening, Zhengqingwas finishing is dinner when there was a text from Yin Ting, she was checkingin and asked him if he’d had dinner, told him not to work too late. Zhengqingtext back to ask how the party was going, and if she would like him to pick herup after?

She text back telling him they weregoing to karaoke and a friend was going to take her home. No need for him topick her up.

At ten thirty, Zhengqing was athome playing with Miao-dada while he sent a text to ask if she was home,

She called back, ‘Reporting to Qiu,I just arrived home very safely.’

Zhengqing laughed and they talkedabout their plans for the holidays. He asked her to come round to his early,she told him she would be waiting for him.

Zhengqing was very happy and hissleep was sweet.

The next day while at work therewas an email from Xiaoting, he opened it to see it was a picture of an entry intheir diary. It was a drawing of a cell phone and a man and woman holding eachother’s hands and smiling. She wrote: Today we didn’t meet, I was meeting withfriends and you worked overtime, but I called you twice and sent two textmessages. You sent me two text messages. We are concerned about each other, Iam very happy. (Zuben: rolls her eyes right out of her head)

In the main body of the email,“This is number seven of my contribution.”

Zhengqing laughed, he was beingbrainwashed by her. Before he would have felt this was a boring waste of time,now he thought it was cute, he likes her being cute. Zhengqing called her,

‘You slept late last night,’ hesaid. The time stamp on the email said 12:03.

‘Not too late,’ she repliedmock-indignantly.

‘You have seven copies of thedraft. This is not good; you must bring my copies tonight.’

She laughed, ‘Yes, I will put yoursin my bag.’

Zhengqing laughed, and said,‘Tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for supplies, we don’t have to wait for a year, wecan start binding it now. You’re responsible for writing; I will learn how tobind. We will get what we need for that.’ He paused for a bit then asked, ‘Orhave you got everything you want?’

‘No I don’t have everything,’ YinTins said pleasantly surprised, ‘You really want to do it together?’

‘Yes. We can finish the t.i.tle pagetogether,’ Zhengqing could imagine the look of the cover, ‘there won’t be anyready-made anyway. And in one year, we’ll put it all together,’

‘Woohoo, this will be fun. Readymadedoes not have meaning. I am so happy that you are willing to help. Something todo together. I’ve collected a lot of books on creating covers and bindings.Tomorrow we’ll go and get some leather, cloth, hard paper, glue…’ (Zuben:Somehow I think y’all are underestimating the work that goes into thesethings.)

‘Cloth…?’

‘So you can make a cover for thehard back,’

‘Leather?’ Black lines hung overZhengqing. He had been too impulsive in volunteering.

‘Of course! Must make it very nice.It’s our first love diary. I will show you a sample. Of course it has to be abeautiful formal cover. You said you’d help, are you backing out now?’

‘Ah…’ He said as he wondered if ‘refuelling’could be considered helping. Hand her tea or a cup of water; that could beconsidered helping right? He said instead, ‘Let’s meet tonight. I will finishwork quickly. The next few days would be free; we can do lots of thingstogether. I have plans.’

Yin Ting was quiet few seconds thensaid in a small voice, ‘Don’t you think your words are a bit coloured?’

Zhengqing expression grew heavy,‘What is coloured about what I just said? Miss Yin Ting, what are you thinkingof in your head? My words are very normal. You’re the one twisting my words.Your thinking is unexpectedly crooked. What colour?’

Yin Ting blushed and bit her lips,‘In any case it is coloured,’

‘I should have said somethingworthy of this yellow coloured evaluation.’

Yin Ting face went more red, ‘Don’tsay that so loud. It is rude to a girl.’ (Zuben: Who started this train ofconversation again…?)

‘No one told me I was being loud,do you think the people eavesdropping would find it funny?’

‘Ahem, a girl can say it but notboys,’ Yin Ting said charmingly prudish,

‘I am not a boy, I am a man.’Zhengqing announced.

There was silence over thetelephone, and then Yin Ting said, ‘This is very coloured.’

‘Miss Yin Ting, what are yourintentions?’

Yin Ting laughed, ‘I’ll stopbothering you, work hard. See you this evening.’

‘Hm, see you later.’

Zhengqing tried to calm down afterthe call, and thought of seeing her that evening; those words were alsocoloured. This trouble-maker s.e.xually hara.s.sing him! Did she think that hewasn’t thinking of her that way? He was very yellow, the thought of seeing herthat evening was getting him excited. They hadn’t met for a few days, he reallywanted to kiss her!

For the first time, Zhengqing waslooking forward to the holidays. (Zuben: The higher the antic.i.p.ation, thegreater the disappointment)

He worked efficiently that day. Theprogress of his colleagues were very good as well, he felt there would be noproblems finishing on time today. At around four, there was a phone call, itwas Yin Ting. He saw her name on the caller ID and laughed,

He picked up, ‘Don’t worry; I willbe finished on time today.’ He said in greeting.

Yin Tings voice was sad, as sheexplained; ‘My father just announced we are going to our home town. Takingadvantage of the New Year holidays to see relatives and old friends, I have togo with him,’ (Zuben: So predictable…)

Zhengqing could not laugh, ‘Why notduring the Spring Festival? Isn’t that when people go home?’

‘I don’t know. He just said hewanted to go suddenly, and got his secretary to buy tickets for him and me. Imust get packing now, the train leaves at 7Pm to arrive at 7AM,’

Zhengqing wasn’t very happy,(Zuben: I don’t blame you), ‘Why so suddenly? Couldn’t you talk to him aboutit? Didn’t he just come out from the hospital; is he okay enough to betravelling on such a long journey? What is so important that can’t wait tillthe Spring Festival?!’

‘Don’t be angry. My father issomewhat wilful. He wants to go to our hometown, I have to go with him, or Iwould be worried.’

‘When are you coming back?’

‘Not for a few days…’

What did that mean? How many days?Did it mean that their New Year’s plans were cancelled? Zhengqing was furious,‘Couldn’t someone else go with him?’

‘I am his daughter,’ Yin Ting saidfirmly but gently. Yes, she was his daughter; this was the most powerfulreason. She works at the printing company to accompany him, he goes on a tripshe must go with him. She was a filial child.

Zhengqing knew that nothing hecould say would sound good. She was right, but he was so very disappointed,‘Have a safe trip,’ he said unhappily. She had to go; she had no need for hispermission.

‘Don’t be like this,’ she saidtrying to cajole him, ‘You must think of the advantages.’

‘What advantages?’ He could notthink of any. (Zuben: Yes, Tingting what advantages?)

‘The advantage is; absence makesthe heart grow fonder,’ (Zuben: BS)

‘Right…’ he replied coldly.

‘…I am practising how to look afteryou with my father. When the time comes, I will also favour you,’

‘I wouldn’t be so wilful,’Zhengqing said grumpily. He knew that his daughter would have plans with hernew boyfriend, who was taken vacation with great difficulty, but still went andmade them go on a long trip to their home town. (Zuben: I’m sure you’ll thinkof other ways to torture your daughter’s boyfriend)

‘It doesn’t matter, the elderly arewilful, and it is funny.’

‘I don’t feel like it is fun atall.’ Zhengqing said angrily. She did sound like she was disappointed at all.

‘You see, you’re like that now,’

‘I am not. If I was in a temper, Iwould have hung up the phone.’ He said angrily.

Yin Ting went quiet, ‘We shouldn’tquarrel over this,’ she said softly, ‘This is a small thing. My father is older;there is not much we can do. He wants to go; I have to go with him. I am luckyto have time to go to places with him.’

‘Are you referring to me?’Zhengqing said feeling p.r.i.c.kled. He tried desperately to succeed, to build hiscareer, and the result was that his mother died and he did not have the chanceto go with her on her last trip. His heart has always been pained by this, andhe’d always felt guilty. Even though, their remains resided in one of the best cemeteriesand he bought the big house he promised her; the scar was still raw, ‘I am notlike you; I did not accompany my mother.’

Yin Ting was stunned, she got upsetand stammered as she said, ‘I am not talking about you, you don’t have tocondemn me. I am accompanying my dad back home. I will call you in a few days.’

She hung up.

Yesterday, they couldn’t think ofwhat they could argue about and today they were arguing. (Zuben: Cos y’all apair of idiots, but hey…)

Small things could move them andsmall thing could make them fight. With Zhengqing’s temper, he would be thesame as her father. (Zuben: They do say girls fall for men like their fathers)

‘What is the matter?’ Guohao askedwhen he saw his daughter’s sad face, ‘Have you spoken with your boyfriend? Didhe get angry?’

Yin Ting shook her head, ‘No he wasvery good, and told me to have a good time. He wants to meet you soon.’ She said.She was going to take this opportunity to act spoilt so Zhengqing get theopportunity to meet her father.

Guohao smiled, noncommittal, andled her to the waiting car. Good temper? He has heard the Qiu Zhengqing was aman that was vigorous and resolute. He was said to be unyielding. He wasmerciless in business, and once caused a director who was a distant relative tohave no recourse but to resign.

Does this man sound like someonewho had a good temperament? Was he, Yin Guohao, a child? (Zuben: Anyone wouldbe angry if their plans are suddenly dashed against the rocks of filial piety)

Chinese egg cakes - Pintrest

Chapter 50: Happy New Year

Z

hengqing decided to work over time.

Yin Ting didn’t regard him, andwhat he did, so he was going do what he liked.

He knew his ideas were out ofpique, but he could not control it. He had been so full of expectations, but alarge bucket of cold water was poured on him, he could not have a good mood.

When it was closing time, everyonemoved quickly and within ten minutes the office was dead. Zhengqing felt lonelysitting in the office, looking out into the twinkling night in the emptinessand quiet. He should have been one of them, happily rushing into the elevatorto leave. But now…

Zhengqing leaned back in his chair,he did not feel like looking at the computer, yet did not feel like going home.

He sat quietly for a while, andthen he decided to concentrate on work. He sorted out a few doc.u.ments, butrealised he didn’t want to work anymore, so he shut down and prepared to gohome. There was a notification beep from his phone. Yin Ting had sent amessage: I’m on the train with my father. Have you eaten?

He replied: Not yet.

Come on, eat okay: she text back.

Zhengqing did not feel like it, sohe didn’t reply. He packed his bag and set off home.

When he got home, he cooked someinstant noodles. The picked up Miao-dada, who wanted to run away. As Zhengqingkept grabbing for Miao, the cat scratched him a little. Zhengqing also pattedhis paw. Then the cat retaliated.

The game of you pat my paw, I patyour paw lasted ten rounds. Zhengqing finally smiled, and Miao gave him a lookthat said, ‘You must be really bored,’ and returned to ignoring him.

After a while, the cat came backand jumped on Zhengqing’s thighs and settled down.

‘Ahem,’ Zhengqing said poking itshead, ‘You didn’t want to hug me earlier,’

Miao yawned greatly, and did notmind him.

Zhengqing’s mood changed so hedecided text Yin Ting to ask if she was able to rest. Going by train could betiring.

After a while, she replied: Have notrested. We got a sleeping berth. Going by train is not tiring, but the rockingis making me dizzy and keeping me from falling asleep.

How pitiful, he thought. He calledher,

‘I thought not to send you textbecause you’re dizzy,’ he said

She laughed, ‘Close your eyes andsleep, you won’t feel so dizzy, you’ll wake up feeling better.’ He said.

‘Hm,’ she replied then said softly,‘Let’s have a chat?’

‘What do you want to talk about?’his tone softening to match hers.

‘How is Miao-dada? Was he bad orgood? Did he do something clever?’

‘Hmm, while I wasn’t payingattention, he got into the study and tried to scratch the chair. I kicked himout,’

‘Are his nails long? Need to cutthem,’ she said.

‘I’ll wait for you to come back andcut it,’

‘Alright,’ she replied happily,glad that he wasn’t still annoyed.

‘He scratched me today,’

‘Why?’

‘Didn’t want me to cuddle him.’

‘Why did you want to hold him?’

‘He is my cat, I want to hug it.’ Hereplied righteously.

Ying Ting blushed on her end; therewas something yellow about what he just said. (Zuben: Girl, you better get yourmind right, or get it on quickly), she did not speak so Zhengqing had becomesensitive to these things, ‘Are you thinking crooked thoughts?’

‘How could I,’

‘You can’t say because your dad isnext to you?’

Yin Ting’s blushed deepened, if herwas not next to her she would have educated him that exposing a girl’s thoughtwas impolite behaviour. So instead she asked, ‘So the cat scratched you?’

‘I hit it back,’

What? He hit the cat? ‘Where?’ sheasked.

‘Just a pat on his paw,’ Yin Tingimagined him doing that and she laughed, ‘And then?’

‘He hit me back, then I hit him,and he hit me. On and on,’

Yin Ting laughed, hearing her laughhe also laughed. The mood was nice. He asked her, ‘Want to sleep yet?’

‘Not yet,’

‘Will you try to come backquickly?’

‘Yes,’ she replied withouthesitation. So his heart settled.

‘Where is your home town? Do youneed to go there by train?’ she asked.

He told her where it was, ‘It’stwenty six hours by train, but now you can fly to the city then transfer; onlytwo hours.’

‘Tell me about it,’

‘What? Riding the train?’ he askedlaughing in spite of himself, ‘When I was in university I did not have any moneyto go back home. I could not go back for the four years of study; I worked onmy vacations so I could make money for my living expenses. So the first time Itook the train, I was very excited, and very anxious. I did not know what unilife would bring me. To save money I bought a standing ticket.’

‘You stood for more than 20hrs?’she asked incredulous, (Zuben: You stood for more than two hours?! h.e.l.l Iwouldn’t even bother if the bus is standing room only. I’ll just wait for thenext one)

‘Yes,’ he replied as he recalledhis past, ‘I was young, and there were many others that had the standingtickets so it was very crowded. I could not sleep,’
Standing only ticket - chinasmack.com‘There is no way to rest whenyou’re standing,’ (Zuben: That idea is for rich folks)

‘It is not, but I was also veryexcited. Beside me was a girl, she was so tired, she fell asleep with her headon my shoulder,’

‘Didn’t you wake her?’

‘No, taking the train is very tiring;she had also been standing for very long. If I hadn’t been there to support hershe would not be able to sleep. I also endured and let her rest. She rested fora long time. When she woke up she was very embarra.s.sed. She offered me somemineral water,’

‘And then?’

‘Nothing. When the train arrived,we parted ways, never to meet again. Even if we met, I would not recognise her.She did not leave a deep impression.’

Yin Ting was peacefully silent fora while,

‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’he asked,

‘I thought I was going to bejealous, but instead, I think what you did was very kind.’

‘Maybe it was because she was agirl, if it was an uncle, I would have woken him,’

She laughed, ‘This way, I amjealous.’

Zhengqing also smiled, and said,‘Are you relaxed now? Close your eyes and go to sleep,’

‘Yes,’ she said, then rang off.

Zhengqing sighed as he looked athis phone. He stroked Miao’s head, ‘New Year’s day is in three days?’

Miao-dada turned unto his back,indicating that he was open to stroking; Zhengqing ignored him and put himaside. He got up to take a bath and prepare for bed. He heard the cat meowingoutside the bathroom door, but he ignored it. After raising a cat, he felt healso had to lock the bathroom door. (Zuben: Why?) When he left the bath, thecat looked up at him piteously and reared up on his hind legs,

‘I know. I know. You want toreplace Xiaoting and stick to me, but I prefer Xiaoting,’ he said to the cat.It followed him into the bedroom, where he dressed for bed. He looked at thecat and sighed; these three days are not going to be fun.

He checked his phone and found YinTing had sent him a text; My dad was near me so I couldn’t say. I miss you.Goodnight.

Zhengqing smiled and replied: Imiss you too. Goodnight.

As Zhengqing lay on his bed tryingto fall asleep he realised that he hadn’t told her “I love you”. He picked uphis phone from his bedside table but found that it was now past midnight. Thelast day has been missed.

Zhengqing sighed and went back tobed. Just those three simple words he did not say. He text her the words, andhe felt relieved.

Soon after there was a text backfrom her in reply with a happy emoticon.

‘Can’t sleep? Shall I call you?’ hetext.

‘Don’t,’ she text back, ‘It will benoisy. My dad is asleep.’

Well it was her dad, he did notwant to say he was jealous so he told her, ‘Goodnight,’

‘Goodnight,’ she text back.

This time, Zhengqing went to sleepwithout difficulty.

The next morning, he saw a textmessage from Yin Ting telling him she had arrived. He gave her a call, and shepicked up,

‘We are having breakfast at thehotel,’ she said, ‘We’ve spoken to the family and we would see them in theafternoon,’

‘Did you sleep last night?’

‘No, just a sleep like state,’

‘You should get some sleep thismorning. You can call me when you have time.’

Yin Ting laughed, ‘You’re worriedabout me,’

His girlfriend was really notreserved but he laughed, ‘Yes ah, so hurry and go and sleep.’

She laughed and he heard a veryloud mua~ sound.

‘Don’t you want to send it back?’she asked

‘No,’ he said. He was sort ofembarra.s.sed, so he sounded very serious. Just as she was going chastise him, hesaid, ‘I want it to be true, come back soon.’

Yin Ting laughed.

Zhengqing did not like holidays.The feeling was with him this time as well.

He called his aunt. Then went tothe cemetery, where he visited his parents’ graves as well as Yin Ting’smother’s grave. Then he went to the market and bought two boxes of fruit andtook them to the orphanage.

When Shi Liang saw him, her facelit up. He had set aside the best looking apple for her. He thought that Shi Liang was a little eccentric, rather like Yin Ting.

‘Quickly eat, uncle has cleaned itfor you,’ Zhengqing said to her, her eyes twinkled when she saw the red apple.Her expressions were like Yin Ting (Zuben: Do you think Yin Ting had a childand gave it up to the orphanage?)

She took the apple, but said in atimid voice, ‘To be honest Uncle, I am not hungry. Can I give the apple to thegrandmother to eat?’

‘Your grandmother?’ he askedsurprised. Did she still have relatives?

‘Not my grandmother, the old ladywho sells egg cakes near the orphanage gates,’ Xiao s.h.i.tou said, ‘It used to bethat, she and her husband sold egg cakes together, but now only grandma sellsthem. I think grandpa is sick because grandmother doesn’t have her ringanymore. She must have sold it to pay for hospital bills. I don’t have anymoney to give her. I just thought I could give her the apple and make her alittle happy.’ She said looking embarra.s.sed.

Zhengqing was surprised at thelittle Shi Liang’s compa.s.sion, ‘Go ahead,’ he said.

‘I’ll go.’ She said happily and ranoff. Zhengqing followed her to the egg cake stall where she smiled at an oldlady, he didn’t hear what she said but he saw her hand the apple to the woman.

The old woman looked tearful, andher hands shook as she took the apple. Zhengqing walked up as she told Xiaos.h.i.tou thank you.

As she saw someone come up, the oldlady wiped her tears and plied her egg cakes, ‘Buy an egg cake; very fragrant,crisp and delicious.’

‘Make one got Xiao s.h.i.tou to eat,’he said. The little girl nodded hard when she remembered she hadn’t eatenanything,

‘Looks very delicious,’ she said.

Zhengqing laughed. The old ladylooked happy. Xiao s.h.i.tou turned to Zhengqing and said, ‘Uncle, you also eatone,’ (Zuben: Uncle, if you’re not careful someone may call you a paedophile)

While the egg cake was being made,Zhengqing asked the old lady why she had no helper for her stall. She told himthat her husband was sick, and was home recuperating but he had little energyto go about. Hence, she was the only one who could look after the stall.

Zhengqing nodded. It seemed thatXiao s.h.i.tou was very observant; she had been right about the lady’scirc.u.mstances. Zhengqing crouched beside Xiao s.h.i.tou and said, ‘Why don’t youask your teacher whether the other children could have egg cakes.’

Xiao s.h.i.tou’s eyes grew bright, andshe ran to the orphanage. A little while later, the teacher came out and spoketo Zhengqing about the situation. The other children rushed out. When theyheard their teacher agreed they were very happy. He bought enough egg cakes foreveryone in the orphanage. The old lady was stunned,

‘I don’t have enough ingredientsfor this,’ she stammered.

‘Then make more tomorrow and thenext day. You don’t have to prepare more ingredients. Sell all you have and gohome early,’ Zhengqing said as he handed her the money. He did not have enoughfor the next week, but he gave her five hundred yuan.

The old lady accepted the moneyhesitantly, but she knew that she was not in a position not to accept. She tookout a piece of paper from her cart that she used for accounting and wrote theamount received on it, ‘I will make note of the amount and give them,’

‘Very good,’ Zhengqing said with asmile. He was very happy to see little stone smiling.

‘If you need anything but can’tfind Tingting-jie, you can call Uncle,’ he told the Xiao s.h.i.tou. He had notbrought his cards along, so he got her to get a piece of paper to read out hisphone number to her.

‘What did you write?’ he asked. Hehad deliberately said the numbers quickly, but Shi Liang recited the numbers ashe said them. She had told him she didn’t study because she was slow. There wasnothing slow about the girl’s brain (Zuben: She’s just bored)

‘Xiao s.h.i.tou, you should studywell, so that Xiao Han can like you in the future, if you get bad results, hewould not like you.’ He said trying to convince her.

‘Really?’ Shi Liang’s eyes widenedin askance.

Zhengqing nodded.

Shi Liang thought that this was aserious matter. She will soon get into Primary 1; she would have to work hard.(Zuben: ¬.¬)

That night, he told Yin Ting aboutthe happenings of the day, ‘I really really love you,’ she said when she heardabout what he’d done for the old lady.

‘Good, come home quickly,’ he said,

‘Alright,’ she said laughing, ‘I amlike Xiao s.h.i.tou, I am not a social elite, but you can’t hate me.’

‘Come back faster then I won’t shutyou out,’

She laughed, ‘Alright,’

But New Year’s Day came and went,she did not come home.

Zhengqing sorely missed her. Whenwork resumed, he wondered how he would carry on without Yin Ting (Zuben: ¬.¬),but he knew his responsibility and tried to focus on work. He signed a coupleof doc.u.ments, and handed them to his secretary who confirmed them.

‘Qiu zong,’

‘Yes,’ he answered his tone veryserious

‘Um, this doc.u.ment is wrong.’ She saidhesitantly as she handed the folder back to him.

Zhengqing frowned as he perused thedoc.u.ment again. What was wrong with it?

He came to the signature, and wassuddenly very embarra.s.sed. With his impressive dragon and phoenix handwriting,he had signed ‘Xiaoting’ instead of his name.

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