Posted By: Ai My (203.101.39.14)
Date: Friday, 2 February 2001, at 12:58 a.m.
Dear All,
Phew I have done it, but please pardon my grammar and spelling mistakes as I did not proof-read it (no times). I have divided into two posts because one wont fit.
THE DIVIDED RIVER - An Extract (cont.)
The police arrived and interviewed everyone. When they asked about details of Aunt Xue’s lover whom had helped her to escape and took away all the money, YiPing did not want to tell the police but her father told her to let them know the details of Ng Qin Hung, YiPing had to tell the truth to the police. They also asked about MoPing’s hospital, hoping to be able to catch her there. When the police left, YiPing’s father told her that he knew Aunt Xue would not go to MoPing’s hospital because if she did not care about RuPing, would she worry about MoPing? When her father came back to his room, YiPing looked at RuPing was crying at the lounge room, YiPing felt a great compassion for RuPing, not much luck in love and now deserted by her mother. She did not want to disturb RuPing but came and sat next to her, YiPing asked RuPing if she had done anything for Aunt Xue over the last few days, RuPing said Aunt Xue asked her to deliver a letter to Aunt Xue’s friend. YiPing immediately understood that it was RuPing who had passed on Aunt Xue’s message to Ng Qin Hung. RuPing then asked YiPing that if her mother was captured by the police, would she be put in jail? YiPing told RuPing that might happen if the police caught them, she also told RuPing that Aunt Xue did not care about three of them as her own children. YiPing asked if Aunt Xue had told RuPing about the escape, RuPing said her mother did not and she had no idea when they went. She told YiPing that her mother did not like her anymore after she had lost Shu Han to YiPing. YiPing felt so guilty towards RuPing, RuPing was like a weak snail whose hard shell had been broken. YiPing did not know what to say to console RuPing then the door opened, Shu Han rushed in. He said that he went to YiPing’s home and her mother said that there was a problem at her father’s house so he came to find out what was the problem. YiPing told him every thing about Aunt Xue’s escape with all the money of the Lu’s. Shu Han looked at RuPing - she was still crying - and his face saddened, he called her name, she looked up with tearful eyes, Shu Han then said sorry to RuPing, he said that he would like to do some thing for her to make up for his wrong doings to her. To that, RuPing cried out and ran to her room, Shu Han ran after her but she had closed the door. Shu Han knocked and called her name, RuPing yelled out "Please go away…just go away!" YiPing came and put her hand on his arm "I think it’s best to let her rest." Shu Han turned and pushed her hand out "YiPing, you have made me become a delinquent !" Shu Han blamed her ? YiPing felf bitter and walked away, Shu Han ran after her and took her hand in his, he looked at her for a while then gatherred her into his arms. Shu Han squeezed her so tight as though he wanted to crush her, he bent down and gave her a long and profound kiss then touched her face with tenderness and said softly "YiPing, I surrender! Let us go to hell together." YiPing formed a melancholy smile "Do you want to see my father ?" Shu Han nodded and they walked together to YiPing’s father room. Shu Han asked if he could be any help to him, YiPing’s father answered "Yes, catch that shameful woman for me so I can kill her." Shu Han shook his head "I don’t think I can do it. Besides, why do you want a woman like that back, it’s best to let her go." YiPing’s father pointed YiPing "Will you marry a poor girl like her ? That sinful woman took away all her dowry." Shu Han looked at YiPing "Money is nothing to our love. We’re young, we can make our own living." YiPing’s father raised his tones "I know you’re a good but do not expect life is that easy. I will not spare you if you let my YiPing to suffer poverty" YiPing cut in "Father, I am not afraid of poverty." He looked at YiPing and Shu Han then said "I’ll see what you two can do in the future. While still young, try to build up your own family. Both of you can leave now, I want to rest." YiPing looked at her father, he has turned so much older and weaker in only a few days, in him, YiPing could only see a frail and tired old man, the "Black Panther" image had completely left him for good. Shu Han and YiPing walked outside, YiPing gave some money to Leung and asked her to shop for foods as usual, YiPing knew that if she did not look after that unimportant but necessary side of life, no one else would.
When they walked out of the house, YiPing looked at the big gates with the sign of "the Lu’s mansion" with a sour grape in her throat, why it has become like this ? Shu Han said quietly "YiPing, your father is…not well!" YiPing looked at him with arduous eyes "So many things happened in such a short time, how could he take it?" Shu Han shook his head "Your family is so complicated, no one knows what would happen next ?" Dark clouds quickly covered the sky, YiPing looked up, it’s going to rain, she said to herself and suddenly sensed something is about to happen, something bad ! She looked at Shu Han and looked at her hand in his "Shu Han, I don’t know what I am thinking about. You have once said that I am cruel and deceitful, am I really ?" Shu Han released her hand, he enfolded her face with both hands and looked into her eyes for a while then said "No, you are not! You’re a pure, sincere and amiable person." YiPing asked "Really?" "Yes" Shu Han answered with a firm tone then they walked faster to YiPing’s home before the rain comes.
The next day, the Lu’s family saga had been printed on the newspaper under a bold tittle "The ruin of a one-time general - his wife took all the money and ran away with her lover" . YiPing’s mother read the article and sighed "It’s a "cycle of rectitude" ! Your father is paying for what he had done." YiPing looked at her mother and said "Why did father take Aunt Xue home in the first place ? and mom, you did not do any thing bad in your life, why did you suffer so much?". Shu Han came just after breakfast and they planned to go to her father’s house but a truck stopped at the gates and a few men came in asked for YiPing. They said that they were delivering a present from her father. They carried in a brand new grand piano, YiPing was surprised at the big present but instantly worried, her father had no money left, how could he paid for it? She asked the delivery man and was told that the piano had been paid off weeks ago, she then asked how much it was and wanted to return the piano so she could at least take some money back for her father. A delivery man said that the piano has been engraved with her name on it hence they could not take it back. YiPing looked at the beautiful engravings on the piano "For YiPing, my beloved daughter.", it’s such a magnificent present. The delivery men left the house, YiPing’s mother brushed her shaking hands on the piano polished surface with tears in her eyes then she opened the piano and skillfully pressed her fingers on the ivory keyboards. YiPing was amazed at her mother, she said "Mom, I did not know you can play the piano." Her mother formed a sombre smile "Have you forgotten that XinPing and I used to perform together for many years?" YiPing could not remember, she was only a young child at that time. But her mother’s song sounded very familiar, YiPing must have heard it many times. When the song finished, YiPing’s mother closed the piano and sighed "YiPing, I agreed with you, just sell the piano to get some money back for your father." YiPing looked at her mother’s eyes, she could tell that her mother already fell in love with the piano "I don’t want to sell it any more. Mom, I know you like it. About money, I’ll try to look for a job." Shu Han also said "Yes, please keep it, I know YiPing also liked it too. I’ll take care about money problems." YiPing frowned "Do not even think that I would want to spend your money." Shu Han smiled "You’ll become my wife very soon, would you then still refuse to spend my money? And do not forget that I am now working full time as a journalist." YiPing asked "What about your overseas study?" Shu Han looked into YiPing’s eyes and said slowly "I have been granted a full scholarship for my post graduated study and it can be postponed till next year to begin the course. Therefore, after our wedding in October, we’ll still have over a year to be with each other." Shu Han had arranged every thing, YiPing thought, she looked at her mother sitting quietly by the piano; probably her mother was thinking about her past. YiPing sighed and told her mother that she and Shu Han to visit her father. On their way, Shu Han told YiPing that everyone in the Lu’s family seemed to have their own secret and YiPing’s mother was no exception. YiPing told him about her mother background from a well respected family then was forced to become her father’s wife whilst she already loved someone else. YiPing thought about her mother’s words on that night, she was indeed in love with a man, a first love for a 20 years old girl and probably her only love. When they approached YiPing’s father house, there was a police car outside and both of the front gates were opened. YiPing looked at Shu Han, they both had the same thought, Aunt Xue has been caught ? They moved quickly through the gates and YiPing was stopped by a policeman and asked who she was, YiPing answered him "My name is Lu YiPing, am a daughter of Lu Chan Wah." The policeman asked "How are you related to Lu RuPing?" YiPing was surprised but answered "Lu RuPing is my half-sister." The policeman slowly said "Lu RuPing had committed suicide, around 8.00am this morning, she shot herself by a hand gun." YiPing turned around and looked at Shu Han, her head was completely blanked as though an explosion had cleared every thing away.
* *
YiPing stood by the door of RuPing’s room, RuPing lied on her bed, fully dressed and make-up on, her eyes closed like she was sleeping. The hand gun rested nearby, blood came down from her head above the ear absorbed into the matress. RuPing’s face was relax and contented, she looked so different from yesterday. She was lying there liked sleeping, completely in her own shell, ignored everything and everyone. Twenty four years old, a beginning of a woman, why? YiPing could not believe that someone as weak and shy liked RuPing could do such thing? What is the reason for RuPing’s death? It’s her, YiPing is the cause, she is the murderer! RuPing’s tears from yesterday still hanging in her mind…..and now….YiPing closed her eyes and walked out of the room, she bumped into someone, Shu Han, he was standing there like a cold statue, no expressions and totally frozen. YiPing walked into the lounge room, she felt very dizzy…blood from RuPing’s head….someone gave her a glass of water, YiPing had a sip of water and looked up, a policeman with a file in his hand. He opened the file and gave YiPing a piece of paper "This is your sister’s last words" YiPing looked at RuPing’s writings "I am no longer interested in living, my death has no connections to anyone. Lu RuPing." The policeman added "The maid of the house, Ms Leung said that your sister went outside this morning before committed suicide, do you have any idea where did she go ?" YiPing said she did not know, the policeman took back RuPing’s letter and walked away. YiPing turned around and saw her father was sitting quietly at the lounge, she came by his side, he looked at YiPing, eyes wide opened and said "Dead, RuPing is dead! By my gun…..only one shoot….it’s that easy…her shooting skill was not less than mine." YiPing put her hand on her father’s, he continued "My gun has killed my own child. That gun…had killed too many people…now it ended my daughter’s life." An iciness went through YiPing’s body, she could not move nor say anything but she could still see and hear what’s going on around her. The policemen and doctor walked back and forth doing their duties, finally, a policeman announced that all work had been done and the family can arrange for the funeral. The house fell into silent when they left, YiPing and her father were still sitting quietly at the lounge, Shu Han slowly walked out, he reached for a cigarette then called the funeral people, YiPing had never seen him smoking before. He sat down finished his cigarette then lighted the next, the three of them were sitting there without a word until the funeral people came. They came and started working very quietly, RuPing was covered by a large white sheet and carried by them to their car. Shu Han did all the talking with the funeral people, he looked at the them putting RuPing in the car and said "A good and innocent person, such an inequitable death!". YiPing was unable to move, reality always cruel, why and why? Shu Han looked at YiPing, he said "I’ll take care all of the funeral arrangements, you’ll look after father" He stopped and formed a bitterly smile "Yesterday, I told RuPing that I wanted to do something for her to compensate for my delinquency. Without doubts, that thing is to…..bury her…..hahaha…it’s her last present from me." Shu Han’s tears poured down his face whilst he was laughing, he walked tremblingly to outside and followed the funeral people to the black car. YiPing looked at the dust left by the car and murmurred "ashes to ashes", yes, 24 years of RuPing’s life will go back to ashes. She has rest in peace, no more tears no more sadness. It was RuPing’s last daring rival to YiPing and Shu Han’s love, a quiet opposition. Why didn’t she doing it face to face with YiPing? She has gone, death is finished, but what about those she had left behind? A battle has not yet started but the opponent already disappeared leaving the remainder stayed there with nothing to do, empty and hopeless. Leung was standing in ther garden and called for YiPing. She told YiPing that she wanted to leave, YiPing’s mind was full of RuPing but she has to come back to reality, if Leung leaves who will be looking after father. She tried very hard and finally able to keep Leung back. YiPing came back inside, the lounge room looked and felt like a mausoleum, her father was still sitting there unmoved, she looked around with the image of that day where everyone were gathered at the lounge talking loudly. Only less than a year but everything has changed, some left, one dead and an old man sitting there with half of his life has gone. YiPing suddenly heard someone voice "Lu YiPing, you caused all this, it’s you! A destroyer!" , she covered her ears then shook her head real hard, I have to face the reality, I cannot fall, there’re many things for me to take care of. YiPing took her father’s hand trying to lead him back to his room for resting but he turned around and asked her where was RuPing, he kept repeating "RuPing, RuPing" then fell over on the floor.
With much difficulties, YiPing and Leung had finally put him back to his room, YiPing called in a doctor and was told that it would be best to let him stay in the hospital, her father had heart problems and his high blood pressure could easily led to paralysing the whole body. YiPing did not know what to do, it’s very costly to send him to the hospital, MoPing was still in the hospital, YiPing has to take care of the bill as no one doing it now. YiPing just remembered father’s set of keys, maybe she could find something useful. YiPing opened all draws and boards but unable to find anything except a small beautiful box looked like a jewllery box, in the box she found a piece of paper, it’s the deed of the house. YiPing looked at the deed, in order to pay for father and MoPing’s hospital bills she might have to sell the house, there is no way out. She put the deed in her pocket and continued to look into the box, the bottom compartment of the box opened and YiPing saw a beatiful jade necklet, the deep green veins run around each large jade bead showing it’s a very valuable piece. There was a photo underneath the necklet, YiPing took it up, a very old photo of a beautiful woman dressed in the traditional clothes of Chinese women. The woman’s face looked very familiar, her large beautiful eyes looked exactly like YiPing’s mother but YiPing knew the woman in the photo was not her mother, father must know her, may be she was his lover? YiPing put the box back and locked it up, she looked at her father, he’s still sleeping after getting injections from the doctor, she has to go home, her mother probably was waiting for her anxiously. YiPing talked to Leung for a while before she left.
YiPing walked in and saw Pheung Tsu was talking to her mother. After what’s happenned at her father’s house, YiPing could not stand it any more, she broke down and cried like a child with her mother and Pheung Tsu. She was crying and telling them what was happenning at her father’s house, YiPing’s mother was in shock to learn that RuPing was dead. YiPing looked at Pheung Tsu through her tears "Pheng Tsu, did you know that I gave RuPing that gun, I am the murderer, I killed RuPing!" Pheung Tsu patted her friend’s shoulders and calmly said "Do not say that, we knew and you knew that you did not. It’s RuPing who had chosen her own way. She had gone and relieved herself from this world. There are only two ways for humans life *live* or *die*, do you know what way will lead to totalled happiness? RuPing died and ignored everything, she was no longer suffer anything from this life , only the ones left behind are sufferring from her death, who is more happy ?" YiPing did not understand clearly Pheung Tsu’s words, why the border of "life" and "dead" is so closed ? just like "love" and "hate". Pheung Tsu left and YiPing was still thinking about "life" and "dead" until Shu Han came, he looked so pale and exhausted, he sat down and said that he would like to bury RuPing properly so she can rest in peace. YiPing told him about her father’s illness and there was a long silence between them, Shu Han was only sitting a few steps away but YiPing thought he was in a different world, very far away. An invisible boundary running endlessly between them like a river and they were on each side of the river bank. Yes, the divided river. Shu Han stood up, he took out some money and put on the table "I have to go home, I have not been home for the whole day. RuPing will be burried in three days." Then he walked to the door, YiPing called his name, he turned around and coldly said "I’ll bring more money tomorrow." Money…money…is there any thing else he wanted to say to her? she did not want any money, she wanted him! Please don’t go, I need you more than ever; YiPing said to herself but unable to speak it up to him. Her heart broken when Shu Han disappeared from her eyes. He had gone, again, out of her life. The night came and YiPing was still at the door looking out, her mother had to lead her back inside and asked her about her father’s illness. YiPing told her mother about her father’s condition, her mother listened without a word. There were knockings at the main door, could it be Shu Han ? He had come back for her ? YiPing opened the door with much hopes, Shu Han walked in with a sorrowful face, he did not say anything just sat down and put his hands on his head for a while before he looked at YiPing and slowly said "YiPing, did you know that before committed suicide, RuPing came to my house!" He took out a piece of paper and said "She came when I was here with you, she left this letter at my house for me." YiPing opened the letter, RuPing’s writings were dancing under her eyes :-
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Shu Han, I don’t really know what to write to you, it’s very late at night but the moon outside is so bright like that night we walked on the street and you asked me to marry you. Do you still remember that night and do you still remember me ?
I do not blame you and do not hate you. To YiPing, I am just a mediocre and insignificant person. Therefore, if you have to choose between us, I would not be in any position to compete with her. At first, when I met you and you met YiPing, I knew that I was not anywhere in your eyes so I obeyed with my own fate and tried to forget you. But when I had just nearly passed that bridge, nearly able to close you up and away from my heart then you came back offerring your heart to me. Did you know that how happy I was? I thought that my sincere love for you has touched God so he has sent you back to me. I was overwhelmed with happiness, probably you had no idea how much I fell in love with you. Then you asked me to marry you, I was over the moon, I could not believe my luck and I really thought that there was a miracle. But it was just a dream and only a short dream. YiPing came and without a word, you immediately left me to follow her after seeing her face. I was still had yet savouring my joy then I have to face with reality, a cruellest reality!
But Shu Han, again, I do not blame you nor hate you, I’m only feel so sad towards your action, why did you lie to me and treat me like a joke? You’re very much in love with YiPing why did you play with my feelings ? You’re a strong and brave person but I am only a weak and vain girl, why did you have a heart to toy with my feelings? It’s you, yes it’s you who had made my mother hates me, she scolded me for losing you to YiPing. Only in a few days but I have lost you and I have lost my mother! What’s left in there for me in this world?
I admired YiPing, liked you, she is strong and brave! If I have a bit of her strength then you would have liked me better, wouldn’t you? Shu Han, the most grievous occurrence in my life was that if you did not love me, why didn’t you just tell the truth rather than letting me feel so miserable like this.
The moon has gone, the whole sky again was covering in darkness. I am unable to write any further, I hope we can understand each other further in our next lives.
Hope you live in happiness
RuPing
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YiPing finished RuPing’s letter and looked up, Shu Han was standing by the window looking out. YiPing returned the letter to him, Shu Han said "YiPing, your revenge and my mistake had brought RuPing to her death! Don’t you think we are both her murderers ?" YiPing looked out unanswered, Shu Han continued "YiPing, we’re very selfish!" "Yes" YiPing said quietly, Shu Han pointed out to the dark sky "Look YiPing, I have a feeling that RuPing was out there, her full of blood face was looking at us!" Only darkness out there, YiPing could not see any thing, Shu Han continued "There, it’s RuPing standing there, her eyes always following us." They were just standing there and staring at the dark sky, YiPing slowly felt it, RuPing’s sorrowful eyes were staring back at them.
* *
....to be continued......