YYMM - Summary (cont.)

Posted By: Ai My (203.101.39.14)
Date: Sunday, 21 January 2001, at 7:41 p.m.

Sorry for the delay girls, here comes another two chapters:

THE DIVIDED RIVER - An Extract (cont.)

YiPing could not sleep that night, she could hear her mother’s tossing in the next room. She went to her mother’s room and lied on her bed. Her mother touched her head and asked if she was very much in love with Shu Han, YiPing admitted to her mother about her love for Shu Han then she asked her mother that if she had ever been in love. YiPing’s mother was silent then YiPing asked why did she become her father’s wife and was she happy with him in those days. YiPing’s mother started to tell the story in a soft voice; she was 20 years old at the time and was on her way home from visiting a relative. When she went pass a market, every one suddenly ran away and hid themselves on two sides of the road. Before she could find a place to hide, then appeared a group of soldiers on horses. They went pass the market, the leader was YiPing’s father, he was in uniform looking very regal and dominant. He stared at her for a while and talked some thing to one of the soldiers then rode off. A few days later, a group of soldiers stopped at YiPing’s grand father house with the wedding presents, they said the General Lu Chan Wah had chosen YiPing’s mother to be one of his wives. They also brought the bride palanquin ready to take her away, would anyone go against General Black Panther Lu Chan Wah’s wishes at the time? She had no choice but cried and bid farewell to YiPing’s grand parents then went off with the soldiers. Days after that were very different, YiPing’s mother became the new wife of General Lu Chan Wah, lived in a grand palace with many servants, wore beautiful clothes and exquisite jewlery. She was treated like a princess and indeed she was happy. XinPing was born a few years later, such a beautiful and perfect child liked an angel who had captured all of his heart. Therefore, YiPing’s mother was still a favourite wive of Lu Chan Wah at the time. When XinPing died, he was so sad for such a long time, it was the first time YiPing’s mother ever saw him cried. YiPing’s mother then added that YiPing’s father was not as cold as he seemed to be, he could be very emotional and patient towards his loved ones. She lived with him for many years but still could not understand him but she knew that he had feelings and could be very strong feelings though often well covered by his grim look. YiPing said that when he hit her, she could not see any feelings nor expressions on his face, all she saw was a heartless father who was beating up his daughter liked an enemy. YiPing’s mother was extremely worry, she told YiPing that she hope YiPing could forget those bad things and live a happy life, she did not want to see her to live in that retaliated world as it would do her more harms than good. YiPing was nearly falling into sleep when she heard her mother’s last words about her love, yes, YiPing’s mother was very much in love to a valiant and very handsome man whom admired by many, yes, the love of her life she could never forget.

YiPing and Shu Han were waiting outside the cinema, suddenly YiPing saw Aunt Xue in a car with a strange man. She could not help but said to Shu Han that she had to go some where urgently for a short time then quickly left before Shu Han said any thing. YiPing saw the car parked in a nearby parking lot next to a café, she decided to walk in, the café shop was quite small so she could see that strange man sitting by himself in the corner. YiPing chose a table not far from there and sat down with her back to that man. Even though YiPing never saw him before but he had that familiar look of some one she knew. YiPing ordered a coffee and opened a magazine on the table, another man entered the café shop and walked towards that table in the corner, he sat next to that strange man and they started the conversation in a very soft voice. YiPing tried very hard but could only hear some, they talked about the merchandise and how to deliver it without getting caught. Then their voice back to normal and the man came in later asked the strange man about Lu Chan Wah’s wife and warned him about it. The strange man laughed and said that Lu Chan Wah was no longer the Black Panther of the old days, he could have a relationship with the Black Panther’s wife for 15 years without any problems then why would he worry now. YiPing listened up to that point, she paid up and left the café. She looked at her watch, well passed the screening time of the cinema, probably Shu Han had gone home but her puzzle still there. She could not think more but quickly called a taxi to her father’s house. To her anticipation, Aunt Xue was not home, only her father was busy fixing the bike’s rail with Ah Kuet. She looked at Ah Kuet and that strange man’s face immediately appeared, so much of similarities between them liked a copy. YiPing went frozen for a while, she could not believe it, Aunt Xue had an affair and even worse, Ah Kuet was the result of that affair. The mystery of Ah Kuet’s nil resemblance to the Lu’s children now had been solved. YiPing looked at her father’s lumpish hands struggling on the bike’s rail and Ah Kuet’s complaints and felt pity for her father, what would he become if he learned the truth? Finally he had it done for Ah Kuet and asked Ah Kuet to play outside. He turned to YiPing and said that he would have asked RuPing to fetch her over if she had not come. Then he asked her to follow him to his room, YiPing was a bit surprise but followed her father to his room. He took out a box and asked her to open it, YiPing opened the box, inside there was a piece of beautiful silk in silver with small roses embosed on the materials. YiPing’s father asked if she liked it, she nodded and asked if it was for her, he smiled and said that it was a present for her birthday. YiPing told him that her birthday was still a long way away, it was XinPing’s birthday that he had remembered. Her father’s face suddenly turned sad, he talked about XinPing’s 17th birthday, how beautiful she was and how grand the party was. It was the first time YiPing saw her father’s emotion - an emotion of a real father talked about his much loved daughter. He turned to her and asked her about her birthday then added that he would arrange a big party for her. YiPing’s heart ached, why on earth did she want a party, she answered that she did not like partying and she did not deserve it. Her father asked her why didn’t she like any thing from him, she said that the thing she liked he would not be able to buy it with money. Having said that she walked out of the room because she knew that she had, again, provoked him. YiPing’s father asked her to stop and told her to sit down, he wanted to talk her. YiPing sat down, her father seemed to have tried to control his anger towards her. She could not believe it when she heard that her father asked her if she and her mother wanted to move back with him. She was quiet for a while then said that her and her mother lived very comfortable and happy with each other, though their place was small but no fierce words from Aunt Xue and all the tricks she used to play on her mother. To that, her father’s face saddened, he said he knew YiPing and her mother were happy on their own and would not want to move back, it just that he’d only wanted to do some thing for both of them, he felt that he was still very much indebted to YiPing’s mother. He stopped for a while then said that he used to have seven wives and nearly twenty children but all had gone, the children by Aunt Xue were rather ordinary and for YiPing,….he looked at YiPing and continued, if she was a boy then she would have been his exact copy with that forthright and ethical personality, he shook his head, stood up and told YiPing to take the present home. Aunt Xue was already home when they walked out to the lounge room. Aunt Xue said to YiPing’s father that she did not have a good day as she had lost quite a bit on gambling. YiPing looked at Aunt Xue’s spurious expression and nearly spilled out what she found in the afternoon. But she remembered that she had no evidence, not even the name of Ah Kuet’s biological father, who could have believed her. YiPing told her father that she had already asked the landlord of her rented house and was told that the house could be ready for sale if her father wanted to buy it. Aunt Xue cut in and said that there was no funds available for that purpose. YiPing’s father said it was only a small house why there was not enough funds for it. YiPing then realised that Aunt Xue had full control over the family’s finance, her father has a lot of money but probably never paid attention to it and left it all in the hands of Aunt Xue. YiPing asked her father that if he knew the status of his finance, her father looked at Aunt Xue and asked her to bring the account books for him to check. YiPing left her father’s house in Aunt Xue’s infuriated eyes.

YiPing came home and saw her mother was waiting at the gates for her. She looked very worry and asked YiPing that where had she been, Shu Han was madly running around looking for her, he thought she had been abducted. YiPing said she was at her father’s house and asked where was Shu Han, YiPing’s mother said he had gone to her father’s place to look for her, probably he was too worry to notice her on the way. YiPing did not know how to explain it to her mother, she could not tell her mother about Aunt Xue’s affair. Her mother asked about the box in YiPing’s hand, YiPing told her it was from father and how he had got XinPing’s birthday mixed up with hers . Her mother looked at the silk materials and said that XinPing used to have a suit in that same fabric, XinPing was such a perfect girl, in 17 years of her life, she had never disturbed any one, always happy always pleasant till the day she died. Her mother added that she hoped YiPing could live a blissful life like her elder sister XinPing. To that, the door was knocked loudly and Shu Han rushed in, his face was all red and sweating, he asked YiPing where had she been and what she was doing, his face was so anxious and worried. He demanded an explanation from YiPing from her sudden disappearance, YiPing could not tell him about Aunt Xue’s affair, she apologised and tried to calm him down but Shu Han would not hear any thing except a real reason for her missing. With YiPing’s silence, Shu Han stormed out of the house, she could only look at his anger with mixed feelings; why couldn’t he be more reasonable, if she couldn’t tell him of what had happened then she must have a reason for it. If he loves her why didn’t he trust her? That night, YiPing could not sleep, her tears kept pouring down during the night. Was it really then end of their love ? Why did Shu Han so stubborn like that while she had already apologised to him? Didn’t he say that their love would forever be eternal ? One day and one day, YiPing had been waiting but there was no sight of Shu Han. It couldn’t be over just liked that! Four days had passed, YiPing was only waiting and crying, her mother told her to go and see Shu Han, but she was too proud to do that, finally she decided to go out to get some fresh air. When YiPing got outside, she saw a man standing at the electric pole not far from her home. It was Shu Han, he must have stood there for a long time, he didn’t move when he saw her, just stood there and stared at her. YiPing looked at him for a while, she could not stand it any longer, she moved forwards and called his name but he did not do nor say any thing. YiPing knew he was still mad at her, she felt like crying but tried hard to hold her tears, there was no reason for her to stay there while he was just like a stranger. When she started to walk away then his hand held out to catch her hand, she looked up, his eyes were a whole world of sorrow and longing. Before YiPing could say any thing Shu Han already held her tightly in his arms, nothing else mattered any more, her tears started pouring down in happiness.

* *

Shu Han took YiPing to meet his parents for the first time. Shu Han was very excited, he told her about how his mother always wanted to marry his distant cousin. He said that he wanted his mother to see YiPing then she would have to admit that Shu Han had better taste. Shu Han also told YiPing about his plans for the future, after he completed his degree by the end of the year, his father wanted to send him overseas to study for master degree. It would take about 3-4 years to complete the post graduate education and Shu Han was afraid that YiPing would not be able to wait for him. YiPing disagreed and said that he should trust her more. Shu Han said that he trusted her but YiPing was so pretty therefore he would not want to take any chances. Things changed very quickly every day in this society and 3-4 years was such a long time and he could not tell what would happen, he had just only wanted to be sure and secure to have her before he left for overseas. Shu Han wanted them to get married in the next few months then YiPing and her mother could move and live in his house so YiPing would not be free for other pursuers while he’d gone away. He agreed that he was selfish but it was the only way to protect his love and to have YiPing forever. It was also the first time they talked about marriage.

YiPing went to tell her best friend, Pheung Tsu, about the marriage plans. Pheung Tsu also told YiPing about her one-way love from the college. The man Pheung Tsu fell in love with was about to get married to another college friend and she was totally devastated. When YiPing came home, her mother told her that RuPing just came to ask her to see father, he had a fight with Aunt Xue about the money Aunt Xue took out for investment but it was failed so she lost quite a huge amount of money from YiPing’s father fortune. YiPing immediately understood what was happening; her father checked the account books and found the loop hole, probably that amount had gone to Aunt Xue’s lover indecent business. YiPing went to see her father, she learned from RuPing that after the fight, Aunt Xue and Ah Kuet left the house since yesterday and Ah Hao was looking for them. YiPing consoled RuPing that she needed not to worry because Aunt Xue would be back in a few days. Then RuPing asked if Shu Han and Yiping were getting married, RuPing added that she really liked Shu Han a lot and at first she hated YiPing for taking Shu Han away but now she had thought it over, YiPing was better than her in every way, beauty and clever so Shu Han was right in choosing YiPing. RuPing’s words made YiPing felt sorry for RuPing so she said that she and YiPing were still good sisters then she went to her father’s room. Her father was sitting by his desk with a few books and an abacus on the desk. He ordered for YiPing to sit down and said that Shu Han had officially asked him for YiPing’s hand, he knew that Shu Han would be a great husband to YiPing and he would give YiPing some dowry money. To that, he pointed at the books and angrily said that Aunt Xue had made him to lose more than half of his fortune. YiPing told him that she did not need any dowry money, her father then said that even he had lost half of his fortune but he would still be able to give her some dowry money and she would not allow to refuse. To YiPing’s anticipation, Aunt Xue did return after three days, probably there was still the other half fortune and the mansion of the Lu’s.

* *

YiPing and Shu Han spent more time with each other than ever, they were in that inseparable status which made Shu Han reluctant to proceed his paperwork for overseas study. He told YiPing that he preferred to stay back so he could always be with her, YiPing assured that she would wait for him despite how long it would be. YiPing also noticed that from their quarrel about her disappearance; she had found Shu Han’s stubbornness was just like hers, even much stronger. Her mother really worried for YiPing, she said that one day, if they were both detonated at the same time, it would be difficult to make amends. One night, Shu Han took YiPing to dancing in a night club, they saw MoPing dressed in daring clothes and was sitting with quite a few punky guys. MoPing was drunk but kept on drinking with those guys. Shu Han came forward and offered to take her home but those guys raged up and hit him, Shu Han hit them back and they went into a fight. The security guards of the night club appeared and tried to clear the fight. YiPing held onto Shu Han’s arm and told him that if he continued fighting with those guys, police would come and the whole thing might go public and it would affect Shu Han’s father reputation. Shu Han stopped and left the night club with YiPing. He did not say any thing on the way home, YiPing asked him to go inside so she could tend to his injuries, he refused and looked at YiPing with a strange gaze. Shu Han then said that he thought YiPing was a good and righteous person but he was wrong, he said in a cold tone that it would best for them to go their own way to think and analyse further about their relationship. Shu Han left in YiPing’s anger, how could he do that, he knew very well about her bitter relationship with the "other side", he knew how she was badly treated for many years. And if MoPing was a good and decent girl, would she go out with those punky guys in that little clothes ? YiPing came inside, her mother asked about Shu Han, she just answered "in hell" then went straight to her room and cried.

For more than one week, YiPing did not see Shu Han, every day her patience was running out, she was unable to eat or sleep. Without Shu Han the day was longer and grievous, nothing to look forward to and YiPing had gone quite gaunt looking with the dark circle around her large eyes. She got out of the house to visit Pheung Tsu, then a car stopped on the street outside her home and Shu Han’s mother came out and invited YiPing to her house. Shu Han’s mother said that he was ill for a few days therefore without a second thought, YiPing went with her. In the car, Shu Han’s mother said that Shu Han could be very obstinate and irrational at times. She took YiPing to Shu Han’s room and knocked at the door, Shu Han’s abrupt voice said that "stop bothering him", Shu Han’s mother looked at YiPing with a smile then said that he had a visitor. The door opened, Shu Han’s mother pushed YiPing inside and walked away, Shu Han was sitting by his desk and still in his pyjamas. On the floor, books and scrap papers every where, the curtains still down leaving just some little lights for the room. Shu Han was surprised at first but he did not say any thing to YiPing, just kept on staring at her. YiPing explained that she saw his mother on the street and his mother invited her home. Then YiPing did not know what else to say, to Shu Han’s long silence, she turned away to hide her tears and said goodbye. When she reached the door, her hand was locked by his hand, Shu Han turned her around so she could face him. YiPing’s tears came down quickly, she cried and said that Aunt Xue and most of her children treated YiPing and her mother badly, they used to live in poverty whilst Aunt Xue and her children lived in luxury. When they lived in a worse condition, no one had said any thing to her father to help them out and when she was beaten up by her father, no one came out to stop her father. After that, she vowed that if Aunt Xue or her children in any sort of troubles, she would not offer any help. Shu Han pulled her towards him and held her close, he said that from then on, they would not concern any matters related to the "other side" and he asked her to forgive his petulance. YiPing cried on his shoulder, life is so precious when love still exists. She would not even want the whole universe if she could not have Shu Han.

See ya later
Ai My