Twilight Upon a Thousand Snow-capped Mountains - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

In my sophomore year I transferred to the university’s affiliated senior high school. Typically such schools don’t accept transfers, especially those from out of town. But Uncle did everything he could to try and get me enrolled. I worked hard on my part, when the head of department brought stacks of test papers to the interview, I barely completed the maths paper before he started to pack and said, “It’s fine, you don’t need to complete the rest, join us for class in the afternoon.”

I was a kid who loved to study, because besides that, there’s wasn’t much I was good at.

When my parents passed away, I refused to speak for half a year. Uncle recalled, when he finally heard my voice, it was when I locked myself up in the balcony, reciting an English passage.

Before the transfer I was the class representative for English. I couldn’t remember which English lesson I was reciting on the balcony, but the first English class I had in senior high school left a lasting impression on me. The senior high school hired white foreigners, and the one who taught us was an English old lady. After letting me answer the first question, she started criticising me, saying that I had a typical China-style pronunciation. It made me red in the face, unable to hold my head up to classmates I’d only just met.

I was vulnerable then, losing my parents, losing my home, losing all the joy I had. Living under my Uncle’s roof, I had to painstakingly conceal the broken pieces of my heart. I learned to accommodate my Aunt’s moods, fawn over my younger cousin, help her with Olympiad questions and tutor her. Before I turned sixteen, I was too the apple of my parents’ eyes, the only princess, the teacher’s model student, praised and adored by relatives. But that was gone now, all that I relied on had disappeared, no matter how good my grades were now, my parents would never know.

After school, I hid alone on the field, crying. Someone was running on the track, rustling footsteps swiftly moving past behind me. I sat on the grass, back facing the track, tucking my head deep into my knees as I watched my tears trickle onto blades of grass. I recalled many memories, most of them from when I was a child, my parents taking me to the park, boating, riding bumper cars, buying balloons. Back then, there was a type of cotton candy, made of white sugar, it came in a huge clump, soft and fluffy like clouds. It would get all over my face as I indulged. My dad loved taking these embarrassing photos of me. We were still using film then, every year, my dad would use up rolls of film just taking my pictures.

I cried miserably, not even noticing when a guy walked up, until I saw his snow white sneakers, and that lone leaf stuck on it. He knelt down to remove it with his right hand, and passed me a packet of tissues with his left.

For a while, I was in a daze, and didn’t take it from him. He casually tossed it on the ground, and left.

The next day I realized that this guy sat in the row behind mine, and Xiao Shan was his name.

Xiao Shan’s father was a foreign diplomat, so he had always lived abroad before he turned twenty. He spoke fluently, with a perfect Oxford accent, often debating with the English old lady about sentence structures. He was even better in maths, so proficient that even someone like me looked on with despair. He wasn’t the hardworking kind, just pure genius. During the ten minute break between lessons, he would run speedily to the court to play basketball. Once he was late for maths, breathlessly hugging the basketball as he ran back after the bell rung. He stood at the door yelling, “Reporting.” The maths teacher Old Ben hated late students, he glanced up at the door and turned back, as though he couldn’t see Xiao Shan. He had no choice but to stand there like a statue, guarding the door. Not long after, Old Ben started distributing papers from the last city-wide examinations. Old Ben had the habit of handing out papers by grades, from the highest to the lowest, he would read out the grade, name and the student would go up to collect it. Cruelly disregarding the students’ self esteem, but Old Ben didn’t care, he loved judging us by our grades*.

It so happened that the first paper belonged to Xiao Shan, with a perfect score of 150 marks. Old Ben turned towards the door and unwillingingly uttered, “Still not coming in?”

The whole class stifled their giggles as Xiao Shan collected his exam papers from Lao Ban and gracefully said, “Thank you Teacher.”

There were many talented students in the school, but few as outstanding as him. Many girls in our class had secret crushes on Xiao Shan, in the first spring of teenage love, who wouldn’t have fantasies about such an exceptional male specimen. I didn’t, I just didn’t have the heart to, my parents’ passing had made it difficult for me to face this world. Although he would sit in the row behind mine, besides occasionally borrowing his English notes, I barely spoke to him.

I only truly got to know him during the winter break, the English old lady made us work on a Shakespearean play in groups, as our holiday project. We were assigned based on our seating arrangements, some groups chose Romeo and Juliet, others chose A Midsummer’s Night Dream, or Hamlet…I was assigned to the same team as Xiao Shan and our group opted for The Merchant of Venice. After the spring festivities, every group had to perform in class and critique each others’ performance.

I really loved the rehearsals we had during the winter break, because I wasn’t cooped up in my Uncle’s house. As the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) drew closer, I dreaded its arrival and the tragic sense of homelessness I felt. Aunt would nag about the new year preparations, while my cousin whined and begged for the latest notebook computer. A few years back, laptops weren’t as common, she already had a Lenovo laptop, but she complained that her classmate had the latest Sony model. So my Uncle promised to get her one if she placed within the top twenty students in class.

Since my cousin’s placing always hovered in the thirties, she pouted in disagreement. My Uncle said, “No use pouting, look at Jiejie**, she doesn’t hanker after all these. She even refused to let me get her a handphone.”

Just then, Aunt’s expression darkened, I added quickly, “Shi Shi is still young, anyway the laptop aids her learning, she’s not being frivolous.”

Cousin held on to Uncle’s hand coyly, “Look Dad, even Biao Jie*** agrees.”

I felt wretched. Last year’s Spring Festival, I was still holding on to my parents’ hands acting like a child, but now, no matter what I desired, no one would bother getting it for me.

That period of time, I was extremely sensitive, overcome by vulnerability, and would rather hide away than let myself get upset.

Rehearsals usually took place at Xiao Shan’s home, his house was spacious and only his grandparents were around. I still remember their kindliness. We would lock ourselves up in the warm study room, reading our dialogues aloud as though no one was around. Granny would make snacks in the kitchen and serve it to us.

Sometimes it would be glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf, other times osmanthus cake, or crystal dumplings… they were all delicious. Xiao Shan’s Granny was from the south, her snacks had southern influences, she was particularly caring towards me, the only girl in the group, always stuffing me with food.

I hadn’t gotten used to the northern winter, so dry that I frequently suffered from nosebleeds. One time, when I was rehearsing at Xiao Shan’s place, reading out my dialogues, a classmate yelled, “Oh no Tong Xue, your nose is bleeding!”

When I looked down, bright red blood dripped onto my sweater, as it was white, it looked exceptionally shocking. I felt dizzy and felt my legs go soft. Eventually Xiao Shan helped me to the bathroom, messily held up my hair and frantically splashed cold water at the back of my neck. Granny assisted by his side, using the towel to dry the water dripping down my back while saying, ” Poor kid, what a pitiful scene.”

Xiao Shan’s cool palms kept splashing cold water across my neck, but even as he did, the blood continued to drip into the sink. The tap was at full blast, the loud splashing sounds made me feel giddy as the blood was quickly flushed away. Every few moments he would ask, “How is it? Is it still bleeding?”

Granny berated him for his impatience, pressing the acupuncture points on my hand, after a while, she got Xiao Shan to take over, “You have more strength, apply pressure and it will stop bleeding.”

He certainly was strong, forcefully pressing, until I burst into tears. He saw my tears and hurriedly let go of my hand, Granny told him off again, ” How could you be so inconsiderate, a girl’s hand is delicate.”

With the blood and tears flowing, I persuaded Granny, “Don’t blame him, he just wanted to quickly strangle the bleeding.”

He had the nerved to laugh, “Strangle? … What a strange way of saying it!”

Granny smacked him, ” You little brat, how dare you laugh!”

I forgot how we stopped the blood from flowing that day, I only remembered with my nose stuffed with gauze, we sat down to enjoy Granny’s jujube pie. As she persuaded me to eat more, she added, “Jujube replenishes the blood, do eat more.”

Those rehearsal days were unforgettable, mostly because Granny was so nice to me, she was really kind.

When the Spring Festival drew near, we had all memorised and could recite the dialogue eloquently. We ended rehearsals early once, and someone suggested going ice-skating. I was from the South, and completely didn’t know how to. After all that time rehearsing, we were as thick as thieves, our friendship was harder than metal, stronger than steel. A few classmates persistently dragged me along, Xiao Shan also added, “We’re here for you, you won’t fall.”

I couldn’t move after putting on the skates and with two of them each holding my arm, I gingerly pushed forward, but whenever they got too fast, I would start shrieking. They couldn’t take it anymore and called Xiao Shan over, “You take her around.” They also said to me, “Xiao Shan is the best skater, he can even skate backwards.”

Xiao Shan was extremely patient with me, explaining the techniques as he skated, just like how he solved maths problems. When our group got closer during the winter break, I would occasionally ask him for help, and he would begin a detailed commentary, dissecting logically, coming up with the simplest solution. After a few rounds of skating, I started to get the hang of it, seeing how well I was doing, he gradually loosened his hold, “You are really a natural.”

I felt shy listening to his praise, “Not really, I used to roller skate, so it helps with my balance.”

My first pair of skates were gift from when my dad went to America on business. I still remember it was pink, Dad loved buying pink stuff for me, because he believed that girls should be dainty and ladylike. Although they were a little huge on me, I wore them for several years. Eventually, we had similar roller skates available in China, but the designs were much plainer. My dad was the one who taught me to skate, he held my hand, in the basketball court outside our house, and only after many Sundays, did I master it.

I had a bad fall, Xiao Shan pulled me up, completely unsympathetic, “What are you thinking of? Not even concentrating before you’ve mastered it, why are you always like this?”

I didn’t talk back, previously when I asked him about some English readings, I was in a daze even after his lengthy explanation. He was impatient, believing I was dumb, and wasn’t paying attention. Since young, no one has called me stupid, my teachers used to say that I was a fast learner, but in front of him, I just seemed incompetent, because he was just too smart.

He was afraid I’d fall again, and didn’t let go anymore, holding my hand as I ice-skated slowly. There was a slight breeze, it didn’t feel cold when it brushed across my face, I didn’t wear a cap, with just a scarf wrapped around my head. At that age, I’d never held hands with a guy for so long, although we had gloves on. The last time I held hands with a boy, it should have been in primary school, during the June 1st children’s day performance. Thinking of this made my heart beat faster, so fast that it felt a little uncomfortable. Xiao Shan was nonchalant, holding on tightly to me, like a little sister, or a classmate. Well I was just a classmate, I didn’t dare look up to him and tried my best to act natural.

After ice-skating we went to a small stall for bubble milk tea, holding the piping hot bubble milk tea in our hands, it was especially fragrant. Everyone noisily discussed where to go for the new year holidays, and someone even suggested the temple. I quietly drank my milk tea, chewing on the pearls, suddenly I heard Xiao Shan exclaim, “Ah, your face is frozen!”

I touched my face, there was a swollen bump, really itchy, I’d never had a frostbite, and I didn’t expected the first one to be on my face. I’d heard that frostbites will cause the skin to crack open, since it was on my face, wouldn’t I be disfigured? I stopped drinking my milk tea, vigorously rubbing the swell, hoping to rub it away. Xiao Shan said, “Leave it, the more you rub the worse it gets, my relatives passed me some snake oil previously, I pass it to you tomorrow, just use it twice and it’ll be fine.”

The second day was Chinese New Year’s Eve, we agreed to halt rehearsals until the 15th, since it was the new year’s celebrations. I thought he didn’t mean what he said, who would leave their house on New Year’s Eve****? Not long after I got up from bed, I heard the phone ring. Cousin hadn’t woken up, Aunt was worried about disturbing her and rushed to pick up the phone. She listened for a bit and said, “It’s for you.”

I was afraid Aunt wouldn’t like it, hence I rarely gave out my home number. So I didn’t know who would call me so early in the morning on the eve of new year. In a state of uneasiness I heard Xiao Shan’s voice, he said, “I had a hard time getting your number, I got it from your ex-classmates.”

Aunt was sitting on the sofa beside me, looking at me quizzically. Because no male classmate had ever called my house, I was afraid she would misunderstand so I hurriedly asked, “I thought there were no rehearsals today?”

“You forgot? I agreed to pass the snake oil to you yesterday, come out and get it.”

I couldn’t react in time, “Ah…”

He said,”I’ll be at the entrance of Fu Xing Men Subway Station waiting for you.”

That’s the nearest stop to Uncle’s house, just a ten minute walk away, I quickly decided, “Alright, sorry to keep you waiting, I’ll be right there.”

After I hung up, I told Aunt that there some changes to the script, so my classmate called to let me know, I had to go and get it. I didn’t know why I would lie to them, perhaps if I told her that a male classmate came to pass me some snake oil, she would get the wrong idea, perhaps I just wanted to keep it from her.

Aunt didn’t seem to care, only Uncle asked, “Where are you going to collect it?”

“They live in Hui Long Guan, quite a distance away.” I continued the lie with a straight face, actually Xiao Shan’s place is  at Gong Zhu Fen, in any case he already said he would be waiting at the station, but I lied smoothly, “If there’s a jam, I won’t be back in time for lunch.” I wanted to leave some time so I could walk around freely outside, even if it’s daydreaming at the supermarket, because I just wanted to be alone today.

Aunt said, “Do come back early, it’s almost the start of the new year.”

I was changing into my shoes at the entrance and Uncle stuffed a 100 Yuan note in my hands, I didn’t want it, but he said, “Just take it, the traffic there is always bad, if you can’t get back in time for lunch, just buy yourself a hamburger.”

Aunt saw the tussle and smiled, “Take it since your Uncle gave it, he’s not a stranger.”

Since she said so, I had no choice but to take the money.

I held on to that 100 Yuan note as I left for the station, and I finally saw Xiao Shan from afar. He’s really tall ;), long arms and long legs, very striking. I ran to him, he wasn’t even wearing a down coat on such a cold day, his jacket was unbuttoned, revealing a checkered scarf. He grinned when he saw me, revealing his pearly white teeth, “Well you’re pretty fast.”

I wore a hat today, but forgot my scarf, I ran all the way there, my face stinging from the cold wind, especially where I was frostbitten. I rubbed my face as I asked, ‘Where’s the snake oil?”

With his hands stuck in his pocket he replied, “I haven’t eaten, treat me to breakfast.”

I felt so relieved, thank goodness I had the 100 Yuan from my Uncle in my pocket. I said, “I’ll treat you to McDonald’s.”

He sure wasn’t picky, “Alright!”

I didn’t expect Xiao Shan to be a big eater, he polished off two set breakfasts yet didn’t seem satiated, lucky he didn’t order a third, or my 100 Yuan wouldn’t be enough. He ate quickly but drank slowly, unable to finish even a cup of his two hot beverages. I’ve always been a slow eater, when I finally finished my set breakfast, he was still drinking his drink slowly. Spending time alone with a guy like this, I didn’t know what to talk about. I saw his eyelashes dip down, staring intently at his straw, his long eyelashes fluttered, as though invisible fairies were dancing on them. I dared not look at him, so I took the napkins from the tray, and started folding one.

I finally completed a fat origami swan, Xiao Shan suddenly laughed, let go of his straw and asked, “What’s this, an ugly duckling?”

I was bored, even if it was fat, at least it’s an origami crane.

He took it from me and refolded it, “You did it wrongly.”

His version was certainly pretty, when he went to the washroom, I struggled with my thoughts, eventually I placed the origami crane secretly in my coat pocket. I barely kept it before Xiao Shan came back, and said, “Let’s go.”

We left the warm fast food restaurant, standing in the cold streets. He passed the snake oil to me, it was in a small glass bottle, very unique, exquisitely carved. The snake oil had a yellowish tinge, a gel-like texture. I replied, “Thanks!”

He asked, “You don’t live too far from here right?”

I nodded.

He paused for a few seconds, conceding, “Alright then, I’ll take the subway back.”

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Goodbye!”

“Goodbye!”

I turned away, walking slowly, stuffing my hands in my coat pocket. On one side I had the snake oil bottle, it was hard, on the other, was the paper crane, a soft texture. After a few steps, I heard someone call out my name, I turned my head and saw that he had caught up with me. Smiling at me, revealing those pearly whites of his, “I forgot to wish you a Happy New Year.”

Today was the eve, I smiled at him, “Happy New Year.”

I stood there as he turned and left, getting lost in the crowds. He started taking wider steps, walking faster. Although the skies were grey, I felt as though a ray of sunshine from the clouds was cast upon him. It set him apart from the rest, among the many pedestrians, so I could see him leave.

I strolled on the streets alone for a long while, only at sunset did I return to Uncle’s house. Aunt was cooking, Uncle was helping her in the kitchen, Cousin was curled up on the sofa in the living room watching television, a beautiful family atmosphere, which made me feel out of place. I went into the kitchen to greet them before returning to my room.

I took the paper crane out from my pocket, it was creased, I straightened its wings, sticking it between the pages of my diary. I didn’t feel like writing in it, so I simply wrote today’s date on the paper crane.

“Happy Birthday, Tong Xue.”

I whispered in my heart. The television was blaring in the living room, the bathroom window faced the side road, some cars were driving in, with vague sounds in the background, the surrounding area was really noisy. This was the first birthday I’d spent alone in over sixteen years, no cake, no presents, no well wishes or warm smiles from my parents. All my future birthdays, will be celebrated alone too.

When school reopened, our Merchant of Venice lost by a small margin to another group’s Romeo and Juliet, with Juliet acted by Lin Zi Xian. Lin Zi Xian certainly lives up to her name, beautiful and graceful. The English class representative, she previously represented our school in the city wide secondary school English recital competition. Some said she was the prettiest girl in the school, but there were a few gorgeous girls in school, so it no one could say for sure who was the prettiest. But her role as Juliet left everyone’s palms red as they clapped energetically, it was spectacular, completely overshadowing the guy who played Romeo. Afterwards the English old lady gathered members from the different groups and created a new team to perform Romeo and Juliet. Xiao Shan got the role as Romeo and Li Zi Xian played Juliet once again. This play caused quite a sensation, a hunk and a babe, elegant perfectly accented English. During those two years it was performed in front of foreign guests, inter-school events, it was a must-have performance.

The frostbite on my face was gone, the snake oil was extremely effective, although it smelt of mutton, but I could see the effects after only a few applications. Before I finished using it, my frostbite had already disappeared. Our seating arrangements changed after the new school term, Xiao Shan was no longer sitting behind me. He still utilised the ten minute break to rush out for a game of basketball, his also participated in many extra-curicular activities, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet with Lin Zi Xian, joining the Olympiad…I put my heart in my studies, the next half of the year was my final year. Occasionally, I would still borrow English notes from him just like many others in class, because his notes were neat and complete.

My favourite lesson was Maths, because I was Old Ben’s favourite student, and Old Ben was most powerless against Xiao Shan. Although Xiao Shan’s grades were good, but he was a disobedient student. Whenever Old Ben gives example questions, he would call Xiao Shan me to the blackboard to start solving them. The same question, but we’ll always use different methods to solve it. I always used the model methods, on the other hand, Xiao Shan’s solution would be the simplest, to skive, he would think up all sorts of unbelievable steps, like the secret martial arts techniques. I played by the book, to reduce the possibility of making mistakes. Old Ben loved to watch us compete on the same stage, if I did better than Xiao Shan, solving it faster, he would smile widely and praise. If Xiao Shan did better, he would cross his arms standing at the side, watching me furiously writing the solution, like the weirdo in martial arts novels, afraid that his disciple would lose to a rival. I actually liked solving questions with Xiao Shan, shoulder to shoulder standing by the blackboard listening to the scribbling sounds of chalk, watching each other from the corner of our eyes, rows and rows of equations flying out underneath our hands, the excitement of competing against each other. I always put in my best effort to win, but many a time we tied. Even when we didn’t, he would often be the victor.

Once after we’ve completed the question, we each returned to our seats. Old Ben proudly exclaimed, “Putting them together is the perfect solution.” It was a slip of his tongue, but the whole class burst into laughter, my ears turned red, and didn’t lift my head up for the better half of the day. These words spread around for a long time after, even other classes knew about Old Ben’s famous comments. But few students would actually make fun of Xiao Shan and me, because we really weren’t compatible, Xiao Shan was outgoing and smart, and I was the law abiding student. However there were often people who teased Xiao Shan and Lin Zi Xian. Girls often teased Lin Zi Xian with, “Juliet, where is your Romeo?” Sometimes Xiao Shan would hang out at the corridors with his buddies, and when Lin Zi Xian passed by downstairs those guys would call out, “Hey! Juliet, Romeo is here!”

Lin Zi Xian didn’t take it to heart and would never get angry at the lighthearted teasing, often flashing a smile at the the guys’ teasing. She had a good personality, sweet tempered and gentle, popular among her friends, getting along well with girls as well as guys.

On Xiao Shan’s birthday he treated the entire class to Pizza Hut with the prize money he received from winning the Olympiad. The form teacher was ecstatic, certain that he would have no problem getting into a top university, made an exception and joined us this time. That was the rowdiest gathering we had, even more lively than the farewell dinner we had after the finals. Since we were year twos, with the impending torment of our final year ahead, everyone was indulging while they could. Taking a break from the daily grind, we could finally let our hair down.

After the meal, the form teacher and several other teachers left, we moved on to the barbecue restaurant, not for the food but the beer. The guys sneakily drank beer, while the girls drank coke. I couldn’t recall what I ate that day I only remembered that Hou Yu Dong, a classmate nicknamed “Monkey” got drunk, insisting that Xiao Shan should drink a glass. Xiao Shan was forced into several glasses, finally refusing to have another one, Lin Zi Xian defended him, “Don’t force Xiao Shan to drink, he’ll get drunk.”

Hou Yu Dong put on a pained expression, “O Romeo, Romeo! Where fore art thou Romeo?”

Everyone was tickled pink by Monkey’s weird accent, Monkey continued, “Romeo’s not drinking, let Juliet drink then, why don’t you drink this for him.” The guys were all tipsy, many of them were making a fuss, Lin Zi Xian gracefully said, “I’ll drink it.” She had just held on to the cup before Xiao Shan took it from her, “Enough, I’ll drink this.”

Xiao Shan tossed his head back, finishing the large glass of beer, some girls clapped while the guys whistled. After he was done, Monkey laughed while putting a hand around his shoulders, “Great, that’s a true gentleman.”

I sat in a corner eating barbecued chicken wings, so spicy that I downed cup after cup of water, slowly feeling the sadness swelling up in my belly.

It was pretty late when we parted, in groups of twos and threes, I was going in a different direction from almost all my other classmates, hurriedly rushing for the last train, unexpectedly Xiao Shan caught up and said, “Let me join you.”

I asked, “Don’t you live in the west?”

He replied, ” My parents are back, I’ll be going back to my own home tonight,” before rushing me, “Hurry, or we won’t be able to make it.”

We sprinted towards the station, as we were still moving down the stairs we heard the gantry bell, both of us ran frantically, just as our feet touched the platform we heard the warning signals of the closing doors, the train doors were about to close on us and Xiao Shan rushed into the cabin like a bullet, turned back, grabbed my hand and pulled me in. I estimate that I’d barely made it in before the train doors closed behind me, narrowly missing my hair. Xiao Shan was still holding on tightly to my hand, because he pulled me towards him, I was now in his arms.

My ear was pressed against his chest, I could hear the thumping of his heart under his soft T-shirt, thump, thump, thump…it was beating even faster than mine. In such a rush just now, that we were still trying to catch our breaths, there was a faint liquor scent on him. He was so much taller than me, it seemed as though he was breathing into the top of my head, little by little, I could feel the light breeze against my fringe, tickling me. I could feel the heat from rushing neck to my ears, in that short time, I seemingly lost the ability to react, and could only lift my head up. He was looking at me, his pupils were so black, so deep, so bright, as though the stars from the skies had come crashing down, swooshing and falling upon me. I was so dazzled by the falling stars that I didn’t even know how to breathe anymore.

I don’t know how long it took, Xiao Shan finally loosened his hold, but his hands slipped down, grabbing on to mine. I didn’t dare look up, tried to pull away, but he held on even more tightly, and said, “There’re seats over there.”

We sat beside each other, it was the last train, there weren’t many passengers, and the cabin was empty. No one noticed us, but I knew I was blushing, and felt uneasy about it. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t let go of my hand either, I tried pulling my fingers out and he finally asked, “What’s wrong.”

I whispered, “This is.”

“Yup,” he suddenly laughed, “We’re going in the wrong direction.”

I was dumbfounded, I heard the station announcement and realised we were indeed going the wrong direction. Before I was only concerned with chasing behind him, hurriedly taking the ticket and rushing in, little did I expect that he would get on the wrong train, even I didn’t realise and simply followed him.

He seemed really happy, and started laughing out loud. I didn’t know why, but I hoped to eternally remember that look on his face, open and vibrant. Under the florescent lights in the cabin, his face was faintly blurry like a trance, even after all these years, his image still appears in my dream.

Notes:

*The novelist uses 以分取人, which means judge someone by grades. It’s a play on words, the original idiom is 以貌取人 which means to judge someone by their looks. The second word is simply replaced for a whole different meaning.

**Jiejie can mean elder sister or a term of endearment referring to a girl who’s older.

***Biao Jie refers to an elder maternal female cousin.

****It’s a must for all Chinese families to gather for a reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve. People fly from all around the world to get home.