The Only Law
Western Academy of Beijing , Rinkema , Eliza - 10
XIAO YU
Sun shone on Xiao yu ’ s face as he walked outside . Picking up two baskets full of goods to sell , he bid goodbye to his mother as he set off for the city market . Light sparkled on the walls but darkness himself mingled in the corners . After a long stroll , Xiao yu finally reached the market . Setting down his baskets , he began to load a nearby cart . “ Hello ” a voice suddenly exclaimed . Xiao yu jumped , causing him to drop his baskets . “ Who ’ s there ? “ he asked . “ I ’ m over here ” The small voice said . Xiao yu turned to see a small girl , around age seven . The two soon began a steady stream of conversation , and Xiao yu learned that the girl ’ s name was Lili . “ Let ’ s go to the YuYuan gardens .” She said happily . Before he knew it , the pair were ambling along . “ I must go home to the mountains ” Lili proclaimed . Xiao yu nodded , bidding her goodbye . “ Meet me at the city market in a few days ” he said , an enthusiastic look on his face . Walking home , he felt as if he had just made a best friend . This is what friendship feels like Xiao yu thought .
LILI
Lili woke up to the sound of her mother talking . She sounded different , almost concerned . Lili rubbed her eyes and slipped on her clothes . It was a cloudy day , and Lili could feel raindrops on her palm when she walked outside . She strolled into the kitchen , and her mother stopped talking and forced a smile . “ Congee ?” She asked casually . “ What is it ?” Lili asked . “ Nothing !” Her mother insisted . Later , when Lili was having her morning walk , she began to grow suspicious of her mother . She could hear people in the other small households whispering about some wall . However , she couldn ’ t tell what they were saying . Luckily , she was about to pass the loudest person in the village , Wang Da Yue . “ I hear that they ’ re building a wall around Shanghai , so us outsiders can ’ t come in .” He practically screamed .
XIAO YU
Xiao yu had also just learned that the emperor would be building a wall around the city . He didn ’ t care . A wall would only protect the city , not prevent people from seeing friends . And just as he was about to congratulate himself on arranging a meeting day with his new friend , his mother announced the emperor would not be allowing outsiders in the city after the wall was built . Xiao yu ’ s face could have been compared to that of a lion when it was roaring . His jaw had just dropped . He begged his mother and father if he could visit his friend tomorrow before the bell rang announcing that the gate closure . Luckily , his mother eventually agreed , and Xiao yu rushed to pack a picnic lunch . The next day , Xiao yu set off to the mountains . He passed many workers around the wall , inspecting it . His cricket , which he had planned to show Lili , chirped nervously . He smiled . “ It ’ s okay , Xiao yi , we will soon be there ”, he reassured .
LILI
Lili dropped her book on to the shelf as she slumped over to her father . He looked up and smiled sadly . Lili stared out the window , her thoughts of disappointment and sadness lingering in her head . She squinted . Could that be her friend Xiao yu from that day at the market ? It was ! Lili was out of the door in a matter of seconds . She followed him to the edge of the wall , where he sat down with the basket . “ Are you sure this is the right spot ? There ’ s so much hammering from the nearby wall construction site .” Lili asked , with an uncertain face . Xiao yu just smiled as he opened the crickets cage . Lili sat down contently , anxious to see the cricket .