Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 23

The Letters Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Meroz, Tal - 16 “Ding-dong-ding-dong--” The ringing bell resounds throughout the whole school. It represents the ending of a week’s study. “Well, I guess that’s the end of this lesson then. Your homework for this weekend will be…” Mr. Liu, a fifty years old history teacher, throws the chalk on the teacher’s desk. He thumbs through his old textbook which has pages almost coming off, continuously assigning homework for the students. Right before the students start to complain, he closed his book, finishes up his line, “that will be all, have a nice weekend.” Then left the classroom. Right after Mr. Liu steps out of the room, students start packing their bags, shouting around the room, discussing which coffee house to go to for studying. “Wake up, Chen Yiyang.” “Hmm?” Chen Yiyang raised his head. His hair is a bit disheveled from the sleep, his eyes are only half opened. A red mark is left on his head, that’s what someone gets when he dozed off with his head on his arm. “What’s the matter, Guan Zheyu?” “Come on. School’s already over, let’s go home.” Guan Zheyu said with his bag already packed and carried on his back. Chen Yiyang nods and quickly packed his bag within a few seconds. Looking at Chen Yiyang packing his bag, Guan Zheyu sighs away, “Honestly, what will you do for your exam? You’re never gonna learn anything if you sleep through every single history lessons.” Chen Yiyang makes a little deprecating shrug, “So I’ll fail history this year, and won’t choose it for the next two years. It’s really not a big deal.” It only takes less than 20 minutes to get to Chen Yiyang and Guan Zheyu apartment. Chen Yiyang lives at apartment number 401, and Guan Zheyu at apartment number 402. They’ve been living opposite each other since they were baby. Chen Yiyang’s parents always spend most of their daytime at work, hence they often ask for the Guan family to take care of Chen Yiyang when they’re not at home. “Are your parents at home?” Guan Zheyu asked before entering his house. “No.” Chen Yiyang answered while looking for the keys. Usually, when Chen Yiyang’s parents are not at home, he will go to Guan Zheyu’s house for dinner. Guan Zheyu nods, then went in his apartment. Leaving Chen Yiyang still struggling to find his keys. After checking every pocket on him and was sure that he doesn’t have it, he remembered that his parents will sometimes leave a spare key under the entrance carpet just in case someone forgets his key. He lifts the carpet, but there aren’t any keys, instead, an envelope is placed gently. Chen Yiyang picks up the envelope and turns around, he knocks the door of Guan Zheyu’s apartment. Guan Zheyu opens the door, “What’s wrong?” “I left my keys at school. But guess what? I saw this letter under the entrance carpet.” “Well, do you wanna come in?” Chen Yiyang nods, sothey walk into the house, through the living room, into Guan Zheyu’s room. Chen Yiyang hands the letter to Guan Zheyu, “It seems like a really weird letter, looks like those from the ancient times. Also, it says ‘to Liu Seyu’. I don’t know anyone with that name.” The envelope is made of a brownish Xuan paper, folded and glued into a rectangular shape. A red box is drawn in the middle on it, the addressee’s name is written inside of it vertically with black ink. On the right, there’s the address, and on the left, is the sender’s name - Chu Yingxuan. “It's probably just a kid trying to prank you. The address is wrong, I’ve never heard of this place.” “I know, but why will anyone put it under a carpet if they can just drop it into the box mail.” Guan Zheyu shrugs, “Shell we open it first?” They cut along the edge of the envelope, took the letter out and gently unfolded it. The letter is also written in traditional Chinese with black ink on xuan paper. They quickly scanned through the letter. It’s a letter sent by a mother. She wanted her son to learn to do business with her husband, however, her son left the house to join a voyage that fleets to the south west. She’s worried about what her son is going to face, and asks help from her friend, Liu Seyu. According to the letter, Liu Seyu’s husband is also going to be on the voyage. Therefore she’s asking to have Liu Seyu’s husband to take care of the son and even to try convince the son to come back home. “It’s a prank.” Guan Zheyu says surely. Chen Yiyang shakes his head, “But why would anyone make a prank like this. Why would anyone learn how to write in traditional Chinese, learn how to write with ink brush, just to prank us.” “I don’t know. But the letter is way to weird, it can’t be an actual letter.”