Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 415

The Prophecy of the Yin Yang Jades
St Paul's Convent School, Luk, Ho Yan Katie – 14
I
n Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary,
interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world. In the 20 th century, there was a well-known myth in Old
Shanghai, the traditional urban core of China, about Jade stones, one of the most valuable treasures . Families or couples who
are separated will reunite one day, no matter where they are, by the gravity-like Yin and Yang forces possessed in the two
complementary pieces of Jade stones they each carry with them, when the powers within the Jades exude.
“Oh not again!” I mumbled under my breath as I sheepishly hauled myself up after slipping, wincing in pain when my finger was
sliced inadvertently by a red booklet. “I don’t think I’ve seen this anywhere in the house before, what could it be?” I shrugged
and shuffled into my room with the booklet held tightly to my chest, the stinging pain long forgotten.
Kneeling on my bedsheets I flipped open the first page of the booklet. I smiled. Well, who could resist the idea of a little
adventure amidst their repetitive life of adulthood?
" ‘Liang Luoyang’s Diary’? Hold on...does this belong to mama?” I wondered. Unending questions flooded my mind. I picked
up a miniature map of Old Shanghai with red markings on random spots of its defensive walls. A thought suddenly occurred to
me and I gasped.
“Daughter…” my mother whispered. “Yes, mama!” I mumbled. “Find papa and gege for me, okay? This is my last wish…” she
breathed out inaudibly. “And… and how shall I do that, mama?” I whispered . “Remember the myth of the Yin and Yang Jade
stones I’ve told you since you were young?” I nodded. “The only way to find him is through the power of the Jade stones, only
then can papa and I may be reunited…” Mama coughed out. “So where is your piece of Jade stone, mama?” I urged, but there
was no reply. That was the day mama officially left me, all alone.
As days passed, I was too busy striving to survive in this dangerous world alone, soon forgetting about my mother’s last wish.
Who do the merchants think they could fool into believing these stupid myths anyways? Not me, as a fully grown adult. It
occurred to me now I’ve found mama’s diary as the directions to find papa, I could at least be a filial daughter and show her that
I’ve actually paid some effort in fulfilling her wish.
Stepping out into the fresh summer breeze, I walked down the streets of Old Shanghai, occasionally glancing to check the map.
Then the Dajing Ge Pavillon museum, my first destination, caught my sight. It was one of the only two sections that remained
after the City walls of Old Shanghai were dismantled. I silently praised myself for remembering what I was taught in school
when I spotted barely decipherable words beneath the red marking on the map." ‘The first time I met him’? Why does this
sound like some old cheesy lines from romance novels?” I spluttered. “Could this relate to papa?!” I flipped the page.