Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 174

Tales of Old Shanghai
Harrow Beijing, Zhao, James - 13
O
ld Shanghai, was a prosperous city. Everyone who pass this city would be surprised of economics, tasty
snack, nice dress and so on. It was the most prosperous time, and it influent the world. If you go to Shanghai
now, you usually can see something similar with old Shanghai. The building, food, cloth. These can be
representative of the old Shanghai. There are so many foreign people in Shanghai, accept me…
I
My name is Charley, from England. Our family are very rich. We trust to put the money in Shanghai because most
of the west of the concession are in Shanghai, and they implement the law of concession. It’s the special legal status,
so we can trust them. This is why I come to Shanghai again, for the business trade. I spend five weeks or so to get
to Shanghai. It’s a pretty long trip, and sometimes I feel so boring without chat with anybody. When I arrive, I see
my uncle—Ben, he is over there. He is a very important person to me. When I just 4 years old, there were nobody
has time to take care to me because they were so busy, except him. He taught to me how to write, how to read,
how to play. He influences me a lot, even more than my father. He moves to Shanghai to live a few years ago.
Ben: 'Hey, Charley, how are you?'
Me: 'Fine, but a little bit tired, you know…is because of the steamer.'
Ben: 'Yeah, I know. Long time not see.'
Me: 'Yeah…so long.'
Then we go to his house. On the way home, I see something so interesting, or it could be something different
with my country. There are many shops besides the road. When we get home, I see there is a stranger.
Ben: 'Oh, this is Marden, my attendant.'
He looks very… it's hard to explain how he is look like, but not as a good guy. But I don’t worry about that at all.
The next day, Uncle Ben takes me to a small shop with lots of cream.
‘'Bai que ling?' What is that?
`I just understand when I ask uncle Ben: it’s a very very old shop with long history. All of females in Shanghai use
the scream in this shop. Because Uncle Ben worked here for a half-year before, so he knows this. He knows that
my mother would like it very much. So I buy some for her for the gift after two month. In the afternoon, we go to
somewhere else. When the moon rises, we leave. It’s so busy today, but so happy too. I just we are going to back
to Uncle’s house, but we aren’t.'Nong…Tang'What is this.
Ben:'It is the famous type of Local-style dwelling houses, it has a long history.'
Me:'So are we going to live here tonight?’
Ben:'Yeah, I ‘m going to let you know what the feeling of the local people live in
Local-style dwelling houses.’
Me:’Alright.’
II