Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 29

“Meili!” Someone shouted my name. It was Aunt Lu, a family friend. She, like all the other villagers, were curious
to see who these foreigners were.
“Do you know who these people are?” She whispered into my ear. I shook my head. She returned to the rest of the
villagers, telling them that nobody knew who they were. But I wanted to wait and see who she was. The jade girl.
And maybe, just maybe, I would be lucky enough to talk to her.
Ma, as busy as she was, scrambled to give people their food.
“Where have you been?” She asked when I returned home.
“Outside.” I replied. I didn’t want to tell her that I went to the stone rock - I could imagine the tears forming in her
eyes.
“Outside? Dongmei has been needing your help. And if she doesn’t need it, I do. Table 3.” Ma handed me a steamed
basket. I took the basket, and went to Table 3. I hurried back, wanting to help Ma after that. The customers had
disapproving looks - probably because of the slow service. Ever since Ba left, everyone told Ma that she couldn’t run
a business by herself. She was too weak - not physically, but mentally. That she needed a man to help her. Ma didn’t
listen to them, and didn’t want them to prove her wrong.
“Table 7.” Ma handed me 2 Shui Mai in a steaming basket. I brought it to Table 7. It was the same man as earlier.
The same dish too. I gave him his dumplings, and crossed it off the list.
“Are you enjoying the food?” I asked him. He didn’t budge. I decided to leave after that. After all, he seemed quite
old, and maybe just wanted to be alone. I watched as he stared off into the distance, only slightly moving his mouth
to chew his food. It wasn’t until about a half hour later until Ma said, “Table 7.” and handed me another bamboo
steamer with 2 Shui Mai in it. I delivered it, and then crossed it off the ongoing list, which I scanned to see he had
ordered 7 orders of Shui Mai. He finished, 7 minutes later. And then payed the money, and left. Ma had warned me
about strange customers before, but never anything like this.
Because it was a Friday, I suspected Aunt Lu to be in the kitchen when I got home from school. Ma liked to celebrate
the end of the week by taking a 30 minute break off of work, and drinking tea with Aunt Lu. But today, both of them
weren't there. Dongmei was helping, which surprised me that she took such responsibility into her own hands. Of
course, Lihua, Aunt Lu’s daughter who was older than I was, was also helping out. After Lihua finished her first two
years of high school, she dropped out as she was going to get married. She refused to accept the marriage
however, being the strong and independent woman she was; which was something I definitely admired about her.
She was considered a disgrace to her family, as well as the village community. That event happened two years ago,
and the community dared not to talk about it.
“Meili, how was school?” Lihua asked me. As well as me admiring her, I also thought of her as my older sister. I told
her about my day, but quickly, as customers were starting to line up.
“Taybel fur tuoo.” The voice struck me in shock, so that my head snapped up before my eyes could adjust.
Standing, in front of the counter were the two foreigners. The mother could arguably be just as beautiful as her
daughter. And the way she talked was nothing like I had heard before. I looked around, confused, and the tour guide
came.
“Table for 2.” He said. I looked around at the tables. They were all full. I could feel my heart thumping like crazy,
and my head started feeling hot. The jade girl was actually here. I could see everyone in the restaurant turn towards
them. There were no more spots, and surely we couldn’t disappoint them. Then, I noticed, sitting at Table 7 alone
was the old man.
“They will have to share with him. We are sorry.” I told the tour guide, and he translated. They both nodded their
heads, and I smiled. The jade girl smiled back, revealing perfectly white and straight teeth. Her jade eyes became
friendlier too. I led them to the table, and took their order, with the guide translating. I then had an idea. Due to the
success of the restaurant, and Ba serving in the army, Ma was able to put us in a nicer school. Still, definitely not
anywhere near the top schools, but a school that taught us how to write some English. I grabbed a piece of paper from