Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 324

Kai’s granny picked up a bar of rice cake from a wok, as steams of hot aroma rose up her face. She gently blew on it,
and then handed it to me. The outer layer of the rice cake was fried and yellow while the inside one was fluffy and
white. My teeth sunk into the crisp layer, and then touched the sticky rice. Savoring the taste, I couldn’t help but devour
it in seconds.
“Wow, you practically inhaled that!” Kai joked, and we both burst out laughing.
Little did we know that the euphoric days would soon come to an end.
The Japanese invaded Shanghai in the summer of 1937.
***
Creak. The door opens. My dad is home now. As the British General, he is busy accepting refugees and protecting the
International Settlement.
I run downstairs to him, and ask, “Are the Chinese Army still fighting in the warehouse? Is Kai in the warehouse?”
“I have yet to find Kai. But 800 soldiers are still fighting there. They are already surrounded by the Japanese, but they
want to show the world that the Chinese Army have not surrendered.” He says with admiration.
“Could you accept them to come on our side? The only place to retreat to is the International Settlement.” I plead.
He looks at me for a while, considering my request. He finally replies, “Yes. It is my honor to let the Chinese in.”
At dawn, I race to the Old City.