Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 380

When East Meets West
St. Mary's Canossian College, Tam, Celine – 14
I
t was a bright autumn afternoon in 1910. Mackerel clouds were drifting under the gleaming disk of sun, and the rays of
sunlight shone on the Shanghainese terrace, at which sat two sophisticated Chinese ladies in their seventies. Looking first at
each other, the older lady, with her hair in a Victorian updo, sipped from her cup of Earl Grey tea, while the younger lady,
with a curled fringe, tasted her cup of oolong tea. With the same expression of enlightenment, they smiled at each other as
their memories flew back sixty years ago.
As the precious daughters of Master Liu, Dingxiang and Dinglan, who were born a year apart, had been the apples of his eyes.
Ever since the death of his wife shortly after giving birth to Dinglan, people wondered how unusual it was for a wealthy man
like Master Liu to insist on remaining single, especially when he was one of the wealthiest men in the Old City of Shanghai. This
legendary Old City has been in its current location since the ancient times. After the Opium War in 1842, a number of foreign
concessions had been set up outside the Old City. Despite this foreign influence, the Old City was still under Chinese control
within the 10m high, 5km long walls. The wall served as a border between the East and the West, as a result, the Old City of
Shanghai was also known as ‘The Chinese City’.
Despite the loss of their mother, Dingxiang and Dinglan, who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, had a wonderful
childhood, one that would make people envious. However nothing lasts forever, the turmoil in life revealed itself when the sisters
reached the age of marriageability. Dinglan could never forget the day when the matchmaker, Aunt Lien, walked into the Liu’s
mansion.
“As the best matchmaker in the Old City, I can definitely find the perfect match for the daughters of the prestigious Liu family.”
Aunt Lien looked passionate and enthusiastic when she first met Master Liu. Her bright smile fell when her glance moved from
Dingxiang towards Dinglan. Subconsciously, Dinglan believed Aunt Lien was looking at her feet, and she found it uncomfortable.
As early as the 10 th century, foot-binding was considered as attractive. It has long been thought to be able to increase the
marriageability of women. A small foot in China, no difference from a tiny waist in Victorian England, represented the height of
female refinement.
“Can I gather more information from the two precious Ms. Liu’s?” Aunt Lien asked for permission from Master Liu and tried
hard to cover her disappointment from her facial expression upon seeing Dinglan’s feet. Dinglan was born premature, and since
then, she had been weak throughout her childhood, therefore Master Liu did not have her go through the process of
foot-binding. As per Dingxiang, she had a pair of feet with only three inches’ in length, of which Aunt Lien instantly directed
her attention. She turned to Mr. Liu assertively, “With this pair of perfect lotus feet, I can guarantee Dingxian a highly
compatible husband.” Yet, Dinglan had been ignored from the scene. Not only did the world judge a woman by her feet, so did
Dinglan look down on herself due to this social norm. No one at that moment could have understood the humiliation that she
was experiencing.
In less than a year, Dingxiang married the eldest son of a ministry president, and they had the most glamorous wedding of their
time; whilst Dinglan had been rejected for several families and eventually left the Old City of Shanghai with a heavy heart, and
instead chose to live at a foreign concession just outside of the city walls.