Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 419

‘Do you want to be here? I can bring you to a place far, far away from this torturing world you're living in. It is heavenly and
fashionable -- France,’ the man said. ‘Really?’ Ka Li asked, ‘you are taking me away? Why? What is your motion?’ ‘Don't get me
wrong. I am a good person,’ he smiled, ‘I am looking for a fashion apprentice. Would you like to be this lucky person?’ Ka Li agreed
without hesitation, she left a letter for her cruel father about all he did in the years and packed all her things and left with the man
for France with no regret.
They were on the ship for weeks. Ka Li has never felt so free. She did not have to hide her sketches again. The man told her about
the history and rich culture of France on the ship, distinctly different from Shanghai. Ka Li as her smart self even learnt to speak
some fluent French on the journey to France. She also learnt that the man was a well-off merchant, and everybody called him Mr.
Robinson. She had a fabulous journey and she enjoyed every minute of it.
Finally, Ka Li arrived the perfect world Mr. Robinson described to her. Mr. Robinson welcomed her to his house. It was luxurious
with marble staircases and bejeweled tiaras and crowns were showcased in the hallways. Ka Li could not enjoy herself more in such
a paradise.
Years and years passed by as if they were days. Ka Li not only knew how to design traditi onal qipaos but also fancy gowns and
dresses of the western world. Ka Li found a way to combine both cultures and created a magnificent series of dresses. Mr.
Robinson took care of her as if she was his own daughter. Ka Li was so successful and Mr. Robinson took deep pride in her. On
her eighteenth birthday, Mr. Robinson surprised Ka Li with the best present of her life, her very own brand. She named it ‘Ka Li
Robinson – Shanghai’. She added ‘Robinson’ to the shop name to commemorate Mr. Robinson, who saved her from the agony
she was living in while she was the Old Shanghai. He also took all of her sketches to famous French tailors and made all of her
dreams come to life. When she was twenty, he gave her another gift which was her first store in France. Soon, there was a store in
Shanghai, and the number of stores increased year by year, and by the time she was thirty, her brand was the talk of the town all
over the world.
Of course, Ka Li got quite wealthy over time with continuous hard work. She never forgot about Mr. Robinson’s aid when she
was helpless and still adored him. But, she decided to return to where she came from. She went back to Shanghai for a little
vacation from work and saw her stores on every crowded street.
One thing that touched her heart the most was when she heard a little girl in one of her stores who asked her mother if she
could get one of the one-of-a-kind dresses when she turned eighteen. Her mother whispered in her ear that it was too
expensive. Ka Li told the girl and her mother to return to the store in a week. The mother and the child agreed. Ka Li
immediately got to work took some extra fabric and thread to the sewing machine she brought from France and sewed the little
girl a custom-sized dress. After a week, the mother and the child went back to the store. Ka Li was ecstatic to see them and
handed the dress to the little girl, she looked puzzled. Ka Li silently told her, ‘I am Ka Li... I designed the dresses here.’ The little
girl smiled and hugged her tight, and left the store merrily. Ka Li grinned from ear to ear, and was satisfied of her act. Ka Li
thought to herself, ‘Isn't this a great story of Old Shanghai? But, it is not a story, it is a dream, a dream which came true.’