Fiction: Group 4
Yixing recoiled. What would his stubborn father think about him migrating to Hong Kong and
working there? Would he despise him? Would he disown him as a son? Nonetheless, not bothering about
the consequences, he advanced towards the door.
“Oi! Yixing! Where’re you going?” his father grunted.
“I’m… I’m going to Hong Kong for work. I wish to start a new life there. It’s always been my
dream.” Yixing mumbled, aware of everyone’s eyes on him.
“Hong Kong?” his father thundered. “Of all places in China, you’re going to Hong Kong? If you dare
to take one step out of this door, Lin Yixing, I don’t ever want to see you in this house again.”
Yixing, with his face burning, felt a kind of pressure that he had never felt before. An invisible force
was pulling him towards his father, yet an even stronger one was propelling him towards the door. He
resisted both sides of the force with difficulty, as if he were playing a tug of war. His family, or, his dream?
At last, the tension died down, and also his fear in facing his father.
As he was scampering out the door, he heard a familiar voice. “Yixing, stop!” Turning around, he
embraced the sight of all his relatives, including the newborn baby but not his father, racing out the door in
pursuit.
“Have you come to stop me?” Yixing inquired helplessly.
“No, Yixing, we’re here to say our goodbyes to you, our dear nephew.” One of his aunts said. “We
know you’ve been yearning for a fresh breath of air in the city, and we’re glad that you can finally leave and
achieve your dreams.”
“Yes! Yixing, good luck!” his young cousin chimed in.
Tears began to brim in Yixing’s eyes like a pond of clear water. “Thank you, everyone” was all he
could manage to utter.
Then his mother swept him into a large hug. “Yixing, remember what your name stands for. Yi stands
for your perseverance and stamina; while Xing means ‘build’. I believe that you can build yourself a home
out there without our help, but you’re your persisting and extraordinary dedication. I’ll try to convince your
father that you meant no disrespect— he’s in a murderous mood right now. I understand how long you’ve
wanted to explore the city instead of being stuck here in Zhongshan for all your life. So, good luck, my
boy.”
“Thank you, Mum.” Yixing said, his voice trailing to a whisper, hardly able to believe that this could
be the last time he ever saw his family. “I love you all.” He then turned his back to the cerulean sky, the
great rolling fields, the creatures he had named, and everything he had once taken root in. His gait was
steady and confident, yet his heart was breaking in two, thinking of his father who had lost his only child to
a city he loathed. Still, he kept going. This was going to be his new chapter in life.
Although the ship Yixing got on was a splendid one, its mere reflection in the Pearl River dampened
its beauty. The Pearl River was the epitome of perfection, a silver ribbon snaking to the heavens, a
picturesque and serene scene. Most essentially, the Pearl River was the pathway to his dreams. Yixing let his
ecstasy get the better of him, allowing a hand to caress the river as if it were the newborn of Aunt Xuan, a
gift to him from the skies. He willed the ship to go faster, and lo and behold, a voice bellowed, “Land ho!”
Hong
Kong
seemed
to
be
a
mirage
in
the
sparkling
mist.
Hong Kong was every bit as beautiful, and as exhilarating as what Yixing had pictured. It had even
exceeded his expectations, especially the foreigners’ politeness. After listening to his father ramble on all day
criticizing foreigners, Yixing had deemed them to look grotesque, or at least unappealing to the eye. What
sent him jolts down his back was that every foreigner, with their hair in various shades of colour, was
uniquely stunning in their own way, contrasting to the boring black that every Chinese possessed. Their
golden locks radiated sunshine along with their dazzling smiles. Foreigners, Yixing decided, were too
fascinating.
He wandered around aimlessly, not daring to blink in case he missed any small detail. People dashed
around like hens being chased— he couldn’t believe that people could live such a hectic lifestyle. Still, this
was the life he’d always dreamt of.
Yixing strolled around until he stopped at a blacksmith shop. Curiously, he poked his head inside. A
well-built man was looming over a piece of steel, hammering it endlessly. It appeared that he was forging a
horseshoe, which mesmerized him. “I wonder how Boxer’s doing.” he brooded. It seemed like a thousand
years had passed since he had crossed the Pearl River and left home.
