Fiction: Group 4
A Day to Remember
Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Leung, Tsz Fung - 15, Fiction: Group 4
I
he image of walking through sleepy villages in the morning, saying good morning to everyone with
a warm smile on my face, comes to my mind again. I, a Kung Fu teacher (or a master which the
villagers addressed me), cannot forget the peaceful village and my small cottage in Foshan.
It was summer in 1939. The course fee I received allowed me to cover all my expenses, so I would go out
to the only theatre in the village to enjoy a Chinese opera for a treat sometimes.
On one ordinary evening, I passed by a tailor shop, with some money in my pocket, I could not stop myself
from popping into the shop to order some new clothes. Anyway, the clever shopkeeper never gave up
selling me something pricey. I hate someone who keeps talking and talking, instead of showing any interest
in this rowdy man, I looked at the faded and decrepit shelves and cabinets for something surprising. Good
heavens! I found some crocheted garments which looked rather fashionable and durable to me. I didn’t
hover in that shop for a long time because I had made up my mind promptly. I ordered three new suits, and
that’s all I wanted.
A week later, it was time for me to pick up all my new clothes. I was a bit excited, and I wore my new
clothes at night for my theatre visit again. Unlike some ordinary evenings, the crowd thronging at the centre
of the market drew my attention. The curious crowd, mostly men, were surrounding a young lady, about
16 years old, who was kneeling down on the ground where some grotesque words were written, saying
“Qing bang mang” which means “Please help”. The other words on the ground said that she was in need of
money, and she was willing to be a maid at anyone’s home to in return for a bowl of rice every day.
According to the words on the ground, she was called Xiao Hong. She looked pale and haggard which
might have been due to having no food for at least a few days. Her face almost had no flesh, and it was so
thin it could hardly hold her big watery eyes. The men standing next to me walked away one by one after
reading the words. That was not surprising to me. I knew the villagers very well. No one seemed to be able
to help her as I know that ordinary villagers might not have extra money for one more person to feed.
Xiao Hong looked so pathetic, and she was alone like me. I knew that we were the same kind. I had four
bedrooms in my house, and I had turned two of them into store rooms as I had had no visitors for all these
years.
As a Kung Fu teacher, I really had to be careful. I could not possibly just take her home because I wanted to
give her something to eat. That was not sensible, and the most fearful thing was the villagers’ gossips. I
hesitated. Then, I looked at her again. Her pitiful eyes touched me deeply in my soul, how could a girl look
so desperate? I could tell from her face that she was an honest girl, and she hid no secrets. Again, the tears
and sadness of her eyes pierced the bottom of my soul. I wanted to help her and I would.
However, it was really impossible for a popular Kung Fu teacher like me suddenly to take a girl home. I
simply couldn’t do this. It was not appropriate. A man and a young lady living in the same house would
definitely cause me some trouble.
I did not know how long I stood there looking at this pitiful lady. If I truly wanted to help her, then I
should do something. So, I gave up pondering how I should help her. I took out a few coins from my
pocket and threw them in front of her. She looked at me, as if she was asking for a bigger favor. I guessed
that would be to take her home to be my maid. She almost wanted to cry and tried to hold my hands. In
her dismay, I turned my back on her and walked away. I knew I had my new clothes on that day but I was
not as wealthy as she thought.
Maybe I was just like any villager. I walked away from any problems. I walked away like others.
I did not look at her again. I kept walking faster and faster, and I dared not to turn round to see her again. I
simply couldn’t take her home.
After watching the opera, I went home as usual. Then, I saw a long, dim shadow in front of my house. Was
it a ghost? It was a long shadow and that had to belong to someone very thin and tall. While I was walking
towards the door and trying to figure out what kind of creature it was, somebody patted me on my
shoulder. I was so frightened, and got ready to use my Kung Fu skills to hit that “ghost”.
To protect myself, I held my fists tightly and got ready to fight. When I turned round, I saw that Xiao Hong
kneeling down in front of me, begging for forgiveness as there was no doubt that I was frightened.
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