Monday, December 12, 2016

Summer #16

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)
Chapter 16

Mu Hanxia lies in bed, motionless.
The feeling is like walking in an icy-old snowy world. The chilly wind blows out from the heart and seeps into the whole body.
When she thinks of tomorrow, she is no longer full of hope. Instead its like enormously deep, dense, and turbulent fog thats so disturbing.
She pulls herself up and goes in the shabby mottled bathroom, taking a prolonged hot shower and rubbing her skin red all over before she comes back out.
Then she throws herself into the bed and wraps herself in the quilt.
Exhausted.
She quickly falls asleep.
--------
Early in the morning, the bright sun is almost rising above the horizon again.
Mu Hanxia and He Jing are having breakfast on the first floor of the supermarket.
He Jing notices that Mu Hanxia is extremely quiet today. She stares at the swollen eyes of Mu Hanxia and asks, Whats the matter? What happened to you?
Mu Hanxia just smiles, Nothing. I still can get up the mountain and fight the tiger.
She is as easy as usual, but He Jing is skeptical.
Mu Hanxia gulps down her breakfast quickly and asks, What time is it?
He Jing takes out her cell phone and takes a look, 6:50, you dont have your phone with you?
Forgot where I left it yesterday.
Mu Hanxia didnt realize her cell phone is missing until this morning. She tried to call it but its turned off. Either she left it in the dinner room, or in Lin Mochens car. Although Lin Mochen sent her messages once, she does not remember his phone number. She can only wait until they meet next time.
He Jing says, Xia, if theres something, be sure to talk to me. Dont hold things back to yourself.
Mu Hanxia, Hmm.
--------
The office is bright, bustling with people scurrying around. Everything is as usual.
Mu Hanxia has been working on the complicated basic sales data all day at her desk. In the late afternoon, the manager asks her to send documents to Meng Gang.
Mu Hanxia says, Manager, Im not done with the work at hand yet. Could you ask another one to do it?
Dont you see everybody else is busy? Put down your work for a minute and hurry up!
The door to the General Managers office is left ajar. Xiao Chen is not on his spot outside the door. Mu Hanxia pauses quietly for a moment and knocks on the door.
Come in.
Mu Hanxia pushes the door open and walks in. Without looking at him, she puts down the documents and says flatly, Manager Meng, here are the documents.
She can feel Meng Gangs sharp eyes resting on her.
She turns to leave.
Wait a minute.
Mu Hanxia stops and turns to look at him.
He is still the usual steady look, sitting behind the office desk and looking at her with unfathomable eyes.
Mu Hanxia suddenly hates to look at his eyes, but right then he speaks, Yesterday...Im sorry.
Mu Hanxia says nothing. He says softly, I drank too much. I apologize, Mu Hanxia.
Mu Hanxia feels as if some air within is suddenly deflated, but leaves her with even more feeling of powerlessness and reluctance. She knows he misconducted because of drinking too much. She also knows that with his shrewd and cautious nature, he wouldnt have got to that point. But how can she turn the page and wipe everything off simply like this?
Manager Meng, if theres nothing else, Id better go now. She says quietly.
Meng Gang gazes at her. The wind is blowing on the curtain behind him. The sunlight is very quiet.
He says, In a few days, you should leave Le Ya. I have a friend who has an high-end supermarket in the Ming Han District. You can go there. As an experienced store assistant, your income wont be less than what you have here. The finance department here will also give you three months' extra pay.
Mu Hanxias hands slowly clench into fists.
She suddenly smiles, and says with somewhat indignantly, OK.
There is nothing else to say. She turns to walk toward the door. When she pulls open the door, she hears Meng Gangs even voice, Mu Hanxia, what I said before, they are all truly from my heart.
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Its night, the sky is dark.
Mu Hanxia lies in bed , unable to fall asleep.
Anger, sadness, disappointment, uncertainty...all tangled together and weaved into some kind of dull and lingering pain, heavily pressed above her like an gigantic mountain.
Does she hate Meng Gang? If it wasnt the many favor he did her or his special promotion, she could not have entered the sales department, leaving the career level of store assistant behind her. She cant hate him for all this.
But does she blame him? Yes.
The schemes of a man, the hidden lust. When he wants her, he makes her believe hes out of good intentions. Now he needs to protect himself and knows that she wont be his, he mercilessly kicks her away.
Attempted rape. The mistake Meng Gang made can be thus defined. A man like him will never allow such a serious mistake to threat his career and life. So, before she takes any action, he takes first move and expels her to prevent any possible future problems.
A work opportunity so hard-earned by her, he doesnt have the least of care when he destroys it.
......
So does she really have to go to that supermarket, which is not nearly as good as Le Ya, and go back to the position of a store assistant, with no hope to ever stand back up again?
--------
Lin Mochen is driving to Mu Hanxias home along the road they took the other night.
Its getting dark, the setting sun spreads into the car. On the passanger seat, theres a cell phone.
That night after getting Mu Hanxia home, he found the cell phone on the back seat only when he got back to his own home. Its out of batteray, a very cheap brand, and isnt compatible with his charger. So he just left it in the car.
Now, its already three days and that woman hasnt come to look for him.
Red light at the intersection. Lin Mochen stops to wait. In front, there are people coming and going, and some peddlers with their stands by the street. He notices the cherries on a stand, small ones, smooth and shiny with yellowish red. Not very good type. They must taste rather sour.
After passing the intersection, Lin Mochen pulls the car over by the curb and gets a pound of the cherries, which he tosses onto the passenger seat.
Its near her home. The small restaurants and food stands along the street are filled with people. Lin Mochen drives slowly past them and suddenly sees Mu Hanxia in his white T and jeans at a grill stand, eating kebabs. Opposite her sits another girl.
Through the dim street light and the noisy voices, her smile feels so tranquil.
--------
Xia, youve really decided to leave? He Jing asks with some sadness.
Hmm, Im determined to go. Mu Hanxias answer is crispy.
But...what kind of job can you find? Something like this incident is very annoying, and it's bullying. Like you said, we cant sue him or do nothing about him, we just think ourselves attacked by a dog. But since the wage and benefits are promised, you should go to the supermarket Meng Gang told you about. Why suffer losses?
No, Im not going.
He Jing knows theres no use trying further to persuade her and sighs. Then she hears her say, But, I definitely wont leave with my tail between my legs. I will do something.
He Jing: Huh, what thing?
Mu Hanxias smiles have disappeared, her eyes calm and bright, Im going to make everyone know that I have talents. Ill make them look at me differently. No matter how Le Ya will go through the ups and downs, Im going to keep hold of my own professional life.
The sky is already dark. The cars and people are coming and going non-stop around the corner. Lin Mochen is a few steps behind Mu Hanxia, clearly hearing her explain her thoughts to her friend, These days, although I only did data processing in the sales department, I discovered some regularities and opportunities between market demands and supplies while working on all those data. I wasnt sure whether my thoughts were right or not and mentioned them to the old employees. But they just didnt care.
These days, Meng Gang discusses with all the departments every day about all kinds of strategies to fight against Yong Zheng. But I have a feeling they havent grasped the key of the problem.
The key is, Lin Mochen single-handedly pulls Yong Zhengs overall performance above Le Ya. It is impossible to get right back into the tie position. We need a chance, first to hold back the rising of Yong Zheng and then look for opportunities to turn the table around.
This chance has to be very unexpected and unprepared by them, while noticeable and attractive enough to the customers. It will cut a gash in the seige of Lin Mochen, and make all customers to turn their attention back to Le Ya and say, ha, Le Ya is actually not bad at all. We got to win a round and then plan for the long run.
I only have a vague idea right now. But how to carry it out, how to make others listen to me, I havent figured out yet. Anyway, Im going to give it a try.
Tomorrow, Im going to Hai Nan, theres some friend over there.
......
He Jing only partly understands what she says, but is affected by her and becomes solemn. After a moment, she pats Mu Hanxia on her hand back, “Hey, there’s a handsome guy in suit standing behind you. Seems he’s looking at you.”
Mu Hanxia turns around and is surprised. She smiles, “when did you come?”
Lin Mochen replies, “Just now.” And walks up to them.
Mu Hanxia stands up. Lin Mochen hands the cellphone and the cherries to her. He Jing, who’s right beside them, notices the Porsche car key in his hand and secretly sucks in a breath.
Thank you. I thought to contact you tomorrow. The cherries...
Go wash them. He says.
Oh... Mu Hanxia makes an eye contact with He Jing and goes to ask for water from the stand owner.
After learning that this cool-faced guy-in-suit is the well-known Lin Mochen, He Jing excuses herself after just a little while, not sure out of fear of him or to leave space for them.
Mu Hanxia tosses a cherry into her mouth. Slightly sweet, so sour, and a little tart. She glances at Lin Mochen, whos eyes seem to show a hint of smiles.
You like some? She asks.
No.
Mu Hanxia takes two more looks at him, then looks at the orange street light extending forward, and says, Shall we take a little walk?
Lin Mochens face is somewhat unclear in the night light. He answers, OK.
The two of them walks side by side for a while; two shadows, a long and a short, are on the ground.
He says nothing, while Mu Hanxia is a little lost in thoughts.
She thinks to herself, how strange the world is. He is the boss of the opponent, is the one whom everybody in her company hates so much. Others all say he is not a good one, but he would send her home at that night, and now he brought her a bag of cherries.
The thoughts have drifted too far.
Mu Hanxia looks up at him smilingly, “Lin Mochen, are we friends now?”
“You want to be my friend?” Instead of answering, he asks.
Mu Hanxia feels a little awkward and says, Nah. I was only asking a question, not making a request.
Lin Mochen smiles suddenly, Its fine to be friends. But you give up Le Ya first.
Mu Hanxia tosses another cherry into her month, and chews without saying anything.
--------
Mu Hanxia asked for a few days leave from the company. The next afternoon, she arrives in Hai Kou by train.
Its very hot down here. Mu Hanxia is sweltering in the crowd. At the exit of the railway station, she immediately sees Zhang Yulei, her former classmate, who is tall with a dark skin, thick eyebrows and big eyes, waving to her with a smiling face.
Mu Hanxia also beams and quickens her steps toward him. Zhang Yulei gives her a big hug, My class captain, why? Finally come to Hai Nan for some fun?
Mu Hanxia gives him a slap on the shoulder, I just come to visit you. Isnt it OK with you?
OK, OK. How Ive been looking forward to it, OK? Go, get in my car first.
Havent seen an old classmate for so long, Mu Hanxia is also quite excited. They get in the car while talking and laughing. As the car leaves the station, Mu Hanxia glances out of the car and feels something flash by.
She thinks she has caught a glimpse of someone familiar.
But, except Zhang Yulei, she knows nobody else in Hainan. She must have been mistaken, she tells herself. 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Summer #15

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)
Chapter 15

The dinner as notified by the manager is set up somewhere near the company, right at the riverside. Mu Hanxia has never been there, but she heard it’s an upscale clubhouse.
Mu Hanxia arrives at dusk. The lights are just turned on at the riverside. In the yard of the clubhouse, trees stand with extended branches. It is classy and serene there.
Mu Hanxia thinks she’s the first one who has arrived and gently pushes open the door to the dinner room. But there’s someone in there already.
Men Gang is sitting by the window smoking. He is wearing a white Polo shirt and a black pair of pants, forming a simple but strong outline. He glances at her with slightly squinting eyes.
Mu Hanxia’s heart jumps a little, but she puts on a smile, “Hi, Manager Meng!”
“Hmm.”
Mu Hanxia finds a chair to sit down. It’s very quiet in the room, with Meng Gang quietly smoking, and Mu Hanxia keeping to herself.
“How’s your work going lately?” He asks.
“Pretty good,” Mu Hanxia smiles a little, “The work goes quite smoothly. I read a lot of materials and have learned a lot.”
“That’s good.”
Silence again.
After a while, Mu Hanxia asks, “Manager Meng, did you have good rests lately? Are you well?”
“I’m fine. I’m not someone whose work and life get affected by personal feelings.”
Mu Hanxia doesn’t dare to say anything else. She lowers her head and pretends not to understand what he’s implying.
Right at the moment, someone knocks on the door and enters the room. It’s Meng Gang’s assistant Xiao Chen. He glances at the two quiet ones in the room and smiles smoothly, “Manager Meng, the guests are almost here.”
--------
The guests invited by Meng Gang are those from the City’s Industry and Business Bureau. He and the vice director take the most prestigious seats, accompanied by all the others, with Mu Hanxia and Xiao Chen sitting at the lowest-ranked seats, in charge of serving tea and beverage. During casual greetings at the beginning, Meng Gang simply says, “This is Mu Hanxia from our sales department.” Immediately someone jokes, “Ah, Manager Meng is never short of talents. Each time he takes pretty girls out.”
Everybody burst out laughing. Meng Gang also has some smile in his eyes. He says, “Nonsense. I only have Xiao Chen with me all these years. When did I ever bring girls to drink with you? Hanxia, get him three full cups (Note: these are wine cups, normally with a capacity of about 30-60 ml). He should drink them first as a punishment.”
“Sure.” Mu Hanxia also smiles and goes to pour the alcohol into the cups.
Bottles are opened and cups are toasted, the host and the guests are all having a good time.
It’s a first time for Mu Hanxia so she does not dare to say much. She isn’t a girl who takes opportunities to show off, but she is agreeable and sweet enough to keep the harmony of the party. However, very quickly someone starts to invite her for a drink.
“Beautiful girl, since Manager Meng has taken you along, you should have a drink with us, right?”
“Right.” Some others echo.
Mu Hanxia has never touched any white beverage. So she hastily declines with smiles and peers toward Manager Meng.
Meng Gang has drunk quite a lot. He lights up a cigarette and leans back in the chair. His face red, eyes dark and bright.
“Drink just a cup, to show your sincerity.”
“Sure, Manager Meng.” Mu Hanxia takes up a cup and drains it with someone.
“Wow, so obedient to Manager Meng?” Someone laughs.
Mu Hanxia’s heart quivers a little, and she replies with a smile, “Of course I have to obey the boss.”
Meng Gang just wears his casual smile as usual.
After she sits down again, Mu Hanxia feels her throat and stomach are both spicy hot, and her head seems to start to feel dizzy.
Today they must let the guests drink to their heart’s contend. During the dinner, Meng Gang goes into the bathroom and throw up twice in there. Mu hanxia helps him to the bathroom once. He just bends over the washbasin and vomits quietly with the door shut behind them. It’s the first time Mu Hanxia saw him like this. She is quiet for a moment and steps up to gently stroke his back.
He doesn’t move, just letting her stoke. His back broad and hard.
After a while, he turns on the faucet, rinses his face and washed his mouth. Then he look up at her.
Mu Hanxia puts down her hand.
It is a little dim in the bathroom. His eyes are bloodshot and he smells badly of alcohol.
He suddenly grabs her hand.
Mu Hanxia stiffens up all over. She lowers her voice, “Manager Meng...”
But he doesn’t do anything, and just stares at her very intensely.
Mu Hanxia lowers her head.
After a moment, he lets go of her hand, “Let’s go back in.”
“OK.”
He pulls the door open. Outside is a full house of customers enjoying themselves with drinks.
--------
The dinner ends at a little past ten. Meng Gang has drunk too much. He leans against the sofa unconsciously. Mu Hanxia, together with Xiao Chen, says good-bye to the guests downstairs.
Xiao Chen says, “You go upstairs first to look after Manager Meng. I’m going to get the car.”
Mu Hanxia hesitates, but Xia Chen is firm, “Hurry up. Don't let any accident happen to Manager.”
Mu Hanxia has no choice but to go back upstairs.
The night is deep. The dishes and cups have been cleared away. The window is open, the wind from the river lightens up the smell of cigarette and alcohol in the room.
Eyes shut and hand on the forehead, Meng Gang sits there very still. Mu Hanxia stands with some distance between them.
“Mu Hanxia?” He murmurs, his voice hoarse.
“Yes, it’s me.” Mu Hanxia walks over and pours him a hot cup of water, “Manager Meng, have some hot water.”
Meng Gand does not take the water. Mu Hanxia puts it down and is just about to leave, when she is grabbed at the waist and stumbles onto his lap.
Mu Hanxia feels a slight shiver all over, and her heartbeat begins to speed up. His arm hold her very tightly against him. Their faces are very close and their breaths tangled together.
“Mu Hanxia... look at me.”
Mu Hanxia feels her temples jump voilently, and wants to push him away. But this time his grip is strong and she can’t budge open at all.
“Manager Meng, let go of me...” She pleads in a lowered voice.
All of a sudden, Meng Gang’s lips are pressing down.
Mu Hanxia gets chills in her body but her face and hands are burning hot. His lips are thick and warm with some odor of cigarette and alcohol. She clenches her teeth. But he sucks skillfully and raises a hand to hold her jaw. Mu Hanxia’s mouth parts slightly. Then his tongue slips in and kisses her forcefully.
Mu Hanxia pushes with all her strength but can’t succeed. Instead she get wedged to the sofa, her hands are pinned together by him easily.
After kissing a little more, he lowers his face to kiss her face and ears.
“A girl with no dependence like you, how big is your heart?” He whispers hoarsely, “You don’t want to be mine?”
Mu Hanxia bursts into tears.
“Meng Gang, you let go!” She hollers hoarsely.
Meng Gang quickly covers her mouth. He is really drunk, his eye dark and fierce.
“Still so stubborn? You don’t believe I’d have you done with right here?”
Mu Hanxia goes blank in her mind for an instant. Some strange kind of horror floods over her like the icy tide. Seeing her stop struggling, Meng Gang lowers his lips and kisses her even more violently.
Mu Hanxia’s fingertips shake slightly. She lowers her teeth and bites into his arm. The bite is so fierce that blood gets into her teeth. Meng Gang lets out a cry of pain and his hands let loose of her, but his body still on top of hers. Mu Hanxia feels as if the blood from her whole body has run into her brain. She knows that her strength is no match to his, so she immediately grabs the glass ash tray from the coffee table and hits on his chest with all her might.
This time Meng Gang is hurt. He stifles a groan and leans against the sofa with his hand pressing on his chest. Mu Hanxia quickly gets up and desperately runs to the door.
Stop! From the back is Meng Gangs growl.
How would Mu Hanxia listen? She throws the door open and runs out to escape.
Outside, the yard feels deep and the lights are unchanged as before. Someone is standing at the doorway of a nearby dinner room making phone calls. Everything is quiet.
Tears are still hanging on Mu Hanxias cheeks. Her brain is muddled, and her heart in stinging pain.
She stumbles toward the outside, but bumps into the person on the phone.
What are you doing? a familiar cool and deep voice.
Mu Hanxia looks up and sees Lin Mochen.
Under the corridor light, he looks handsome in his suit. Theres a smell of alcohol on him, apparently he is here for some socialization.
Mu Hanxias tears swell suddenly up again in her eyes. But she tries very hard to hold them back, and replies in a low voice, Nothing. And she tries to get past him. But right at the moment, Meng Gangs voice comes from inside, Mu Hanxia!
Mu Hanxia stiffens a little and then starts to walk out quickly. Looking at her, Lin Mochen grabs her arm, Its Meng Gang inside?
Mu Hanxia looks sulky. She wipes off her tears with her hand and says, Im fine.
Lin Mochen fixes his eyes on her for a few seconds, suddenly takes off his suit jacket and covers it on her, Ill send you out.
Mu Hanxia is surprised.
The jacket is lingered with his body heat, it wraps around her and fends her off the slightly cold air in the night. His hand remains on her shoulder. Instead of letting go, he loosely holds her and leads her to the outside.
Tears instantly stream down Mu Hanxias face. She lowers her head.
--------
I got some things to do and have to leave early. You keep entertaining the guests. Lin Mochen hangs up his phone and looks up from the rear-view mirror.
Mu Hanxia curls up as a bundle in the back seat, wrapped in his jacket and leaning in one corner. She mumbles, Thank you, Lin Mochen.
Lin Mochen says nothing and starts the car.
The cars gets on the highway bridge. All around them are the city lights. Lin Mochen opens the car window and the slow breeze flows in. Mu Hanxia sits straight, gazing out of the window in silence.
Do you need to call the police? He asks.
Mu Hanxia is quiet for a while. Then she says, No.
After another few moments, she adds, He didnt get his way.
You are not a stupid woman, why didnt you know how to protect yourself well? He says.
I was too naive. Mu Hanxia replies, How could there be so much good luck in the world. In the future I will protect myself well. You say nothing more.
He gives her a glance, and does say nothing more on the whole way.
--------
Lin Mochen never imagined Mu Hanxia lives at a place like this. He knows she isnt rich, but thought at least she comes from a decent family.
Debris, dirt road, wild grasses, old and filthy narrow buildings that seem to be decaying away. The street has no light and is deserted.
There is still some distance to the building where Mu Hanxia lives, but the road is narrow and uneven. So Mu Hanxia says, Let me get off here. Its not easy to drive ahead.
Lin Mochen glances into the dark road ahead, and says, Whats the way? Keep going straight?
Mu Hanxia can only reply, Hmm.
With the headlight shaking all the way on the bumpy road, the car finally stops under her building.
Lin Mochen parks the car, and with his hands still on the driving wheel, he looks at her from the rear-view mirror. Mu Hanxia takes off the jacket, and says with a shaky smile, Thank you. Im...going upstairs.
Hmm.
After she walks into the building, Lin Mochen looks up. The lights on some floors go on, but remains off on other floors. Her footsteps sound especially clear in the ghetto in this deep and quiet night. At last, she stops at the top floor. He hears her take out the keys open the door, and then closes it.
Lin Mochen gazes until the light in her home is lit, then he backs away the car slowly, and leaves.