Xu Xiaobin - Dunhuang Dream

Then a hand covered his glass.

“Don’t drink it!”

He heard a familiar voice, but he didn’t know whose it was. He tried to shove that hand away, but it clung to the glass. Through his heavy eyelids, he saw a woman standing before him. It looked like Xingxing, but it also looked like Yu’er. He didn’t say a word but tried to force the hand away. Yet still it clung. Between the two weak hands, the glass shattered into white fragments, cold and wet. His dream was shattered by a loud noise and then he found himself covered with a sticky white fluid.

11

Xingxing’s hand was bleeding. As she had struggled with Wuye over the glass, it had shattered and one piece had gashed her palm.

But she didn’t feel any pain. In fact, she felt a violent pain in her heart as if her heart were bleeding unseen.

She never dreamed that Wuye would push her with such force and then drink madly despite everything. He looked at her liked a cornered beast. She couldn’t stand playing such a role in such a place in front of everyone. They were performing like a couple of clowns stripped naked. She hated him for forcing her into such a position.

Then she thought of Xiaojun and that intolerable situation at the party. Perhaps she was too sensitive and there was nothing to fret about. She wished she could replace her heart of flesh and blood with one made of rubber or some other substance so that she would never be hurt.

No, she didn’t hate Yu’er. In fact, it was just the opposite. She thought Wuye and Yu’er looked beautiful when they were together. In such a boisterous setting, she preferred to stay in the background, quietly observing. At such times, her soul seemed to leave her body and float freely in the air. She could see her own body and could see the difference between a beautiful woman and an average one.

Later she saw Yu’er drag Wuye out to dance. Yu’er’s face was pressed against his and her eyes glistened, watery. Wuye’s face was a furious red. Wuye seemed to be looking all over for something.

Xingxing felt more sober than ever before.

12

At the time of Director Tang’s banquet, Zhang Shu was in his little room wrestling with the legends Ahyuexi had told him about Yu-Chi Yiseng and Buddhist painting. After hearing what Pan Sumin was doing behind the scenes from Ahyuexi’s own mouth, he immediately went to find Wuye and tell him everything and help him come up with ways of dealing with the situation. But for some reason the young guy seemed confused, as if he were dreaming. He began to have his suspicions. Perhaps he had a strategy but didn’t tell anyone around him. He had never encountered a person who behaved in such a way when their life involved such danger.

He accomplished a lot that day. By ten that evening, he had recorded and arranged everything she had narrated. Then he splashed his face with cold water and took a letter off the desk. It was from his wife. It was different from the two previous letters. The wording was more affectionate and showed more concern; it was also more timid in tone, as if she were afraid of making him mad. He was certain that something had gone wrong for her. Every time something like that happened, she was more conciliatory, but after things were straightened out, she would be her old self again.

Shu ,

I miss you .

From morning till night all Gugu asks is why isn’t Daddy home yet? I don’t know what to tell him .

Do you miss us? I’m sure you don’t. You know I don’t have the best temper because I’ve always been spoiled. Even if I want to change, I can’t do so overnight. How can you be so mean to just leave us here alone? I take care of everything at home now and my hands are showing it. I can’t even play the piano anymore. You once called me a spoiled princess. So now you want to turn the princess into a Cinderella?

Shu, no matter what happens, I still love you. Come home. Your name is Shu (forgiving). Can’t you forgive me?

We miss you .

Yixi

Gugu

He knew that this was his wife’s special way with words to which he always surrendered. He knew what was between the lines. She wanted him back to take care of everything. But he was softhearted.

It was at that moment that Xiao Xingxing knocked on his door.

13

“Zhang Shu, I’m leaving.”

She held the door, smiling as she did the first time they met. She appeared straightforward and simple. And as always, she shouldered her inconspicuous bag.

“What? So suddenly?”

“Yes, I just made up my mind.”

“You really are impulsive.”

“I have a Buddha nature.” She smiled. “It’s as they say: born and dying naked and with no attachments in life.”

“What time is your train?”

“Eleven o’clock.”

“Oh, that’s in just another hour. Have you told. . everyone?”

“No, no one knows.” Xingxing became serious. “Zhang Shu, I have a favor to ask. Please tell Wuye to hurry back to Beijing, the sooner the better.”

“I know. I’ve been pushing him, too.” He frowned, “You didn’t even tell him you’re leaving?”

“No. He was dancing and having such a good time. I didn’t want to bother him,” she said as if unconcerned, looking down. He then noticed that her eyes were a little swollen, as if she had cried recently.

“You can stay here another half hour, and then I’ll take you to the station on my bike. It’s not far from here.”

“Zhang Shu, do you know that I’ve had a new dream recently? I dream I go to an ancient land, which is covered with bronze Buddhas under a glaring sun. .”

“That must be India.”

“India? I don’t know. I told you before that all my dreams come true. I think I should go in search of that land in my dreams.”

“Good luck.” He forced a smile, but he suddenly felt sad.

14

The climax of the banquet actually occurred when Ahyuexi arrived, by which time Xingxing had left. Her back ramrod straight, Ahyuexi drove right in and went straight up to Yu’er and Guonu. Her speed and vigor, in addition to a sense of mysteriousness, left everyone stunned.

She whipped out her shiny knife and pointed it at Yu’er’s chest, nearly making Director Tang, who was nearby, faint. The noisy chatter filling the room suddenly ceased. Before anyone could say anything, the young woman, as slender as a reed, asked, “Was it you who sold the painting?”

Yu’er’s amber eyes flashed fire: “You’re the one who sold it! I don’t know who switched paintings!”

The shiny blade turned to Guonu. “Then it was you, you good-for-nothing.”

Old Guonu frowned, and it was hard to tell if she was laughing or crying. Her lips trembled, but she didn’t say anything at once. Yu’er shouted, “How can you treat your mother that way? You call her a good-for-nothing, then that makes you a good-for-nothing, doesn’t it?”

Before she finished speaking, a slap landed on Yu’er’s face. Yu’er shrieked and began to cry. Everyone in the dining hall stood up. Half drunk, Wuye recognized her as the young woman who had once trussed him up. With a drunk’s courage, Wuye rushed forward and, with his finger inches away from Ahyuexi’s nose, said, “What gives you the right to hit people?”

Ahyuexi sneered, “Oh, the painting thief. I didn’t go looking for you and here you are!” The words were no sooner out of her mouth when she reached out and grabbed Wuye by the scruff of his neck. Wuye wasn’t quick enough to dodge her. Then another hand flashed like a treasured sword, falling with a speed that left everyone speechless. Ahyuexi pulled her hand back leaving the other hand to strike nothing but air. Wuye looked — it was Yu’er who had helped him. He was more or less sobered up by then. But Ahyuexi wasn’t willing to let it go at that. In a flash, her arms swung above her head and a foot struck deftly at Yu’er’s belly. She quickly avoided the blow and thrust with her right palm. For a while the two of them went at it, fists and feet flying.