Nouvel An chinois

Chapitre 1

Hibiscus Noodles

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Foreword

A friend from out of town came to Tianjin. He's a photography enthusiast, so I took him to various old buildings in Tianjin to take pictures.

Whether it's the Western-style buildings in the concessions or the archways in the old city, I feel more and more that every building should have its own story to tell.

Inspired by these experiences, I picked up my pen again to write about these lost legends.

While writing, those familiar with Tianjin might find the place names and buildings familiar. That's right, the scenes that come to mind when I write are the same ones you're familiar with.

The story is fictional, but the setting is real. Readers can consider it the author's daydream:

wedge

Floating Clouds Disperse

The bright moon shines on people

Reunion and happiness are the most important things today

Mandarin ducks playing in the shallow pond

Red skirts and green canopies, twin lotus blossoms open

A loving couple

The gentle breeze blows towards the beautiful flowers.

Tender love and affection fill the world...

In the 1930s, Tianjin was known as the largest commercial port in northern China, standing in stark contrast to Shanghai in the south. At that time, the Haihe River was navigable, and cargo ships of all sizes could sail directly into the waterway through the port every day. The sound of ship horns in the morning mist added a lot of vitality to the city.

Luo Xiuqing fell in love with this land the moment he set foot on it, including its somewhat coarse local dialect. As the saying goes, "The wedding night and the day of passing the imperial examination"—these two joyous occasions made him appear exceptionally spirited. The newly graduated Cambridge PhD returned to China with his new wife to take up his post, and the Licheng Trading Company specially published the news on the second page of the newspaper to welcome him. In the large photograph, Luo Xiuqing held his wife's hand, smiling happily.

Hurry home and show this picture to Xiaoju; she'll be thrilled. Luo Xiuqing rolled down the car window. The spring air was filled with the fresh scent of budding plants; the world seemed especially beautiful to happy people.

one,

Luo Xiuqing's home was located in the British Concession, specially prepared for him by the company as general manager. The two-story building was unique in its hexagonal shape, featuring a living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows. On sunny days, the abundant sunlight filtered through the bluish-green glass, softening the steps and filling the entire room with gentle light.

The spacious courtyard is essentially a small botanical garden, with plants perfectly arranged to suit the seasons. After the pear blossoms, crabapple, paulownia, and honeysuckle follow. In summer, ivy and vines cover the entire wall, as if dressing the house in a cool coat. The rustling of the wind through the mulberry and poplar trees, accompanied by a bowl of chilled, slightly sweet mung bean soup, completely erases the summer heat. In the cool autumn, one can enjoy crisp, sweet dates and small walnuts, bunches of rose-purple grapes, and pomegranates with their distinctive open pear blossoms, as well as medicinal red berries. After being neglected for three seasons, the holly and dwarf cypress burst forth with their long-stored green in the dry, cold winter, bearing the weight of the early winter's wet snow.

In short, everything was exactly what Xiaoju had always dreamed of. She was as happy as a child, shouting joyfully every time she discovered a new plant. Luo Xiuqing couldn't help but smile as she watched Xiaoju running around.

"Mr. Luo, are you satisfied with the house?" Old Wu, the head of the general affairs department, came over with a fawning smile.

"Well done, Lao Wu, thank you for your hard work." Although Luo Xiuqing didn't like this man, she had to admit that Lao Wu's ability to get things done was amazing. Finding such a satisfactory house based solely on a brief description over the phone had far exceeded Luo Xiuqing's expectations.

"Don't be so polite with me. It's my job to make sure you have a comfortable place to stay. That way, you can lead us to serve the president better."

“Hmm,” Luo Xiuqing pulled the pipe out of her mouth and lit it on Lao Wu, “You’re quite the talker. But I prefer people who talk less and do more, understand?”

"Yes, yes, Mr. Luo is right." Old Wu bowed even lower. "You see, I can't seem to get rid of this habit of talking too much. Alright, don't worry, I'll change, I'll change."

"Xiuqing." Xiaoju gently tugged at his sleeve with her soft little hand.

"Xiaoju, do you like it?" Luo Xiuqing reached out and removed the crabapple petals stuck in Xiaoju's hair.

"I love it so much, it's so beautiful, it's so ideal, it's so..."

"Shh, is this how a Master of Arts degree uses adjectives?"

"Hmm, this is called reduplication. You haven't learned it, have you? I'll forgive you this time."

While Luo Xiuqing and Xiaoju were talking, Lao Wu had already reached the doorway. He was no longer hunched over, but there was still a tendency for him to lose his upright posture.

"Sigh," Old Wu sighed. "These young people, what great things can they possibly accomplish? Look at how obsessed they are with their love affairs, it's truly shameful. If my daughter were like that, I'd break her legs. A girl acting like this."

Thinking of his daughter, Old Wu couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Everyone knew that this precious daughter was the apple of his eye in his life. She was sixteen, fair-skinned and radiant, with large, bright eyes like black grapes, always smiling. Looking at Mrs. Luo, she seemed so ordinary, not even remotely comparable to his daughter, yet she was so lucky to marry that young man surnamed Luo. Perhaps it was because of her impressive family background. Thinking of his family background, Old Wu frowned. He had to hurry up with his daughter's marriage; he couldn't let her marry a lowly clerk, like her father, who would never amount to anything.

two

Xiaoju's arms were thin, like a child's.

Luo Xiuqing gently lifted Xiaoju's arm, which was outside the blanket, wanting to put it back in so she wouldn't catch a cold. Her skin was so smooth. Luo Xiuqing stroked it, then opened her palm to compare. The pea-green bracelet on her slender wrist felt cool and slightly sore.

Xiaoju rolled over and rested her head on Luo Xiuqing's chest. "Xiuqing?"

"Hmm, did I wake you up?" Luo Xiuqing turned Xiaoju's face towards him and tidied the loose hair covering her forehead.

"What time is it?"

"It's seven o'clock. I'm going to work soon. Be a good boy/girl at home."

"No, you shouldn't go to work. I'm so bored at home by myself." Xiaoju grabbed his hand and covered her eyes.

"Sweetie, stay home and practice your calligraphy. If you get bored, let Xing'er go shopping with you at Quanyechang. I'll be back as soon as I get off work."

Xiaoju remained silent for a long time, blinking her eyes in the shadow of Luo Xiuqing's large hand.

"Xiuqing, I miss England, I miss my mom and dad."

"Don't cry, okay? It's getting chilly in the autumn, so let's bring Mom and Dad back to live with us, okay?" Luo Xiuqing felt her palms were wet, and Xiaoju's eyelashes fluttered like the soft wings of a moth.

Xiaoju remained silent, got up and got out of bed. She, who liked to steal Luo Xiuqing's pajamas, looked particularly thin.

"Xiaoju?" This little girl's tears were a weapon that Luo Xiuqing could not resist; a single drop was enough to leave him helpless. However, she was not a sentimental woman who easily shed tears.

"Get up quickly, I'll go prepare breakfast for you."

Luo Xiuqing had a strong urge to protect Xiaoju. She was so delicate and innocent; she couldn't do without him. And he, too, couldn't do without her.

Watching Luo Xiuqing walk out the door, Xiaoju saw that Xuan paper had already been laid out on the table. Rongbaozhai's Xuan paper had a more imposing feel than Duoyunxuan's, making it more suitable for Xiuqing. After writing less than 20 characters, Xiaoju already felt tired. The warm spring air was alluring; the fragrance of grass and trees and the floating willow catkins gave the spring air a certain texture, as if it were saying: Come on, be happy.

In spring, people are inexplicably happy, and Xiaoju was infected by this joy, her gloom lessening considerably. She pressed her face against the windowpane, so close she could feel her reflection. Suddenly, Xiaoju stepped back, and her reflection in the glass appeared elongated, her eyes unusually large, like a funhouse mirror.

"I'm really not pretty," Xiaoju murmured to herself as she walked to the full-length mirror and looked at herself.

The girl in the mirror had honey-colored skin, thick, glossy black hair, and a very flat figure; she looked more like a girl than a woman.

If her eyes were bigger, if her nose were more defined… Xiaoju pinched her nose. Ugh, that wretched little round nose makes her look like a child forever. If it were a little higher… Xiaoju thought, then she'd be a perfect match for Xiuqing.

three

Luo Xiuqing's first day at work.

But everyone seemed to have known him for quite some time. The reason, of course, was that newspaper photo; although the large picture wasn't very clear, Luo Xiuqing's handsomeness was undeniable. The girls couldn't help but daydream. How could they not have their imaginations run wild when their male boss in the office was such a talented young man? Because Licheng Trading Company was British-owned, the atmosphere there was relatively open, and almost every department employed female staff.

The admiration for Luo Xiuqing led to everyone unanimously belittling Xiaoju.

"Wow, look, is that his wife? She's really not good enough for him."

"Maybe their family is wealthy, then their net worth is naturally different."

"Or else, they might cast a spell on you."

"Oh? That's possible. My neighbor's cousin's godchild..."