The Story of Elm Bay 01-13

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-21 04:09:47

(I)

There are no elm trees in Elm Bay, not a single one!

It's a small village with a river outside. The river isn't big, but it's not small either, about twenty meters wide. The villagers call it "Jiang" (River). There used to be rows of elm trees along the riverbank, but they were all cut down to smelt steel during the Great Leap Forward. Now, only a few stumps remain standing on the riverbed.

The river is quite deep and long. There's a bridge a few miles upstream from the village. Because it was built by a neighboring village through fundraising, the villagers are proud and don't use that bridge. They'd rather pay a few cents each time to take Old Du's ferry across the river.

The ferry crossing is not far from the village, where there's a newly grown elm tree. This is the last elm tree in Elm Bay. Old Du's boat is tied to the tree. When he has nothing to do, Old Du likes to sit under the tree and play the erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument). The music doesn't attract the villagers, but it often attracts a few dogs to lie down and listen.

Old Du is fifty years old this year. In his youth, he was quite the dashing figure, traveling far and wide, seeing much of the world, and enjoying high prestige among the villagers. Unfortunately, his talents went unrecognized, and he ended up in quiet solitude, spending his days leisurely on this ferry. When no one is crossing, the boat becomes a fishing boat.

When city dwellers come, they see Old Du wearing a straw hat, fishing alone at the bow, utterly serene, often mistaking him for a recluse and calling him a wise man. Old Du has a home, but he generally doesn't like to go back, sleeping instead on the boat. In the evenings, he likes to sit at the bow, playing his erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument) facing the still river, or reading a book of Tang and Song poetry by lamplight, exuding a sense of antiquity.

After reading for a while, Old Du will drift off into thought, smoke a pipe, and gaze at the quiet, dark village in the distance, lost in thought. Occasionally, a few barks will echo from the village, scattering across the wilderness. Then, Old Du will fall asleep until dawn.

Before dawn, someone was already calling Old Du's name at the ferry crossing. Old Du got up and saw Li Xinmin and his son Li Xiaozhu standing there, carrying a large bag. Old Du asked, "It's Xinmin! Where are you going so early?"

"Back to school. It's the first day of school, so I left early. Hope I didn't disturb your sleep!" Li Xinmin said as he boarded the ferry.

Li Xiaozhu helped him carry all the things onto the ferry, then jumped off and said, "Dad, I'm going back now! Be careful on the road!"

Li Xinmin nodded and said, "When I'm not home, help your mother with the chores. Don't be lazy."

Li Xiaozhu nodded and walked towards the village.

Li Xinmin was a teacher at the town's middle school and the only government employee in Yushuwan. He was forty-five or forty-six years old and had recently been promoted to vice principal, so he was quite pleased with himself. Li Xiaozhu was his son, who had just graduated from high school this year. His grades were too poor, and he hadn't gotten into university, so he had no interest in studying and stayed home to work.

Old Du poled his boat across the river, talking to Li Xinmin as he went. The summer morning was a bit chilly, and mist hung over the fields. Watching Li Xinmin's figure disappear into the mist, Old Du rowed back. It was still dark, and the sound of roosters crowing came from the village. Old Du yawned, feeling sleepy again.

Li Xiaozhu groped his way back to the village in the dark. The two dogs barked dutifully. He cursed and headed home. There was a jujube tree in the yard, its leaves rustling in the wind. Li Xiaozhu saw that the light in his room was still on. Remembering that he had forgotten to turn it off when he left, he went over and turned it off. Then he walked towards the east wing. Passing by his younger sister Xiaohong's room, he remembered that she had been visiting their second aunt for the past few days. He was very happy, and a smile appeared on his face.

The east wing was where Li Xinmin and his wife slept. Li Xinmin had just left, and it was quiet inside. Li Xiaozhu pushed the door open and softly called out, "Mother, I'm back."

Then he looked around; the sky was beginning to lighten, and the village was very quiet. Just then, the light came on, footsteps sounded, and then the door opened gently.

Li Xiaozhu went into the house, turned around and closed the door. Liu Yumei glanced at her son, then went to the bedside, lay down, and asked, "Your dad's gone?"

Li Xiaozhu nodded and said, "He's gone, he's crossed the river."

Liu Yumei rolled her eyes at him and said, "You're getting bolder and bolder. Your dad just left, aren't you afraid he'll come back?"

"No, he has to catch the cart!" Li Xiaozhu said, lying down on the bed as well, saying, "Dad carried so much stuff, my shoulders are sore from carrying it."

Liu Yumei chuckled and said, "That's karma, serves you right. You were hoping your dad would leave soon, weren't you? Kid, itching for a ride again?"

Li Xiaozhu nodded and said, "It's been itching for a while. Dad's been home for two months and I haven't had a chance. I'm dying to be home."

"You rascal, you can't even wait this long? Go turn off the light, I need to sleep. Do it yourself, but don't disturb me." Liu Yumei couldn't help but poke her son and said with a smile, "You two are like oxen, you can't stand not being fed for a few days. Go on, turn off the light."

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