Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The sun is descending alone; the wind is getting stronger, and also chillier; some dark clouds hanging heavily in the eastern sky. The sunlight of the spring has been so miserable in a dream like this. I stand up—uncertain of how long—and that plain of deep green larches once again captures my eyes. Far in the distance, some little figures are approaching, worm-like slow, with music barely real; closer and closer, the white-wing birds upon the fields of wheat are frightened, then flying all together with mournful groans towards the hill. I see it—a group of people pacing in a hurry, raising up some gray clay; led by three and five drummers, a few men follow, dressing all in white, behind all of them, it’s a coffin. Oh, someone is going to be buried, even in the springtime. Up-thrown is a handful of hell’s money [7], landing back onto the wheat fields like butterflies. Dark clouds in the eastern sky are thickening. Willows are made much greener, which seems a bit wretched and sad. I am lost and confused, only recalling in my mind the image of that pair of small green slippers, like two leaves having a dream of love, on the tree of immortality.

(The End)

NOTES:

[1]    Ching Ming, a traditional Chinese festival, 5 April.

[2]    Aromatic Mountain and Cloud-jaded Temple , well-known tourist attractions in Beijing , Cloud-jaded Temple was built on the Aromatic Mountain .

[3]    Cheongsam, traditional Chinese clothes, a long dress covering the body from neck to feet.

[4]    Tuen Ng, a Chinese festival, 15 July.

[5]    Sweetgrass, scarlet judge, cherry, those things related to Tuen Ng festival; scarlet judge, a superstitious image, which has power to chase all the ghosts away; sweetgrass can make go the bugs and toxicity; and cherry is the popular and seasonal fruit in Tuen Ng.

[6]    May Fourth Movement, a historic movement against the weakness and impotence of the government in China , led by patriotic students and workers, 4 May 1919.

[7]    Hell’s money, the fake money used by the people after death.