Chapter 16 Guanyin
Time passed quickly, and Hang Liumei's life in Dunhuang began to gain some flavor.
There was no room for refinement in food and drink; the table usually consisted of the same old three things: radishes, potatoes, and cabbage, with some boiled noodles making up a meal. But this situation improved before May arrived. A few resourceful individuals, including Qi Xiuchun, had their sights set on the row of elm trees along the Dangquan River, eager to pick their seeds.
The institute was planting trees together that day, and after finishing, everyone still had plenty of energy left, so they headed for the elm forest. The Dangquan River had thawed, and the water was surging forward. Flowers and plants were flourishing along the riverbank, a rare sight of spring in the Gobi Desert.
The elm trees were shimmering with green. Qi Xiuchun took off her pilled scarf and hat and stuffed them into Hang Liumei's pockets. She then instructed her to empty both of their cloth bags. "Just wait down there while I pick two big bags of elm seeds for our Meimei!"
After Qi Xiuchun finished speaking, she jumped up like a monkey, and the people around her cheered. Hang Liumei looked up and saw that she had picked all the tender elm seeds off the thin branches with just one stroke of her hand, and she was enjoying it very much.
I started cooking right away when I got home. Wash the elm seeds, wrap them in the sauce, and steam them until cooked. Heat oil in a wok, add dried chilies, green onions, and Sichuan peppercorns. The fried elm seeds are a rare delicacy of the year.
The eighth day of the fourth lunar month is Buddha's Birthday, a major event in Dunhuang, when people from all over the county gather for the annual temple fair. Early in the morning, a large crowd gathers in front of the Mogao Grottoes, known locally as the Thousand Buddha Caves. They come with children and elders to celebrate with the thousand Buddhas. A market has sprung up on the flat ground in front of the caves, with some selling food, others setting up stalls selling small items, and even some holding wooden tablets with the words "fortune-telling" written on them.
Hang Liumei saw an old man driving an animal toward the cave, shouting as he ran, "Fellow countryman! The donkey can't come over here! Fellow countryman! The donkey is tied to the side of the road!"
The old man ignored her, pretending he hadn't heard her. Hang Liumei was so anxious that she turned back to look for her colleagues, only to find them all laughing behind her, clutching their stomachs.
"How can you still laugh? Didn't you see that his donkey entered the cave and caused trouble? Why did he pretend not to hear me when I called him?" Hang Liumei fanned herself angrily with her hands, her little face flushed red.
Qi Xiuchun laughed so hard that she was out of breath. She pinched her waist and stopped laughing, mumbling, "He won't hear you if you tell him to stop the donkey, because he's driving a mule!"
Besides mules and donkeys, there were also many cattle and horses. Not only did everyone have to take care of the livestock, but they also had to be mindful of the pilgrims. People would enter the caves, pray and make wishes before the Buddha statues and murals, and then inevitably seek shelter from the sun, rest, smoke, and chat. At these times, the institute staff would have to persuade them to leave.
Occasionally, there would be minor arguments, sometimes even heated arguments, but the villagers were generally tolerant. As long as they didn't cause any damage inside the cave, they were welcome to have fun outside. Someone would bring out a musical instrument, and everyone would sing and dance.
In the summer, Li Guang apricots ripened. Hang Liumei had never tasted such delicious apricots before. Seeing her skipping meals and only eating apricots, Qi Xiuchun poked her in the forehead and said, "Peaches nourish, apricots harm, and plum trees can bury people dead." Sure enough, Hang Liumei became furious within a few days, and Qi Xiuchun had to secretly gather honeysuckle from the director's vegetable garden and bring it back to make tea for her.
When apricots were no longer available, they could eat watermelon instead. The alkaline water in Dunhuang was bitter, but watermelon was cheap and thirst-quenching. Whenever Hang Liumei and Qi Xiuchun bought a large basket, they would store it under the table and eat it whenever they were thirsty.
Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the institute organized everyone to go to Yulin Grottoes for research. Hang Liumei had already agreed with her family that she would go back for the Chinese New Year and not go back for the Reunion Festival. Her family replied and sent her some local specialties, asking her to take care of herself.
Yulin Grottoes, the sister grottoes of Mogao Grottoes, are nestled in a canyon on the edge of Guazhou County, a half-day drive from Mogao Grottoes. Despite the distance, the natural scenery is unique. Snowwater from the Qilian Mountains flows through the canyon, turning the vegetation along its banks to yellow. The view from atop this vantage point is breathtaking and majestic. They fell in love with the area after only a few days of exploration.
Qi Xiuchun got some food and climbed up to the second cave to bring it to Hang Liumei. As soon as he saw her sitting there motionless, he started yelling, "I really have the body of a servant and the fate of a maid. I was born to serve you, a young lady, but you don't even bother to give me food. I have to bring it to your mouth!"
The two sat side by side on the high platform outside the cave. Hang Liumei proudly showed her the painting she had just drawn: "Tell me, how could there be a maid as arrogant as you? Look at this!"
In fact, she had only sketched a few strokes, but Qi Xiuchun praised it seriously, "How can I say you are amazing? I don't know where your eyes got them. This Xixia mural is so blurry, yet you copied it so well. You are the best painter in our institute!"
"Don't embarrass me, this is just a casual sketch. I'll do a formal copy next time. Hey? Sister Xiuchun, come with me. I'll draw half and you half. We can keep this painting for ourselves and divide it into two. If we ever get separated, we can use this painting to recognize each other."
Qi Xiuchun put the lunch box in her arms and said with pretended disgust: "Why are you acting like you've really turned into Jia Baoyu and Xue Baochai, with all the gold and jade? It's so corny. I won't draw it. I can't draw well."
Qi Xiuchun worked with the institute's master, He Yunli, on cultural relic restoration. Frescoes often suffered from peeling, hollowing, and brittleness, problems that were gradually discovered by generations of Dunhuang workers using traditional methods. Later, Master He also led new researchers in the restoration of clay sculptures. Qi Xiuchun was so skilled in clay sculpture that she could shape anything she touched, so she was assigned to focus on clay sculpture.
People who study cultural relics restoration also have to learn to paint. If they don’t understand the art of lines, they cannot restore the charm of the work of art. That’s why Hang Liumei didn’t believe her excuse.
Hang Liumei opened the lunch box and found that it contained mutton, cabbage and vermicelli stew. No wonder Qi Xiuchun had to rush to deliver it to her. If it weren't for Sister Xiuchun thinking about her, she would not have been able to eat even a leaf of vegetable.
Hang Liumei persuaded Qi Xiuchun while eating: "Just draw a picture with me. I'll draw Guanyin and you draw the Dragon Girl. The Dragon Girl is easy. After you finish drawing, I'll give you half of the dried sweet potatoes that my grandma dried!"
Qi Xiuchun pretended to agree reluctantly. Unexpectedly, not long into the painting, someone announced the arrival of the shuttle bus, and they were ready to leave! They had just hastily finished the outline drawing, and could only wait until later to complete the coloring.
As they walked to the car, Qi Xiuchun pulled Hang Liumei aside and whispered in her ear, "When we get to the county town, don't rush back to the office. Let's go find that old Chinese doctor they mentioned last time to check your eyes. You don't know when you'll be able to go out again. It's been several months now, and we can't delay any longer."
Hang Liumei's heart warmed. Something had been wrong with her eyes since the beginning of summer. They felt dry and raw after looking at them for too long, as if something was stuck inside. At first, she'd thought it was an allergy, but the cooler weather didn't help. Later, large, bloodshot patches would appear on the whites of her eyes, a startling sight. Unexpectedly, Qi Xiuchun was still concerned about her condition. Hang Liumei nodded, as she also wanted to go to the post office to send some money home.
Back in Dunhuang County, Qi Xiuchun and Hang Liumei followed the address their colleague had given them to look for the legendary old Chinese doctor. They had been to the county several times and were familiar with the route, but after turning several streets, they still couldn't find the address.
"That shouldn't be the case," Qi Xiuchun held up the note and looked at the street sign. "It clearly says this is the address, so why can't I find it?"
She was so focused on looking up that she didn't pay attention to where she was standing. A bicycle came out of the alley and brushed past her shoulder. Qi Xiuchun cried out "Ouch" and twisted her ankle as she fell to the side of the road.
The young man on the bicycle pulled over and rushed back to apologize: "I'm sorry, sister, I didn't control the bike properly. Is your foot okay? But why didn't you get out of the way? It's so dangerous to wander around like that without looking at the road!"
"Who are you calling me 'big sister'? I'm fine!" Qi Xiuchun said this, but as soon as she stood up, she squatted down again in pain.
Hang Liumei supported her worriedly and said, "Sister Xiuchun, I don't want to see a doctor anymore. Let's find a place to treat your feet first. I'm really fine." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
The young man, assuming they were seriously ill and seeking medical attention, quickly asked what was going on. After hearing the whole story, he explained they'd found the right person. "There are two streets in the county town with the same name, and you've taken the wrong one. So, since I'm the one who hit you today, I'll imitate Lei Feng and do good deeds. You can sit on the back of my bike and I'll take you there."
Hang Liumei stared at him. He had a large, square face, dark yellow skin, pale eyebrows, thin eyelids, and angular cheekbones and chin, resembling the Terracotta Warriors, a famous tourist attraction in her hometown. Seeing his sincerity, she was a little shaken, but Qi Xiuchun still looked wary.
The young man opened the cloth bag he was carrying across his body, took out a notebook, and handed it to Qi Xiuchun: "I'm a teacher at the County Central Primary School. My name is Huang Hanwen. This is my lesson plan, and this is my ID. Please take a look at it, is it okay? I'm a good person, and I really want to help you."
Qi Xiuchun now believed him, and Huang Hanwen took them to the place. The old doctor said Hang Liumei's eye problem wasn't serious; it wasn't an allergy, but rather a result of excessive dryness. The oil glands in her eyelids were clogged, and without the oil to lock in moisture, her eyeballs were prone to dryness and discomfort. He told her to apply a hot towel to her eyes every day when she got home. He also prescribed her some dark ointment to apply with her eyes closed. She was sure she'd be fine in ten days or half a month.
Qi Xiuchun's foot was actually more seriously injured; the sprain nearly broke a bone. He prescribed her medicine for injuries. Huang Hanwen rushed to pay, but was outmaneuvered by Qi Xiuchun. Before leaving, the doctor told her to come back for a follow-up checkup in two weeks.
It was time to say goodbye to Huang Hanwen. Huang Hanwen took out a notebook, tore off a piece of paper, wrote his name and address on it, and handed it to Qi Xiuchun: "When you come back for a checkup, come find me. I hit you. I'll pay for your medical expenses next time."
Qi Xiuchun returned the paper to him: "No need, I know the condition of my foot well. There's no need to go through so much trouble. I'll just go back and rest for two days. It's not easy to come here from the institute. We won't come back for a follow-up check."
Huang Hanwen's face changed when he heard this. His serious face made him look even more like a Terracotta Warrior. He pushed his bicycle in front of Qi Xiuchun and said, "That won't do. A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. What if your foot grows crooked if you don't get a checkup? You said you're from a research institute, the Dunhuang Cultural Relics Research Institute, right? Okay, I get it. If you don't come, I'll get some medicine and send it to you. She just called you Sister Xiuchun, so I'll look for you by that name."
"Why are you like this? Okay, okay," Qi Xiuchun had no choice but to take back the paper with his name on it. "I'll keep it, but I won't come to you even if I need medical treatment, and you won't have to pay for it."
Huang Hanwen grinned, got on his bike and rode away, leaving behind a message: "We'll see you again, Xiuchun!"
"It's incomprehensible!" Qi Xiuchun cursed inwardly. She was not angry but found it funny instead of encountering such bad luck. Could it be that her head was also injured?
When they returned to the station, it was already dark. After washing up, they finally climbed onto the kang to rest. Hang Liumei stealthily took out a package from behind her and placed it on Qi Xiuchun's quilt.
Qi Xiuchun sat up with her legs crossed and asked, "What is this?"
“Dried sweet potatoes!”
"Hey, you took it seriously? I was just kidding. Keep it for yourself."
"Oh, then why don't you open it and take a look! Take a look!"
Qi Xiuchun couldn't stand Hang Liumei's nagging any longer, so she opened the cloth bag. Inside were a newly knitted scarf, gloves, and a wool vest, all in her favorite crimson color.
Hang Liumei wrapped the scarf around her neck, explaining as she did so, "I told my mom that you weren't coming home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. She said it was getting cold in Dunhuang, so she knitted you a new warm set. We can both wear new clothes and celebrate the festival together!"
A large tear fell on the back of her hand, and Qi Xiuchun burst into tears in the blink of an eye: "How can you be so nice! My damn father and stepmother don't care about me, but you still remember me. They only ask me for money. I haven't received new clothes in years!"
"Liu Mei, thank you mom, thank you grandma. I'll go back with you to see them during the holidays!" She wiped away her tears, put on her gloves and vest, and twisted her body to show them to Hang Liu Mei. "How about it? Doesn't this color suit me? I like it. I really like it! How can it be so good!"
Hang Liumei was hugged by her, her face was covered with tears, and she felt like crying. She patted Qi Xiuchun's back and comforted her: "It's okay, Sister Xiuchun. In the future, as long as I have it, I will share it with you."
That night, the two of them lay in the warm bed and talked for a long time. Qi Xiuchun told Hang Liumei that her family had been painting statues for the temple for three generations, but her biological mother had passed away early, and then the family married a stepmother, and with younger brothers and sisters, all hungry, there was no one to take care of her. Before she finished her studies, someone came to propose marriage. Her father gave her a choice: either marry and earn a dowry for the family, or go out and work to earn money; she couldn't just sit around and eat for free.
In a fit of anger, Qi Xiuchun left for Dunhuang and hasn't returned home for almost two years.
"I probably won't go back this year. No one wants me to go back anyway." Qi Xiuchun talked until she burst into tears. "Do you know why I don't want to draw that picture with you today? You said that if we separate, we can recognize each other through the picture. I think it's unlucky. What if it comes true? So it's better not to draw. We are good sisters. We can see each other whenever we want. We don't need to draw pictures to recognize each other if we are separated."
Hang Liumei heard her say that and agreed, "Sister Xiuchun, I'll listen to you. We won't paint this picture anymore, and we won't separate."
They both stopped talking. Hang Liumei was feeling sleepy but wanted to go to the bathroom. She was hesitating in bed when Qi Xiuchun suddenly said without thinking, "That Huang Hanwen was a real weirdo today. Even though he bumped into me, I sprained my ankle myself. Why did he insist on accompanying me to the doctor and even paying for it? How could anyone be willing to be a sucker, don't you think?"
Hang Liumei got off the kang and went to the toilet, answered casually, and didn't take the pornographic article to heart anymore.
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