Some foreknowledge of what was coming sent a shiver through her…
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Ch. 15.2
The hot summer weather in Qianping in July and August was especially brutal. Although Jingwan loved to sleep late, the summer days were long and by around ten in the morning, the sun was already riding high in the sky¹ while the flowers and trees in the courtyard were lush and green. Since she had got up late, she skipped breakfast and munched on a slice of cake instead while reading a foreign newspaper. The papers were still full of analysis about the clash between the Cheng and Ying armies in Zhengjia village, the deployments and strengths of both sides and the mediation efforts of foreign governments. The words ‘Cheng Army’ produced a sense of irritation so she tossed the papers aside. Madam Yin saw that she had been reading the papers and asked, ‘What does the news say? Is there going to be a battle?’
She replied, ‘What they always say. The foreign military expert thinks that although the situation is very tense, there probably won’t be any fighting in the near future.’
Madam Yin remarked, ‘That’s a relief. War always causes chaos, which is so dreadful.’ She then asked, ‘Aren’t you going for a walk in the park with Jianzhang? How come you still haven’t left yet?’
Jingwan glanced at the clock before replying, ‘We’re going to lunch at Mingmingxuan. And anyway, we’ve walked around the park so much that it feels like we’re walking in our own garden, so it’s hardly interesting.’
Mingmingxuan, situated in Qianshan Park, was a restaurant well-known for its Western cuisine. Jingwan had always liked the peach jelly served there so she and Jianzhang often went there on their dates.
¹ 豔陽高照 yànyáng-gāozhào. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
She did not leave the house until eleven o’clock so it was nearly twelve by the time she reached the park. It was a Sunday and the restaurant was almost fully occupied. Since she was a regular customer, the waiter came up to greet her with a broad smile and said, ‘Ah, you’re here, Miss Yin, Master Xu arrived some time ago and is waiting for you.’
Because they were having Western cuisine, Xu Jianzhang was also dressed for the occasion in a European suit. The coloured mosaic glass windows were reflecting the rays of the brilliant midday sun in multi-coloured shafts. A beam of pale golden light happened to bathe his face, causing him to narrow his eyes slightly. His dark hair was straight and his smile gentle which caused her to feel warm and at ease. She asked with a smile, ‘Have you been waiting long?’
He answered, ‘Not really, I got here not too long ago.’
A commotion suddenly erupted outside not long after some courses of the meal were served. There was actually a Russian band playing in the restaurant but the commotion disrupted the music. Someone was saying something very loudly, others kept asking questions and all the customers couldn’t resist craning their necks to see what was going on. As a waiter hurried past them, Jingwan hailed him and asked, ‘What’s happening?’
The waiter answered, ‘The newspaper office just reported that the Cheng Army has declared war.’
Her heart sank abruptly and her mind went blank for some reason. It was some time before she could turn round and look at Xu Jianzhang.
A trace of dejection flashed in his eyes but it was quickly covered up by a sort of equanimity. His voice also sounded tranquil as he observed, ‘Looks like it’s going to be chaotic for a time.’
Jingwan was gradually pulling herself together and remarked offhandedly, ‘It’s been four to five years since the Cheng and Ying armies last fought, hasn’t it?’ She was using her fork to dice the crêpe into little pieces even as they talked.
A vociferous discussion of the situation was going on at a table near them and snatches of the conversation drifted over to their table.
Someone was opining, ‘Murong Feng has done an unwise thing — the Cheng Army is already disadvantaged and won’t be able to turn this to their account.’
Another agreed, ‘The Ying forces just defeated the Anguo Army which means that their soldiers’ morale is high at the moment. If the foreign powers hadn’t mediated, they would have already declared war a month ago in response to the Cheng Army’s provocations.’
Someone else had a different view, however, and argued, ‘I don’t think so. Murong Feng just signed a treaty with the Russians then next thing you know, he goes and declares war on the Ying Army — there must be something going on.’
They were all talking at once and without pause. Jingwan had not wanted to listen, but every word was like a slimy little snake worming its way into her ears with little hisses. She was troubled and sighed unconsciously.
Xu Jianzhang suddenly said, ‘Jingwan.’
She looked up at him. His expression was still serene; the stained glass windows had cast dancing shadows on the snow-white tablecloth while the other quivering silhouettes turned out to be the trees outside the windows, stirring in the breeze. The restaurant had many ceiling fans that were turning slowly at the moment: the giant blades were like oars leisurely stirring the sultry air. Some foreknowledge of what was coming sent a shiver through her, and her clammy palms caused the crisp napkin to turn limp. Jianzhang was still wearing the same expression, as if they were children again and he was going to pick some flowers for her, and then he proposed, ‘Let’s get married.’
The fan above them was whirring softly, all around them were the muted sounds of conversation and laughter, while cicadas sang their full-throated² chorus in the distance outside. Jingwan was not feeling hot but her clothes were already damp with perspiration and clinging to her skin. There was only a feeling of panic in her heart, like the time when she had been a child and woken up to find the room completely quiet. No mother or nanny around; everywhere had been quiet save for the ticking of the clock hanging on the wall. She had been the only one in the room, and it had frightened her terribly.
Amid the hum of conversation, she faintly heard someone speaking Russian — the blunt manner of speech was at once strange yet familiar. Gathering her wits, she then perceived that the band conductor was Russian. The band struck up a new tune, ‘Souvenirs D’enfance’: the piano playing was very clear and every note seemed to be pounding on her heart, one after the other. She heard her own voice answering clearly, ‘All right.’
² 聲嘶力竭 shēngsī-lìjié. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Everything for the engagement had already been prepared but had been delayed due to Jianzhang’s incident, hence it was not a great deal of trouble to rearrange for them. Although a new society was in vogue, the old ways still held when it came to a major life event like a wedding and so both families prepared betrothal gifts and dowries.
Jingwan had never realised that so much needed to be done for a wedding and although her parents were managing the arrangements for her, there were still many things that she needed to select for herself. This morning, Jianzhang personally drove both of them to Da’an, a foreign-owned jewellery firm, to look at diamond rings.
There were not many customers to begin with at a foreign jeweller’s, especially on a morning like this. Upon walking in, they found only a few Indian shop assistants who waited on them solicitously. An assistant took out an assortment of diamond rings for them to view and suggested, ‘If you don’t see anything you like, we also have loose diamonds that you can customise for your ring.’
Since it was for her wedding, Jingwan took the selection process very seriously and was very particular, but all the rings were rather ordinary and nothing caught her fancy even after some time. The shop assistants then showed her some loose diamonds lying on black velvet that resembled glittering stars in the night sky. Perceiving them to be important customers, one assistant was especially eager to please and offered, ‘We have a very fine yellow diamond — yellow diamonds are rare to begin with and this one is three carats, which is really uncommon.’ As he said this, he took out a small peach-shaped box and opened it for them to see.
The bird’s nest cut diamond reminded Jingwan of the bracelet Murong Feng had once gifted her: it had been so densely inlaid with diamonds that their refulgent sparkle³ had been nearly enough to hurt the eyes. Her expression froze and in that split second, Jianzhang also noticed the change in her demeanour. He then recalled the first time he had been to see her after she had been injured. She had been wearing a bracelet about three to four inches wide, inlaid with bird’s nest cut diamonds that had winked and glittered under the light and had been highly dazzling. At that time he had only been concerned about her condition and had not thought any more of it, but now upon recollection that bracelet seemed to be glittering splendidly before his eyes again.
He remembered that when she had first returned from abroad the previous year, she had seen and been charmed by a photo in an English magazine of a foreign princess wearing that type of diamond bracelet. However, this type of rare, priceless bracelet was something not even wealthy merchants could afford and as he gazed at that brilliant diamond, he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. A chill suffused the inner recesses of his heart and his hands suddenly felt cold even though it was scorching hot.
³ 流光溢彩 liúguāng-yìcǎi. Please consider reading from hiding in plain sight rather than from novelscraping sites.
Jingwan remarked smilingly to him, ‘I don’t really care for this type of yellow diamond. It looks a bit dark and doesn’t stand out as much as other diamonds.’
He returned her smile. Jingwan’s sharp eyes spotted another box in the shop assistant’s hand and she thus asked, ‘Is that also a yellow diamond?’
The shop assistant replied, ‘It’s a pink diamond. A customer took a fancy to the stone some days ago, but didn’t like the way it was set and so asked for it to be remounted; the deposit has already been paid.’
Jingwan went ‘I see’ even as the shop assistant opened the box for them to take a look. The diamond, also around three carats, was set in a delicate collet and caught her fancy straightaway.
Seeing that she liked it, Xu Jianzhang asked the shop assistant to take the ring out. She tried it on and it fit perfectly. The shop assistant remarked smilingly, ‘Your fingers are long and slender so this style is the most flattering.’
The more Jingwan looked at it, the more she liked it so Jianzhang suggested, ‘Since this one is already bespoke, let’s have another one made based on this design.’
The shop assistant smiled apologetically and explained, ‘As you know, there are no takers given how pink diamonds are priced. Nowadays, blue and pink diamonds are extremely rare and as far as we know, pink diamonds are in short supply in the domestic market. If you have your heart set on one, we can cable our head office and have it imported, just that we have to trouble you for a down payment.’
Jianzhang said, ‘A down payment is no problem, but how long will it take?’
The shop assistant replied, ‘The usual route would be by rail, but since the Cheng and Ying Armies have declared war, it’ll have to come by sea from Shanghai. It should arrive within three months at the fastest.’
Jingwan couldn’t help feeling crestfallen when she heard this because their wedding was going to be held the following month.
Jianzhang asked hastily, ‘It can’t be any faster?’
The shop assistant spread his hands out in a gesture of helplessness.
Jingwan said, ‘Then never mind, I’ll just choose a ready-made one.’ She took off the ring and put it back in the box. With its faint pink hue, the diamond was like a rosy dewdrop, flawless and sparkling, making for an arresting sight.
Seeing her longing expression, Jianzhang could not help questioning the shop assistant again, ‘Is there really no other way?’
The shop assistant looked up and remarked, ‘What a coincidence, the customer who ordered this ring is here. Why not discuss it with him?’
(Approx. 2072 words)
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