by Wai Chim
My eyebrows shot up. ‘Meeting?’ I asked. ‘Does it have to do with the freeway?’ But Ma didn’t hear me.
‘So many people,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘I’d better bring out the good china cups for tea.’ With that, she disappeared into the house.
I frowned. A meeting with all of the villagers was a big deal. Usually the villagers just visited each other’s houses for tea or supper. Very rarely did everyone come together at once. It must have something to do with the freeway project, I thought.
Bao and Cap went to take the music box away but, instead of going with them, I quickly snuck around to the side of the house to spy on the meeting. I positioned myself under a window, holding my chooks tightly to my chest as they tried to squirm out of my grasp.
Soon enough, the villagers began to arrive. ‘Good afternoon,’ Jin boomed from the door. There was feet shuffling and loud chattering as Ma offered cups of tea.
Guo arrived and some of the villagers asked him about his studies. My brother didn’t say much in response, so I guessed he was feeling a bit shy.
The noise was making Little and Lo anxious so I set them on the ground as even more villagers arrived.
‘What are you doing?’ Cap’s voice came from my side. I’d been so caught up eavesdropping that I hadn’t heard Cap and Bao return.
‘Shh,’ I said, motioning for them to get down. Cap dropped to squat but Bao bounced up on his tippy-toes trying to see inside.
‘What are they talking about?’ Cap whispered. I craned my neck to sneak a peek over the window ledge.
It was a fairly large group, with at least ten or more villagers, most of whom I knew. There was the pig farmer, Mr Chen. I also recognised the local fisherman, Mr Yeung, and one or two other people who did business with Jin. Guo stood by himself in a corner, looking out of place.
‘That’s a lot of people,’ Cap said poking his head up next to me. Everyone squeezed in shoulder to shoulder in the cramped room, cups of tea in hand. With so many visitors, Ma had not only used the good china, but the chipped everyday teacups as well.
Ma came in, her hair done up in a sloppy braid, teapot in each hand. ‘Who needs more tea?’ she asked, sounding frantic.
Cap and I both ducked down when she turned towards the window.
‘I can’t see,’ Bao complained, still standing on his tippy-toes. Cap lifted him up so he could peer over the sill, and his feet dangled in the air.
Jin cleared his throat, calling for everyone’s attention. The room fell silent straight away. I realised just how much the villagers respected my stepfather and swelled with pride.
‘Friends, I have called this gathering today to discuss the urgent matter facing this village.’ Jin’s deep voice carried through the tiny space. ‘The regional ministry has plans for a new freeway, which if completed, will mean that Daoling Village will be torn up and many of our homes destroyed.’
‘It will go right through my kitchen,’ one of the men grumbled.
‘It will cut off my house from the river,’ said Mr Yeung, the fisherman. ‘How will I get my boat out with all of those cars and trucks going past?’
The rest of the group murmured about how the plans would affect their homes. Jin waited a moment and then raised his hand. The room fell silent again.
‘As you know, Deputy Director Yu has been around offering to buy many of our properties so that we relocate. Old Dan left with his son earlier this week. His son could not find any work here, so they decided to sell.’ The group murmured softly, concerned about the old toymaker and his son.
‘Aiy, it is a shame. It is getting very hard for the younger generation,’ Jin went on and the others nodded in agreement. He then turned to Guo. ‘But some are doing very well. My stepson has been attending university in the city and he has some great ideas on how we can improve our farming methods in the village.’
All heads turned to Guo whose face went red. I was so impressed by how smart my brother was. But then I noticed an odd grimace playing on his lips and he was squirming and shifting nervously. I frowned.
Jin was speaking again. ‘But of course, there will be no future for our children at all if we don’t find a way to convince this government that our village should not be torn down.’ Everyone nodded in agreement. ‘To do this, we need to stand together and say no. This isn’t about us anymore. This is about the future of Daoling. This is for our children.’
The villagers burst into applause and a few clapped my stepfather on the back. I sighed with relief. Jin wasn’t going to sell the farm. I almost joined in the cheering, but then remembered where I was and ducked back under the window.
‘What happened?’ Bao asked, scrunching up his forehead when Cap set him back on the ground.
‘Your pa got everyone to say no to selling their land,’ I explained. ‘He’s a real hero.’ Bao’s mouth burst into a wide grin and I ruffled his hair.
As the villagers were standing up, ready to conclude the meeting, there was a knock at the door. Ma rushed to answer it. My stomach dropped when I saw who it was.
Deputy Director Yu.
Chapter Five
A hush fell over the group. A few of the villagers stared at the floor with guilty looks on their faces like when the boys at school were caught making fun of the teacher.
‘Mrs Wang,’ the official greeted Ma. ‘Is your husband about?’
‘Yes, please come in,’ Ma said softly.
Deputy Director Yu strode into our cramped kitchen, his eyes bugging out like the ones on the cheap dolls they sold at the market. They lingered on Jin.
‘Mr Wang, I see that I’m interrupting your afternoon,’ he said. It was a statement, not an apology.
Jin squared his shoulders and stood up tall. Keeping his voice steady, Jin said, ‘That’s quite alright. Deputy Director Yu, was it? What can I do for you?’ Jin politely offered a seat at the little table. The group reluctantly shuffled over to make room while Ma fetched another cup and poured more tea.
The deputy director clucked his tongue and took a sip of tea. The villagers glanced around nervously but he paid them no attention. Instead, he opened his briefcase and laid out a thick stack of paper. It looked like the paper he had been carrying on New Year’s Eve.
After a long silence, the deputy director smacked his lips and addressed Jin once again. ‘Well, it’s good to see that so many of you are here as what I have to say applies to everyone.’
He cleared his throat and reached into his jacket pocket, withdrawing a red hanky that he used to wipe his glasses before continuing. ‘As many of you know, the Regional Ministry of Urban–Rural Development is going to build a freeway through this area.’ There was low grumbling, but the deputy director ignored it. ‘The objective was for all properties and areas marked for dismantling to be confirmed by the new year.’
I grimaced. The official was using some big words and I could tell that many of the villagers, having only been to school for a few years, didn’t really understand what he was saying. Their foreheads were scrunched up just like mine. Jin, on the other hand, was calm, his eyes never shifting as the deputy director droned on.
‘It is now the second week of the new year and the regional ministry reports that we only have twenty per cent of sales confirmed. This is, needless to say, unacceptable.’ He pulled his glasses down so that he was peering over the top of the thin metal frames. ‘And it is a matter that needs to be resolved quickly so that construction can begin on schedule later this month.’
‘With all due respect, Deputy Director Yu,’ Jin broke in, ‘I’m afraid that simply won’t be possible. You see, the residents of Daoling Village have all agreed. Our properties are not for sale.’
A few of the villagers nodded, although I noticed that others lowered their eyes to the floor. The presence of the deputy director clearly made them uncomfortable.
Deputy
Director Yu sucked in his lips. ‘Is that so?’ he said, turning to the group. Many more villagers dropped their gaze. Only Jin didn’t look away, his hands on his hips and feet planted.
‘And may I ask why you have come to this decision?’ the deputy director asked.
‘Well, quite simply, you asked us to leave our homes, disrupt our lives and ruin our children’s futures for something as silly as a freeway,’ Jin barked.
‘Of course, I understand,’ Deputy Director Yu said softly.
The villagers raised their heads, their eyebrows shooting up.
Jin’s face softened. ‘I’m thrilled to hear that, sir. We are most humbled by your sympathies,’ he said, bowing his head.
But Deputy Director Yu wasn’t finished. He broke into a smile that sent chills all the way down to my toes. ‘But alas, it is the children that this freeway construction is for.’
Jin drew back in surprise. ‘I beg your pardon?’
The deputy director sneered. ‘Don’t you see? There is nothing for your children in this village. What do you have here to offer them? Cows and sheep and shovels and hoes? Do you want your children to grow up and be nothing more than poor farmers like yourselves?’
‘How dare you—,’ Jin began, but Deputy Director Yu cut him off and turned to the group.
‘Do you think the government needs your permission to build the freeway?’ he exclaimed. ‘This is our way of offering you peasants a chance to give your families a better future, to resettle in the city where there are factories, universities and technology.’
Jin glared icy darts from his good eye. He crossed his arms but said nothing.
How dare he speak about our village that way?
My forehead crinkled and I saw that Cap had his eyebrows pulled together in bitter fury. Bao looked like he was going to burst into tears at any moment.
Suddenly, a loud clucking erupted at my feet. All heads turned to the window where Cap, Bao and I were looking in. Before I could say anything, Little leapt up until she was teetering on the edge of the windowsill. And then she hopped inside.
The villagers all knew Little and chuckled when she started pecking at the floor, looking for pieces of rice. Ma scowled and I knew we were going to be in big trouble.
But then the deputy director howled. ‘What is that?’ he cried, snatching up his paper and clutching it to his chest.
Jin smiled. ‘Why Deputy Director Yu, that is a chicken. Don’t tell me you educated city folk have never seen a chook before.’
The villagers laughed. The deputy director glared at the chook like it was an alien. In response, Little bent her head and narrowed her eyes, as if she were facing off against a deadly foe.
Not wanting to be left out, Lo scratched at the dirt and then flapped about in a flurry of tail feathers. He landed on the windowsill, his large form casting an angry chook-shadow in the room. Then my rooster tucked his wings in and stretched his neck out, crowing for all he was worth.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO. COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOO.
Deputy Director Yu flew out of his seat, sending his teacup crashing to the floor. Brown droplets sprayed everywhere, staining Little’s snow-white feathers. She yowled and flapped her wings which made the deputy director scream, his voice shrill and high-pitched. He reeled back, hiding his face behind his hands. He kept screaming and babbling nonsense until one of the villagers bent over and scooped up Little.
The deputy director lowered his arms, panting, his eyes wild. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Jin’s grin stretched from ear to ear. ‘Deputy Director Yu, it seems that my stepdaughter’s rooster has something he would like to say.’
As if on cue, Lo cocked his head and bobbed earnestly.
BA-KAW?
The villagers broke into fits of laughter. ‘Hey, Director, I think the chicken wants to buy a farm,’ one of the villagers called out. The group roared.
Deputy Director Yu fumed and looked at the paper in his hands. It was crumpled and soaked with tea. He glowered at the room.
‘You brutes have made a mess of this,’ he snapped. ‘What can I expect from peasant commoners?’
But the villagers were laughing too hard to notice. Lo, who was still eager to impress, jumped off the windowsill and landed in the middle of the room. He weaved his head from side to side, crowing loudly, which drew even more laughs from the crowd.
Without warning, the rooster hopped onto the table and scratched at the briefcase. Lo grabbed hold of a corner and pulled with all his strength. The leather ripped away from the frame.
‘Well, you can see what Mei’s rooster thinks about your offer,’ Jin said. ‘We’ll keep our cows and sheep and shovels and you can take your paper with you. We’re staying.’
The villagers nodded and crossed their arms to mimic Jin’s stance. No one was going to sign.
The deputy director gathered up his tea-soaked paper and slammed his torn briefcase shut. ‘I’ll be back. And the freeway will be built. You will all be sorry.’
He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
The villagers cheered and congratulated Jin. They also took turns to pat and praise my chooks for their heroic deeds. Ma had a little smile playing on her lips as she stooped over to clean up the broken cup. Cap, Bao and I threw up our arms and whooped.
But I noticed there was one person not celebrating. He stood apart from the group, his brow knitted and his mouth pulled in tight.
Guo.
Chapter Six
After the villagers left, we helped Ma clean up and wash all of the teacups. She was in good spirits, despite the kerfuffle with the chickens. Jin was loud and jolly, singing tunelessly at the top of his lungs. He scooped Bao up onto his shoulders and the two of them did a lion dance about the house.
Guo stayed silent all through dinner. He shrugged when Ma asked him how he felt about going back to school and he didn’t laugh at any of Jin’s jokes. I kicked him under the table which got him to look up, but he didn’t return my smile.
Something was up.
After dinner, I went out to feed scraps to the chooks. Little and Lo were in a particularly playful mood, fighting over grains of rice. They seemed quite pleased with themselves.
‘You both did so well,’ I said. After what had happened at the meeting, I was certain that we wouldn’t be seeing Deputy Director Yu again for quite some time. So I was surprised to hear stern voices coming from the kitchen when I went back to the house. Guo and Jin were arguing.
‘How could you say that to him?’ Guo hissed. ‘He’s a government official. He could evict us all from our homes.’
I snuck over to listen.
‘Guo, calm down.’ Jin’s voice was stern. ‘No harm’s been done and surely when the government sees that our village won’t just cave in, they’ll find another place to put their freeway.’
‘That’s not the point!’ Guo exclaimed. ‘We’re never going to progress this way. The deputy director was right. This whole village is a bunch of backwards farmers!’ He stomped his foot.
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my brother’s mouth.
‘Guo!’ Ma stormed in from the bathroom where she had been helping Bao with his bath. ‘How dare you speak that way! Apologise this instant,’ she demanded. But Guo said nothing.
Jin narrowed his good eye. ‘Guo, I thought you always wanted to be a farmer. Your ma said that you insisted—’
‘Do you know that they laugh at villagers in the cities?’ Guo cut Jin off. ‘They say all we do is clean poo. Why do I have to be stuck in this tiny village just because I was born to a farmer?’
His face flushed. ‘Ma, you used to live in the city,’ he pleaded. ‘You know how behind we are. Everyone else has computers and technology and we just have bicycles and chickens! No wonder they make fun of us. The deputy director’s right. T
here’s no future here. We need to sell the farm.’
It was like time had stopped. Everything went quiet, except for the clamouring of my heart. My knees began to shake. ‘No.’ The cry came from my lips, before I could stop it.
‘Mei.’ Guo turned to me and his face crumpled but I could barely see through the tears welling up in my eyes.
‘Guo, please,’ I begged in a hoarse whisper. ‘You don’t mean that. Tell me you didn’t mean it.’ My limbs, my face, everything felt numb.
‘I –,’ he began but then fell silent. Instead of answering, my brother turned, walked out of the house and fled into the darkness of the night.
Hours later, I wasn’t sleeping. My mind ran the words Guo had said, over and over.
We need to sell the farm.
I curled up into a ball and squeezed my eyes shut. All my life, I was certain that Guo would grow up and take over Pa’s farm. But since he had come back from university, he seemed to have changed his mind. I hunched even tighter into a little cocoon, wanting to disappear.
Do you know that they laugh at villagers in the cities?
I shivered in the darkness, waiting, feeling very cold and alone. It was late and Guo still hadn’t come home. Not that I really wanted him to. I was still mad at him, but I was also getting worried.
Eventually, Ma came into my room. She climbed into the bed and held me close to her chest, like when we used to share a bed after Pa died.
‘Ma,’ I cried, burying my face into her neck. I listened to my mother’s soft breathing and inhaled her comforting scent. My limbs warmed up a little bit, but inside I still felt empty. I wiped my tears on her shirt.
‘Hush, little Mei, it will be okay, you’ll see,’ she whispered. She sang a sweet lullaby that she used to sing when I was little. It was the same one that Old Dan had built into the music box. I hadn’t heard Ma sing in so long. Her voice was beautiful and melodic.
I snuggled up to her. ‘That was really pretty,’ I said. ‘You should have been an opera singer.’ She smiled and kissed my forehead.
