Volume 1: Emerging from Obscurity Chapter 11: Ripples of Emotion

After graduating, Xiang Xiulan was hired as a front-desk clerk at a private enterprise. I felt that a bachelor’s degree from a top-tier university was being wasted on such a position, but she didn’t seem to mind. Unexpectedly, her beautiful appearance and gentle personality made her well-suited for the work. By the end of that year, while my own career was struggling, she was named an outstanding employee of her company. It was said that the company’s president held her in high regard.

Upon learning that I had been demoted to the factory floor, Xiang Xiulan comforted me, saying that gaining experience on the workshop floor was a good thing. She insisted she didn’t care what I did for a living, only about who I was as a person, which moved me deeply.

However, the two-year deadline her mother had set for me to own a home was approaching. Not only did I have almost no savings to buy a property, but my career prospects had worsened, leaving me with no sense of future. Although Xiang Xiulan had kept my job change a secret from her family and continued to reassure me that she would find a way to make her mother abandon the rigid housing requirement, I was constantly worried that something would go wrong and felt guilty for failing her.

Inevitably, what I feared most came to pass. One evening, Xiang Xiulan called me, crying, to say that her mother had somehow found out about my transfer to the workshop and was adamantly demanding we break up. It was clear from her tone that they had been arguing. I hurriedly comforted her, telling her to stop fighting with her mother, stay calm, and that I would be there immediately.

After hanging up, I threw on a jacket and ran to the factory gate. Hesitating for a moment, I decided to take a taxi—a luxury I usually avoided. It felt like an eternity before one arrived. In the cab, I was frantic, repeatedly urging the driver to speed up until he grew impatient.

When I finally reached her home, I knocked. Her father opened the door and let me in without a word. The room was dimly lit. Her mother sat on the sofa with a face like thunder. Upon hearing my voice, Xiang Xiulan emerged from her small room; her eyes were red and swollen, and tear tracks were still visible on her face.

The situation was heavy, but for the sake of our love, I had to face it bravely. I bowed to her mother and pleaded, "Auntie, please, don't make Lanlan and me break up."

Her mother ignored me, turning her head away. I steeled myself and continued, "Auntie, I will treat Lanlan well. I will treat her well for the rest of my life."

She snorted, finally speaking: "Treat my daughter well? With what? Are you going to feed her on thin air or the northwest wind?"

"Auntie, please trust me," I said firmly. "I will work hard. Our life will definitely get better."

"Trust you?! It’s my own fault for being blind. I shouldn't have hesitated; I should have made her dump you long ago. A peasant is just a peasant; you can’t polish a turd. You offend one boss today and another tomorrow. If my daughter stays with you, she’ll suffer for a lifetime. Quit your daydreaming." Her voice grew louder and more agitated.

Ignoring the insults, I persisted, "Auntie, as long as I work hard, things will change."

"Work hard? What’s the point of a peasant working hard? It’s still just facing the dirt all day. You even dared to offend the manager—what are you going to change? Are you waiting for him to retire? You might be able to wait, but my daughter can’t! Since you’re here, let’s get this straight: you must leave my daughter, and never bother her again. Otherwise, don't blame me for being unkind!"

Her voice had become calm, but the content of her words left me in despair. I had to admit that my future was indeed bleak, which made me feel small and unable to stand my ground. After all, who would believe in me at a time like this?

Despite the despair, a voice in my heart told me not to give up. I dropped to my knees in front of her mother, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Auntie, let me be with Lanlan. I will cherish her more than my own life. If you agree, I will work like a slave to repay you."

Xiang Xiulan knelt beside me, crying, "Please, Mom, let me be with Dong. I will never be happy without him."

*Slap.* Her mother struck her across the face. The sound hit my heart, leaving me feeling physically sick.

"Get back in your room! You’ve disgraced me enough. Happy? Can you be happy on thin air? Without money, happiness is nothing! If you don't listen to me, we are finished as mother and daughter. Do whatever you want."

Xiang Xiulan ran into her room, sobbing. I remained on my knees. Her mother exploded, pointing at me: "And you, get out! Don't let me see you again!"

I didn't dare move, fearing that if I left, I’d lose my last chance. Her mother turned to her silent father: "What are you watching for? You spineless coward, don't you know how to kick out a trespasser?"

Her father hesitated, then walked over and patted my shoulder. "Xiao Wang, you’d better go."

I refused to stand, remaining rooted to the floor. Her mother began to curse loudly, then walked toward the phone, threatening to call the police. Her father pulled at me, pleading, "Xiao Wang, leave, before things get out of hand."

Desperate, I began to kowtow to her mother. My forehead hit the terrazzo floor with rhythmic thuds, but I felt no pain. "Auntie, please, I beg you," I chanted.

My shouting eventually drew Xiang Xiulan out of her room. She looked disheveled and haggard, a sight that broke my heart. I lunged toward her to hold her, but after one step, her mother kicked me in the shin. I collapsed in pain. Her father grabbed me and shoved me toward the door. As Xiang Xiulan cried out, she was slapped again. My leg was too weak to resist, and I was pushed out. The door slammed shut with a thud that echoed in my head like an explosion, shattering my world.

I sat there, numb, for several minutes. Eventually, I felt the pain in my leg and a sharper ache in my forehead. Touching it, I felt blood. Seeing the blood brought me to my senses: I couldn't give up. I stood up and pounded on the door. After a few minutes, neighbors began to open their doors to look. I ignored them and kept banging. Soon, two security guards arrived, forcibly dragged me away, and warned that if I kept harassing the residents, they would take me to the police station for detention.

I barely slept that night. The next morning, my leg still ached, and my forehead was bruised and crusted with dried blood. I washed up, changed, and went to work, over half an hour late—the first time I had ever been late.

When I reached the office, my appearance shocked everyone. When they asked what happened, I mumbled, "Nothing, just had a fall."

***

They didn't press for details. Director Song said, "You look terrible. If you aren't feeling well, just take two days off."

I had no heart for work anyway, so I thanked him and left.

Still unwilling to give up, I believed Xiang Xiulan loved me too much to leave. I went to her workplace, but they said she had taken leave. I waited for hours at her apartment building, but she didn't appear. I waited at the public phone at our appointed time, but there was no call. She seemed to have vanished from my life.

On the fourth day, I finally received a call from her at work. She told me to take the next day off and meet her at our school gate. That was all, but I felt like a drowning man who had suddenly been thrown a lifeline.

The next day, I met her in the woods by the school playground. We embraced, both in tears. She explained that her mother had locked her in her room for two days and only let her go to work on the condition that she return home immediately or face having her legs broken. She had snuck out today, knowing she had to return before her mother noticed.

I held her tightly, terrified of losing her. When I kissed her, she didn't resist, closing her eyes and leaning into me. We kissed as if we could stop time.

Following her lead, we revisited the places where we used to spend time as students. Near noon, she asked me to buy a pair of red candles. I didn't understand, but I obeyed.

Afterward, she took me to the Xianyun Hotel across from the school. She had already booked a room. I had heard that many students used this hotel, but because Xiang Xiulan was conservative, we had never been there.

Once inside, she told me she had intended to steal her household registration booklet to register our marriage, but her mother had hidden it.

"Dong," she said, looking shy but determined, "I’ve made up my mind. Today, I’m giving myself to you."

I was stunned. Was this the same conservative Xiang Xiulan? I was moved, but I felt I couldn't do this so impulsively; it would be unfair to her. "Lanlan, I understand your heart, but we shouldn't do this. I haven't prepared anything—it’s too simple."

"Don't say anything, Dong. I don't care about simplicity. Just remember what you said—treat me well for a lifetime."

"Treating you well is all I want, but I want to be more prepared."

"There’s no time," she insisted. "The situation won't allow us to wait. Only if we are truly together can we stop my mother’s other plans."

I had no choice. With her mother’s attitude, we were at a dead end. I agreed, though filled with guilt, and silently vowed never to let her down.

A knock at the door revealed hotel staff delivering steak and red wine. Lanlan lit the candles, and we ate in the dim light. She wore a forced smile, hiding her sadness. I was equally troubled, my appetite non-existent.

Afterward, she went to shower. When she came out, she told me to do the same.

When I emerged, I froze. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in a red bridal gown, her head covered with a red veil. In the flickering candlelight, it felt as if I had traveled back to ancient times for our wedding night.

She spoke softly: "Dong, don't you want to see how beautiful your bride is?"

I walked over slowly, afraid to break the spell, and lifted the veil. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

After our intimate encounter—which, perhaps due to nerves, didn't go all the way—I apologized. She sat up, shy but gentle: "It doesn't matter, Dong. I’m yours now, aren't I?"

"Of course. In this life, the next, and the one after that."

We held each other, wanting to merge into one.

***

Afterward, she dressed and checked her watch. "I have to go back to work, or my mother will find out."

"What about the future?" I asked.

"Don't worry. I’m yours now. I’ll confront her."

"I can't let you face her alone. I’ll come with you."

"No, that might make things worse. We’ll think of another way."

I realized she was right.

That night, I waited for her call, but the phone remained silent. An ominous feeling grew. The next day, her office said she was on leave. On the third day, unable to bear it, I went to her apartment, regardless of the consequences.

Her father opened the door. Her mother sat on the sofa, expressionless. I greeted her, and she shouted toward the room, "Come out!"

Xiang Xiulan emerged, wearing a brand-new pink dress that made her look stunning. I was stunned.

"Don't look for me anymore," she said. "I’m marrying someone else!"

I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning. "What? Marrying someone else? That’s impossible!"

Her mother chimed in: "What’s impossible? The date is set for next month." She turned to me, "We let you see her one last time so you’d give up. Don’t bother us again!"

I turned to Lanlan, desperate. "Tell me it's not true!"

She looked at me, her voice cold and clear: "Be calm. It’s true."

I grabbed her shoulders. "Why? Tell me why!"

She shoved me away—a roughness I had never seen from her. "There is no 'why.' You can't give me the life I want."

"But you said you didn't care about money!" I roared.

"That was when I was naive," she said coldly. The sight of her indifference was unbearable.

"I can work hard! I can make our life better!"

"Hard work?" Her mother laughed. "Let me tell you the truth so you can give up. My daughter is marrying her company president. He has tens of millions in assets and will inherit his father’s business—hundreds of millions. A poor wretch like you isn't even fit to carry his shoes, no matter how hard you work."

Her words were the final blow. I was defeated by reality.

I don't remember leaving, nor how I returned to the factory. For the next few days, I lay in bed with a high fever, unable to eat or care for myself, feeling as if life were worse than death, haunted by nightmares.

On the third day, when I was drifting in and out of consciousness, Director Song sent someone to check on me and had me rushed to the hospital.

After a few days, I recovered physically, but my spirit was broken. Zhu Lishan helped me with my work, and Director Song tried to counsel me, but I was a walking corpse. I had lost all motivation. Sometimes I thought of returning to the countryside, but I couldn't bear to break my mother's heart. I was trapped in my own misery.