A GRAVE RECKONING

Liu Yang woke from his dream with a start. His phone was vibrating ceaselessly beside him. It was a call from his mother. “Your fathers back.” Her voice had extraordinary calm. “Hes waiting for you in room 1022 of the Tea Horse Hotel.” She hung up as soon as she finished speaking.

Thinking that it had been 13 years since his father had left without a goodbye， never coming back once， Liu Yangs temper flared. Okay， lets go meet him， see what this cold-blooded man has to say.

He threw on a coat and walked out into the pitch-dark night towards that hotel. There was nobody on these midnight streets， the only the wind rustling the slumbering maple leaves as it swept the ground.

It was an old hotel， a retro sign flashing the words “Tea Horse Hotel” brightly. Liu Yang had never seen it in the area before; the first time itd appeared to him was on his phones GPS.

The middle-aged， sallow-faced woman at the front desk glanced briefly at Liu Yang， not even bothering with the registration procedures. He walked straight into the elevator， and pressed the button for floor ten under the dim， flickering light. He shook his head at the buttons that were so worn down as to be almost illegible. Who knew his father had such poor taste？

The dark red of the carpet in the hallway was the color of dried blood. The lights in the ceiling flickered as in the elevator， as if about to go on strike. Liu Yang came to a stop in front of a mahogany door carved with floral patterns， inlaid with a golden plaque that said 1022.

He hesitated， took a deep breath， and knocked. The door wasnt locked， and he pushed it open， walking in to find a balding middle-aged man sitting upon a twin bed， shoulders hunched. When he heard the door， he looked up， startled， at Liu Yang， appraising him. Hed aged. He was changed from the tall， strong man Liu Yang remembered. Wrinkles etched deeply in his face， and almost no loose flesh hung upon his wide frame. Under Liu Yangs gaze he stood up， still tall， but a bit hunch-backed， his body slightly bent.

He smiled at him. The two hands in his sleeves trembled at his sides. Liu Yang felt like this man in from of him wanted to hug him， and unconsciously took a step backwards. He didn't want to be touched by those dirty hands. He couldnt come and see me for 13 years; what right had he to come ask me to care of him when he's too old to move？ Liu Yong looked at his dark pupils， murky and full of pain and hurt. His mouth was pursed， and his entire frame seemed to be was trembling inside his white shirt. It seemed as if he would collapse any second.

He had yet to say anything.

Just as Liu Yang tried to say something to break the ice， his fathers eyes suddenly grew wide， fear and panic written his face. He shoved Liu Yang onto the bed with frightening strength. Liu Yang looked up angrily， but what he saw froze his anger in mid-air like the cold ice of winter.

A knife protruded from the back of his fathers neck. He pushed against the wall with his hands， struggling not to fall down. In Liu Yangs peripheral vision， a pallid young man was darting out the room. He jumped up and hurriedly called the emergency number. He had taken this knife from him. Maybe this time I will lose him forever…my father.

The events of 13 years prior played over in his head.

When he was 8 years old， his father was strong and solid. He climbed on his father's back， clamoring to pick a pomegranate from the tree. When he was 13， his father lost his job， and sat around with pain and guilt written upon his brow， but he never stopped caring—making Liu Yangs every meal， helping him with every hard math problem. At 17， Liu Yang saw his father leave for a distant province， trying to make good through hard work. He came back less and less frequently， but was always smiling when he did so. Then， one day， he never returned.

The loud sirens of the ambulance sounded， pulling Liu Yang back to reality. His father walked forward leaning on Liu Yang and the paramedic; the goddamned hotel elevator couldnt even fit a stretcher. Liu Yang swore nonstop， afraid his father would leave him again， but this strong man gave no sign of wanting to collapse.

From the ambulance， Liu Yang sent his mother a text. He didnt call so as to not wake her up， but a reply came quickly.

Liu Yang sit in a chair in the hallway of the hospital， watching his father carried into the emergency room. His mother had already arrived， and now pressed herself against the ERs glass window to peer inside. Who was that pallid young man？ Those ice-cold eyes that had looked back at him made him tremble， but there was a feeling of familiarity. In fact， he realized， the man looked like him.

Time passed slowly. Just before the first light peeked over the horizon， his father emerged with his mother from surgery. “Thank heavens！” His mother wore a smile he hadnt seen in a long time. “It was just a flesh wound， no damage to the tissue. Some stitches fixed it up.” Liu Yang took his fathers arm from his mothers grasp， and held on to him gently.

“You wont blame him， OK？” His mother seemed like a little girl， looking at him warily， afraid to excite him. Seeing him shake his head， she breathed a sigh of relief. “Then lets go home. We can finally be together as a family.”

His father still hadnt said anything.

The trees that lined the street looked resembled guards at their station， watching over them. Liu Yang supported his father as he walked forward， step by step. He tried to remember details about his father， but his mind was blank. But touching him was real. He felt the warmth of his body， the heat mingling with the blood in his own veins， imprinted deeply and permanently in his bone and tissue over the years. Liu Yang took a breath of the morning air， the intermingled scents of grass and soil， and felt embraced by luck and fortune.

Suddenly， his father stopped in his tracks. He turned his face， a face full of happiness contentment.

Tears flowed from his eyes like pearls off a broken string， covering his face. Liu Yang tried to wipe away the tears with his hand and embrace his father. “Dont cry. Were almost home. I dont mind， I really dont！ As long as youre back...and you really are.”

His father pushed him away. His eyes were murky， and his mouth trembled. He looked as if he wanted to speak but couldnt. He waved at Liu Yang and finally opened his mouth. That familiar voice seemed to come from far away. “Were out of time.” He was standing not three feet away but his voice was very faint， as if they were separated by a pane of glass.

“What do you mean， out of time？” Liu Yang asked without understanding. He raised his own voice. “Weve got a lot of time！”

His father pointed at a mountainside not far off. He had the same expression was as when Liu Yang saw him that last time 13 years ago， just as resolute， just as infuriating. His father was planning on leaving again.

“Get lost！” Liu Yang yelled at him. “Go back to where you came from. I just dont want to see you again！”

His mother suddenly knelt beside Liu Yang. “Dont speak to your father like this. He cant help it.” She motioned towards the mountainside. “Look closer.”

His gaze shot like an arrow towards the place where they pointed. It was a graveyard， a stone in the ground covered with a thick blanket of vegetation. “No， no， no—” Liu Yang cried hysterically. “I dont believe it; this isnt real！ My father is still alive; hes standing right in front of me！”

Tears flowed from his fathers eyes like a spring. He stepped into the graveyard with the first rays of light， not looking back again.

Liu Yang awoke suddenly. His father had left them after that car accident 13 years ago. They were destined to never see each other in this life again.

Maybe his soul was still here—

waiting for Liu Yang in his dreams.

- TRANSLATED BY MOY HAU （梅皓）

R.R.

Real name Wang Xiaohan （王嘯寒）， R.R. was born in 1987 and now lives in Hangzhou. He writes fantasy， sci-fi， and thriller， as well as poetry. R.R. describes himself a dreamer with eyes wide open， and an absurd and bizarre imagination.

Authors Note： This story came from a dream of mine. Early one morning， I woke with vaguely remembered scenes from a dream， which I decided to type up. There was not a clear theme at the time， but when I reflect back on it， I hope to convey that misunderstandings between parents and children should be resolved while they still have the chance. I hope people can understand that when it comes to parents， or your family， some of their actions are due to circumstances beyond their control. We should avoid hurting one another， and be good companions in life.

SCHOOL

OF LOVE

1

“Theres a man stealing our cucumber！” the child said to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan had planted the cucumbers in front of the school building. There were two rows of them， and they were ready to eat， with flowers on the end and spines on the body. Shed pick them to feed to the students – it was convenient and cheap. She didnt think someone would go so far as to steal them. Wang Yan marched over in a huff.

The cucumber thief was a man of about 23 or 24， wearing camouflage and galoshes， a worker from the nearby construction site. Wang Yan saw him smiling at her， his tanned face in contrast with his white teeth. Her heart softened. “Go and wash the cucumber，” she said. She pointed to a tap nearby.

The young thief obediently went over to the tap and washed the cucumber.

Wang Yan made cucumber fried in egg， and invited the young man to eat with the children. She looked at him， and blurted out， “How old are you？”

The young man staired， scratched the back of his head， said， “Im 26. Year of the Tiger.” Two years older than Wang Yan.

The young man told her his name was Feng San， and that he worked in the construction site; because the weather was hot， hed run over to grab a few cucumbers to eat.

Feng San looked at the food Wang Yan set out， and said： “Thanks， but I dont eat lunch. At night when I go home my mom makes me an egg-pancake wrap.”

Wang Yan said： “You cant eat pancakes at night if you eat lunch at noon？”

“Wouldnt that be a waste？” Feng San asked.

Wang Yan was confused – how could eating be a waste？ “Have lunch here， OK？ Fill yourself up.”

Feng San said this would be embezzlement， or misappropriation of public funds， and he could never eat with them. The next day， however， he came back. He wolfed down the food.

Feng San asked Wang Yan， “Can I come to class tonight？”

Wang Yan laughed， saying， “Its a class for young children， what could you learn？” But she looked at Feng Sans earnest expression and found herself nodding.

The children began to tell people， “We have a university student in our class. He eats and goes to class with us.”

2

Wang Yans life became fuller. During the day， shed teach the students， and cook for them. At night， shed hurry back to the school to help the struggling students revise. More importantly， in the course of her interactions with Feng San， she gradually grew to like him.

Wang Yan said， “Feng San， actually youre not a bad guy.”

Feng San pretended to be hurt. “So you used to think I was a bad guy？”

Feng San was clumsy， but he helped her cook， helped her out， and at night attended class with the children.

One day， Wang Yan suddenly said “I have the children， and I have you. Im content.”

Feng San hugged her as he lifted her up. “Am I dreaming？”

Wang Yan squealed and told him to put her down. Feng San twirled her in circles until she was dizzy.

Feng San said， “Youve devote your life to teaching， so even children who come from the village can be educated.”

Wang Yan stopped screaming， and looked seriously at Feng San， saying， “Im not a real teacher; would you be willing to teach these poor workers children？”

How could Feng San not be willing？ Of course he was willing. This girl in front of him had given up a good job to come and teach the children of migrant workers; he was moved. He kissed her; it was like kissing the flowers planted in the garden of their home in the village.

“Well， then you should teach these children， too. We can be lifelong teachers for them.”

Feng San laughed. “Im uneducated; how could I be a teacher？ Id get in the way.”

Wang Yan said， “You can do it， because youre so hard-working. You pay close attention in the classroom.”

Feng San agreed to assist her， but he knew he couldnt be a teacher. He had a debt to repay， the debt of his father.

3

Wang Yan didnt want to argue with Wang Wenhao， but he just wouldnt let it go. She was about to go out， but he blocked the doorway， yelling at her. “I dont agree with you being with Feng San， or Li San， or whatever！ I owe it to your mother！”

Wang Yan was incensed. “Dont bring up my mother; this has nothing to do with her！ Her spirit in heaven would approve of my relationship with Feng San！”

Wang Wenhao didnt agree. He began to cry. Its frightening to see a man cry， especially for that mans own daughter. He started to think of memories of her mother and how he felt hed failed her.

Wang Yan stood there， never expecting to see her father cry like a child. After her mother had died， he had cried for three days and three nights， but never after that. This was the first time. Wang Yan quietly listened as her father reminisced about her mother.

A few months ago， her mother had been struck by a freight truck at the entrance to their apartment compound. Her father was out on a business trip， and by the time he returned， all thats left of his wife was a black-and-white photograph. Everything relating to the accident was handled by Wang Yan. She didnt seek compensation from the family of the driver， because hed swerved off the road and died himself. The traffic police said the driver was from a nearby village and had a child of his own in school， so she let it go. After her father returned， he and Wang Yan cried together， but didnt bring up the matter. Later， her father said it was fate， and there was no need to further trouble another family， that they should just live their own lives. Her father never showed any more suffering， but Wang Yan knew he kept her mothers picture beside his bed.

Today however， it was as if a fuse had been lit， and her father spoke without stopping， telling her about their courtship， their marriage， her mothers pregnancy， her mother giving birth to Wang Yan， her paying for Wang Yans education， everything she knew and didnt know about her mother. Finally， he was tired out， and sat on the ground by the front door. Wang Yan picked him up， saying， “Father， Im sorry.”

Wang Wenhao looked at Wang Yan pleadingly. He said “Yan， before your mother died she didnt say anything to me. She just wanted me to take good care of you， and find a good family for you to marry into.”

Wang Yan didnt dare say anything more for fear of setting him off again. She poured him a cup of water and said， “Lets leave this for later.”

Her fathers eyes flew open. “What do you mean， leave this for later？ Dont bring up this Feng guy again！”

Wang Yan trembled a bit， and the water from the cup spilled onto her hand， scalding her， but she didnt say anything. Her father didnt agree with her being with Feng San， but hes stubborn; itll get better， she thought.

“Im not going out tonight，” said Wang Yan， before heading back to her bedroom.

Wang Yan called Feng San. “Im not going to class tonight; you should go back to your dorm.”

Feng San was worried. “If you dont go， what about the children？ What will they do？” He didnt know what had happened， but he worried about Wang Yan.

Wang Yan hung up， not knowing what to say to Feng San. She threw the phone onto the bed. Her mobile rang， with a text message from Feng San. He asked： “Why arent your coming to class？ Does your father not agree？”

Wang Yan didnt reply to him. She was a mess， and she didnt know what to do.

4

After his wife had died， and his daughter moved into the school， Wang Wenhao started leaving the house without eating breakfast. He would buy something simple at the gate of the compound. Sometimes itd be a fried dough-stick， sometimes an egg-pancake wrap. He got to know the vendors， and learned a bit about their lives.

The woman who sold the pancake was in her 50s， and wore a square persimmon-yellow scarf. One time he woke up late， and rushed out of the compound to buy a wrap. The woman told him， “Sorry， there are no more eggs or dough-sticks. Sold out.”

Wang Wenhao was angry， pointing at a child beggar squatting at the corner and eating a pancake： “You gave it all to them！”

The woman smiled. “I felt sorry.”

Wang Wenhao knew that she gave a few wraps to the children every day. Hed seen it a number of times， the children hounding the passersby for money， and crowding around her if they couldnt get any. Shed always give in.

Wang Wenhao said， “Theyre all scammers， everyone knows that.”

The woman smiled， speaking as she cleaned up her stall， “It doesnt matter. Look at them. Their cheeks are red from the cold， its sad.”

Wang Wenhao snorted and walked away but turned back to look at her. The sun had risen in the east， warm and red. His mood improved greatly.

He laughed as he spoke to himself， “What a woman！”

5

When she got home， Wang Wenhao gave her an ultimatum， saying， “If you dont split up with Feng San， we can forget about being father and daughter！”

Wang Yan had just arrived home， and her father was arguing with her. She slammed the door and ran out to the construction site， where Feng San was reading a book. Wang Yan grabbed the book and threw it on the ground， saying， “How can you read at a time like this？”

Feng San knew what had happened. He raised his head， saying， “I have no way of making your father do anything.” He took her hand and started running， toward an alley.

At the entrance there was a woman selling pancake wraps. Wang Yan bought one and began to eat it.

The woman spoke. “Young lady， dont eat with tears running down your face while the wind is blowing. Youll get a tummy ache.”

Wang Yan looked at this stranger， and said gratefully， “Thank you.” She started to cry again.

Feng San caught up with her， and saw the woman selling the wraps. “Mom！”

Wang Yan was shocked， and stood up straight， saying “Ms.…？”

Feng San scratched his head embarrassedly as he spoke. “This is the girl from the city I told you about， Wang Yan.”

The woman hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron， but didnt seem to know what to do， and just stared at Wang Yan.

Wang Yan was also embarrassed. “Auntie， when Ive free time I can help you at the stall. I live in this compound right here， I can come by whenever.”

The woman agreed， but she was uncomfortable. She subconsciously looked at the compound gate and felt uneasy.

6

Feng Sans mother didnt appear at the compound entrance again， and Wang San worried. That weekend， she gave Feng San a call： “Why isnt your mother at the pancake stall？”

Feng San said “I think its strange， too. Maybe business wasnt good there.”

Wang Yan started to chuckle， so much it gave Feng San goosebumps. “What are you laughing about？”

Wang Yan said “I think theres hope for us. Let me tell you， Feng San： I think your mother and my father like each other.”

“Dont be silly. They have a consumer-merchant relationship. Coincidences like that dont happen.”

Wang Yan told him， however， that her father was acting abnormal. Every day， hed babble that the pancake seller wasnt at the compound entrance， how great she was， how she fed the beggar children. She finished decisively： “My father definitely likes your mother.”

Feng San said “Then what shall we do？ Isnt our love story hopeless？”

“Dont be silly. I have a solution， kill two birds with one stone.”

Feng San didnt know what Wang Yan was on about. She didnt reveal her plan either， just telling him： “Just have your mother show up tomorrow.” Feng San agreed.

The next day， however， Feng San told her there was a problem. “My father died in a car accident at the entrance of your compound.”

Wang Yan felt a faint stirring of something， and demanded： “Your father？ Did he hit a woman， and he himself…”

“Yes. That woman was your mother.”

Wang Yan said， “How did you know？ How could there be such a coincidence？ Why would your mother come there to sell pancakes？”

Feng San spoke. “We wanted to find the family of the victim. We havent given the compensation that the court ordered， but the family of the victim never appeared. My mother and I came into the city to work， so we could earn money to repay the debt， and so that we could find the family of the victim.”

Wang Yan said， “We never asked for compensation.”

“This is our hearts wish， we have to repay the debt. But my mother， like you said， slowly grew fond of your father. She didnt think someone from the city would take a fancy to her， with a grown-up son. And also， this neighborhood was where my father died.”

Wang Yan stood still for a long time until she spoke. “Your mother doesnt know that the woman who was killed was my mother， right？”

After Feng San said she did not， she sighed in relief， “You have to promise me you wont ruin this by letting the secret out. Tell your mother that the victims family moved away， nobody knows where. Ill take care of the rest.”

7

Wang Yan convinced Wang Wenhao. The logic was simple： Love isnt about social status， but mutual feelings. At first， Wang Wenhao protested， but Wang Yan pointed out， “Arent you and Auntie Feng in the same boat？”

Wang Wenhao laughed， and said， “As long as you are happy， I am.”

Everything went more smoothly than expected， and the wedding was a lively affair. Wang Wenhao and Feng Sans mother married， and Wang Yan and Feng San married. It was a hasty yet perfect conclusion to the drama.

Wang Yan and Feng San worked at the school teaching the workers children They were the only teachers. Because there were still gaps in Feng Sans knowledge， Wang Yan taught him at night.

Feng San stood under the cucumber trellis and looked at the children. “This school is proof of our love.”

Wang Yan smiled but didnt say anything. She felt her life was good.

The secret theyd agreed to keep from the parents a few years ago seemed like it would stay a secret forever. On the fifth anniversary of the accident， they happened to go to visit the graves. Wang Yan blurted out： “What a coincidence， they passed on the same day.” She looked at her father and Fengs mother.

Wang Wenhao understood what she meant. He rubbed his daughters head. “Silly girl， both of us knew. How could you fool us？ Still， you two are good kids.” He looked at Fengs mother as he spoke.

Wang continued， “And you two taught us a lesson， that love cannot be stopped by anything. Let the past stay in the past.”

“Daddy！” Wang Yan was crying， her head on her fathers shoulder.

- TRANSLATED BY MOY HAU （梅皓）

JIANG XINLEI

蔣新磊

Born in Shandong in 1986， Jiang Xinlei still lives in his home village. His short stories mainly focus on rural and migrant-worker experiences. His work has been published on Shandong Literature， Hunan Literature， Contemporary Fiction， and other magazines， as well as Douban.com.

Authors Note： I got acquainted with a woman selling pancake wraps in the neighborhood where I used to live. She would often speak of the car accident that took her sons life， with tears streaming down her face. One day， out of the blue， she told me she was getting married and would no longer sell pancakes. I was intrigued and decided to write a short story. Love is an eternal theme， which I cant avoid writing about. I knew it was not a simple romance for the woman， considering her traumatic experience. Love is also complicated and widespread. I filled this short story with all kinds of love， because I believe love makes human interactions fuller.