Broken China (Part 4) - December

Four families. Four dreams. Four very different paths.

Apartments in Snow, Taiyuan, China (Photo: M. Griffiths)

Read Broken China (Part 1) - September, here

Read Broken China (Part 2) - October, here.

Read Broken China (Part 3) - November, here.

Broken China

 

(Part 4)

 

December

“I went to that little clothes shop I like today. The owner is having a big sale, running down her stock. I think she might be going to close soon. I felt sorry for her so bought two dresses.”

Zheng Long looked at her with a slightly quizzical eye.

“She has nice stuff and it’s much cheaper here than in Australia.” said Wu Ming heading off his criticism. Then she became serious. “The agent says it is time now to provide the bank statement to the embassy. She looked at the jade carvings around the room. “The sale of the apartments and the business to Wang will not give us enough. Maybe it is time to sell these too?” He sat up straighter in the chair. She put her hand on his shoulder. “I know you love them very much and they are a part of your life...but that is our old life. They can help us make our new life.”

He took off his glasses and laid them on the table. “It is not so simple. There are not many buyers for such a collection. It would be mistake to try to sell it too quickly. We would not get the right price…” He put on his glasses and got to his feet. He walked around the desk to the shelves. “These are the most special pieces I’ve found and collected over many years…”

She followed him with her eyes. “I remember a long time ago we had similar conversation. We didn’t have much money but you wanted to buy one of these carvings. You told me then that they were a good investment. I remember I argued that we should not be buying jade when we were struggling to pay for our food and bills. You convinced me that we could sell them one day and make a good profit.” She paused. “Maybe that time has come. We can only make a profit by selling them.”

Zheng Long stared at her, his face blank. He turned back to the shelves. He picked up each piece one by one, examined them intently, rotating them in his hands, checking every facet and detail, then he re-placed them in their correct positions. Last of all he lifted the pale green dragon. Ornately carved from a single piece of high quality nephrite jade it almost shone with a light of its own. The varying shades of the jade had been expertly incorporated into the carving bringing the figure to life. He carefully wiped some dust off and arranged it back in its space in the centre of the book shelf.

Wu Ming watched him silently then turned to the window. The park lamps spun glowing bubbles of yellow light along the paths that wound around the lake and through the trees and gardens. Her phone rang. She picked it up. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw the screen. Zheng Long watched her take a deep breath before she tapped the screen. “Wei.” She nodded. “We are all well thank you…”  She listened carefully as the speaker continued. “Yes. Thank you for letting us know. We will contact you very soon.” She shut off the phone and stared out the window. Her arms were rigid by her side, fists clenched.

Zheng Long waited for her to speak. “Well?”

She turned back from the window. “It seems there have been some withdrawals from the high school for next year. We are not the only ones leaving China. Our contact is prepared to help us get our son in now.” She gave a humourless laugh. “Of course, because of the risks, the gift must be larger.”

****

Julia handed Malcolm a letter. He opened it quickly and read it through. He smiled. “You did it! You got the score you needed.” He opened his arms and drew her into a hug. “That’s great. Now your can tell your parents you are planning to go overseas and we can we can start applying for universities. I will let the school know that I am not going to sign a new contact after the summer holidays. And I will start looking at the kinds of jobs I can apply for… ”

She shook her head.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t talk to them about it now. My father is not well. We must wait.”

“Maybe just your Mum then. You said you would tell her first. The sooner the better. Then she can find the best time to tell your dad.”

“No. It is very difficult for her at the moment. With my father sick she has a lot to worry about.” She bit her lip. “It is not easy for me either.”

He put down the letter and held her close again. “I know it is not easy. But you father has been sick for a long time…” he trailed off. He squeezed her. “Ok. We don’t have to rush. But you can start applying for universities.”

She nodded.

“And you can think about when might be a good time to tell them.” He let her go and grasped her hands. “Ok. Enough of that. How about we go out and celebrate your great exam result?”

She nodded and they began to walk down the stairs of the apartment block. Julia’s phone rang. She listened then spoke briefly and quickly. Malcolm frowned. He understood enough of the rapid fire Chinese to know that the news was not good. Julia put the phone away, her face pale. “My dad is on his way to hospital in an ambulance. My mother is with him.”

Malcolm hugged her again and then watched as she raced outside to find a taxi.

Three hours later she phoned Malcolm in tears. “He is dead.”

 ****

Henry’s wife recognised his footsteps slowly climbing the stairs to the fifth floor, four hours early. She laid the baby down in his cot for his afternoon nap. The key rattled in the lock. She closed the bedroom door quietly as he came inside. She turned and saw the news on his face before he opened his mouth. She went to the kitchen and busied herself boiling water for a pot of tea.

He watched her silently, steeled himself for her response and then finally said the words he knew she was dreading. “The factory is gone. The whole company is gone.”

She nodded. She pulled two cups out of the cupboard and spooned tea leaves into the blue and white china tea pot. Her hands shook. She gripped the bench. “How will we afford this apartment if you have no job? Our savings will not last long.”

“I will get another job soon. I’m sure.” He paused. “And If I don’t we can live with my parents in the village until I get one.”

“What if you can’t find another job?” she asked quietly.

“I will. And I have a plan to make some money fast. My foreign teacher friend told me he knows someone with lots of jade who maybe wants to sell.”

She shook her head and began to sob, her breath coming in erratic heaves. He stepped into the kitchen to hold her.

 ****

Huang Jinhai arrived at the dress shop late in the afternoon. He came inside and closed the door. His glazed eyes passed briefly over the half empty racks. Deng Yimin could smell the alcohol on him. It was either good news or very bad news. She turned and told the shop assistant to put on her winter jacket and go out for a while. Then she concentrated on the accounts on the shop counter in front of her so she couldn’t see the look in his eyes.

He stood uncertainly in front of her and braced himself against the counter with both hands. His speech was slurred. “They’re shutting it down. All of it.”

Deng Yimin felt her stomach sink like a lead weight. She sat down abruptly on the high stool behind her. The clock on the wall above her head ticked loudly in her ears. Finally she found her voice. “What are we going to do now?”

He shook his head. He swayed slightly on his feet. She leaped up and carried the spare stool around for him to collapse onto. “Thanks.”

She retreated around the counter to the her stool, then reached across and touched his arm.

He shook his head vaguely, then took a deep breath. “I’m going home to sleep. Tomorrow I will put my name down at all the factories in the city.”

She nodded. “Put my name down too.”

He looked at her and nodded slowly. “Ok. And after that I will go and see Lao Chen. Maybe he will have some ideas.”

Deng Yimin frowned and shook her head, then looked out the window. The shop assistant was just outside talking animatedly on her phone. If only she was that enthusiastic talking to customers. “We will have to tell her we are closing the shop.” She pointed through the window. “The lease expires after Spring Festival so perhaps it is lucky that we found out now.” she said.

He nodded and turned to leave. The shop door beeped. The shop assistant came in and stamped her cold feet. She looked up and smiled brightly. “I have some news.” Deng Yimin and Huang Jinhai stared at her blankly. “I have a new job. Full time. I’m sorry to cause you trouble but I really need the extra money.”

********

Read Broken China (Part 1) - September, here

Read Broken China (Part 2) - October, here.

Read Broken China (Part 3) - November, here.

Read Broken China (Part 5) - January, here.

Tell me what you think.  Constructive comments welcome.

If you like the story share with it with your friends.

 

********

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Founders House Publishing have released the anthology:

After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis

The anthology includes my story Promised Land. Part of my North Queensland Trilogy.

"Founders House is happy to announce that the latest collection of science fiction stories in the ongoing After Oil series is available.

After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis - Edited by John Michael Greer

John Michael Greer, author and host of the popular weekly peak-oil blog, The Archdruid Report, returns with another collection of twelve tales of the post-oil future. As Industrial civilization staggers beneath its myriad disfunctions, ordinary people  endure the long, slow decline that shapes the years of crisis. The old world passes away an a new age takes shape."

The anthology is available now in various formats from Founders House Publishing.

The first anthology: After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, is available from the publishers, Amazon (Amazon) or, in Australia, from Fishpond (Fishpond).

MORE STORIES....

Missing in the Himalayas - A scientist disappears in mysterious circumstances

Borderline - A border guard in the Himalayas dreams of following in his grandfather's footsteps...
The Chief Inspector - An awkward tension builds between a stressed police inspector and his new assistant...

Under Development - A young idealist hunts for international development work in China. (6 parts)

The Nature of Love - A couple in love enjoy a day out in nature but something is amiss...
 

My Crazy China Trip - (Humour) A novice traveller gets more than he bargains for during 15 days in China. (10 Parts)

 

Love at First Flight - A foreign teacher arrives in China and falls in love with a local, but the path of true love is anything but smooth. (5 parts)


Trial by Fire - When a woman in Tibet self-immolates two witnesses face a dangerous dilemma.  (4 parts)

Arrested Development - A development consultant in China finds life getting out of control. [Rated R]  SHORTLISTED for the Lord Grimdark Award. See the list here.

Beijing Private Eyes - Drama, Romance, Karaoke, Kidnap!   A foreign teacher in Beijing meets an attractive stranger and offers to help, then things get complicated. (A long story in 8 parts)

Tell him he's dreaming - An engineer has an environmental epiphany but things don't work out as planned.  GAINED 5th PLACE in the New Zealand Writers College Short Story competition. See the list of finalists here. 

 

Entries in the post-industrial / peak oil short story competition:
My story 'Promised Land' has been selected for the forthcoming anthology "After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis".  You can read the other entries here.

A previous set of stories was published in 2012 in a book entitled After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, available from Amazon (Amazon) or in Australia from Fishpond (Fishpond).

Stories set in China:

Winds of Change –  In 2022 a migrant worker struggles to realise his dreams and fulfil his family obligations.

Outside In – It's 2050, the country and economy have changed. A recycler studies for an exam to improve his prospects, and an indentured servant plans her escape.

Seeds of Time – (Sequel to Outside In). In 2055 rural China prospers again after a period of dramatic changes, then things are complicated by a strange visitor and a hidden object.

Stories set in Australia: A North Queensland Trilogy

Robots on Mars – 2025. A space-mad city boy adjusts to life in the country and tries to solve a mystery.    (Note: no actual robots or Martians involved)

Promised Land – (Sequel to Robots on Mars). It’s 2050 and development threatens the rural district. Is it what they really need and if not, how can they stop it?

Heart of Glass - (Sequel to Promised Land). The year is 2099, high school graduates prepare to step into adulthood and the community prepares to celebrate the turn of a new century. 

Tell me what you think.  Constructive comments welcome.