Dark Cave - part 4 - Chapter 16
Key said: ” I can try. The beginning of ‘ Jade shattering in frost ‘ , the cold sky, the appearance of jade shattering, should be said to be snowing; ‘ Frozen ‘ and ‘ Cold Mountain ‘ are also describing a bleak scenery. This is probably the first snow in early winter. The author felt very sad after seeing the snow flying all over the sky: the deer were crying, and the Buddhist temple was lifeless. Yamashita Masahiro seemed to be more lonely, more romantic and sensitive, so such weather must have made him a little sad, and even felt that it was difficult to find a soulmate. But in the next stanza, the writing style changed, because of the first encounter with Yan Yuzi, also called Lingzi … the name on the tombstone …”
It doesn’t snow often in Nara, but when it does, the world looks particularly bleak.
On his way to school, Yamashita Masahiro felt this desolate atmosphere, and for some reason, he felt a little depressed.
Fortunately, this depressed mood was soon swept away. It was because of the girl in a bright red kimono in front of the school. She put her hands in her sleeves and looked into the distance. There was an expression in her eyes that Yamashita Masahiro had never seen before. It was not frivolous, not passionate, not submissive, not wild, but just as calm as a lake of still water. This was probably the so-called state of Zen.
This girl was as bright and beautiful as a flower. So the usually shy Yamashita Masahiro took the initiative to greet her: ” Are you a new student ? I … I rarely see a girl wearing such a red kimono. ”
” Tell me , why is it snowing? It covers up all the good things about Nara. ” The girl answered the question irrelevantly .
” I feel the same, I feel the same, especially when the colorful eaves of those majestic temples have now become a dull white. ”
” It is not easy for the winter peonies in the temple to bloom in the cold wind, and now they have been painted a dull white. ”
” On the way to school, I saw the poor fawns huddled beside their mothers. The snow was cruel to them. Their running and jumping were the few embellishments in the winter, but now they were also succumbed to the dull whiteness. ”
” But there is at least one benefit , ” the girl’s tone suddenly changed, ” We can have snowball fights! ”
Yamashita Masahiro was startled, a white light flashed before his eyes , and he felt a pain on his face. A snowball had already lodged between his eyes and nose.
” You …” Yamashita Masahiro didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This naughty girl!
The girl smiled and took out a towel to wipe the snow for Yamashita Masahiro: ” I’m waiting. The first person who greets me will eat this snowball. ”
” What are you doing! ” The loud and rough voice of the ” boss ” of the school , Kuroki Masaru, rang out.
“ Nothing, Kuroki-kun, I just slipped on the snow, and this … this girl is helping me clean it up.
” Mr. Yamashita, you are tall, but your physique is too weak. I hope that after you finish school, you can practice martial arts with us more often so that you can have the capital to serve our country in the future! ” Kuroki Masaru seized every opportunity to teach Yamashita Masahiro about martial arts.
Yamashita Masahiro did not comment, but just said: ” Thank you for your concern, Kuroki-kun. I will pay attention to it. ”
After Kuroki Masaru walked away, the girl bowed to Yamashita Masahiro and said, ” My name is Kazuen Tamako. ”
” Yamashita Masahiro. ”
” I know. ” He Yanyuzi smiled.
” Know? ”
” There aren’t many people in Nara who can write good poems at the age of ten … especially those who can write Chinese poems. You are well-known far and wide. I believe your literary skills have greatly improved over the past few years . I hope to appreciate your recent works when I have time. ”
” I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t been writing poetry much recently. I’ve started to become interested in Tao Yun. ”
” Making pottery ? Literature and art are inseparable. I happen to love painting, so maybe I can get some advice from you. ”
” Okay, I look forward to seeing your paintings. ”
” You said so. ” He Yanyuzi took out a small glass jar from his arms. He opened the lid and found a small piece of paper with two small fireflies drawn on it! The fireflies were flying in the dim background, flashing faint light.
” To paint these two tiny fireflies so vividly is truly a stroke of genius! ” Yamashita Masahiro thinks he has a good taste in art.
” I don’t have such high painting skills. This was painted by my mother. She used special paint that glows at night. ”
” But, why do I feel that these two fireflies are somewhat sad? ”
” You are indeed very spiritual. These two fireflies, one is my mother and the other is my father. My father passed away early and my mother missed him very much, so she drew this. Doesn’t it mean that each firefly represents a soul? ”
Since meeting Kazue Tamako , going to school every day has become a kind of enjoyment. In the school dormitory, he could see the beautiful back of the girl in the front row when he looked up; after school, the ” free talk ” about art in a corner of the school dormitory brought the two hearts closer. But today, as soon as he entered the school gate, Yamashita Masahiro felt a strange atmosphere. As usual, Kazue Tamako had arrived and was waiting at the door to greet him and talk to him briefly, but when Yamashita Masahiro approached her, he found that her face was solemn.
” Tamako, what’s wrong? ” Yamashita Masahiro asked with concern.
He Yanyuzi looked at the Kasuga Mountain in the distance: ” So you don’t know yet. ”
” Don’t know what? ” Yamashita Masahiro had a bad feeling.
” It’s been a pleasure being with you these past few months. ” He Yanyuzi began to stare into Yamashita Masahiro’s eyes. ” How long will it take you to forget me ? ”
” What are you talking about! ” Yamashita Masahiro was most afraid of looking into other people’s eyes, but at this moment he was staring at He Yanyuzi. ” Only when the sun never rises again, will I forget you . ”
He Yan Yuzi smiled and grabbed Yamashita Masahiro’s hand. For a moment , Yamashita Masahiro thought that everything was just another naughty joke with He Yan Yuzi.
” She is Chinese. ” Kuroki Masaru’s voice suddenly rang out. ” She pretends to be a Yamato. Shame on her! ”
Yamashita Masahiro looked at He Yan Yuzi blankly. She saw the shock and confusion in his eyes and loosened her grip on his hand.
If what the textbooks and newspapers say is true, China is a declining and disintegrating country, and the Chinese are best suited to being laborers and small businessmen; and the Yamato people are a nation with real ruling ability and wisdom. But there are many Chinese in Nara, so why did He Yanyuzi hide his identity?
On this day, Yamashita Masahiro didn’t really pay attention to the content of the class. He didn’t know how many times his eyes stayed on the beautiful back in the front row, which was shrouded in a layer of mist. When He Yanyuzi looked back, her eyes were a little sad.
Yamashita Masahiro didn’t know what to do, he just knew that he couldn’t erase her from his sight, let alone forget her.
After school, He Yanyuzi seemed to have suddenly disappeared in the wind. Yamashita Masahiro felt vaguely uneasy. He looked around and found two classmates running towards the gym with nervous faces. He also ran after them, and his hands and feet suddenly felt cold.
A dozen classmates formed a circle, and two of them grabbed He Yanyuzi’s arms and forced her to kneel down.
” Stop! How can you do this to a woman? ” Yamashita Masahiro shouted.
At this time, he saw Kuroki Katsu and his heart sank. Kuroki Katsu said coldly: ” Lying is probably a characteristic of the Chinese. I hope I can give Miss He a warning. ”
He Yanyuzi stared at Kuroki Sheng, with a scratch on the corner of her mouth and bloodstains on her face, which showed an expression that Yamashita Masahiro had never seen before, anger and wildness, as if she would fight Kuroki Sheng to the death if she broke free. Yamashita Masahiro was stunned for a while, and suddenly spoke, asking in Chinese: ” What is your last name? Why didn’t you tell me you were Chinese? I would still be your friend. ”
He Yanyuzi also said in Chinese: ” Have you heard of the name He Watanabe Reiko? ”
” Three years ago, the Tokyo female thief who killed Admiral Ito, the Minister of the Navy, Reiko Watanabe? ”
” My name is He Lingzi, and He Watanabe Reiko is my mother. My father is Chinese and came to Japan to study more than 20 years ago. My mother is Japanese, Watanabe Reiko. My father joined the Tongmenghui and later returned to Japan to start an uprising. Not long after I was born, he was arrested and killed . My mother later worked in the office of Navy Minister Ito. She killed Ito in self-defense. The Tokyo Female Thief was a legend made up to cover up Ito’s shame. ”
” If you go to school using your real name, it will immediately attract the attention of the government. ” Yamashita Masahiro finally understood He Lingzi’s difficulties.
Kuroki Masaru suddenly interrupted, ” Yamashita-kun, that’s too much! What are you talking about! How can …”
Yamashita Masahiro said in Japanese : ” My fellow students and seniors, Miss He had no choice but to do so. She did not intend to cheat. You are so many husbands, and it is unacceptable for you to gang up on a girl like this! “