Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

Six months have passed. Xing Le seems to be in a narrow road, always refusing to ask her uncle for money.Whether he can send money to his mother is really a big problem. Wei Sheng went to see him in the office and found a photo of Lu Chao hanging on the opposite side of Xing Le's desk.Xingle said that his wife did not allow him to hang out at home. Wei Sheng had never seen such a devoted husband.Like everyone else, Xingle only wears shirts to work.Two old-fashioned ceiling fans with large blades whirred overhead, and he happened to absorb the tail force of the hot wind.If he doesn't go home for lunch, he will have to walk a long way in the hot sun.He spent a lot of money on a refrigerator and a beautiful record player, just because Han Xing likes to dance.

The ceiling fan turned on his head every day, and Xing Le also dragged it every day. He was more silent than the ceiling fan.In order to balance expenses, he even went on part-time jobs on weekends.No wonder, like thousands of others, he was caught in the rat cage of modern economic machinery, working hard, full of hope, living on his salary, and trying his best to please his boss.He was so tired from get off work that he didn't even have the time or interest to go for a walk. Han Xing must be very upset.No longer swimming in Johor.No more visiting the night market at the beach or at the Great World Entertainment Center.They live a stubborn life, on a tight budget and in a small space, and hardly a moment goes by without hearing the voices of the neighbors' kids and wives.

The beautiful Han Xing craves the thrills of jazz and Chastain to fight the poverty and dullness of middle-class life. Xing Le unknowingly broke away from his uncle's circle of Chinese friends.He once told a friend that his sister was absolutely right in thinking that it was women, not men, who shaped the family, because they were often at home and men were not. He also meets with Wei Sheng from time to time, at least once a week, at lunch time.Occasionally he also went to see Aunt Xiuying, and even took Han Xing there.Apart from the two of them, he had no one to talk to.About a month, he will go to his uncle's house for dinner once.The topics are superficial, both of them are deadlocked, and their relationship with each other is not as good as before.Xingle thought it would be easier to talk to her aunt or Juna.

Gradually, Han Xing decided who to associate with at home.When Xing Le returns home, he often finds that his wife is having a dance.Everyone drank orange juice, ate popcorn, and listened to jazz music.Some are Han Xing's old mixed-race friends and mixed-race couples.When they're in the mood, they roll up the rug, turn on the jazz, and dance on the small floor vacated by the sofa. Xing Le managed to pull herself together and hang out with his wife's friends, but in her heart she just wanted to be quiet and get a good night's sleep. Why didn't you notify me beforehand?Around half past eleven, when the guests left, he would ask her: I have to get up early tomorrow.You always want me to keep my job, don't you?

But they are my friends.I also have social obligations.I have to call them back, right?You don't want me to call the office to find you.How can I tell you? Like all young lovers, they kissed and made up. Xing Le groaned and fell asleep. Maybe Han Xing is particularly attractive to men, maybe Xingle is especially able to maintain the fantasy of great love, and they are doing well. In fact, Han Xing was not only disappointed, but also upset.Both Xing Le and Han Xing rediscovered themselves.Their life is not as she imagined at the beginning. There are cars, villas, status, good clothes, and a lot of money to squander; nor are they always hugging and kissing each other.The house is small and they don't plan to have children yet.They just can't afford a bigger apartment.

The world is not the model she should live and long for.The neighbors in the same building were not very friendly; they all had their own problems, some of which were as annoying as hers.She decided to live with Xingle for a sense of security; now she doesn't feel safe, but she has paid the price of being boring and monotonous.Xingle works all day, and there is not much housework to do in the two-bedroom apartment. Anyway, she is not very interested in housework.The world of teenage romance is over; especially the freedom of single girls to go their own way, make money for themselves, be chased by others, sing, dance, and flirt, all replaced by the monotonous and dull life of a bitter wife and other lovers who come home at night.

Han Xing began to count coins.She didn't have much money before, but she used to know that she earned every penny and could do whatever she liked, but now she wants to ask Xingle. Poor and bored, she went out to find friends.Nina is now married to a Chinese businessman in Kuala Lumpur, and lives happily with her husband's family in a beautiful big house. And Sally.Sally lives in an apartment near the Empire Pier.Sally is very lively.She is a healthy teenage girl who resembles her.She went to see Sally, and the two always played cards together.At least Han Xing thinks that Sally is a friend who can talk and share similar interests.

Sally was a bachelorette of twenty-seven or eight, a few years older than she was.From Sally's window, you can see the Bay of Singapore.Every day, 50 to 60 large and small ships enter and leave the port.Outside the east window are narrow streets and the roofs of several European-style buildings.The apartment is on the top floor of the third floor.At night they could see a line of lights leading to Clier's Dock and Cliver's Wharf. This picture evokes the excitement of the metropolis.Feel yourself at the center of everything.There is a cafe downstairs.So Singapore suddenly appeared dark, mysterious, beautiful, full of exciting life.

Strange to say, no matter day or night, Han Xing feels at home here. He always feels that he is in the city and belongs to the city, which is completely opposite to the feeling in Tanlin Residential Area. Sometimes Han Xing and Sally go out together, turn to the left, and come into the crowd of people passing through the alley, where there are many Chinese shops, Malay food stalls, Muslim bazaars and Indian silk and gem shops.This area is even more crowded than the dairy shop where Han Xing stayed.Sally knew every detour, but Han Xing was quite unfamiliar with this area.Sometimes they go out at ten o'clock in the morning, go around to the Corriere dock, eat in the arcade, and then stroll back slowly.

Han Xing spent half a day with Sally, and always felt much happier. Sally was naturally enthusiastic and had a lot of money to spend.Seeing Sally reminded her of her lost freedom. how are you doingOne day Sally asked her. Plain and plain. how to say? Is boring.Every day is the same.He is away all day.Not a single neighbor to talk to.I didn't expect it to be like this.If I want to buy a new hat or something, I have to ask for money. Huh, I thought he was rich.I heard they have a rubber factory. Yes, but that's not the case at all.His uncle controls everything.He doesn't approve of our marriage, and we don't want to live with his family.Xingle's bones were hard and she refused to ask for help.We'd rather be on our own.

but Nothing but.I used to be happy and free.Not now. Xingle still loves you? I love it.The tragedy lies here.He comes home very tired every day and sometimes has to work at night.I kissed him goodbye and went to bed.We have nothing to talk about.Sometimes I wish he would get mad so I could throw things at him. How do you say that?Sally waited with bated breath for her answer. oh?I have no idea.That's how I feel.Maybe I don't consciously blame him for giving me this kind of life.Maybe he is too kind to me, I wish he lost his temper occasionally, hit me or scolded me.Saw several couples in the same building, quarrelling and then making up.At least that's more exciting. Sally and Han Xing are somewhat similar.She was of mixed French and Zoroastrian descent, born in Bombay.At least that's what the family said; all she knew for sure was that she had grown up in Kakuda.She was very fair, with black hair cut short, and her breasts were enormous.She wore a low-cut smock that she kept pulling to the left and to the right.I might as well be Algerian, who cares.she said with a relaxed, contrived smile. They sat in Sally's room.If you must marry a man, why choose a Chinese?Sally said.If you want a man who can deal cards and spank your ass, you should go to an Arab, a Turk, or a Frenchman.Sally smiled, revealing a row of neat white teeth. Han Xing studied her carefully.She is so relaxed and confident.Han Xing admires her humor and courage. I think the Chinese are too docile, Sally continued: their civilization is too old.I mean rituals like kowtow.Find me an Arab or a Turk and don't look at me like that.As long as they have a villa and can send you a car, there is no problem.God, what is life for?I didn't know you were so rigid.I'm your friend too, and I'm telling you the truth. You are so funny.Han Xing said. I'm no fun at all.This is the truth.I tell you, look at this city.I love it, love it through and through.Why are you running around?Money and love, right? Of course, but you can't have both. listen to me.I am a few years older than you and have seen a lot of world.What moves the world is money and love.There's nothing like a good steak, and a good sex.When it comes to money: you either make it or you don't.I don't give a damn if I marry a bald old rich man, do I?But I can't help it.As for love, I bet I enjoy it more than you ever got from cheapskate Xingle.I'm not saying bad things about him, but I prefer Europeans, don't you? Some Europeans are tall and handsome.I think we are of the same species. right.I like them.They are more like us.I once made a Chinese friend.He gave me a lot of money.But I just can't stand his flat nose.I told him not to come again.He asked me why, and said that he would pay the price I negotiated, but I didn't say it.I like tall, muscular men.As you said, they are of the same species as us. what do you do I run on the dock.I just like men.People in a boat.God, no man can resist a good young body, who wouldn't want to enjoy it.You're stuck, of course.That's different again.But I am free.I can do whatever I want.I don't work for anyone.I make a lot of money. Of course I am different.I'm not like you.I have a family and a husband.I can't do this to him.Do you believe it?I have always been loyal to him.Ever since I lived with Xingle, I haven't gone out with a man. Sally could hear the envious tone in her words. Of course not.I don't advise you to live my life.It's so easy to find a man.But I don't advise you.too risky.I don't want you to have any disputes with dear and loyal Xingle.Of course you don't know how much I know a man like him.I'm talking about my own life.I don't want to change your ways. So much for Sally's words.None of Han Xing's friends had worked in Sally's business.Sally stopped talking, but Han Xing wanted to know more. Say it.Tell me more about yourself, she said. Sally looked out the window.She must have chosen the apartment on the back street of the quay on purpose, so that she could take full advantage of the view of the port.There is a Guangsheng ship, which just entered the port yesterday.There was an Irish teenager on board who was madly in love with me.The ship runs exclusively to Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta and Singapore.Every three or four weeks, he would show up.He is not yet married and wants to marry me.But I said no.Why bother to be tied up by a sailor when I don't want to?So we are still friends.Every time that ship comes in, he comes to see me and we have a great time together.He took me out to dinner and movies.I don't miss him when he's not around.God, no!My Italian boyfriend is on the Colombo and my Greek boyfriend is on the Maltese Cross.They come and go, and someone else fills the gap.I know a Portuguese captain who likes me very much.Of course he has a family member, and he even showed me a picture of his wife.That doesn't make a difference either.We are just good friends.I have never been short of lovers. This is a typical conversation for Sally.She could talk for hours on end.Eloquence is her most active feature, and he can say I love you in thirteen languages.