Читать книгу The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories - Shouhua Qi - Страница 29

Shen Hong

Her husband will go on a business trip for a week.

She pretends to care a lot and asks him many questions: Where is he going? What’s the weather like there? Shouldn’t he pack some extra clothing just in case? She talks while packing for her husband, a can’t-live-a-day-without-him look in her face. It is so touching. In reality, though, she can’t wait for her husband to go on business trips so she can go and see her lover.

She used to be a proper woman. But eight years of married life has worn her out. After a full day of busy work at the company, she yearned to be comforted by her husband when she returned home. Yet he would be tied up with work and wouldn’t be home until late in the evening. So her home was rarely brightened up with happy surprises such as her husband coming home with fresh flowers. Oh, she would be thrilled and hug him till she died. How many times had she dreamed of such a moment in her life and each time she would be disappointed. It looked like there was no way she and her husband could rekindle the kind of passion they had felt for each other while dating. At moments like this she would be hit by a nameless sadness and would feel lonely. It was around this time that a wealthy man began to pursue her. At first she was nervous and couldn’t see herself saying yes to the man. Her curiosity prevailed eventually. In the thrilling adventure that ensued she tasted passions she had never thought possible her entire life. Now, she is awash with excitement whenever she thinks of the time she spends with her lover.

At this very moment while packing for her husband, she is planning in her head. First, she and her lover go to Arc de Triomphe to savor the French food there; then they go for a ride in the lover’s shiny Nissan; afterwards, they go to the dance hall to dance cha-cha and sing karaoke. Yes, that “Meet at Midnight,” which she has sung dozens of times. Usually it is after singing that song that she and her lover walk into the night, romantic, intoxicating. . . .

She finishes packing while planning, tiptoes into the bedroom, and picks up the phone. She hears her husband’s voice from the other phone in the living room:

“ . . . I’ve already told her the business trip will take about a week. She’s still packing for me . . . don’t worry, she won’t suspect anything. Yes, we will have a fabulous time at the sea resort . . . Hey, all is clear at your end, too? Good. Okay, see you at the resort. . . . ”

Her heart tightens suddenly, the phone slipping out of her hand. . . .

(1994)