Beijing Story (Lan Yu)

Chapter 9

    That was an eventful year. On April 15, Lan Yu told me excitedly that they had quit school and started a fasting demonstration.

    "Damn it! Are you having too much good time?" I said carelessly.

    "You used to be in college. You should be concerned about the future of our country too."

    I could not help laughing hearing his innocent comment.

    "If you are genuinely concerned, you should focus on your school work and let us take care of business." I joked him.

    "You guys are borers of the country!"

    "I feel lucky that it is not the "Cultural Revolution" time now. Or you would drag me out to the street for public humiliation." I said jokingly while driving.

    He smiled too and then asked in concern.

    "Will the ongoing demonstration affect your business?"

    "Of course. If I could not conduct business and have no other skills to survive, I would go begging on the street."

    "I'll support you!" He smiled in complacency.

    "Forget it. I'd rather be a begger." I paused and went on to advise him in a stern voice, "Don't get involved too deeply. Mishap will come sooner or later. Look at the example of the "Cultural Revolution". How many people ended up unharmed?"

    "I won't. I didn't even join the fasting. At best I'm an onlooker."

    At that time, most students were engaging in the "Revolution". There were also a handful of students enjoying the time off by doing their own stuff. Lan Yu told me that there were several distinct groups of students in his college: The TOFLE gang, the Majong Gang and the loverbirds gang. They were the biggest beneficiaries of the "Revolution". I said he should belong to the lover birds group, which he denied and commented that our affair was just an indecent fling.

    It was not important what our relationship was. What was important was that we were together almost every day. The school was closed and he had nothing to do but to make love with me on bed or go to hotels with me. I took extra care to change places frequently. I knew several gay hangout places in town. But I never took him there. He was like a flawless jewel to me. I did not want others to touch it. One night we went to karaoke and I handpicked a young and seemingly pure money girl to accompany him. But he looked a bit tight the whole night. Once outside I asked in smile:

     "What's up? Scared?"

    "No. I'm not interested. I don't like it!"

    "You should practise playing with girls. Or how are you going to look for a wife later on?"

    " ... ..."

    I have known him well enough by now. His silence usually meant unhappiness.

    "You are still too young. You have to consider these matters in the future." I added.

    "Why do I have to get married? Isn't what we have now good enough?" He said.

    I smiled slightly and made no comments.

    "Do you want to get married?" He paused for a long while and asked me all of a sudden.

    "Of course! Maybe I'll find a wife in just a few days." I meant to kid with him.

    It was already midnight. We stood at a dark, silent parking lot. There was nobody around. I couldn't see his eyes clearly in the darkness. But I sensed the concern and amazement in his eyes.