Short, Light, Free

I entered the courtyard and noticed that our houses, mine left and hers right, were separated by a wall .

My memory of this place was blurry but I was still hit with a strong case of deja vu .

Wu Su entered her side of the house and said offhandedly, "Your place is on that side . Follow me to my side of the house . "

I nodded and followed her into the bedroom .

I looked down and saw that she was wearing house slippers .

"Should I remove my shoes?" I asked .

"Nah . Don"t worry about it, I don"t really care about that . "

She flipped through a few cabinets by the table and took out a key ring .

"My bedroom"s on the left . Ever since my father died, we never stepped into the right room again . "

I looked on patiently as she tried different keys to open the door .

"My mom died early . Father and Grandfather rarely receive guests so this side feels cold and cheerless," she continued .

Wu Su entered the bedroom, walked to the window curtains and drew them, allowing light to shine through .

I stepped in and was instantly startled by a statue of Lord Guan against the wall . The candles beside it were made of plastic and lit up by electricity .

They weren"t turned on and were covered in a layer of dust . Time had warped even the looks of Lord Guan .

He had a knife in one hand and a book in another .

I"ve seen both the book and knife, but his half-studious, half-armed look seemed odd to me .

"Why is he holding a book?" I asked .

"No idea, but Dad prayed to him . I asked him about it and the general idea is that the knife is a subduing force . I don"t remember what he said about the book, though . "

She squatted down to search the cabinets .

While I wasn"t a firm believer in Buddhism and the like, Granny"s words were scary . I clasped my hands together and tried to pray .

Just as I bent down, Wu Su rose, causing us to collide .

"What are you doing?" she asked, rubbing her head .

I answered, "I was about to pray when you got up . "

"Why do you even believe my father"s words?" she said exasperatedly, ma.s.saging her head as she handed me a coverless book .

"You seem to be a smart young man, don"t a.s.sociate yourself with scammers like my father . "

"Don"t say that about your father . He"s a priest after all, no?" 

She snorted . "A priest who told fortune? He"s a scammer . People know me as the daughter of a scammer, not as the daughter of a priest . "

"What"s this book then?" It was clear that she felt very strongly against this so I changed the topic .

"The source of his abilities," she answered .

"Have you read it?"

"No . It"s the tradition that guys inherit it instead of girls . This instruction ended when it reached my generation . "

I flipped to the first page and was surprised that the old beliefs weren"t much different from Wu Su"s idea .

"This book is . . . "

"A book full of men-only bullsh*t . Even if I had a son, I would never allow him to touch a book like this . "

"So you don"t want this?" I asked .

"The tradition will die if I just leave it lying around, you can take it," she said graciously .

"I think you misunderstood your father . Let"s see if I can set some things right," I suggested .

"I don"t understand . "

"Why?" I asked .

"Father brainwashed your grandmother? Or did you get brainwashed, too? You haven"t even seen him but you"re acting like a fanatic . Is he really that charming?" Wu Su questioned .

"Can I ask why you seem to have such a bad impression of your dad?"

"His work was . . . unsavory and unsuccessful . What kind of grown man still needs support from his parents? Even Grandfather had a proper job! My father deserved death for being such a failure . "

"That"s exactly what I wanted to talk about, your dad and grandfather"s job . They"re fortune-telling priests, not scammers . "

"How did my dad manage to brainwash you?" She shook her head in disbelief . "Take this book and go . Just read it but don"t take the words to heart . I would hate for you to become as useless as them . "

"Wait . I have proof . Give me a moment, I"ll find it," I said, fishing the mini pouch from my back pocket .

As I was searching for the newspaper cutting, Wu Su said, "That"s your grandmother"s wallet, isn"t it?"

I couldn"t find what I was looking for .

"You might not be able to prove anything," she continued .

"No, no, no . Granny said that your father"s words came true . Your dad even read my father"s fortune and predicted that he would earn a different type of money . What do you know? My father went overseas to work!"

"Don"t be silly . Your father and my father were cla.s.smates . They chat about everything . My father probably heard about your dad"s plan to travel abroad, and shared it with your grandmother . "

"They were cla.s.smates?" I repeated .

"Six years in elementary school, three in junior high, and another three in senior high . They went their separate ways just before university . "

"That"s a long time," I commented .

"It looks like you"re not aware of our arranged marriage then," she added .

I was stunned . "Excuse me?"

"Forget it . I like you as much as I did my father right now," she informed me bluntly .

"Your grandfather read Granny"s fortune and got her lifespan right . He spoke of science and technology too… it was all accurate," I insisted .

"Your brain is completely gone . Just take this cursed book and go . Good luck to you," she said with finality .

"I… I just wanna say… I…"

I was at a loss .

Wu Su gestured toward the exit .

I entered the courtyard and noticed that our houses, mine left and hers right, were separated by a wall . My memory of this place was blurry but I was still hit with a strong case of deja vu . Wu Su entered her side of the house and said offhandedly, Your place is on that side . Follow me to my side of the house . I nodded and followed her into the bedroom . I looked down and saw that she was wearing house slippers . Should I remove my shoes I asked . Nah . Don 39 t worry about it, I don 39 t really care about that . She flipped through a few cabinets by the table and took out a key ring . My bedroom 39 s on the left . Ever since my father died, we never stepped into the right room again . I looked on patiently as she tried different keys to open the door . My mom died early . Father and Grandfather rarely receive guests so this side feels cold and cheerless, she continued . Wu Su entered the bedroom, walked to the window curtains and drew them, allowing light to shine through . I stepped in and was instantly startled by a statue of Lord Guan against the wall . The candles beside it were made of plastic and lit up by electricity . They weren 39 t turned on and were covered in a layer of dust . Time had warped even the looks of Lord Guan . He had a knife in one hand and a book in another . I 39 ve seen both the book and knife, but his half studious, half armed look seemed odd to me . Why is he holding a book I asked . No idea, but Dad prayed to him . I asked him about it and the general idea is that the knife is a subduing force . I don 39 t remember what he said about the book, though . She squatted down to search the cabinets . While I wasn 39 t a firm believer in Buddhism and the like, Granny 39 s words were scary . I clasped my hands together and tried to pray . Just as I bent down, Wu Su rose, causing us to collide . What are you doing she asked, rubbing her head . I answered, I was about to pray when you got up . Why do you even believe my father 39 s words she said exasperatedly, ma.s.saging her head as she handed me a coverless book . You seem to be a smart young man, don 39 t a.s.sociate yourself with scammers like my father . Don 39 t say that about your father . He 39 s a priest after all, no She snorted . A priest who told fortune He 39 s a scammer . People know me as the daughter of a scammer, not as the daughter of a priest . What 39 s this book then It was clear that she felt very strongly against this so I changed the topic . The source of his abilities, she answered . Have you read it No . It 39 s the tradition that guys inherit it instead of girls . This instruction ended when it reached my generation . I flipped to the first page and was surprised that the old beliefs weren 39 t much different from Wu Su 39 s idea . This book is . . . A book full of men only bullsh t . Even if I had a son, I would never allow him to touch a book like this . So you don 39 t want this I asked . The tradition will die if I just leave it lying around, you can take it, she said graciously . I think you misunderstood your father . Let 39 s see if I can set some things right, I suggested . I don 39 t understand . Why I asked . Father brainwashed your grandmother Or did you get brainwashed, too You haven 39 t even seen him but you 39 re acting like a fanatic . Is he really that charming Wu Su questioned . Can I ask why you seem to have such a bad impression of your dad His work was . . . unsavory and unsuccessful . What kind of grown man still needs support from his parents Even Grandfather had a proper job My father deserved death for being such a failure . That 39 s exactly what I wanted to talk about, your dad and grandfather 39 s job . They 39 re fortune telling priests, not scammers . How did my dad manage to brainwash you She shook her head in disbelief . Take this book and go . Just read it but don 39 t take the words to heart . I would hate for you to become as useless as them . Wait . I have proof . Give me a moment, I 39 ll find it, I said, fishing the mini pouch from my back pocket . As I was searching for the newspaper cutting, Wu Su said, That 39 s your grandmother 39 s wallet, isn 39 t it I couldn 39 t find what I was looking for . You might not be able to prove anything, she continued . No, no, no . Granny said that your father 39 s words came true . Your dad even read my father 39 s fortune and predicted that he would earn a different type of money . What do you know My father went overseas to work Don 39 t be silly . Your father and my father were cla.s.smates . They chat about everything . My father probably heard about your dad 39 s plan to travel abroad, and shared it with your grandmother . They were cla.s.smates I repeated . Six years in elementary school, three in junior high, and another three in senior high . They went their separate ways just before university . That 39 s a long time, I commented . It looks like you 39 re not aware of our arranged marriage then, she added . I was stunned . Excuse me Forget it . I like you as much as I did my father right now, she informed me bluntly . Your grandfather read Granny 39 s fortune and got her lifespan right . He spoke of science and technology too it was all accurate, I insisted . Your brain is completely gone . Just take this cursed book and go . Good luck to you, she said with finality . I I just wanna say I I was at a loss . Wu Su gestured toward the exit .