Short, Light, Free

Since I did not know how to face my family, I agreed .

I found an agricultural bank nearby and made a codeless card . I then deposited 200,000 into it .

Back in my room, I went over the lines that I was going to recite, "I"m a high-level engineer in a coal mining factory . I get tens of thousands a month . Here"s 200,000 for you to do up the house a little . I"ll only be here for three days since I have to get back to my job . "

The best way to deceive others is to deceive yourself, so I continuously bore these lines into my head .

I dreamed that my parents found out about my lie, and woke up drenched in cold sweat . It was a horrible feeling .

I continued practicing the lines in the afternoon until my telephone rang and startled me .

It was the receptionist, calling to remind me to check out by two or to pay for another day"s stay at the counter if I was interested in extending it .

I waited until 1:30 before heading back home .

After a few knocks on the door, my parents opened it and stared at me .

Mom was the first to recognize me . "Gou Dan," she greeted with a smile .

Dad stood by the door in shock . He was indescribably happy to see me .

I stammered, "I"m a high-level… engineer in a coal… coal mining factory . Tens of thousands a month… here to visit . 200,000… do up the house . I"m leaving after three… um, I"m busy . I"ll leave tomorrow . "

"Come in and we"ll talk . Where have you been all these years, Gou Dan?" Dad asked .

"It"s been 10 years, hasn"t it? I remember it," Mom mused with a warm smile .

I wondered how I had done such a terrible job at that even after long hours of practice .

Luckily, judging from the way they were beaming at me, my parents didn"t notice or care .

"What did you say at the door, Gou Dan? What engineer? 200,000?" Dad asked .

"Here"s 200,000 . It"s the money I"ve earned to give to you two . I earn 10,000 a month so it"s more than enough for me to live on, don"t worry," I lied nervously .

"Good job, boy . You"ve done well," Dad said proudly .

That night, he bought two bottles of sorghum liquor from a small store nearby .

Mom cooked a whole array of dishes for us .

I was asked many, many questions that day and while I was being evasive at first, the alcohol eventually gave me a courage boost .

I made use of that adrenaline to explain the standard work procedures to them and took credit for the operation of equipment and machinery .

Dad was utterly satisfied .

Mom walked over to her pillow and retrieved a photograph from underneath it .

It was my brother in the photograph, standing beside a white-haired man and holding his university degree .

Mom explained that my brother was working in an English company and that she felt apologetic toward me but was unable to locate me all these years .

I shook my head and told her that it was alright .

She took out a pen and paper and had me put down my name and contact number .

As I was writing, she took my hand and commented, "Look at your rough hand . Must be tough on you…"

I looked down and thought about Teacher"s blackened hand .

Dad drank a few gla.s.ses and cheered happily that both his children had done him proud .

Mom, however, complained that Brother was unfilial for not visiting them .

I drank a few more cups with Dad but we talked less toward the end .

When all was done, I smiled and told them that I would return the next year .

They smiled a bittersweet smile .

Dad took the bank card and said, "I"ll get someone to see how we can renovate this place . It is time for some changes . "

The next morning, I left and decided to find a more prosperous city to go to .

After half a day of searching, I set my eyes on Guangzhou .

The cost of living was relatively cheaper than that in Beijing .

I bought a bus ticket and started my three-day journey .

By the time we arrived, our backs were all numbed from lying down too much .

I found an inn and since I had no skills, I became a door guard .

Food and accommodation were provided and I received 1,300 a month .

Half a month later, I received a call from an unknown number from Shanghai .

The caller began, "Gou Dan? I"m your brother . I heard that you"re operating machines at the mine?"

"What about it?" I asked .

"You know about excavation, tunnels and the like right?"

I paused for a second, smiling inwardly since I was indeed familiar with these things .

"h.e.l.lo? You there?"

"Yes, I know about all those things . Sorry, the signal isn"t great here," I lied .

"Do you have credentials? Mom said you"re a high-level engineer, but you didn"t study, did you?"

"I didn"t study, but I do have knowledge regarding them . There are no certifications provided here . We were taught personally by our teacher . "

"No certification? It"s gonna be hard then…"

"What"s going on?" I asked .

"I might need someone like you here to execute a similar job . I called Mom earlier and she told me about your experience, which is why I"m calling you," he explained kindly .

"Oh…"

"Will you be interested to help me out?"

"I"m about to start work . Let"s talk at night," I said .

"Alright, but you don"t have any certification and qualifications, right? It will be more difficult, but if you really have the expertise, I can get you a few false testimonies . "

"Fake certs?" I repeated even though I knew exactly what those meant .

He lowered his voice, "Yes . I"m working in a huge state enterprise and forging doc.u.ments is common here . A lot of employees came in with fake qualifications . It"s no problem, so don"t worry about it . "

Since I did not know how to face my family, I agreed . I found an agricultural bank nearby and made a codeless card . I then deposited 200,000 into it . Back in my room, I went over the lines that I was going to recite, I 39 m a high level engineer in a coal mining factory . I get tens of thousands a month . Here 39 s 200,000 for you to do up the house a little . I 39 ll only be here for three days since I have to get back to my job . The best way to deceive others is to deceive yourself, so I continuously bore these lines into my head . I dreamed that my parents found out about my lie, and woke up drenched in cold sweat . It was a horrible feeling . I continued practicing the lines in the afternoon until my telephone rang and startled me . It was the receptionist, calling to remind me to check out by two or to pay for another day 39 s stay at the counter if I was interested in extending it . I waited until 1 30 before heading back home . After a few knocks on the door, my parents opened it and stared at me . Mom was the first to recognize me . Gou Dan, she greeted with a smile . Dad stood by the door in shock . He was indescribably happy to see me . I stammered, I 39 m a high level engineer in a coal coal mining factory . Tens of thousands a month here to visit . 200,000 do up the house . I 39 m leaving after three um, I 39 m busy . I 39 ll leave tomorrow . Come in and we 39 ll talk . Where have you been all these years, Gou Dan Dad asked . It 39 s been 10 years, hasn 39 t it I remember it, Mom mused with a warm smile . I wondered how I had done such a terrible job at that even after long hours of practice . Luckily, judging from the way they were beaming at me, my parents didn 39 t notice or care . What did you say at the door, Gou Dan What engineer 200,000 Dad asked . Here 39 s 200,000 . It 39 s the money I 39 ve earned to give to you two . I earn 10,000 a month so it 39 s more than enough for me to live on, don 39 t worry, I lied nervously . Good job, boy . You 39 ve done well, Dad said proudly . That night, he bought two bottles of sorghum liquor from a small store nearby . Mom cooked a whole array of dishes for us . I was asked many, many questions that day and while I was being evasive at first, the alcohol eventually gave me a courage boost . I made use of that adrenaline to explain the standard work procedures to them and took credit for the operation of equipment and machinery . Dad was utterly satisfied . Mom walked over to her pillow and retrieved a photograph from underneath it . It was my brother in the photograph, standing beside a white haired man and holding his university degree . Mom explained that my brother was working in an English company and that she felt apologetic toward me but was unable to locate me all these years . I shook my head and told her that it was alright . She took out a pen and paper and had me put down my name and contact number . As I was writing, she took my hand and commented, Look at your rough hand . Must be tough on you I looked down and thought about Teacher 39 s blackened hand . Dad drank a few gla.s.ses and cheered happily that both his children had done him proud . Mom, however, complained that Brother was unfilial for not visiting them . I drank a few more cups with Dad but we talked less toward the end . When all was done, I smiled and told them that I would return the next year . They smiled a bittersweet smile . Dad took the bank card and said, I 39 ll get someone to see how we can renovate this place . It is time for some changes . The next morning, I left and decided to find a more prosperous city to go to . After half a day of searching, I set my eyes on Guangzhou . The cost of living was relatively cheaper than that in Beijing . I bought a bus ticket and started my three day journey . By the time we arrived, our backs were all numbed from lying down too much . I found an inn and since I had no skills, I became a door guard . Food and accommodation were provided and I received 1,300 a month . Half a month later, I received a call from an unknown number from Shanghai . The caller began, Gou Dan I 39 m your brother . I heard that you 39 re operating machines at the mine What about it I asked . You know about excavation, tunnels and the like right I paused for a second, smiling inwardly since I was indeed familiar with these things . h.e.l.lo You there Yes, I know about all those things . Sorry, the signal isn 39 t great here, I lied . Do you have credentials Mom said you 39 re a high level engineer, but you didn 39 t study, did you I didn 39 t study, but I do have knowledge regarding them . There are no certifications provided here . We were taught personally by our teacher . No certification It 39 s gonna be hard then What 39 s going on I asked . I might need someone like you here to execute a similar job . I called Mom earlier and she told me about your experience, which is why I 39 m calling you, he explained kindly . Oh Will you be interested to help me out I 39 m about to start work . Let 39 s talk at night, I said . Alright, but you don 39 t have any certification and qualifications, right It will be more difficult, but if you really have the expertise, I can get you a few false testimonies . Fake certs I repeated even though I knew exactly what those meant . He lowered his voice, Yes . I 39 m working in a huge state enterprise and forging doc.u.ments is common here . A lot of employees came in with fake qualifications . It 39 s no problem, so don 39 t worry about it .