repeatedly told her, "Don't worry about anything after you get to Shanghai. Just get better. If you encounter any difficulties, let us know, and the factory will solve them for you."
Song Fanping then took his impressive gift of gab and worked the same magic at the hospital. He and a young doctor there chatted about everything from astronomy to geography, jumping from one topic to another and somehow finding agreement on everything. The two chatted until their spittle flew and their faces were flushed while Li Lan sat to one side, dumbfounded, forgetting even the pain of her migraines. She gazed upon Song Fanping with delight, having had no idea that the man she had lived with for the past year had such talents. After giving them the referral, the young doctor followed them all the way to the front door, gripping Song Fanpings hand and saying he had finally met his equal. He said they had to find time to get a jug of wine and some snacks and shoot the breeze all night long.
All the way home Li Lan was filled with joy. She would gently tug at Song Fanpings hand, and when he looked over at her, he saw that her eyes were blazing like hot furnaces. When they got home, Li Lan pulled him into the inner room and shut the door. She gripped him tightly, her head on his broad chest and tears of happiness soaking his shirt.
After her first husband had drowned in the latrine, this timid woman had become accustomed to living in shame, all alone. Now Song Fan-ping was giving her a happiness that she could not have dreamed of. She had someone to depend on, and what a wonderful mountain of support he was! She felt that she no longer had to walk with her head down. Song Fanping allowed her to raise her head proudly and face the world.
Song Fanping didn't understand why Li Lan had become so emotional. Laughing, he pushed her aside, asking what was the matter. Li Lan shook her head and didn't say a word. She just held on tightly, not loosening her grip until they heard Baldy Li and Song Gang hollering outside, "We're hungry! We're hungry!" Song Fanping asked her why was she crying, but she bashfully turned away and walked quickly out of their room.
Li Lan took the bus to Shanghai the next afternoon. The whole family put on clean clothes and set off at noon. Song Fanping was carrying a gray travel bag that he had bought in Shanghai during his first marriage. On one side of the bag was the word SHANGHAI in dark red. A year earlier, on the day after their wedding, Song Fanping had wanted to get a family portrait, but since his face was swollen at the time, they didn't take the photo. He had forgotten all about it, but now that Li Lan was going away to Shanghai to get treatment, he thought again of getting the portrait, so they set off for the photography studio.
When they arrived there, Song Fanping again exceeded his wife's estimation of him. He seemed to know everything, directing the photographer to adjust the lights until no shadows would be cast on any of their faces. The photographer followed his orders, shifting the lights about and nodding at his directions. After the photographer had finished setting up the lights, Song Fanping went over to the camera to take a look and then had him adjust the lights a bit more. Then he directed the boys on how to tilt their heads and how to smile. He had Baldy Li and Song Gang sit in the middle, with Li Lan next to Song Gang and himself next to Baldy Li. He told them to watch the photographer's raised hand, then even did the counting himself: "One, two, three, smile!"
The photographer clicked the shutter, and their bright smiles were preserved in a black-and-white photo. After paying, Song Fanping carefully folded the blue receipt and placed it in his wallet. He turned to the boys and told them that they would be able to see the photo in aweeks time. Then he took up the gray travel bag and led his wife and children to the bus depot.
In the waiting room, they sat in a row. Song Fanping described
Song Fanping then took his impressive gift of gab and worked the same magic at the hospital. He and a young doctor there chatted about everything from astronomy to geography, jumping from one topic to another and somehow finding agreement on everything. The two chatted until their spittle flew and their faces were flushed while Li Lan sat to one side, dumbfounded, forgetting even the pain of her migraines. She gazed upon Song Fanping with delight, having had no idea that the man she had lived with for the past year had such talents. After giving them the referral, the young doctor followed them all the way to the front door, gripping Song Fanpings hand and saying he had finally met his equal. He said they had to find time to get a jug of wine and some snacks and shoot the breeze all night long.
All the way home Li Lan was filled with joy. She would gently tug at Song Fanpings hand, and when he looked over at her, he saw that her eyes were blazing like hot furnaces. When they got home, Li Lan pulled him into the inner room and shut the door. She gripped him tightly, her head on his broad chest and tears of happiness soaking his shirt.
After her first husband had drowned in the latrine, this timid woman had become accustomed to living in shame, all alone. Now Song Fan-ping was giving her a happiness that she could not have dreamed of. She had someone to depend on, and what a wonderful mountain of support he was! She felt that she no longer had to walk with her head down. Song Fanping allowed her to raise her head proudly and face the world.
Song Fanping didn't understand why Li Lan had become so emotional. Laughing, he pushed her aside, asking what was the matter. Li Lan shook her head and didn't say a word. She just held on tightly, not loosening her grip until they heard Baldy Li and Song Gang hollering outside, "We're hungry! We're hungry!" Song Fanping asked her why was she crying, but she bashfully turned away and walked quickly out of their room.
Li Lan took the bus to Shanghai the next afternoon. The whole family put on clean clothes and set off at noon. Song Fanping was carrying a gray travel bag that he had bought in Shanghai during his first marriage. On one side of the bag was the word SHANGHAI in dark red. A year earlier, on the day after their wedding, Song Fanping had wanted to get a family portrait, but since his face was swollen at the time, they didn't take the photo. He had forgotten all about it, but now that Li Lan was going away to Shanghai to get treatment, he thought again of getting the portrait, so they set off for the photography studio.
When they arrived there, Song Fanping again exceeded his wife's estimation of him. He seemed to know everything, directing the photographer to adjust the lights until no shadows would be cast on any of their faces. The photographer followed his orders, shifting the lights about and nodding at his directions. After the photographer had finished setting up the lights, Song Fanping went over to the camera to take a look and then had him adjust the lights a bit more. Then he directed the boys on how to tilt their heads and how to smile. He had Baldy Li and Song Gang sit in the middle, with Li Lan next to Song Gang and himself next to Baldy Li. He told them to watch the photographer's raised hand, then even did the counting himself: "One, two, three, smile!"
The photographer clicked the shutter, and their bright smiles were preserved in a black-and-white photo. After paying, Song Fanping carefully folded the blue receipt and placed it in his wallet. He turned to the boys and told them that they would be able to see the photo in aweeks time. Then he took up the gray travel bag and led his wife and children to the bus depot.
In the waiting room, they sat in a row. Song Fanping described
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