Chapter 6: Videotape Temptation

I called my aunt to tell her what happened. My aunt said on the phone: "Come to my house first. I haven't finished work yet; we'll talk when I get back."

I hailed a taxi; I was going to be extravagant for once. If I didn't splurge now, once I reached Suxi Township, I wouldn't be able to even if I wanted to. Money is of no use in that place. I heard that the farmers there raise one pig from the beginning of the year to the end, and when the New Year comes, they slaughter it and hang it from the rafters to make air-dried meat. When guests arrive, they take a knife and slice off a piece to stir-fry with wild celery or stew with lotus root—both are delicacies. In their parts, the concept of commodities still doesn't exist, because many of their daily necessities are still obtained through barter.

I had the key to my aunt's house. As soon as I opened the door and went in, I threw myself onto the sofa. My aunt's sofa was my favorite; this set of sofas was obtained by my uncle in the army. I often dreamed of having a set like this myself, but unfortunately, my meager salary couldn't even buy a corner of it.

My aunt came back bringing a lot of vegetables. As soon as she entered the door, she said: "Where's the money?"

I said: "What money?"

"The paper package I gave you today."

I said: "I thought it was something else; I threw it in the drawer."

"You fool, that's the twenty thousand yuan Wu Qian gave you!"

I didn't react for a moment. I said: "What Wu Qian twenty thousand yuan?"

"You, you're still such a scatterbrain. Hurry back and get it; it's so dangerous to throw it in a broken drawer."

"Don't worry, Aunt. My broken office, you can't even find a ghost after work."

I lazily stretched and said: "I'm hungry, Comrade Jiang Xiaoyue."

"Hurry and go get it back; if you don't bring it, there's no food!" my aunt warned me.

I saw that she didn't look like she was joking, so I had to go downstairs and buy a pack of Fine Baisha cigarettes on the street.

When I returned to my aunt's house, I saw Wu Qian sitting there happily watching TV, while my aunt was busy in the kitchen.

I threw the money on the coffee table and said lightly: "You're here."

Wu Qian blushed: "You really have a big temper."

I replied: "What kind of man doesn't have a temper?"

We bickered back and forth, while my aunt sang happily in the kitchen.

After eating, my aunt said she had to go out to handle some business, leaving me and Wu Qian behind.

Before my aunt left, she called me into the bedroom, took a few videotapes out of the cabinet, and said to me: "If you're bored, just keep her company and watch some tapes." My aunt pointed to Wu Qian outside.

I hugged my aunt's shoulder and said: "Aren't you afraid that we lone man and lone woman will get up to some tricks in your house?"

My aunt actually blushed, broke free from my hug, and said: "I'm just afraid you won't get up to any tricks. An ox in a haystack that doesn't eat the grass is a dead ox."

I hugged my aunt again. This time, she didn't struggle. My hand was on my aunt's soft waist, flowing over like gentle water. My aunt tapped my forehead and said: "You're going to Suxi Township in a few days; then even if you want to, you won't have the chance, you fool."

My aunt let me out and called Wu Qian in.

I didn't know what they said in the bedroom. I saw that when they came out, my aunt was beaming, while Wu Qian was blushing, not even having the courage to look at me.

Wu Qian's body made me feel the beauty of a heavenly paradise! I can responsibly say that before her, I had never touched a woman.

Wu Qian and I sat on the sofa watching TV. We were very close; my nose was filled with the fragrance drifting from her hair.

I took out the videotapes my aunt gave me and said: "Let's watch a tape."

Wu Qian blushed. I didn't understand why she blushed. I put the tape into the machine and went into the kitchen to pour water. I drank a large glass, poured one for Wu Qian, and went into the living room.

As soon as Wu Qian saw me, she turned her face away. I took a look; her face was bright red.

I said: "What's wrong with you?"

Wu Qian didn't turn back and said: "Look at what you put on?"

I looked at the TV and was so shocked I couldn't close my mouth for a long time.

I hurriedly turned off the TV and defended myself a bit embarrassedly: "It wasn't me."

"Still saying it wasn't you?" Wu Qian chuckled: "You clearly put it on and won't admit it? Could it be your aunt gave it to you?"

Of course, I couldn't say my aunt gave it to me. I opened my mouth, not knowing what to say. After standing blankly for a while, I finally said: "I'm leaving in two days."

"I know." Wu Qian nodded and said: "Xiaoyue told me."

"I'm being exiled!" I gritted my teeth and said: "I didn't offend anyone; why doesn't God help me!"

Wu Qian covered her mouth and laughed: "Actually, this is a good thing. You'll be an official when you go, a secretary at that. If you stayed here, you might be a clerk for your whole life."

I said dejectedly: "I'd rather be a clerk than go be that bird official."

She didn't answer me directly, but after a long time asked me one question: "Will you come back later?"

"How can I not come back? I won't die there!" I comforted myself: "This is just a transition. After the transition, I'll come back. My team has just started—one man, one gun!"

But I knew very well that this was basically nonsense. Since they had thrown me into the mountains, who would have the leisure to fish me out?

"You, you don't even have one gun!" Wu Qian giggled, covering her mouth.

"Is that so? How could I not have one gun?"

"Stop messing around. I'm telling you, I'm getting married!" Wu Qian looked very heavy, her tone melancholy.

"It wouldn't be marrying me, would it?" I joked.

"No!" ===== CHAPTER 7 =====