The Bracelet From Granny

Qian Lan was in the middle of climbing over her home fence in the middle of the night to go clubbing, when her mother caught her in the act. Being homeschooled most of her life and then being locked at home and not even allowed to attend a college, Qian Lan had always wondered if she was adopted. It only made sense seeing as her parents always made sure her sister was taken care of first before her, just because she was fortunate enough to be born healthy; unlike her sister.

"Where do you think you're going?! And in the middle of the night!"

"Ah! Ma! Don't pull my hair! It hurts!"

"I've told you to stop doing these things! Why won't you listen! What if something happens to you out there! Huh?!"

"I'm just going out to celebrate my birthday early, it's fine! Ah-Mi is going too!"

"I don't care who's going! You'll go back and stay in your room this instant! No daughter of mine will be caught clubbing!"

Qian Lan's mother drags her back to her bedroom and locks her in. Her bedroom had no windows big enough to fit her, it would even barely fit a toddler. If her bedroom door was locked, she was stuck. Not like it was the first time. Qian Lan had dreams of her own, but was always told by her parents it was a waste of time to pursue a culinary degree.

"Sniff…..sniff…."

Like many other nights, Qian Lan spent her night away, crying and cursing her cruel life. As the hours passed, Qian Lan cried herself to sleep. With the sun breaking in through the small glass windows, Qian Lan moves out of her bed and stretches her thin arms to wake herself up. Taking a deep breath, she walks to her bathroom.

"Ugh….my eyes look horrible."

Qian Lan washes her face with cold water and places a cold towel over her swollen eyes from crying all night. Just as she was about to walk out of her bathroom, her mother comes barging in.

"Qian Lan!"

"Whatttt…ma!"

"Clean up the temple courtyard! There's leaves everywhere!"

"Again?! Why me?! Why can't you help me?!"

"There's been a family emergency! I'm heading to your uncle Ling."

"What?! Then I want to come too!"

"No, I don't want none of your nonsense this morning. Finish it up and then you can cook for yourself as well."

Once her mother was out of sight, Qian Lan peeks through her small window and could see the piles of leaves blowing around.

"Ugh…...as always. It's always me cleaning."

Qian Lan quickly dresses herself in sweats and ties her long dark hair up in a ponytail. Once she was ready, she ran down the stairs and grabbed her tennis shoes that were so worn out; to the point a hole was forming at the bottom of her left shoe. Qian Lan had begged her mother to purchase her a new pair, but it always went in one ear and out the other when it came to talking to her parents. As Qian Lan goes to the garage to grab the rake, she hears her grandmother calling out to her.

"Little Qian Lan, come here."

"Grandma? When did you get here?"

"Just this morning. I had a dream you were sad. So, I came to visit you."

Qian Lan finally breaks down and cries to her grandmother about how she has been treated. Tired and ignored throughout most of her life, Qian Lan just wanted to know what it felt to have a loving family. Once she calmed down, Qian Lan looks at her grandmother who was sitting on the temple porch as she watched her rake leaves.

"Granny, am I adopted?"

"Not at all. I was there the day you and your sister were born."

"Granny…. why does ma and pa hate me? Is it true what they tell me?"

"What do you mean?"

"They say it's my fault big sister is sick. It's because I took everything, big sister was born small and sick. Is that true?"

"What? What nonsense Is that! Everything in life is predestined! Your sister was born the way she was destined to and you were born the way you were destined to!"

"That destiny thing again. It's like ma and pa restrict me and don't want me to accomplish anything in life because big sister can't do them either."

"Qian Lan…."

"It's okay granny, I'm used to it now."

"Qian Lan, I'm sorry that I'm so weak and can't help you."

"It's okay granny, having you visit me is enough."

"Aiyah, if only your grandpa was still alive. He'd teach your parents a lesson if he was."

"How many years has it been already?"

"Hmm....You were only three when he passed away from lung cancer. I miss him every day, but I also see him everyday in my dreams. So, it's alright. Ah, before I forget, Qian Lan come here."

Qian Lan drops her rake and runs closer to sit on the temple staircase; next to her grandmother.

"What is it granny?"

"Happy twentieth birthday. This is a gift from me and your grandfather. He wanted me to give this to you when you turned twenty."

Qian Lan's grandmother hands her a light blue bracelet with a tint of jade mixed in.

"A jade bracelet? Will Xia Lan get one too?"

"Your grandfather didn't give me one for her. I wondered about that at first too, but I guess he has his own reason. Take good care of that bracelet. It's a family heirloom alright?"

"What?! Don't give me something so important granny! What if I lose it or break it?!"

"Heh Heh, silly Qian Lan. It's not something that can be taken away from you so easily. This bracelet may just change your life."

"Granny…...that's scary."

"Sometimes change is good. Learn to embrace it, Qian Lan."

"Granny are you going to give me life lectures today too?"

"I'm just telling you what your grandfather told me this morning. I told you I dreamt of him, didn't I?"

"Yes, granny. I know."

"Now you might want to hurry up and finish raking before your mother comes back."

"Oh! Crap!"

Qian Lan runs back and grabs her rake. She quickly scooped up the leaves and shoved them in bags to be thrown away. After four hours, Qian Lan was finally finished. Lunch time was long over, so Qian Lan decided she was going to cook something for herself for a change.

"Granny, let's go eat. I'll make something."

"Oh, ho ho…. I always did love your cooking."

Qian Lan grabs her grandmother's' hand and helps her into the family home located behind the temple. The temple itself was another building and smaller in size. Once Qian Lan and her grandmother were in the kitchen, Qian Lan quickly opens up the fridge and looks for ingredients.

"Granny are you okay with sweet pork and egg soup?"

"Anything you make is delicious, little Qian Lan."

Qian Lan turns around and starts to cook as her grandmother watched over her. After thirty minutes, Qian Lan was finished cooking her sweet pork, egg soup and rice. She happily served her granny a portion as she ate her portion.

"Granny, you're not eating?"

"I will…. don't worry."

Qian Lan could see sadness in her grandmother's eyes. Feeling worried she stops eating and tilts her head in confusion.

"Granny? What's wrong?"

"Oh…...little Qian Lan, your life is going to be hard after today. But I know you are strong and will be able to overcome this."

"Granny? Why're you saying that? What's going to make it hard?"

"Little Qian Lan…...do you know what our ancestors and the people use to worship?"

"Uhm…...I heard it was some god. But I was a kid when you last told me this story."

"That's right, it's the water god."

"Why're you telling me this again?"

"It is your fate, my little Qian Lan."

"My fate for what?"

"Ring Ring."

"Ah! Sorry granny, that's big sis calling for help. I'll be right back."

Qian Lan leaves to see what her sister needed. Quickly running up the stairs, Qian Lan props her sister's doors open. Sitting in the center of the room on a queen-sized bed, with pale pink interior and bedsheets. Her sister looked like the perfect rich and sickly girl she had seen from dramas with her pale skin, large eyes and long dark hair.

"What is it Xia Lan?"

"Cough…Cough…Qian Lan. Who are you talking to down there?"

"Huh? Just granny."

"Granny? Cough Cough!"

"Here, drink your medicine."

Qian Lan's sister had a weird illness that not even doctors could diagnosis. Making sure to not overexert herself, her parents had her bedridden.

"Qian Lan, mother didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Granny passed away this morning at Uncle Ling's home. That's why mother and father went there this morning."

"...….."

Qian Lan remained quiet, without a moment to lose. Qian Lan dashed down the stairs to find her grandmother missing and her food untouched.

"Granny?"

Reality finally sank in, and Qian Lan cried her heart out. Nothing but the echoes of her cries filled the empty rooms in their home. Losing her appetite, Qian Lan throws her food away and runs back to her room. Qian Lan spent the rest of her day laying in bed; filled with regret.