If The Gods Hear Our Prayers

"Ah, mister, you've a good eye! That's a pretty piece, it is. The jade may not be the best but it's a unique colour, and the carving's very fine--look at the expression in its eyes, it could almost be alive. Doesn't it look alive, lying there?"

The vendor peered eagerly at Yuanzheng's face as he picked up a trinket on display. It was a small jade figurine shaped like a sleeping snake curled up, of a curiously light and transparent green, like the colour of a blade of grass with the sun filtering through it.

Yuanzheng nodded thoughfully. "Yes. I particularly like the eyes. They are full of spirit." Gently he turned it in his hand, examining the cunning little eyes carved into the jade, deep dents that captured the light and shadows so they seemed to hold a spark of life.

"You couldn't have said better, mister. There, you've picked the best one from this lot. Are you of the snake zodiac, perhaps?" The vendor waved his hand over the little collection of zodiac animal jade figurines arranged on his counter.

Shaking his head, Yuanzheng replied, "No, I'm actually of the year of the dog." He paused. "But she always told me I was an ox." He smiled to himself.

The stall keeper did not understand but he guessed that here was an opportunity to sell something else, so he quickly interrupted, "Ah, I have it! Why don't you get the zodiac animals for both yourself and your lady love? A perfect gift indeed, sure to please any lady, and bring luck on your relationship. How about that, eh, mister?"

Yuanzheng sighed. He rubbed his finger down the snake figurine's arched back, feeling the carved scales slowly become warm from the heat of his hand. "I'll just take this one. The snake. How much did you say it was again? No need to wrap it up for me."

Slightly disappointed, the stall keeper shrugged and pocketed the coins as Yuanzheng walked away, holding the little jade snake in his palm almost lovingly.

He started as a pair of hands fell heavily on his shoulders, and almost dropped it.

"Did I scare you? Now, what are you holding in your hand so guiltily?" demanded Xiaohu, prying open his fingers deftly and snatching the trinket. He frowned. "What's this?"

Yuanzheng wrested it back from him quickly. "None of your business, little busybody. Don't sneak up on me next time or I might think you're a robber and give you a black eye," he warned, tucking it away inside his clothes.

Xiaohu flung an arm around his shoulders, keeping pace with his long strides easily. He had grown quite a bit in the past few months, suddenly; without anyone realizing it he had outgrown his old tunic and absolutely split through the pants. Granny Hong had given him more of Yuanzheng's old clothes, unaltered, to wear but even then his bony wrists stuck out from the sleeves a good two inches.

He glanced at Yuanzheng's face and abruptly bit back the teasing. "I say," he said at last, awkwardly. "You miss her alot, don't you?"

Yuanzheng looked straight ahead. "Who?"

Xiaohu snorted. "Stop pretending. Sister Qing, of course."

There was a pause, then Yuanzhen said quietly, "Yes. In the mountains when I'm cutting wood, or when I'm in town, I keep feeling like I might bump into her like I used to. I keep thinking that she may appear in front of me."

He turned and looked steadily at Xiaohu. "Am I being a fool?" he said, simply.

Xiaohu swallowed uncomfortably. He was not used to being asked for advice in love. But Yuanzheng was a good friend, probably the best friend he had, and he wanted to be of help in some way, especially when he saw the expression in his friend's face.

"Maybe it's all for the best," he said uncertainly. "After all, you know what Sister Qing was like. I don't think she could have loved anyone. I mean--" he fumbled for words hastily, trying to explain himself, and turning rather red in the process. "I mean, you know what she was like. Restless and fun loving. She told me one must always look out for oneself, and not let others make you into an idiot. I mean, look at how she just left like that without telling us, even though we were such good friends. She just wasn't the sort to commit much."

Yuanzheng shook his head. "She had her reasons." he said quietly. "But she'll be back one day. I know her--she won't forget us so easily. Once she's ready, she'll come back. And I'll wait until she does, or until I find her."

Xiaohu scratched his head uncomfortably. "But Sister Qing was always so restless. I wouldn't be surprised if she forgot about us by now."

"She may be restless, but she's loyal at the core." Yuanzheng replied steadily. "She wouldn't forget her friends."

He drew a deep breath. "And I won't forget her."

Xiaohu sighed and gave up. "Any news on Physician Xu and Madame Xu? You asked around just now again, didn't you?"

Yuanzheng shook his head. "No one has seen them. I guess we can't do much more than keep their home ready for them if they ever return. Who knows what happened?"

"Physician Xu and Madame Xu were good people," Xiaohu said soberly. "Yet their fates were cruel. I wonder if we'll ever see them again. Granny Hong is always praying for them, I know. Surely the gods will hear her prayers and keep them safe, right?"

Yuanzheng smiled and put his arm around Xiaohu's shoulders. "We can only trust the gods now. Who knows, the next time I come to town maybe there'll be someone who saw them?"

He looked around and pointed at the dumpling stall. "Look, he's just steamed a fresh round of dumplings. Let's get some--my treat."

Xiaohu grinned. "Ah, now you're talking! My thanks in advance, O Village Chief To Be."

Yuanzheng cuffed him, scandalized. "Who are you calling village chief now?"

Making a face at him, Xiaohu rubbed his stinging ears ruefully. "And I thought you'd be grateful for a compliment! I'm not talking nonsense, now," he snapped defensively. "I overheard Brother Liang and the others talking, and Brother Liang said he thought you would be most suitable to take over the position from him."

"Don't talk nonsense," Yuanzheng said sternly. "You're just trying to get more dumplings from me, I know you."

"I'm not," wailed Xiaohu, much aggrieved. "They said you came up with the plan for defending the village, and you had a good head, and some other things I couldn't hear properly, but it was all true! You're an ungrateful wretch, you are, Yuanzheng! Here I was thinking I'd be the bearer of good news to you, and what do I get in return?"

Yuanzheng shook his finger warningly at him. "See, I just knew you were angling for something!"

With a howl of dismay, Xiaohu raced after him as he strode away. "It's the truth, Yuanzheng, I swear! You're unreasonable and ungrateful, that's what you are. I shouldn't have bothered to tell you. You're still going to get me dumplings, right?"