◎ I Happen to Like Tacky Things ◎

Luo Peiyin’s male cousin asked Gu Qiao: “Do you come here often?”

Gu Qiao answered honestly: “This is my first time. But I’ve heard this place has a very good reputation.”

Unlike Gu Qiao, though it was their first time at this particular restaurant, Chaozhou cuisine itself was not unfamiliar to them.

Gu Qiao was completely different from two years ago — she came prepared to host, and when ordering she was no longer timid and careful. Before the others had a chance to order, she went ahead and ordered all the dishes Old Li had recommended: abalone braised in goose feet with abalone sauce, charcoal-grilled sea conch… Gu Qiao could understand why these dishes were expensive, but why on earth was a goose head priced so high?

Having gone to the trouble of treating someone for once, Gu Qiao didn’t want to come across as stingy. She smiled and asked: “Is this Chenghai old goose head a specialty of yours?” If she had been dining alone, she would have come right out and asked why a single goose head cost so much — a whole goose wasn’t that expensive to begin with.

After the server explained how difficult it was to raise the lion-head goose, she asked Gu Qiao whether she’d like a three-year-old goose head, or one from a goose aged five years or more.

The prices were naturally different.

Gu Qiao smiled, and chose the more expensive one.

Luo Peiyin watched Gu Qiao. Her lips looked even redder against the contrast of her earrings. Judging from the movement of her lips, Luo Peiyin could tell that the decision hadn’t come entirely easily — she had swallowed the word “three” back down.

Of everyone at the table, only Gu Qiao herself thought she might pay the bill. Luo Peiyin’s cousins had never been in the habit of checking prices when ordering, and this time was no different. When it came to Luo Peiyin’s turn, he ordered only one vegetable dish.

While they waited for the food, Gu Qiao took on the role of host with full initiative, asking how many days they’d been in China and which sights they’d visited.

Following Gu Qiao’s lead, the conversation picked up, and Gu Qiao recommended they take an evening stroll through the Summer Palace if they had time: “It snowed recently — it’s especially beautiful at night.”

“Have you been?”

“Not since the snow.” She had only been in autumn when the osmanthus was in bloom, and she’d taken new photos there. While posing for the pictures, she had thought of Luo Peiyin — thinking it would be wonderful if he were by her side.

Luo Peiyin’s female cousin said with genuine regret: “What a shame. We leave for Shanghai the day after tomorrow, so we probably won’t have time.” They’d already visited the Summer Palace during the day, and the rest of their itinerary was packed — there was no squeezing in a nighttime visit.

“You’re going to Shanghai the day after tomorrow?” Gu Qiao wondered whether this “we” included Luo Peiyin. She still had several more meals she wanted to treat him to.

Gu Qiao had been talking with Luo Peiyin’s cousins the whole time, but what she most wanted was to hear Luo Peiyin speak. Yet this person seemed even quieter than before in front of her — didn’t he have anything he wanted to talk to her about? Through the conversation, Gu Qiao learned that though they were Singaporean, they were currently studying in England.

“Which school are you at?”

When they learned that Gu Qiao was in the clothing business — not as a designer, but as the owner of a clothing stall — they were both a little surprised.

Gu Qiao talked to them about her business. On the surface she was chatting with Luo Peiyin’s cousins, but everything she said was meant for Luo Peiyin’s ears. She hoped he could come to understand her better.

Gu Qiao had been too busy at noon to eat, and was very hungry now — yet the way she ate was far less bold than the way she had ordered. Each bite was delicate and restrained, as though she were performing for an audience.

As the meal was drawing to a close, Gu Qiao used the excuse of needing the restroom to go settle the bill at the front. By the time Luo Peiyin realized what she was doing and came to the counter as well, Gu Qiao had already paid.

The total stung, but within that sting was a thread of joy — she wanted Luo Peiyin to know she was not the same person she had been two years ago.

Luo Peiyin took out his wallet. Gu Qiao knew he was going to offer her money, and quickly grabbed the hand holding his wallet: “Cousin, didn’t I tell you yesterday I was treating you to dinner? I said it would be my treat, so it’s my treat.”

Luo Peiyin’s gaze dropped to Gu Qiao’s hand. Gu Qiao quickly withdrew it.

His eyes moved from her hand to her face. The moss-green earrings continued to sway in front of him.

“But today it wasn’t just me.”

Gu Qiao understood what he meant — it wasn’t just him, so she shouldn’t be the one to pay. But she pretended not to understand: “Then can I treat just you to dinner tomorrow? Would you prefer French cuisine or Korean barbecue?”

The look in Gu Qiao’s eyes as she gazed at Luo Peiyin was bright and luminous, as though filled with boundless anticipation.

For Luo Peiyin, saying no was not usually difficult. But this time, the words didn’t come out.

When the meal ended, Luo Peiyin made a point of thanking Gu Qiao in front of his cousins for treating them all to dinner.

Gu Qiao quickly said it was nothing.

Gu Qiao took two small boxes from her bag and handed them to Luo Peiyin’s cousins — gifts she had specially gone to an arts and crafts shop to buy: panda pendants.

Gu Qiao smiled and said: “Just a small token — I hope you like them.” She had also brought a gift for Luo Peiyin, but since he had already accepted her invitation to dinner tomorrow, she planned to give it to him in person then.

“Thank you! They’re beautiful.”

There was a note of awkwardness beneath the thanks — they had eaten her meal and now received gifts, yet had brought nothing themselves. Luo Peiyin’s female cousin said to Gu Qiao: “Can you leave me your address? I’d like to send you a gift too.” Their plans for the next two days were already set — there was no time to treat her in return.

“There’s really no need to be so formal.”

She was more than just being polite — she already had her pen out. Gu Qiao could see the gesture was genuine, so she didn’t refuse further, and wrote her address in the small notebook.

“We’re going ice skating at Shichahai in a little while — come with us!”

Gu Qiao didn’t immediately agree. Her eyes moved toward Luo Peiyin, and she heard him say: “Come along!”

Luo Peiyin had arrived with his cousins in the hotel’s car, but this time on the way to Shichahai, he climbed into Gu Qiao’s van and took the driver’s seat. He told his cousins to head on ahead, and that he and Gu Qiao would follow shortly.

Once in the car, Luo Peiyin counted out money from his wallet. Seeing he was about to hand her money again, Gu Qiao immediately said: “I’ve earned a decent amount these past two years — none of this is anything to me.”

Luo Peiyin thought of the small rooms where Gu Qiao lived. She had indeed earned some money over the past two years, but far from nothing…

Gu Qiao pressed her hand over Luo Peiyin’s wallet: “Cousin, I don’t like back-and-forth haggling…”

Then she laughed, her eyes bright. She figured Luo Peiyin had probably forgotten — this was something he had once said to her. That time, when he’d tried to pay her back for the jeans and for buying Bai Ling a drink, she’d refused. That was exactly what he had said.

When they arrived at the skating rink and Gu Qiao was about to get out, Luo Peiyin took off his outer coat.

“It’s cold outside — wear this.”

“Then what will you wear?”

“I don’t feel the cold as much.”

“I don’t want it.”

Luo Peiyin pointed to his black cashmere sweater: “This is very thick.” He pulled it up to cover his ears, then draped his coat over Gu Qiao’s shoulders. “Didn’t you just say you don’t like back-and-forth haggling? Then stop haggling.”

With that, he got out of the car.

Gu Qiao put on Luo Peiyin’s coat, and felt as though she had touched the warmth still held in the fabric.

Only Gu Qiao needed to rent skates — the others had all brought their own. She was quite skilled at the “glide slide” style of skating on ice, but skating in the evening in shoes that weren’t quite right for it left her a bit unsteady, and in an unguarded moment she slipped and fell straight onto the ice.

Luo Peiyin watched as Gu Qiao shot back up from the ice with startling speed, as though nothing had happened at all.

Gu Qiao assumed no one had seen her fall — but Luo Peiyin had seen every bit of it.

He skated over and took Gu Qiao’s hand, guiding her alongside him. Gu Qiao gripped Luo Peiyin’s hand through her gloves, feeling as though through his gloves she was absorbing the warmth of his body. She had some skating experience from before, and before long she had found her footing. Luo Peiyin could see she had grown steady, so he loosened his grip to let her skate on her own. When she heard him tell her to skate independently, it took her a moment to register that he meant for her to let go of his hand. She realized her gloved thumb had been pressing over his hand — and immediately released it as if burned.

As she pulled away, she gave Luo Peiyin an embarrassed little smile to show it hadn’t been intentional. Fortunately her face was hidden behind the scarf, so no one could see her blush.

Gu Qiao grew more and more confident on the ice. It felt like being back home — back then, the small lane at the edge of the village would freeze over, and she and her friends would slide along the icy path. Since coming to the capital, she had been so consumed with earning money that she had lost touch with nearly all her old friends.

On the way back from the rink, Luo Peiyin drove again, taking her home. In the car, she began immediately peeling off the coat he had lent her, unfastening the buttons with great efficiency. Had Luo Peiyin not pointedly looked straight ahead as she did so, Gu Qiao wouldn’t have felt the least bit self-conscious — she still had her own coat on underneath. But his deliberate avoidance of looking made her wonder if she was being too…

She handed him the coat, still faintly warm with her own body heat, and insisted he put it on right away.

Luo Peiyin didn’t put it on. He said: “I’m not cold right now.”

Gu Qiao thought: what era is this — shouldn’t things be more open-minded abroad by now? How can Cousin still be so old-fashioned?

Luo Peiyin dropped Gu Qiao off at her door. This time, just as before, she didn’t invite him up — because her room was very cold.

—

The following noon, Gu Qiao met Luo Peiyin again. This time she treated him to Korean barbecue.

After ordering quite a spread, Gu Qiao said to Luo Peiyin: “Cousin, is there anything you like? Order whatever you’d like.”

“This is plenty.”

“Alright.” Gu Qiao confirmed her order with the server, then took a gift-wrapped box from her handbag. “Cousin, this is a gift for you.”

A leather belt — though she sold belts herself, this one she had gone specially to buy at a department store.

“Open it and take a look!”

Gu Qiao made no effort to hide the fact that she was watching Luo Peiyin’s face, searching for the expression she was hoping to see. She could afford to give him nicer gifts now. She had looked at many gift options in the department store, but felt he probably already had most things, and anything she bought might not get much use. A belt, on the other hand, was always useful — having one more would never be too many.

Cousin should be surprised by how much she had grown over these two years, shouldn’t he? She had never once seen a look of genuine surprise on his face, and she was so eager to see one that she hadn’t even glanced at the total when paying the bill.

But before Gu Qiao could catch anything from the angle of his eyes, his brows, or the curve of his mouth, Luo Peiyin’s gaze had already shifted from the gift to her face.

Gu Qiao immediately broke into a smile, amusement reaching her eyes: “Cousin, do you like it?”

“Thank you.” She sold belts herself, and yet she had gone and given someone else’s shop her business. This person who treasured money so dearly.

Gu Qiao felt a small stab of disappointment — she had wanted to hear him say he liked it, not a polite thank-you.

“You sell belts yourself — why did you go buy someone else’s? Go return it. If you want to give me something, just give me one from your own stall.”

Because this was a brand name — it would let Luo Peiyin immediately sense both the price and the thought she had put into it. Back when she had given him gloves and been told they weren’t genuine sheepskin, she had remembered that moment ever since.

Gu Qiao could hear the underlying intention to save her money, so she immediately said: “Fine! Keep this one for now — I’ll give you a different one another time.”

The meal wasn’t even over yet before Gu Qiao was already booking the next one: “Lots of new restaurants have opened in the city lately. Cousin, are you free tomorrow? I’d like to treat you to…” She had already consulted Old Li in detail about the best restaurants in town, specifically so she could take Luo Peiyin to them.

Luo Peiyin cut off what she was about to say: “I’m going to Shanghai tomorrow.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I’m not sure yet. Do you have time at noon? I’d like to take you to a department store to pick out a gift.”

Gu Qiao, not nearly as restrained as Luo Peiyin, immediately said yes.

“A gift for whom?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there. Let me borrow your van.”

“Never mind — I’ll drive. My car is cold, and you’ll freeze without gloves.”

Gu Qiao nimbly hopped up into the passenger seat. Her movement was so sweeping that even after she had settled in, the two moss-green earrings were still bouncing before Luo Peiyin’s eyes.

“Cousin, have you been doing well in America?”

“Not bad.”

“Do you often miss home?”

Luo Peiyin said nothing.

Gu Qiao took his silence as confirmation that he did miss home.

“Cousin, whenever you have a free day, come to my place for a meal — I’ll cook you all your favorites.”

Luo Peiyin said nothing. Gu Qiao continued: “Cousin, your tastes haven’t changed over these two years, have they? Is it easy to find Chinese food in America?”

Not particularly. But one could manage.

Luo Peiyin cut through Gu Qiao’s concern for him: “Didn’t you say the day before yesterday that you’d tell me more about these past two years today?”

“All in all, things went very smoothly. The occasional rough patch was just the seasoning of life.” Gu Qiao first set the general tone for how her life had gone, then went on to describe in concrete terms just how smoothly. She also brought up her family on her own initiative — the family’s debts had been fully cleared a month ago. Her parents now had a small canning workshop; it was a modest operation with five employees, but they had steady business.

She had helped pay off half the debt herself. At first her parents refused to take her money. She told them that they couldn’t keep their creditors waiting indefinitely — her younger sisters couldn’t even bring themselves to buy a new set of clothes, for fear of what people might think. Only when she put it that way did her parents accept the money. But Lou Deyu had insisted on writing her a promissory note, and had even specified an interest rate in writing — higher than the bank’s five-year deposit rate. She absolutely refused to take the note, but Lou Deyu was adamant, saying that no matter how much of a failure a father was, he couldn’t spend his daughter’s money without acknowledgment. Lou Deyu was so firm about it, and her mother also urged her to accept, so she did. She took the note — but she had never had any intention of actually asking the family to repay her.

Previously her mother had suggested sending Lou Deyu to the capital to help Gu Qiao out, but she said one person was enough to manage things at home. She told Lou Deyu to stay home where he was needed.

Gu Qiao didn’t say a single word about how hard or tiring it had all been.

Gu Qiao stood before a gold jewelry counter in the department store, and the first thing that caught her eye was the rings. But Luo Peiyin had asked her to help him choose a bracelet.

“I want to give you a gift — help me find something you genuinely like. You must choose something you truly want.”

Gu Qiao didn’t know what Luo Peiyin meant by this — was he sincerely giving her a gift, or was he trying to repay her for the meal just now? But either way, she had no intention of accepting.

In Gu Qiao’s eyes, Luo Peiyin’s most important social identity right now was that of a student, without a stable income. What little Gu Qiao knew about Luo Peiyin’s mother she had gathered from Luo Bo’an. Based on that limited information, Gu Qiao guessed his mother was probably middle-class by a developed country’s standards. Though he lived comfortably enough in China, that money converted into US dollars might not go very far. Brief visits home and long-term residence were also two very different things. A young man from a developing country suddenly thrown into life in a developed nation — it was probably not unlike what she herself had experienced arriving in the capital from the countryside. The adjustment might even be harder for him than it had been for her, since before going abroad he had lived very well, unlike her, who had already prepared herself for hardship.

“Cousin, I don’t like gold. It’s too tacky.”

She said it as though it were a joke.

“Tacky?” Luo Peiyin looked at the mouth that had produced those two words, as though listening to a joke. Gu Qiao found gold tacky?

Luo Peiyin looked into Gu Qiao’s eyes and said: “I happen to like tacky things — I hope you won’t look down on them.”

Gu Qiao would never buy gold jewelry for herself — she’d rather go to the bank and buy raw gold. At the bank, one gram of gold was only around sixty yuan, but one gram of gold jewelry at a shop would sell for nearly a hundred.

Gu Qiao chose the finest, most delicate bracelet from the display: “I like this one.”

“This one doesn’t suit you.” Luo Peiyin could tell it wasn’t truly to Gu Qiao’s taste either — she liked things bold, vivid, and sweeping. This bracelet was far too refined and delicate for her.

The bracelet Luo Peiyin chose was three times as heavy as the one Gu Qiao had picked.

“Weren’t you asking me to help you decide?” Gu Qiao looked at the gold chain. “Cousin, don’t you think this is too…”

Luo Peiyin had just told her he liked tacky things — though it didn’t quite match her perception of him.

“Thank you for your input. But the decision is mine to make.”

—