Lin Zhixia’s favorite place of entertainment in her life was the library.
She had a profound interest in every subject. She had once fantasized about living in the library, accompanied by countless books from morning until dusk.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yubai had lived in the provincial capital for many years but had never been to the Provincial Library.
On the first weekend of the summer vacation, Jiang Yubai walked toward this unknown territory. Standing directly in front of the Provincial Library building, he looked down at his watch, and when he looked up again, he heard Lin Zhixia’s voice: “Jiang-Jiang-Jiang-Jiang Yubai, I’m here!”
He responded: “Good morning, Lin-Lin-Lin-Lin Zhixia.”
The Provincial Library building was six stories high, with an internal collection of books as vast as a sea of smoke. Lin Zhixia clearly remembered where each category of books was located on which floor. She led Jiang Yubai up the stairs, weaving through row after row of bookshelves, expertly finding the “Chinese and Foreign History Area.”
Jiang Yubai casually picked up a book with “Tang Dynasty Finance” written on the title page. He didn’t know much about the Tang Dynasty’s financial system, and this book happened to touch on his knowledge blind spot.
He told Lin Zhixia: “Today I plan to read ‘Tang Dynasty Finance’.”
Lin Zhixia’s gaze swept over the neatly arranged books: “Good, I also want to look at the cultural traditions and folk customs of the Sui and Tang periods.”
All the bookshelves were made of cold-rolled steel plates, feeling cool to the touch. Lin Zhixia placed her left hand on a steel shelf, stood on tiptoe, and reached with her right hand for a book titled “Chinese Political History from the 6th to 9th Centuries” on the top shelf. Her fingertips touched the spine of the book, and she was just short of being able to pull the entire book out.
Seeing her struggle, Jiang Yubai naturally came to help. Taking advantage of his height, his fingers reached past her hand and easily retrieved the book “Chinese Political History from the 6th to 9th Centuries,” then handed it to her.
Lin Zhixia first said: “Thank you.” Then, she directed him to take down another book from the top called “Daily Clothing, Food, Housing, and Transportation in the Tang Dynasty,” and led him to a nearby study room—a small room with transparent lighting, furnished with just one table and two chairs, just enough for the two of them to study together.
Lin Zhixia entered the room in high spirits, closed the door tightly, and placed the two books on the table. She and Jiang Yubai sat face to face and quietly opened the books they had selected.
The morning sunlight transformed into a pale golden hue, gently falling upon the pages. Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai read earnestly, neither of them speaking.
Jiang Yubai learned about the Tang Dynasty’s taxation system from the book. The so-called “taxation” referred to taxes and corvée labor. He unconsciously put himself in the role of the poor common people. Seeing the tax rates described in the book, Jiang Yubai frowned slightly—according to the text, if he were a poor person, he could still live a peaceful life in the early and middle Tang Dynasty, but by the late Tang period, he would inevitably be exploited completely in the turbulent times, unable to buy salt for daily meals or iron knives for cooking.
Seeing his serious expression, Lin Zhixia couldn’t help asking: “Jiang Yubai, do you like cookies?”
Lin Zhixia took out a lunch box from her backpack, filled with honey milk cookies. She lifted the lid and generously shared the snacks with Jiang Yubai.
She said: “Dad recently bought a new oven, and Mom made honey milk cookies for me… these are freshly baked this morning, especially delicious. Jiang Yubai, would you like to try one?”
Unable to refuse Lin Zhixia’s enthusiasm, Jiang Yubai didn’t decline. He grabbed a cookie, took a bite, and chewed slowly and silently—throughout the entire process, Lin Zhixia stared at him unblinkingly, making him almost too self-conscious to swallow the food in his mouth.
“How does it taste?” Lin Zhixia asked directly.
Jiang Yubai took a sip of water, moistened his throat, and responded reservedly: “Not bad.”
Lin Zhixia supported her cheek with one hand: “Jiang Yubai, the way you eat is very unusual.”
Jiang Yubai leaned back against his chair: “By unusual, you mean…”
“You’re different from all the classmates I know,” Lin Zhixia said honestly.
Jiang Yubai recalled Lin Zhixia’s assessment of him. She had more than once said that he was the one and only Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zhixia was very grateful to Jiang Yubai; when she hesitated or retreated, he gave her endless courage and encouragement. In return, Jiang Yubai also received various praises from Lin Zhixia. As long as Lin Zhixia was his desk-mate in Class 17, he generally maintained a good mood.
During elementary school, Jiang Yubai thought every day about how to defeat Lin Zhixia. Later, Jiang Yubai saw the reality. He deeply recognized one point—he could never surpass Lin Zhixia academically, even if he hired a hundred tutors. As Lin Zhixia’s friend, he sincerely acknowledged each of her achievements.
He couldn’t help saying: “Compared to me, you are even more extraordinary.”
Looking down at his book, he continued to describe: “The radiance of Captain Lin Zhixia illuminates many dark planets.”
Lin Zhixia’s eyes brightened. She happily recited: “Jiang Yubai.”
Jiang Yubai responded in a flat tone: “I’m here.”
Lin Zhixia called him again: “Jiang Yubai?”
Jiang Yubai looked at her. She called him three times in succession: “Jiang Yubai Jiang Yubai Jiang Yubai.” As if his name were such a precious gift that his importance needed to be repeatedly emphasized.
Jiang Yubai stopped her: “No need to repeat, I heard you.”
Lin Zhixia stood her book upright: “Don’t think I’m being noisy. I’m calling you several times now, remembering your reactions, so when you go to Beijing, I can retrieve these memories… replaying them once every day, as if I see you every day.”
Jiang Yubai suddenly felt some regret. His demeanor just now had been too calm and reserved. He should have responded to Lin Zhixia with a brilliant smile, leaving her with a positive and optimistic impression.
So, he said: “Call me once more.”
Lin Zhixia shook her head: “No.”
Jiang Yubai wasn’t discouraged by her refusal. He took the initiative to say her nickname: “Xia Xia.”
Lin Zhixia froze for a few seconds.
Jiang Yubai imitated her earlier manner, continuously saying: “Xia Xia, Xia Xia, Xia Xia.”
For some unknown reason, Lin Zhixia’s heart suddenly became tense. Why was she nervous? Her heartbeat was slightly faster than usual. She picked up a honey milk cookie and thought while eating that perhaps it was because she had just read about the food culture of Tang Dynasty commoners, and her heart had developed a yearning, longing for various delicacies of the Tang Dynasty, thus accelerating her heartbeat.
She nodded slightly, approving her own explanation.
Then, she said: “You are the first person, besides my family, to call me by my nickname continuously.”
Jiang Yubai calmly accepted this honor.
At this point, Lin Zhixia stood up and dragged her chair close to Jiang Yubai. She sat beside him, just like being desk-mates in Class 17 of the third year. Her history book was right next to his book, and he could glimpse the content of that book by turning his face.
Lin Zhixia immersed herself in reading. Soon, she turned to the section on Tang Dynasty women’s hairpins and jewelry, praising the exquisite and superb craftsmanship of the artisans. Her gaze was like a scanner, carefully sweeping over the illustrations in the book, missing no detail.
Lin Zhixia exclaimed: “The golden step-shakers of the Tang Dynasty are so delicate, and the hairstyles of the court ladies are so distinctive.” She also said: “When we performed in the play in second year, I also wore a hairpin. But my dressing wasn’t antique enough, it didn’t completely showcase the characteristics of the Qing Dynasty.”
Jiang Yubai recalled that in the first semester of the second year, their whole class had worked together to rehearse a play called “Change.”
In the play, Lin Zhixia portrayed a wealthy young lady of the late Qing Dynasty, while Jiang Yubai was a male student in a new-style school. In the play, he advised Lin Zhixia to go home early to be a virtuous wife and good mother, not to vainly imagine competing with men in school. Then, according to the script, Lin Zhixia scattered her manuscripts all over the ground, pulled out her hairpin, threw it to the ground, and finally shouted: “A daughter’s body with the ambition of a swan goose, steadily sending the great bird on a ten-thousand-mile journey.”
A daughter’s body with the ambition of a swan goose, steadily sending the great bird on a ten-thousand-mile journey.
Jiang Yubai was deeply impressed by this line. The seven characters “a daughter’s body with the ambition of a swan goose” were modified by Lin Zhixia on the spot, while “steadily sending the great bird on a ten-thousand-mile journey” was a poetic line written by the Song Dynasty literati Yao Mian.
Jiang Yubai believed that Lin Zhixia’s line had a certain commemorative significance.
Lin Zhixia’s birthday was on September 24th. Jiang Yubai had to go to Beijing at the end of August, so he could only prepare a birthday gift for her in advance.
*
Throughout the summer vacation, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia frequently met at the Provincial Library.
Initially, they often read some books on history, politics, and finance. Later, when the middle school entrance exam results were announced, Lin Zhixia, not surprisingly, became the top scorer in the city. Jiang Yubai congratulated her on achieving an extremely high score, but Lin Zhixia casually said that she had been distracted while writing the Chinese composition and hadn’t performed at her best.
From that day on, Jiang Yubai gave up on history, politics, and finance leisure reading.
Jiang Yubai began preparing for A-levels and IELTS.
“A-levels” were the British college entrance examinations. Jiang Yubai spent a month previewing some of the high school mathematics knowledge. And “IELTS” referred to the “International English Language Testing System,” specifically divided into four subjects: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Jiang Yubai wanted to study for his undergraduate degree at Cambridge University, so he needed to achieve an excellent score.
Lin Zhixia was in that study room, earnestly practicing English speaking with Jiang Yubai. Lin Zhixia played the role of an IELTS speaking examiner, while Jiang Yubai was the student she was interviewing.
Lin Zhixia found past IELTS test questions, selected a few, and then had Jiang Yubai answer them—soon, Lin Zhixia discovered the charm of this game.
She asked Jiang Yubai to answer the following questions in English: “First, describe your best friend. Second, the most touching thing you’ve encountered at school. Third, the most beautiful gift you’ve received from a friend. Fourth, your experience dining with your best friend…”
Jiang Yubai questioned her in Chinese: “Are you using your authority for personal gain?”
Lin Zhixia’s eyes were clear: “No, I’m not. I’m helping you review for the IELTS test. I am your oral examiner, Miss Lin. Please call me Ms. Lin.”
Jiang Yubai refused to cooperate.
Lin Zhixia said meticulously: “You should always follow the rules of the IELTS test.”
Lin Zhixia reminded him to follow the IELTS test rules. She was also eagerly waiting for his answer. Jiang Yubai really had no choice but to elaborate on those questions she had just listed.
He spoke English like a chatterbox for about ten minutes. During this time, Lin Zhixia didn’t interrupt him at all. She listened to every word he said, her gaze never leaving him.
When he stopped, she said with great amusement: “Hahahahaha, Jiang Yubai, I’ve remembered everything you said.”
“I know,” Jiang Yubai nodded, “you won’t forget me.”
Lin Zhixia tilted her head: “Of course not.”
This day was August 29, 2008, also the day of their temporary separation. Tomorrow morning, Jiang Yubai would fly to Beijing, while Lin Zhixia would remain in the provincial capital.
The wall clock showed the current time as 3:40 PM, and they had twenty minutes of time together. At 4:00 PM, the driver from Jiang Yubai’s family would come to pick him up.
Jiang Yubai took out a wooden box and handed it to Lin Zhixia. He said: “Happy 13th birthday, Lin Zhixia.”
The box was engraved with the four characters meaning “Ambitious Aspirations.” Lin Zhixia lifted the lid and saw an exquisitely crafted step-shake hairpin. This antique-designed hairpin displayed a dazzling beauty under the light.
Lin Zhixia was immediately as happy as a girl from the Tang Dynasty: “Wow, I never thought you would give me something like this. I love it, thank you, Jiang Yubai.”
After that, she took out a glass jar from her own backpack. She opened her ten fingers, gripped the jar, and gently pushed it in front of Jiang Yubai: “Inside are three hundred and sixty-five paper cranes, all folded by my own hands. Each paper crane has a poem written on it. If you open one paper crane every day, it’s like receiving a poem that belongs to you every day. By the time you’ve opened all the paper cranes, I will be going to Beijing for university.”
Jiang Yubai solemnly accepted her gift: “I will keep it in the same place as the bookmark.”
“Good,” Lin Zhixia said with a smile, “Happy 13th birthday, Jiang Yubai.”
Jiang Yubai returned her smile.
Shortly after, Jiang Yubai’s driver called him, urging him to come downstairs. After packing up his things, he left the Provincial Library building with Lin Zhixia. The afternoon sunlight was still bright, golden, casting him in a golden edge. He stood sideways in front of a car, hesitating for a minute without getting in, involuntarily looking at Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia stood about a meter away from Jiang Yubai. She faced the sun, with a long, slanting shadow behind her. With a smile in her eyes, she vibrantly said to him: “Jiang Yubai, you must bravely move forward. Me too, I will also move forward, let’s cheer each other on!”
Jiang Yubai didn’t see a bit of sadness on her face. He thought to himself, she really is an optimistic and cheerful girl. So he set his mind at ease and bid her farewell: “I’m leaving temporarily, keep going, Lin Zhixia.”
He stepped into the car and closed the door tightly.
From elementary school to junior high school over these four years, when Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai parted, she loved to say to him: See you tomorrow!
He always gave the same response.
But this time, his tomorrow was far away.
Tears welled up in her eyes, yet Lin Zhixia still thought she wouldn’t cry. Until the tears fell one by one, she had to struggle to keep her voice steady: “Okay, goodbye!”
Jiang Yubai also said: “Goodbye.”
The vehicle slowly moved forward, and Jiang Yubai looked back, searching for Lin Zhixia’s figure. She stood motionless in place, but as the car’s speed increased, she was gradually obscured by the roadside trees.
Jiang Yubai didn’t have Lin Zhixia’s memory, but he would forever remember the tree shadows and street scenery of that summer year.