Free Peach Blossom Pavilion by Mingmei Yip Page B

tousled my hair. "But you know what? Today you'll look even prettier, for I'm taking you out to have your hair styled! "
    I turned to stare at her. "Styled?"
    "Yes, most girls never even heard of it, let alone have the money to have it done. So lucky you! "
    But I had heard of it. "You mean like ... those stars in a movie?" Of course I'd never seen "those stars" in a real movie, only in newspapers and magazines Baba had brought home from the warlord's house.
    "Exactly! Do you want to look like a movie star?"
    I turned back to look at the mirror and saw my head nodding like that of a childless woman kowtowing to Guan Yin for a baby boy.
    It was a hot, sunny Friday afternoon. Besides me, Fang Rong also took two other girls to have their hair styled. One, voluptuous and very silly acting, was called jade Vase, and the other, to my surprise, was Spring Moon. I was glad that Mama had arranged for Spring Moon to share the rickshaw with me while she shared hers with Jade Vase. Spring Moon seemed to have recovered from that horrible night and the scar on her arm turned out to be quite small. Now, I'd finally have the chance to discuss with her in detail the strong stench and scurrying rats of the dark room-and maybe even fuck. But we ended up gawking at the rarely glimpsed city life outside the turquoise pavilion. Our eyes couldn't detach themselves from busy Nanking Boulevard with its famous red-and-gold signboards. Our fingers kept thrusting here and there to point out remembered sights.

    Spring Moon pointed at a grand building and said proudly in her high-pitched voice, "Look, that's Xing Xing Department Store where I used to shop with my parents."
    I craned my neck and saw three Western-dressed tai tai studying merchandise with great intensity. Behind them shuffled amahs burdened with overflowing shopping bags.
    While my eyes were appreciating the society ladies' elaborate makeup and brocade dresses, Spring Moon's finger had already shifted to an even grander building next to Xing Xing, her voice climbing higher and higher in the air. "Look, this is Sincere Department Store. My father once bought me a gold necklace in the jewelry department on the third floor!"
    She plunged on excitedly, "My father also used to take me to the Heavenly Tune Pavilion open-air cafe on the top floor of the Wing On Department Store. There, I could see the whole city, including the China Peace Company, the International Hotel, and the race track!"
    When the speeding rickshaw had left the two stores and the three tai tai behind, a silence fell between us.
    To leave her to her thoughts, I turned to take in the scenes on the street.
    A vendor, with two baskets in front, yelled at the top of his voice, "Fresh and aromatic roasted chicken! Your money back if it's not aromatic!"
    Next to him an elderly woman, kneeling, begged by knocking her head loudly on the ground.
    A noodle seller, bare-chested and leathery-faced, was banging a brass gong to attract attention.
    Under the scorching sun, a red-turbaned, black-bearded Indian policeman frantically wielded a baton to direct traffic. Sweat poured down his dark face like black bean sauce.

    Then I spotted two small children followed by doting parents swarm into a candy store. When I saw the big smiles on the parents' faces, my heart was seized with grief mixed with bitterness. Since the first day I'd been taken to Peach Blossom, despite the fact that I had a mother, plus another set of "parents" unexpectedly dropped onto my lap, I still felt orphaned. I poked my head out of the rickshaw so that Spring Moon wouldn't see the tears streaming down my cheeks.
    Just then her voice rose next to my ear, startling me. "See, Xiang Xiang, that's Mali Pig For! "
    I wiped my tears while craning my neck. "Who?"
    "The famous Hollywood movie star! Over there, on the signboard of the Peking Theater! "
    Now I saw the picture showing the huge head of a foreign woman with wavy hair and a dreamy look. Next to her were several