Free Bride of the Moso Prince by Lucy Yam

questions.
    The remembrance of Charlene as a baby brightened her mood. Sharon pinched her sister on her nose and stood up.
    “Ouch!” Charlene cried and tried to retaliate by pulling Sharon’s ear. Sharon dodged and pretty soon they were playing fight and giggling…
     
    While still laughing they heard Sadama calling from the courtyard. “Summer! Snow!”
    “Yes?” they answered simultaneously.
    “Lunch is ready!”
    “Thanks! We’ll be there!” Charlene shouted and jumped off the bed.
    Sharon stood up and smoothed her hair.
    “Summer Snow! Did mom have that in her mind when she named us?” Charlene mumbled.
    “I don’t think so,” Sharon said, “She’d never called us that way. Besides my real Chinese name was Fangfang, like the Panda’s.”
    A man was helping Sadama to set the table when Sharon and Charlene got into the dining room.
    “Hey, Urcher, when did you come back?” Charlene shouted happily.
    “After midnight. The road was damaged by the rain quite badly.”
    Urcher walked over t o them. With a warm, but boyish
    smile he extended his hand, “Hi, I’m Urcher, welcome to Lugu Lake.”
    “And I’m Snow, Summer’s sister.” Sharon shook hands with him. Urcher was a good looking young man in his late twenties. He was shorter than his brother and much slenderer.
    Sadama brought four bowls of noodles in clear broth lightly sprinkled with chives and chili peppers, and sumptuously topped with bacon and cabbage leaves. Sharon realized she was hungry at the sight of it.
                  “Where is Nobul?” Charlene asked after she swallowed her first mouthful.
    “No, he rose at dawn and left for Empress Island.” Said Urcher.
    “Already?” Charlene said, looking disappointed. “I thought he would take my sister for a tour on the lake.”
    “I could do that.” Urcher looked at Charlene and then at Sharon, “after I gather hay.”
    Sharon said, “Oh, don’t worry about it. I don’t need a tour.”
    “You are not interested in it?” Sadama looked surprised. “Everyone who comes here wants a boat-ride. The lake is beautiful to look at.”
    Sharon realized that it would be impolite to refuse. “Oh, I am interested in it. It’s just that, I don’t think I’m up to doing it today. I’m tired of transportation. I don’t need any more rides, not today.”
    “Oh,” Sadama laughed, “no hurry then. But what are you going to do for the rest of the day? There isn’t much entertainment here.”
    “Well, I’m happy just to enjoy the scenery in my room. Besides, I actually have work to do.”
    “Work to do?” Charlene looked puzzled.
    “Yes. I have a project due in two weeks.”
    “You’re kidding me!” Charlene cried, “You’re on a vacation, more or less.”
    “No, Sis, I’m not.”
    “You could be. I mean, you’re not the only person that’s capable of doing it, I’m sure. Let your assistants do it.”
    “I know. But I started it, and I need to finish it.”
    “No you don’t, Sharon. It won’t be the end of the world if you don’t finish that project.”
    “I can’t be that irresponsible.” Sharon argued.
    “There you go again!” Charlene rolled her eyes. “You’re hooked by responsibility .”
    Sharon was going to argue as she realized that Sadama and Urcher were smiling at them.
    She spoke to them instead, “You see, this is how we are, always arguing. I know why I missed her so much. The house was too quiet without her.”
    They laughed.
     
    After lunch Sharon took a short walk along the lake with Charlene to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The sky was blue and the clusters of clouds above were silvery white. A few boats were crossing the lake, taking algae to feed the live stocks. Soon they reached a bay with mountains forming a natural barrier on three sides. The opposite shore was kilometers away. Pine trees grew densely on the mountains.
    “This is called the ‘bathing bay’ by the villagers since it’s secluded and ideal for bathing. But