by Lucy Yam
It was Urcher, Nobul explained, telling him that there would be a group of tourists arriving in the afternoon. Urcher was going to the town and neighboring village to purchase food for dinner, including a goat for barbeque as requested by the tourists. They’d better get back before long. He needed to be present.
They were back to the center of the lake before long. Sharon glanced at the gorgeous man in front of her and her heart turned to a restless rabbit. What she had learned about him in the last hours was almost overwhelming. He wasn’t just a good looking, sexy mountain millionaire, he was endowed with artistic talents and ethnic pride. In the cabin, Nobul’s lifted his chin. His eyes met hers and she blushed.
Nobul had set the boat to a moderate speed and came sitting next to her on the bench. Slipping his arm in the space between her shoulder and the back of the bench.
What gave him the permission to do that? She was irritated at first but she didn’t want to move. It was quite comfortable sitting that way, with his arm supporting her neck. Not that those tough muscles made a good cushion, not at all, but, but the closeness of him…the scent of him…It muddled her mind, it confused her. Unknowingly she leant her head against his shoulder, and as soon as she did that, he tightened his grasped, stroked her hair and stamped a kiss on her head. Ah, the way he did it! Sharon thought resentfully, so possessive, as if he was fiddling with a piece of wood carving and stamping a signature on it. The only reason that she was allowing all these, she said to herself, was that she was still jet-lagging.
Nobul smiled at the reluctantly compliant creature next to him. He had sensed her stiffness when he touched her, and he had wondered whether he should be more reserved. On one hand, he didn’t want her to think of him as a playboy. But on the other hand, he didn’t have much time. She might stay for a few days and he couldn’t afford to wait. Besides, he could hardly resist touching her. She was simply too beautiful to be just to look at and her hair, oh, that silky hair that brushed his arms so innocently and yet so alluringly… He would rather risk her being mad at him, then letting such a chance slip!
Stroking her hair, he leant closer to her and inhaled her jasmine scent.
“You smell good. Is that your perfume?” He murmured.
“No it’s just my lotion.” Sharon whispered in a trembling voice.
His cell phone rang again.
“Yes, Zhaxi-Nobul here. Hi, Peter, how are you?”
Peter Zheng was an investor from HongKong and a potential client, who was building a hotel in the neighboring tourist city Lijiang.
“Listen, Nobul,” Peter said on the other end of the line, “I’m in Lijiang right now. Can we meet over the next two days to discuss the plan of the hotel? Your assistant told us that you were in the middle of a project, but since I’m here now… ”
“I am not only in the middle of a project but also entertaining some important guests. But my brother is just as competent. He will be glad to meet with you.”
“Actually, my partner Mr. Guo from Sidney wants to see you since it is your name that attracts him. Your brother is great, but he isn’t world renown as you’re, is he?”
“In that case,” Nobul relented, “let me think about it.”
“Let me know within the next two hours. We’re here for only two days. And we have lots of candidates to be considered. We would like to come up with a selection by the end of the day.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.” Nobul’s jaw hardened, he didn’t like the tone of Zheng. “And let me remind you that we are the experts in the field. Zhaxi enterprise is responsible for the making of virtually all the ethnic hotels in the nation, and there is a good reason for that. But if you and your partner want to provide a training ground for some rookies, go ahead.”
When he hung up, Sharon was looking at him with wonder. What arrogance! She had never seen anyone dealing business this way. Her father had taught her that the customers were kings and he had more or less bowed to their tenants. She herself had at least made sure she wouldn’t offend her clients with strong words, however unreasonable they were. If she were Peter, she would pick another contractor right away…wouldn’t she?
“Are you all right? You looked shocked.” Nobul asked attentively. His business attitude had vanished without a trace.
“Ah, nothing.” She tore her glance from that handsome face.
If only he was rid of his conceited self, then he would be an ideal mate. Mate? She gasped at the thought. What was she thinking?
Chapter 6
In the afternoon a tourist bus pulled into the courtyard as Sharon was chatting with Charlene on the balcony. “Damn, there they are. No peace tonight.” Charlene mumbled.
In an instant Sharon heard the screams of children and shouts of adults as the door of the bus opened and people poured out, along with suitcases and backpacks. A young woman in a gauzy top and tight jeans spoke through a speakerphone. “Everyone, please line up here and wait for your room keys.”
About the same time a man in a bright orange Manchurian gown and a wide brim hat appeared on a motorcycle. It was none other than Nobul. Even from the third floor he looked breath-taking and Sharon couldn’t take her eyes off him.
“Look how handsome he is in that Moso costume.” Charlene blinked at her sister.
“He looks like a clown.” She said grudgingly, which was a lie. He looked magnificent as a king, a chief, or a lord of some sort.
“Ah, Prince!” the tourist guide greeted him loudly, “Looking handsomer each time I see you.”
“So are you, Princess.”
They hug as the guide said, “Oh how I missed you!”
Sharon was not pleased to see that. “What a flirt.” She murmured, but couldn’t move her eyes away from him.
“All the travel guides are like that.” Charlene answered.
“I don’t mean her.”
“Oh,” Charlene studied the expression of her sister and smiled, “he’s doing it for the business.”
Sharon wasn’t convinced. At the same time Nobul had detected their presence. He looked up and flashed a smile at them. Sharon’s legs felt weak. That smile had easily killed her confidence. She escaped into her room.
To avoid the tourists, Sharon and Charlene had dinner in Charlene’s room. Ji fish, Moso bacon, etc. Even with the door closed they could still hear the clamor from the courtyard. Namu and another helping hand were singing in the dining room.
“There will be a bonfire dance tonight. The Moso will perform their traditional dance and the tourists can dance the modern ballroom dance.” Charlene informed her.
“How nice. Can we go?”
“Of course. I always go.”
“You do? Do you go interview or dance?”
“At first I went for interviews. Then I learned how to dance and liked it. I’m as good as the locals now. And when I’m dancing in a costume, I can pass for a Moso!” Charlene said smugly.
Sharon raised her eyebrows. “Really? Then I must go see you.”
“No problem. You’ll be surprised!”
But Sharon suddenly stopped smiling. “No you can’t go.”
“Why not?”
“What if you got dizzy when you danced?”
Charlene was disappointed, “OK I promise I won’t move my head.”
Sharon stifled a laugh, “You’ll look like a puppet.”
“Sharon please!” Charlene protested, “Stop worrying. Even if I got dizzy, it would last for just a second. Besides, if I fainted in the arms of a handsome guy, it would be awfully romantic.”
Sharon shook her head. “If you fainted at someone’s feet it would be a disaster. Anyway, you can’t go. I won’t go either. I’ll stay with you.”
“No way!” Charlene cried, “I won’t go, but you definitely must go, Sharon.”
Sharon shook her head. “Dance is not my thing.”
“It doesn’t have to be. It’ll be fun… come on, Sis, at least go take a look.”
Sharon yielded to her sister’s pe
rsuasion. She knew that Charlene wanted her to enjoy her stay here.
“I’ll be dancing in my jeans though.” She said with her last hope to change her fate.
“No you won’t. You will be wearing a Moso costume. Sadama would lend you one. She has plenty.”
Sharon took the tray of bowls and plates down to the kitchen and washed them slowly. She could hear the voice of Nobul speaking next door. She strained her ears to make sense of the words. She had been separated from him for only a few hours since the boat ride but already she missed him. Silly! She chided herself and put the plate into the dish sterilizing machine. When she turned to leave a shadow came and filled the door frame temporarily. Nobul ducked his head slightly and entered the kitchen. He was magnificent in that orange Mongolian gown. The man is gorgeous. Sharon couldn’t help but let the fact convince her. And how many faces did this man have? First a cowboy, then a millionaire artist, and now a…mountain prince.
“Why aren’t you entertaining the guests, Prince?” Sharon managed to tease him.
He caught her wrist, “stop calling me that!”
“Sure, Prince!” While attempting to break free of her wrist, she looked up at him and was dazed by his glowing cheeks and his beaming eyes. For a moment she gazed at him without a moment, aware of her quicken breathing.
He pulled her to him and put his lips on hers. Nearly melting, Sharon could still feel shadows moving across the courtyard. No, not here, not now! She clamped her lips and struggled. He gave up on her lips but moved to her earlobe, sucking it with his lips first and then nipping it as gently as he could. She moaned finally and gave up struggling as he whispered to her,
“You see, my teeth are good at nibbling.”
Sharon parted her lips and waited hungrily for his that was slowly advancing, taking a detour from her cheek, her neck, and her chin. When finally they came back to her lips they heard the giggle of a child.
Sharon jerked away from Nobul. Binma was standing by the door.
“Uncle,” the child said, “mother told me to get you. Guest makes trouble.”
They went quickly to the dining room. Standing next to the tour guide in flimsy top, Sadama and Namu were speaking to a man who was sitting by the hearth on the cot, drying his shoes above the fire.
“Please put down the shoes, it’s a taboo!” Sadama pleaded.
“I won’t. The taboo doesn’t make sense to me,” the man’s cheeks flushed, apparently he was drunk.
The tour guide explained quickly, “It’s disrespectful to their ancestors.”
“What? Their ancestors live in the hearth?” The man laughed as he stared into the fire, “I don’t see no ancestor here.”
His wife sitting next to him pleaded, “Please, Rong, put down the shoes. It’s their custom!”
“It’s superstition, and only ignorant person will be believe something like that. I refuse to obey it!” To make his point, the man swung his shoes above the fire.
Sharon was infuriated by the insolent act. She went up to him and said, “You’re the one that is ignorant. And you don’t deserve to be sitting here at the guest seat.”
The man with his head tilted to one side, squinted at Sharon from head to toe, and said, “Who the hell are you? And why is it your business? Save your energy to walk marry.”
Sharon was shocked to hear that. She was about to throw her fist at the man when she felt the hand of Nobul on her arm.
“Put down the shoes!” His voice was solemn and threatening.
“What?” The man looked amused, “Is this the way to speak to your customer? You’ve got a lot to learn. P-Prince!”
Nobul stood in front of the man. “I repeat: put down the shoes and get off the cot.”
“No I won’t. What are you going to do about it?” The man said contemptuously.
With a speed of lightening, Nobul snatched one shoe from the men’s hand and dashed out of the room.
“Hey! Come back!” The man shouted and jumped to the floor. Holding the remaining shoe, he stood barefoot, didn’t know what to do. Then he shouted at his wife, “Why are you sitting? Go get my shoe!”
His wife wouldn’t move, and shouted back at him, “I’m not going. Why don’t you go? You’re nuts. Always look for troubles, even when we’re traveling.”
When almost all tourists were out, the man threw his other shoe on the floor, cursed, and walked out of the room barefoot.
When Sharon and others got out of the courtyard, the man was arguing with Nobul, who was standing akimbo by the lake.
“Where are my shoes!” The man demanded.
“Couldn’t run without your shoes? You’re too late. Your shoe is in the lake, feeding the fish.” Nobul said mockingly.
“What?” The man swung his fist at Nobul but Nobul dodged it and caught his arm.
The man attempted to push Nobul with his other hand but Nobul took that one as well and locked them both behind his back.
“Let go of me! I have a friend in Xichang Police Department!” the man shouted as he kicked and struggled. But he was no match to Nobul both in size and in strength.
His wife was the last one who got out of the inn and she looked embarrassed and angry as soon as she saw her husband looking like a clown. But the man seemed to feel no shame, for he shouted at his wife, “Hey, woman! This jerk threw my shoe into the lake! Call Sherriff Liu!”
All eyes fell onto his wife. Her face turned crimson, and she said to him angrily, “It’s your fault. You shouldn’t have disobeyed their custom. What’s the use to call Sherriff Liu? Will he bring you a pair of shoes? Just apologize!”
“Apologize? Are you nuts? He threw away my shoe! My expensive shoe!” the man grunted.
“And who paid for those shoes? Who brought them all the way from Shanghai? I did! Listen carefully, if you don’t get them back you’ll have to give me the money back! And I’m not going to buy you any new pair so you’ll have to sightsee Lijian barefoot and go home barefoot!”
The man was silenced by the threat. After awhile he softened and mumbled, “Well, a man’s got to be flexible. Sure I can apologize. Hey buddy, I’m sorry I drank too much. I didn’t mean to belittle your custom… could you get my shoes back…please?”
Nobul’s lips curled slightly as he let go of the man. Then he bent over to the boat behind him and picked up the pair of shoes in it.
“You! you didn’t throw it into the lake!”
The crowd laughed at the man’s embarrassment.
“No,” Nobul said, smiling, “the fish here don’t care for expensive leather goods.”
It was long after dinner, when Sharon found herself in Sadama’s dressing room, called the flower room by the Moso, along with Charlene. In front of them, camphor trunks lay open, with gorgeous fabrics spilling.
Sadama was thrilled at their request to borrow costumes. She was so eager to show her what she had gotten.
There was a huge camphor trunk against the wall. As she opened it she told them that she had inherited the whole trunk from her own mother.
Charlene convinced Sharon to try on a vermillion silk jacket embroidered with patterns of flowers and bordered with gold, one of the many that Sadama had chosen for her, when Sadama was holding a white pleated skirt and a golden sash in hand.
The jacket was made to a classic fit according to the average Moso woman’s sizes. The sash would compensate if it were too big and sleeves could be tugged in if too long. But Sharon didn’t need to do either. The jacket fell on her body snuggly, neither too tight nor too loose.
The kind woman looked stunned when Sharon stood in front of her. She had the same expression she had had when they first met. For awhile she just stared at Sharon.
“Are you OK, Sadama?”
“Yes, you’re absolutely gorgeous, I’m sorry,” Sadama’s eyes were welled with tears. “And you bear such resemblance to my mother!”
Sharon was bewildered. It was a compliment that she felt undeserving.
Charlene, hearing those word
s, came to admire her sister.
“Indeed she looks like a Moso Empress!”
Sadama went on with a trembling voice, “Seeing you in that dress brings back some memories. I was about twelve years old and was having my adult ceremony. She wore that dress in that ceremony. Then few days later she was taken to prison and we were separated for a decade. Then when she returned, she was different. She wore clothes like a commoner, and worked like one too. I never saw her in her fineries again. I had almost forgotten how she looked in that dress...until now! Thank you!” she gave Sharon a hug. “I used to look at myself in the mirror in that dress, but I didn’t see my mother. I do not have her delicate features.”
Wiping her tears, Sadama fixed her eyes on Sharon, as if grasping onto a dream that had come true.
Sharon and Charlene were both touched by the kind woman’s emotion. They stood silently without a movement.
After awhile Sadama calmed down and laughed, “How silly I am. Forgive me.”
“I’ll wear the dress everyday if you want me to.” Sharon joked.
“Would you really? I was going to pass it down to my future daughter-in-law. But it looks like it belongs to you.”
That comment made Sharon self-conscious and her cheeks flamed. She quickly picked up the skirt on the bed and put it on. Her embarrassment did not escape her sister’s sharp eyes of course. Charlene giggled.
The skirt however, was a bit big on Sharon’s waist. But Sadama told her not to worry. All skirts were a bit loose on the waist so that a pregnant woman could wear it as well. The problem was again solved by the sash. Sadama put one end of the sash on Sharon’s tummy and told her to hold it, and then she held the other end of the sash and moved away from her, extending the sash as she went, and stopped eventually at the other end of the room.
“Now young lady, turn to fit yourself into the sash.”
It took Sharon a moment to understand what she meant. Then she found herself spinning along the sash, tightening under the instruction of Sadama. It felt like they were playing a game. She was so dizzy and excited that she giggled like a little girl. She stumbled once or twice but eventually reached Sadama safely.