Explore Chapter 25 of 'Moment in Peking' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Ever since his affair with Yinping was discovered by his father, Tiren had felt like sitting on pins and needles at home. Although his father, Yao Si'an, seemed not to pursue the matter further on the surface, a deep disappointment and resolve lurked in his penetrating eyes. Tiren knew he had become an unfilial son in this household, and his mother could no longer protect him. He spent his days hiding in the study, flipping through books about loyalty, filial piety, and moral integrity, while his mind wandered to the soft touch of Yinping's hands and her tearful eyes. Yinping had already been married off to the south by his mother, without even allowing him a word of farewell. He hated this family-hated his father's coldness, his mother's weakness, and most of all, his own helplessness.
One day, on the street, Tiren saw a recruitment notice for a new army unit. The bright red paper bore the bold characters: "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every individual." Suddenly, a surge of impulse welled up inside him-better to venture out and perhaps win some reputation than to suffer in this prison-like home. He returned to the house without consulting anyone, packed a few changes of clothes, secretly took some of his mother's jewelry, and slipped out of the Yao residence under the cover of night. Before leaving, he stood for a long time in front of the room where Yinping once lived. The moonlight cast coldly on the lock of the door. Finally, he turned and walked away.
It was only the next day that Mrs. Yao discovered her son was missing, and she nearly fainted from anxiety. Yao Si'an, however, merely sighed and said, "It's just as well he's gone. Let him encounter some hardships-it's better than staying at home as a spoiled idler." Despite his words, he asked a friend to inquire about Tiren's whereabouts in the army. Half a month later, news came that Tiren had enlisted as a common soldier in the Beiyang New Army in Zhili. Due to his martial arts skills and literacy, he had earned the favor of his superiors. Mrs. Yao was somewhat relieved, but her constant worry gradually took a toll on her health.
Meanwhile, in the capital, the young Yao Mulan was also experiencing the most delicate phase of maidenly emotions. She had been staying at the Zeng residence for some time. Mrs. Zeng treated her like a daughter, and Sunya spent every day by her side. In the spring, Sunya somehow acquired a small eagle and excitedly dragged Mulan to the courtyard to fly it. The eagle flapped its wings but struggled to fly high. Sunya stamped his feet in frustration, while Mulan laughed and guided him on the right timing to reel in and release the string. Their hands accidentally touched, and Mulan blushed. Sunya also felt awkward, but a sweet warmth filled his heart.
Mrs. Zeng noticed this and felt secretly delighted. She privately discussed it with her husband Zeng Wenpu. "I think Sunya truly likes Mulan, and Mulan is a fine girl. Why don't we send a matchmaker to the Yao family to propose?" Zeng Wenpu pondered for a moment and nodded. "Miss Yao is indeed exceptional-intelligent without being frivolous, dignified without being rigid. But we should first sound out Brother Yao's intentions." Thus, Mrs. Zeng chose an auspicious day, prepared generous gifts, and went to the Yao residence with a matchmaker.
Upon hearing the matchmaker's words, Yao Si'an smiled slightly and said to Mrs. Zeng, "Brother Zeng and his wife have shown great kindness to Mulan, so how could I refuse? However, I know Mulan's temperament well. Though she respects Sunya, she may not feel romantic love for him. Let her decide for herself-do not force her." Mrs. Zeng, though somewhat disappointed, admired Yao Si'an's open-mindedness. She relayed these words to Sunya upon returning home, and Sunya became somewhat dejected.
Mulan had already sensed Sunya's feelings, and she herself had considerable fondness for this honest and cheerful young man. But whenever she was alone in the quiet of the night, the tender, loving looks exchanged between Mannia and Pingya would emerge in her mind-wasn't that true mutual affection? She didn't know if the feelings between her and Sunya could be called love. She enjoyed playing, reading, and laughing with Sunya, but that racing heartbeat seemed never to have visited her. Lying in bed, Mulan watched the swaying shadows of trees outside the window, her heart tangled like a skein of silk.
Spring deepened, and the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom. One evening at dusk, Sunya plucked the most vibrant branch of crabapple flowers and quietly placed it on Mulan's windowsill. Mulan opened the window and saw the branch; her heart stirred. She picked up the flowers, walked to Sunya's study, and inserted them into the brush holder on his desk, saying only, "The flowers are in full bloom-do not let them go to waste." Sunya looked up at her, his eyes shining, but Mulan had already turned and left.
In the distance, the eagle cawed a few times. Mulan knew it was Sunya's little eagle calling. She stood under the porch, gazing at the evening clouds on the horizon, and a wave of melancholy she had never felt before surged in her heart. Her brother Tiren had gone far away, and Yinping had passed. This spring seemed extraordinarily long and yet so short. She did not know what the future held, but at least at this moment, she was willing to believe that everything would be fine.