The Diary of Ma Yan by Ma Yan

Author:Ma Yan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

Tuesday, July 3

A fine day

Yesterday I came back from Tongxin, the largest city in the district. It was the first time I’d been there. If it wasn’t for this exam, I might never in my life have had the opportunity of going there and seeing the outside world.

Last night I slept next to my best friends, Ma Zhonghong and Ma Xiaohong. I woke up very early this morning to go to the market to find a tractor from my village. People assured me that a tractor had arrived, but I couldn’t find it. So I sat down at the entrance to the market and waited for my father. The vehicle didn’t come. Nor did my father. Tears in my eyes, I went back to school to get my bag. I looked for Teacher Chen so that he could open the dorm for me, but unfortunately he wasn’t around. I had to get in through the window. I know it’s a bad habit, but I had no choice.

By the time I found my bag, the tears were flowing all the way down to my clothes. Other children, too, are leaving for vacation, but their parents are here to carry their things for them. I had to get my luggage out through the window, which is hard enough in itself.

On the street, the sun burns. It’s hard to open my eyes. My back is running with sweat, as if it had been drenched with a bucket of water. I don’t know whether it’s because of the burning sun or because I’m carrying too much luggage.

At the market I finally find a tractor from my village. I put all my things on it and go off once more to look for my father. I don’t find him, but I bump into my third uncle. He asks me if I’ve eaten. When I say no, he invites me to have something to eat a little way farther along the road. We come across two young women. Both of them suggest that we come into their restaurants. We go into one, and right away the other woman starts to swear at us.

The woman whose restaurant we’re in points at me and asserts, “This girl eats here often.”

I’m very surprised to hear that. I’ve never eaten there this term. After the meal I feel bad. Is it because she’s poor that she has to lie like this? If her business was doing better, she wouldn’t have to make up such stories.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.