hope

The scorching sun beat down mercilessly upon the rice fields. The crops shriveled and died. A forlorn figure walking between what would have been a good year’s harvest, viewed the damage with resigned eyes. The once golden rice fields were now brown and the vastness of the damage was too much to be only a year’s lost.

Li Dong Hua walked slowly to the little farmhouse he had built ten years ago. The attap house, made of wood, began showing signs of its age but he knew that it would still hold for a couple of years to come. He had once wanted to replace the decaying wood but he knew that his current financial state wouldn’t allow him to do so.

In the distance he could see his wife, Liu Kai Xin by the well doing the washing. As he came nearer, he could see that her once smooth hands were wrinkled and coarse. Her hair too had been bleached to a light shade of brown by the harsh sunlight. Her once girlish figure which had attracted men from his village had had now given way to a thin, bony form. The passing years had not been kind to her and Dong Hua sighed and felt guilty because he could not offer her a better life. Yet his wife has always been by his side, uncomplaining. At times, he had been amazed by her strength and fortitude. She never did shed a tear when the crops withered during the drought. Sometimes, he had to choke back his own tears to put a brave front for he is the leader of the family. Not being able to control his emotions would certainly put his family into worries. Indeed she had served him well, given him those silent encouragements, and he could find no fault with her.

Kai Xin looked from her washing as he approached. “Is it bad?” she asked softly.

“Very bad,” he replied “If this weather continues, we will be having a difficult year ahead.”

“Don’t worry. Kuan Yin will not let us starve.”

“Sometimes I’m not sure. If She exist, how can she be so cruel?”

“Hush, don’t say that. What has happened is all part of a test of our family’s strength. We are united as one right? I’ll always be with you, my husband.”

With that she held his hand and gave a peck on this cheek. Kai Xin finished hanging up the last of the clothes and, carrying the basket, they returned to the farmhouse together, hand in hand. His mother’s plaintive voice greeted them. She was a grand old octogenarian. When his eyes had grown accustomed to the dim light inside, he could make her out sitting on a wooden bench, fanning herself while complaining about the stifling heat.

Kai Xin laid the table and went over to help the old lady to it. Her mother-in-law moved daintily on her small, bound feet. She was very proud of them as had always bemoaned the fact that Kai Xin’s feet had not been properly bound when she was young.

“This porridge is too cold,” she grumbled. “That seems to be all we are eating everyday. Why, it has been so long since I last had a nice hot meal of noodles.” With that, she stood up and went over to the altar and lit a joss stick. The old lady mumbled her prayers fervently and bowed three times before placing the joss stick onto the ash bowl.

“Mother, we don’t have much money with us now. I promise you that you will get a bowl of noodles soon.” Dong Hua sounded confident but his heart sank when he thought of their bleak future. Somehow, his wife who stood there gazed softly into his hazel brown eyes, understanding what he was going through. She sensed a resigned tone in his voice but said nothing. Instead, she looked directly into him, giving him the strength he needed to pull through this difficult time.

As soon as he could, Dong Hua left for the fields after he ad a mouthful of overnight bread. The bread was hard and even harder to swallow as tears began to well up in his eyes. He could not tolerate his mother’s petty grievances and he felt sorry for his wife who had to endure with all her complains and managing the house when he is out in the fields.

After he left, Kai Xin cleaned the house and then settled down to do some sewing. Of late she had begun sewing little shoes and clothes for a baby. She had known that she was with child for a month now but was reluctant to break the news to her husband and mother-in-law for she knew I would add to their financial crisis.

Putting away her sewing, she went outside. Huge ominous clouds had gathered in the eastern horizon and a downpour seemed imminent. Her heart skipped a beat. Then at the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a bright yellow flower. It was a wile flower in full bloom when all the other flowers around it had withered under the heat. She bent down and plucked it. She cried out softly to her husband but he was to far to hear her voice. She then clasped the flower to her breast and whispered silently. “I love you my husband.” A trickle of tear rolled down her cheek. Wiping her tear away, she turned to go inside as the first drops of rain fell. There was hope yet.