When Nulang Meets Zhinu - Round 1, The Call

Nulang, Water-Buffalo Boy and Zhinu, Silk-Weaving Girl are Chinese folklore characters. Their story was romantic and tragic, like Romeo and Juliet, only older, a few thousand years older. Nobody really knew what shenanigans Nulang and Zhinu got themselves into, only they were banished from the Jade Palace (English translation: Heaven) forever. Rumor has it drugs were involved and according to the legend the punishment for their stealing the Ecstasy for Immortality was permanent exile to live on the opposite bank of Yin He (Silver River, the Milky Way to you Westerners). On the third appeal the Jade Emperor agreed to let them cross the Silver River once a year. On the 7th night of the 7th Lunar month of every year, if you look up the sky and look very carefully you would spot the two most brilliant stars in the Milky Way, Nulang and Zhinu, still arguing about who's fault it was that they don't live in Heaven any more.



Round 1 - The Call

Zhinu came home from work tired. She finally found a job in the nearby town. Her past-life skills in the galaxy (global is the more hip word nowadays) commerce haven't proven to be in demand in the earthy community she lives in now. She tried house cleaning once, for a damn Republican, as Nulang likes to call everyone who makes more money than he does. But that didn't last long. After she insisted that her employer (a retired Admiral's wife) called her by her human name instead of "Yoohoo", she never heard from that woman again. Nulang told her she was being too proud and demanding, "No Americans can pronounce your name." "Well, I am not a cat."said Zhinu indignantly.

This summer with luck and a little networking Zhinu found a job teaching Chinese to five-year olds. It is hard work; five-year-olds have attention spans like fruit flies and they cry when Zhinu can't understand their 5-years-old English. Overall Zhinu is grateful to have found a job that is not going to break her back or makes her feel like a pet.

Nulang greeted her warmly. He is nice that way. He asked her how her lesson went, she said fine. She asked Nulang how his day went like American couples she saw on TV.

"Robert called and we talked for over an hour."said Nulang.

Robert is Nulang's high school friend. Zhinu feigned interest because she remembered the time when Nulang was working and she wasn't, she often waited all day for Nulang to come home so she could share the news of the day with him. Being a housewife or househusband is a lonely and thankless job.

"How is Robert?"
"He is okay I suppose."
"Is he still working at the hospital?"
"I guess."
"How is Julie?" Julie is Robert's wife whom Zhinu can't stand.
"I don't know, she didn't come up during the conversation."
"So, What did you talk about?"Zhinu knew it was a stupid question but she asked anyway.
"I don't know. This and That."
"For an hour?" Zhinu thought, not out loud.
"Robert might come visit." Nulang said after a few minutes as if he just remembered this insignificant detail.
"Did he say around when?" If Zhinu ruled the world she would like to know the exact hour if not the exact minute her guests would arrive but she knew she didn't rule the world, not yet, so she tactfully used the "around" word as to give her partner some space.
"No, he just said he would like to visit next year."
"Great." Zhinu chirped, a little too cheerfully, then she went on preparing her favorite lunch - Velvety Chicken and Vegetable Noodle Soup.