He Xiang continued her explanation.
"The character for 'up,'" she said, "can also mean 'to go,' like in 'going to school.'
"That's why saying 'going up to the toilet' is just a neutral, normal expression."
"The character for 'down' can also mean 'to go,' like in 'going down to the fields to work,' which usually implies strenuous labor.
"In ancient times, there was a saying that a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen.
"The kitchen was for the working class, a place of toil, so we say 'going down to the kitchen.'"
When He Xiang finished, she looked up at me.
Her eyes crinkled into a smile, her lips parted to show her small white teeth, and her dimples were sweet...
For some reason, her expression at that moment was etched into my mind like a photograph, vivid and clear.
It wasn't until many years later that I realized this was the last time I would ever see her.
Many teachers and friends lamented that a talent was taken too soon, but I knew deep down that the root of this tragedy lay in an ignorance of Feng Shui.
An ignorance that proved fatal.
Nothing matters except for life and death.
We all must die, and sooner or later, we all face the ultimate questions: Why do we live? What is the value of our existence?
We eat to live, but living cannot be just about eating.
In this life, one must do something for the world, leave some kind of mark behind.
I hope that more people can come to understand the way of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, to avoid the unnecessary harm that comes from ignorance.
It is out of this wish that this book came to be.
Of course, all of this is a story for later.
Just then, my phone suddenly rang. My mom's excited voice came through the receiver. "Sanhe, why aren't you home yet? Hurry back!"
The old lady was in good health and full of energy, but her tone today sounded like something wonderful had happened.
After saying goodbye to He Xiang, I hurried home.
When I got back, I saw that we did indeed have a guest.
My mom enthusiastically introduced him. "This is Feng Dashu from the next village."
This Feng Dashu had large eyes, wide nostrils, and a broad face. He was a tall, sturdy man.
I greeted him politely.
My mom continued the introductions, her face alight with excitement.
"Your Uncle Feng has a daughter who is just incredible! After graduating, she went to Singapore to study. Now she's working part-time while doing her master's, and she even sends money home every month!
"I hear she's also found a rich boyfriend—a second-generation wealthy type—and they're getting married soon!"
"My daughter isn't *that* amazing," Feng Dashu said, humble-bragging. "But she has a good heart. Even though she's doing well over there, she still thinks about us folks back home. She says if any of the neighbors want to go to Singapore for their master's, she can help them apply..."
I had no idea where this Feng Dashu had popped up from; I'd never seen him before.
But his words struck a chord with me.
I thought about myself. Here I was, a grown man, with a meager salary right after graduation. After my monthly expenses, I was stretched thin just buying gifts for my family during the holidays.
Yet here was a girl who could send money home every month. My own situation felt so pathetic in comparison. The more I thought about it, the more ashamed I felt. I couldn't help but ask, "Feng Dashu, can I apply to go to Singapore? What are the requirements?"
"I hear you graduated from a top university. With your qualifications, you could definitely get into the National University.
"Once you're there, you can have my daughter find you a part-time job. You could easily make over ten thousand a month. You'd have more than enough for yourself and could even send some back to your parents.
"And in two years, you'd walk away with a master's degree..." Feng Dashu unleashed a torrent of promises.
"Is it really that easy to find a part-time job that pays over ten thousand?" I asked, clinging to my last shred of reason.
"No problem! Leave it to my daughter. She's been there for a while and knows a lot of bosses." Feng Dashu's words were the reassurance I needed.
His words beat against my heart like drumsticks, plunging me into a reverie about the future.
The National University, ranked even higher than Tsinghua University and Peking University.
I'd be earning several times what I make now!
And I could pick up a master's degree from the National University along the way.
My parents were still young and healthy; it was the perfect time to go out and see the world.
And since we were neighbors, I didn't have to worry about being scammed...
The abacus in my mind was clacking away furiously, and it never once occurred to me to question why I had met two glib-tongued strangers on the very same day.
As soon as Feng Dashu left that evening, I, brimming with enthusiasm, couldn't wait to discuss the Singapore plan with my parents.
My parents were old-fashioned. Although they were impressed by how much the girl was earning, the thought of me giving up my teaching job made them hesitant and reluctant.
But a man's ambition is to see the world! How could I let a mere job title limit my future's infinite possibilities?
After I pitched them this pie-in-the-sky vision, we quickly reached a consensus: I was going to Singapore!
Racing against the clock, I applied for my passport and visa, quit my job, and made all the necessary preparations to let my dream take flight.
It was only when I had the visa and plane ticket in my hand that I suddenly realized: Singapore is on the equator, directly south of us. Was this the "South Up" part of "South Up North Down"?
Was it really that magical? Could fate truly be calculated?
For some reason, my thoughts turned to Lao Dao. I wondered where he was now, and if I would ever see him again.
Proofreader: Peter Pan