1.31 AuYeung LaiSan - Dinner

Before I knew it, it was already supper time.

Jo-yi and I had washed up and headed towards the Common area, where we would gather to catch up with each other before dinner was served. I walked in and was greeted by the laughter of the children. They were in the corner of the room, huddled over something and laughed and giggled.

The laughter was infectious and I couldn't help but be drawn to the area. A big smile was plastered on my face as I approached and asked the group, "What is so funny?".

The kids closest to me turned around, then screamed, "Eighth aunt come, come look!" as they pulled me closer to what they were huddled around.

I looked down at the corner, there was a cute little hedgehog running in and out of a tube grabbing bits of food that was scattered around the floor.

"Where did it come from?" I asked the kids and I squatted down to get a better look.

"She is mine," I heard from behind me. I turned to see the General peering down on me.

I quickly got up and brushed off my dress.

"General, how are you this evening?" I greeted.

"I am well Miss AuYeung, how are you?" he asked.

"Well I am fine." With a bit of hesitance I added, " But I would like to apologize to you. About earlier, I really did not mean to ruin your plans. I hope there is a way to remedy this. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know." I said as I fidgeted, twirling my hair.

"Don't worry about it, I am sure we will be able to find the culprit very soon," he said, giving me a big smile.

I nodded and smiled back, "I hope so too.. Also you don't need to be so formal, just call me LaiSan."

"Okay, LaiSan."

We stood there smiling at each other for a bit and then it got a little awkward. Breaking the silence, "So where did this little girl come from." Turning away from him and looking at the hedgehog again.

He walked behind me and peered over my shoulder and said, "I brought him with me on the trip, he is like my good luck charm."

I looked back at him and questioned, "Huh?"

Right on cue he continued his story, "Well when I was a little boy, my sisters would always play with my hair and sometimes even dressed me up in their clothes. One day I got mad, I can't quite remember why but I had ran from the residence into the back forest. I was running around and swinging a stick at anything that I could attack. I was about to swing at a tree when I stepped on this little guy. It hurt my foot and I stopped in my tracks. I guess I had uncovered it's hiding spot when I was swinging around. Finally calming down, I picked it up and It looked like it was hurt. As I observed it some more, that was when I finally heard it, there was a wasp nest on the tree. If I had swung the stick and disrupted their nest, I might have been stung to death before I could get home. So, I felt this was my life saver, so I brought it home to treat her wounds."

"Oh, so she is a lucky one," I smiled and responded.

He bent over and picked her up. Turning to me, he gestured for me to open my hands and receive the animal. I shook my head.

"Come one, I swear you will be surprised," he coaxed.

Being a bit curious, "Well okay." I lifted my hands and placed my palms up in a scooping posture awaiting the little scurrying animal.

He gently placed her belly up, in my palm and to my surprise she wasn't as prickly as I thought she might have been.

The General adjusted her position to be held in only my left palm and said, "Go ahead, use a finger to pet her stomach."

I raised my hand and pointed a finger at her belly. Then I stared at her eyes and I swear they were saying, "Go ahead if you dare." I don't know if it was my imagination or what, but I swear she even smirked at me.

My raised finger did not dare to venture forward. All the kids were yelling at me to just pet her. The noise was deafening but still my hand froze. Then by surprise, the General took my finger and pressed it down to the hedgehog's tummy. "Stoke it like this," he instructed as he guided my finger up and down it's tummy.

I was so surprised that when he let go I froze. All the kids were just jumping around saying they want to be next.

I think he finally realized what he had done, he turned red. "I am sorry, I was too impolite."

Without giving me a chance to react, the kids had dragged him away to the other side. Where they were bugging him to also let them hold the hedgehog.

I turned around to face the wall. I touched my face, my cold hands felt like cooling ice along my heated cheeks. I could hear the kids still keeping the General occupied so I took that chance to sneak off out to the garden from the side entrance.

When I was finally alone, I took in a deep cool breath and it finally calmed my heart. I watched as the sun setted and the yellow,orange hues turned red. All I kept saying to myself was to please calm down and don't let anyone else think there is anything out of the ordinary.

Finally the servants announced that dinner was ready and there was clamouring of people heading towards the dining hall. I took my usual spot next to my mom and because the General was our guest, he was seated at the same table as well, but luckily next to my dad. I don't think I could face him right now, without my face turning apple red again. I just kept my head down looking at my bowl of rice, as my father made the announcement that the General was gracious enough to join us for dinner and has agreed to stay for a couple of days as well.

I looked up from my bowl of rice when I heard that, my eyes met his for a moment and I quickly looked down again.

Father finished his speech and asked the kitchen to bring out the dishes.

My thoughts were muddled and I was just absentmindedly picking at my rice. Of course mom noticed and was concerned, "LaiSan, are you okay?" Placing her bowl of rice and chopsticks down, she raised a hand to my forehead and tested my temperature. "You don't have a fever, but why are your cheeks so red?"

Hearing the word fever, my sixth sister in-law also placed down her bowl and chopsticks and came by to feel my forehead as well. "Yes, it doesn't feel like a fever. Are you not feeling well anywhere? Did you overexert yourself this afternoon?"

Mom, then chimed in, "Oh yes, I almost forgot about this afternoon. Are you feeling unwell? Should I escort you back to your room and we can make you some congee later"

"Mom, Sixth sister, I am fine. Don't worry about me." I gently pushed them away, "Go back and eat, I really am fine."

My sister in law went back to her seat and mom then said, "If you are fine, then eat up." She started taking a piece from this and that dish and piling it high on my bowl. "Okay, eat up, you need to build up your strength, you are still weak."

"Okay mom, you eat too." I spooned a piece of vegetable from the plates and gave it to mom. Stretched around to the meat dish and spooned one over to dad. Since I was at it, I scooped up some fish and stretched out to the General to receive it.

He used both hands to lift the bowl and received it with a smile, "Thank you."

With that, we both knew we were okay, no more awkwardness between us. We pleasantly continued our meal.

Grandma, who usually took her meals of vegetarian cuisine in her room, came to the dining hall just as we were about to finish.

Everyone started to greet her, "Grandma! Great-Grandma!" rang across the room.

She raised her hand and the room quieted, "Go on eating, I am just here to chat with our guest."

Everyone turned back to face their table and continued eating. Grandma made her way to the seat next to the General's, "I am glad you had decided to stay for a few days before you head back to the border."

"Thank you, grandma, for letting me stay, " the General said.

Upon hearing that, my father almost choked on his rice. "What?"

"I told DongAn that it was okay to call me grandma. His grandma and I were like sisters, so it is just right for him to call me grandma as well," grandma defended.

"Okay, as you like mother," father conceded.

When dessert was out, grandma also brought out the wine.

All my brothers were giving the General drinks and they were chatting happily. The kids and my sister in laws, one by one left to settle down the kids for the night. The men continued their chattering, reciting poems and poetry. Later in the night Mom and Jo-yi had assisted Grandma back to her room. I sat there and watched them for a while, until they got a bit too rowdy. I needed to stretch my legs, so I walked out to the garden.

It was nice and peaceful in the yard, the crickets were chirping and a nice breeze brought about the scents of the garden, the grass, the flowers, all of it was very calming.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. Before I could even turn around, a sword was near my throat. I tried to struggle but he had already held on to my right arm. He pulled me along as we headed back into the dining hall, he walked in slowly, with me as his hostage.

My first brother who was facing the entrance was first to notice us. " What are you doing? Let her go immediately!" he ordered.

"You know what I want and I know it is here. Bring it out to me!" he ordered.

"There are nine of us and only one of you, what makes you think we will listen to you?" my second brother scoffed.

"Right, we have more people, so you better just let our sister go and we might spare your life," my first brother taunted.

The guys started to fan out and tried to surround him. He also dragged me along and situated himself against a wall and using me like a shield, he threatened, "If you don't do as I say, she will not just have this scar," he said as he sliced a one inch opening near my cheek.

"Ah!" the pain was excruciating. I didn't want to scream but could not help it.

"Okay, okay. Stop!" my first brother patted the air, and then looked over at my dad, "Father?"

"General, you know the importance of the map to this country and you know I treasure my daughter above all. How am I to choose?"

"Stop talking so much and bring it out now," as he made another cut on my neck.

I bared it this time as I glared at him. I was not going to have him use me against my family. After the pain had subsided a bit. I looked over at the General and our eyes met. I told him with my eyes that I was going to try to move out of his grip and that it will be his chance to apprehend him.

He winced with a little head shake as if to say, DON'T, but I had decided.

"Stop looking, get me the map now," he ordered again.

Just as he was about to cut me for the third time. I used my free left arm to jab him in the ribs as hard as I could. I tried to spin out of his grip, but I guess I didn't hit him hard enough and he recovered too quickly.

The right arm that was holding the sword, pressed hard against my neck and slit my throat before I could even get out of his grasp.

He released me as I fell to the ground.

I saw him run away and the General gave chase. The last images I saw were of him going further away and my brothers and my fathers encircling me. Then it all went black.

Moments later, down in the underworld...