Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction only. All characters and names have been fabricated for the purposes of this story. References to actual places are real. Chinese language inclusion, in Pinyin, is also real.
"Ni hao, Mr. Kwang." Zhoulin said, walking by the side of her family's countryside home in Sichaun, China. Mr Kwang's one-story house bordered the Chens. It was 6pm in the afternoon. Just past the hottest point of the day.
"Ni Hao, Zhoulin, have you eaten?"
"I have, Mr Kwang. Thankyou."
Kwang Liujie fixed on the supporting rods for the green beans. The broad countryside of the Jiajiang county in Sichuan splashed with an uncharacteristic clear blue, unspoiled by the dust of non-stop construction ongoing in town across the valley.
"They are growing so fast."
Kwang looked up at his young neighbour, now stopped at the edge of the vegetable garden adjoined to both properties. The day was hot and intolerably humid. The heat was reflected in Zhoulin's choice of clothing; short white jean shorts that left much of her slim golden legs uncovered. A close-fitting grey shirt drew attention to two mounds on her chest.
"What do you do make them so large?" Zhoulin said, bringing Kwang's attention back to the moment. Zhoulin was nodding to the tomatoes.
"Family trick." Kwang said with a smile. "The first point, and last one people seem to follow, is that you have to feed the soil."
Zhoulin's face expressed puzzlement. Kwang carried on: "see the compost bin over there." Kwang nodded to the young girl's left. "All food scraps go into there. Your potato skins, rotten tomatoes, corn cobs, egg shells... Anything vegetation-based can be reused. Once they have partly emulsified, you bury it in the soil."
"It seems all very technical."
"Not really. Quite easy actually. A matter of habit, that's all."
Zhoulin squatted beside the cabbage patch inspecting the leaves. "How do keep the bugs away then?"
Kwang smiled again. His talks with Zhoulin ranged broadly these days as her holidays from University in Leshan extended over the summer break. Her curiosity pleased Kwang, a former professor of biology at Chengdu Institute of Technology. Now a retired widow.
They talked most afternoons now on Kwang's back porch under the shade as the sun went down. It wasn't quite their normal time, but Kwang needed to get out of the heat. "Well, im going to head in to get a drink, come on and I can tell the secret to natural bug extermination."
"Hao de," ok. Zhoulin laughed and locked in behind Kwang as they walked over towards his back porch. The angle of the porch spread in diagonal to meet the side and back of Zhoulin's parents place. Her parent's worked long hours in the city.
Inside Kwang prepared a cold fruit tea with almonds. "These are from Changchang's down the road." Kwang put the almonds on the table outside. "Grows thousands of them each year. Just eats them all. Doesn't even take them to the markets."
"Why do they call him Changchang?" Zhoulin retorted, trying to figure out what was so unique about the man to style his name after the Great Wall of China.
"Not sure, actually. Who knows these things. I met a young lady the other day whose name was Weekend."
At that point Betsy came over, moving ponderously from the small, fenced area that was her home. Betsy the cow stopped within a couple of feet from them and began chomping on the weeds, stopping every now and again to spy her companions.
"She looks very full." Zhuolin was referring to her heavy udders.
"Yes, I will need to milk her soon." Mr Kwang said with fondness. "She has been with me since my wife passed. A beautiful beast, isn't she!" He said. "Never any trouble. Her milk is always perfect."
"That's wonderful, Mr Kwang. She really is a good girl." Zhuolin said. Meaning it. Mr Kwang was very sweet, and she knew Betsy was his pride and joy.
Mr Kwang talked for a while about how smart Betsy was and what type of personality she had. Mr Kwang insisted cows had personalities and that Betsy could be temperamental when she wanted to be.
*********
Their talk lasted more than an hour, criss-crossing the subjects of vegetable gardens, funny names, and stories about bad driving habits. The afternoon didn't seem to cool down and Zhoulin was sweating visibly in her grey shirt. Her bra suffocated her chest and she sought release from its grasp.
Kwang was still talking about plant splicing. Zhoulin was being polite but her mind was turned towards making herself more comfortable. Could she go free chest in from of Mr. Kwang? She looked over, nodding at another remark. The face that looked back at her was kind, neatly shaven, even handsome. Kwang betrayed an age that was years younger than his 65 years. How would he react? She had noticed his attentions on her legs. She had good legs. She was happy to show them to him.
Zhuolin uncrossed them and sat legs open as she reached for the last of her iced tea. The new position allowed the small breeze to reach her inner thighs and a slight relief came over her. The urge to be rid of her bra and shirt was now too much.
"Sorry Mr Kwang, but I have to go. I have some things to take care of home." She said, standing up, the sweat trickled down her back. She needed to change her shirt.
"Meishi," no problem.
As she got up Zhoulin felt suddenly dizzy. She tried to move but her legs wouldn't walk and then she collapsed. She stayed on her hands and knees for a moment, catching her breath. It was hot. She was suffocating. And then for a moment everything was black.
A few minutes later, Zhoulin was breathing normal again. "There, there." Mr Kwang had caught the young girl and got her back into her seat. He held her tight until she regained her consciousness fully.
Zhoulin was flushed, breathing deeply. It really was hot outside. She was seated, bending on her arms against the table. "Sorry, I'm not sure what happened." Was all she could say.
"Take in deep breaths. There, there. There is nothing to worry about." He was patting her lightly on the back. A slight breeze was offering some aid.
Zhoulin was feeling better, and then she noticed why. The straps of her bra at the back had been unfastened and her cups were now hanging loosely at her front.
Mr Kwang anticipated the girl's embarrassment. "Don't worry, my wife used to have the same problem." He said. He was still patting her on the back. The girl looked slightly more reassured. "I think it best on days like this to go without a bra. They are so constraining. Don't you think?
Zhoulin's response was noncommittal. Her mind was firing signals, but they weren't being caught. Mr Kwang's voice was soothing. His touch was helping.