原创英文小说：[Blue Jacaranda] 蓝花楹 - Chapter 7 何木屋语2021-09-25 06:01:40
Chapter 7
澳洲: 何木
“Oh my god, I forgot the hammock,” Melody uttered her first words in the morning.
“Hammock?” Peter muttered, half awake.
“Yes, the lovely hammock,” said Melody cheerfully, hurrying Peter in a whisper, “let’s go now, before they arise.”
But to their surprise, Lotus was already up, sitting downstairs on the bench browsing a magazine.
“Morning,” Melody greeted her, coming down the stairs hand in hand with Peter, in their underclothes. “Lotus, you're so early.”
Lotus looked up. “Morning Melody, and Peter, yes, such a morning, so I got up to go sightseeing.”
“How wonderful, but… just you?”
“Of course just me,” Lotus said, “Lazy Jason is like a pig.”
“Lazy, or lazy after being very Busy?”
“What?” asked Lotus, with an innocent look, then having caught Melody’s undertone, she smiled a shy smile, “You mean...oh, no, no, he was drunk throughout the night.”
“You are kidding,” laughed Melody, “Don’t make me believe you.”
“Come on, Melody, we are only an ‘old couple’, unlike you guys, a fresh, well, more precisely, a refreshed new couple…”
Without losing more time with Lotus, the 'refreshed' new couple got out of the house, and in another minute were facing a ladder fixed upon the tree leading to the hammock.
“You go first, I don't think it can support two of us,” hesitated Peter.
“Of course, it can. We Chinese have a smaller body, two equal one locals, I will go first, and you follow me.”
So one after another they moved gingerly up the rungs of the ladder, and at its top, eased more cautiously down to the bed of canvas. Both of them couldn’t remember the last time they had ever climbed a ladder, let alone a hammock, so fantastic an item only occasionally seen in movies. Peter was rather afraid that at any moment the wavering bed might just get off from hooks, or rather if not the bed, he himself would fall off the narrow strip.
But his fear proved unnecessary as he had finally settled tightly along with Melody.
The babyish sun, with a hue of orange, dappled upon their faces. The crazy birds twittered vigorously, flitting about the trees, as if communicating to each other that they saw two sneaky big animals trespassing on their living space.
“Ah, the sight is so much better than the pigeon-flying at my Si-he-yuan,” commented Melody, obviously recalling her childhood memories. “How could I have imagined, as a child, that one day I would be swinging like this in a Hammock in Australia.”
Peter, massaging her breasts now with an increased force, mocked her childish expression, “How could you have imagined that one day a stranger like me would do this to you.”
But Melody was well absorbed in the views, not caring about Peter’s roaming hands. “This is truly a paradise. I may ask my father to buy a place like this for holiday use, or as an investment.”
“That would be a good way of asset diversification, you should avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.”
“Perhaps we can invest in a winery, but who is going to manage it? Not an easy business apparently.”
“Well, it all depends whether or not you wish to make quick money from your investment,” said Peter, in the tone of a professional accountant. “For long term investment, you are looking at the value appreciation in the horizon of five or more years.”
“But what would happen if one day, say, just as Jason had argued, that there might be a war between China and Australia? Would Chinese investment be confiscated by Australia?”
Peter laughed, “I thought you didn't believe a thing in Jason’s rhetoric. But well everything is possible, and there is always a risk for your money wherever you put it. Who knows China won’t one day turn against the capitalists? This is exactly why you need to diversify your wealth in different countries with different systems.”
Melody, whose attention had at last drawn back to what Peter’s uncivilized fingers had been doing to her, managed to shift her body and at last climb over to set Peter underneath her. Then, with a little difficulty in the small space they began to help each other take off their clothes, throwing each item down to the undergrowth.
Sitting like a mermaid, Melody moved rhythmically in the rays of sunshine. Her skin gleamed with golden light, the two moles on her body, now liberated totally free, peeking curiously at him, and the world. And they were safe enough, for Jason was too drunk to rise from bed, Lotus too discreet to disturb their romance.
The beautiful scenery, as well as the narrow strip of the hammock had moderated Melody’s usual wild animation in love-making, which was after all more accustomed to Peter’s preference. The shower of Melody’s hair, and the breasts dangling above his face, filtered so gloriously by the sunlight, amazed him so much that he felt he was a star in a most eroticly romantic movie. It was at that moment that he told himself he would love this woman forever, a woman so energetic, dynamic, so free in mind, that nothing really mattered except for the naked form of her existence.
The breakfast, or brunch, one hour later, was very simple: bread, avocado, tomato and milk. Jason was surely having a hangover, half dazed, heavy-lidded, and ate very little, whilst Peter and Melody were eating like hungry cavemen.
Jason’ spirit had not recovered until the afternoon when they had gone out to stroll in the vineyard. “See, this is a type called Pinot, a French word, meaning the pine cone seeds, that resemble the cluster shape of tye type of grapes, and do you know why French is so famous for its winery? It is because almost all the major grape varieties pretty much come from France, like Merlot Chardonnay Cabernet Sauvignon…”
“Jason,” said Lotus, “Don’t say those difficult names, no matter how many times you say to me, I could never remember them.”
Peter was amused, “Lotus, that is because you don’t have the willingness to remember them, though I am more or less the same, the only one I could remember was Pinot, as Jason had explained it does sound like Pine.”
“And all I know,” added Melody, “is that Penfold is famous in Australia and more expensive than others, and that the time and type of grapes matter a lot in the value of produce. But how and why is that I have little interest to know.”
Jason, discouraged by his peers, made a remark, “Well, you are a bunch of people who know not what real value is and who may spoil good stuff without knowledge. But just one last thing, before I may end my service as a wine expert, do you know anything about Champagne?”
“Of course.”
“But do you know why it is called Champagne?”
Again the other three showed no interest in knowing the answer, so Jason gave it to himself, “It was because it was from a French territory called Champagne...”
Just as a little boredom began to fall upon the group, Melody was proposing excitedly, “Let’s race, to allow the physical exercise to help get rid of the alcohol in our body, especially for Jason.”
“Why Especially me?” questioned Jason.
“Haha, you should ask Lotus.”
Lotus' face was turning red immediately. “Melody, please, can you keep our ladies’ secrets …”
“There should be no secrets among us,” Melody chuckled, "and I must warn you, Jason, you should drink less today, care less about the grape types, otherwise, someone will be extremely unhappy.”
Jason’s face was thick enough not to change colour, “Well, only those who can’t appreciate real wine won’t get drunk.”
Presently they had run into a woodland, the road was covered by a lot of thick barks, nearly tripping Jason over.
“So many barks,” complained Jason, “Why don’t they sweep them away?”
“Well, why do they have to? The barks look beautiful there, so natural,” said Peter.
“Beautiful? Dead barks? You are kidding Peter. I would prefer stones, solid and strong, not like these dead ugly skins, who would rot and decay into dirt.”
Melody chimed in, “Well, when alive, I prefer barks, when dead, I prefer stones.”
“Why?” Peter asked, impressed by Melody’s unusual philosophical intelligence. “I think barks are always better than stones. Stone is hard and cold, and has never lived at all, whilst barks, even dead, with its useful organism would join the soil to service another life.”
Lotus, who must be careful not to side with Peter conspicuously, in case Jason was offended again, joined the discussion. “I also think barks are better than stones.”
Peter was trying to be a moderator of the debate. “Jason does have a point though. Stone is solid, reliable and stable, always exerting a form of assurance to one’s heart, which is full of life but delicate and immoral. The problem for the stone is that it is constantly dead, forever dead, don't you know all the living things tend to be soft with life.. without the flesh and blood, what is the use of bones?“
“But without bones, what is the use of flesh and blood, there wouldn’t be a meaningful form of life,” Melody intervened smartly.
“No, no, Melody,” said Peter quickly, detecting a loophole in her logic, “there are a lot of living things without bones, like snails, earthworms... but you can’t find anything opposite.”
“Oh, don't mention those slimy scary unpleasant creatures...But when you are dead, do you prefer to exist as flesh?” Melody persisted, “I would rather be bones. Decay of flesh is a horrible thing to imagine.”
“But your argument is invalid, and impossible,” Peter continued, “Dead things like stones don’t die, so there is no such notion of ‘when you are dead,’ because it is in dead state permanently.”
Melody grabbed his arm, “Peter, right this moment I need your bones to carry me. My flesh is extremely tired and desperately needs some bones’ support.”
After her words, she pulled Peter's neck down to bend his body, then jumped herself up onto his back.
Of their ‘shameless’ behavior Lotus was very jealous, and demanded Jason to do the same.
Melody, thrilled by newly found fun, was shouting hilariously as a herder did to his sheep or cattle, “Jia, Jia, Peter the horse, run faster and faster…”
But Jason, the muscle man with Lotus on his back, soon caught up with them and overtook, and didn't forget to throw his words behind showing off his pride, “See, in the end it is the stronger flesh and bones in my body winning the race of life… hahaha.”
Back to their lodge, Peter and Lotus became a diligent couple in the kitchen preparing for their outdoor picnic. The lazy Jason watched his YouTube, but he was frequently interrupted by Melody who had been asking him to take photos of her around the place, especially of her many postures with the hammock.
By the time Peter and Lotus had finished their kitchen chore, Jason and Melody had already downed half of a bottle. The hills and vineyards were idyllic; goats and horses grazed peacefully in the remote pastures. The lake was like a mirror, with waves of ripples stirred by the spasmodic breeze, and the mellow sun in late afternoon was perfect for a comfortable picnic.
For a long while, none of them made much noise to disturb the tranquility. Even the chatterbox Jason, seemed rather hypnotized by the fantastic view, the quality of wine losing the favour of his attention.
“This is really a nice place,” Jason said at last. “Australia is such a lucky country, such a vast land and rich resources, with only twenty millions of people, even fewer than that of some cities in China. Why is the world so unfair, so unequal?”
Peter, sensing the danger of the topic, decided to curtail it, “Jason, no more politics,” and gave him a meaningful look that reminded him of the unpleasant debate of last night.
“Okay, no politics. But Peter, I want to ask your opinion. I want to set up a business in Australia, say, after graduation and while waiting for the PR, what do you think of it? I had asked Lotus about this, but she never gave me anything.”
“How can I have anything?” returned Lotus, “I only know accounting, no experience at all in this sort of thing.”
“Jason, what type of business do you have in mind?” asked Peter.
“Well, any type, anything that can make a few dollars. I am thinking of Milk Tea, Lamb-BBQ sticks, noodle shops, even chicken feet... I have a friend saying their company is going to develop a second Chinatown at Burwood. They are going to introduce China's hawker-street culture to Australia, how exciting! “
“Really, another Chinatown?” asked Peter, very surprised, “Melody and I went to Burwood just a few days ago.”
“Yes, it is actually adjacent to the Burwood hotel we have often gone to. Quite a number of apartment buildings have in recent years shot up in the precinct, making Burwood a kind of hub, a very popular place especially for Chinese students.”
“Sounds promising but none of us have any experience in running a business,” said Peter.
“I know, perhaps we four can set up one together?”
“No, no,” said Melody quickly. “You guys may try, but not me.”
“Come on Melody, I know you are not short of money, but among us, you are the most financially resourceful, maybe just getting one for fun? Imagine every time you go to Burwood, there is a shop you own, and where you can come and eat a thing for free?”
“Well, I already own an apartment at Rhodes,” Melody shrugged, then as if the idea did have a measure of fun, she added tentatively, “but if you guys decide what to do, maybe, I can consider a way of participation, but I don’t want to lose money.”
“Thank you Melody, it wouldn’t need a lot of money, a small shop anyway, but we must think carefully about running it, like what is our market, and what is most likely in the need of Chinese mainlanders, largely the students who may find something interesting enough and useful.”
“You seem to have already thought a lot about this,” said Peter. “Then go ahead to do more research, but I declare I can only help you as a hand, as a shop attendant perhaps.”
“That is okay, let me and Melody worry about the money, you and Lotus look after operations, like accounting stuff, registration, all those troubling matters to me. I will do Marketing, of course IT as well such as websites, customer relationship etc., see we now have a team of investors, marketers, accountants, that sounds like a very capable team for starting a venture, doesn't it?”
"Yes, it does," Jason laughed, toasting, “Gan-bei, to the success of our business.”
Late that night, the naughty Meldoy was still concerned with Lotus’s sex life. She even asked Peter to go to their door, spying to see if they were actually doing it. Peter rejected it promptly, but Melody said she would punish him by not letting him touch her body if he must refuse her.
So, under the blackmail, Peter got off the bed and tiptoed to the door and there, with his heart pounding in his ears, he held his breath to capture any tiny noise that may leak out through the crack of the door. But to his disappointment, nothing seemed to be taking place inside the room.
He reluctantly went back to report the findings and as expected, Melody refused to believe him. And in the end, she stole to the door herself, only confirming what Peer had already told her.
“Strange, why don’t they do it? Are they still okay?” Melody's mind was stuck in her peculiar curiosity. “Peter, seriously, I think Lotus loves You.”
“Nonsense, for the last three years, nothing happened between us. We are no more than good classmates,” Peter denied vigorously.
“I didn’t say you love Lotus,” Melody said, “but I have the sixth sense Lotus has real feelings for you. The strange thing is then why is she still together with Jason while loving you?”
“Melody, stop being a curious cat,” said Peter. “Do you have to worry about every soul on the earth?”
“Yes, I am, I have a lot of compassion for the wellbeing of mankind,” she said, sitting up and making various gestures demanding him to kiss her.
~ To be continued