Chapter 35 Hope

　　—The world is so cruel. Even when at times there is not a trace of hope, one still lives full of hope.

　　Just as Gong Min and Gong Jie ordered the packing of belongings and were about to set out for Wangqiu City, the Tiger Tribe party arrived at the fruit forest.

　　Kong Xiaotian, still mounted, clasped his fists toward Gong Min and Gong Jie: “Greetings to the two princesses. Kong Xiaotian, Chieftain of the Tiger Tribe, pays his respects.”

　　“Uncle Kong is well.” Gong Min and Gong Jie returned the courtesy.

　　Gong Min glanced at Xin Qiuping and Kong Ting in the party and asked: “Uncle Kong, where are you going?”

　　“We are on our way to Wangqiu City to see the Great Chieftain. You have presumably finished gathering; we are going the same way and may travel together.”

　　“That is excellent. Unfortunately, however, my father has gone hunting and I do not know whether he can return to Wangqiu tonight. Ah—Aunt and Elder Sister are also in the party? Are you going to Wangqiu as well?”

　　Seeing herself addressed, Xin Qiuping’s bright eyes immediately flowed and her face blossomed into a smile; from the saddle she made a bow: “Greetings to Elder Miss and Second Miss. Today the weather is fine; my daughter and I wished to take a stroll and have come with the chieftain to visit Wangqiu City.”

　　“You are most welcome.” Gong Min had previously heard her mother speak of Kong Xiaotian’s wife Xin Qiuping and knew the woman was full of schemes. She thought to herself that anything abnormal must conceal evil; the entire family setting out together could not be for any good purpose.

　　The two columns merged and set out together in the direction of Wangqiu City.

　　The journey passed without incident. As dusk approached they reached Wangqiu City.

　　At the outer gate Gong Min ordered the members of the gathering party to distribute some of the breadfruit to the soldiers guarding the city. Then they entered the outer city, went to the designated community, and distributed two breadfruits to each household.

　　The harvest this time had been abundant; residents of dozens of mountaintop treehouses all received breadfruit.

　　The Gongyou Clan practiced a system of rationing. In seasons of scarcity hundreds of gathering parties of various sizes would take turns going to different places in the forest to collect fruit; each party was responsible for one community and distributed the collected fruit in order to the residents of that community.

　　On the road back to Wangqiu Su Ziqi was somewhat absentminded and felt empty inside; all along the way she continually looked back yet never saw Gongkong’s figure.

　　She did not know why. Outwardly Gongkong appeared a ruffian and every day stuck to her like glue; sometimes she even found him rather annoying. Yet the moment he suddenly disappeared she felt that something was missing from life.

　　In Wangqiu Gongkong was the only person upon whom they could rely and lean; he had also become a bridge of communication between them and the higher levels of the clan. With Gongkong present there seemed to be hope; the atmosphere was always lively. He not only brought them joy but, more importantly, a sense of safety.

　　Su Ziqi found her sudden listlessness amusing. She had known Gongkong for less than two months yet had already developed a sense of dependence. She silently recited to herself: “Dependence makes one weak, and weakness is the greatest enemy. A blade of grass that depends upon a great tree may shelter from wind and rain yet will never see the light of day. Upon this perilous planet one can rely only upon oneself. One must become strong, Su Ziqi—this is your fate.”

　　Of Su Ziqi and the other two returning to the tree hollow of the pyramid sacrificial platform we shall speak no further for the moment. Let us turn to Chieftain Kong Xiaotian of the Tiger Tribe, who, bringing his wife and daughter, arrived at Wangqiu City only to learn that Great Chieftain Gong Kang had not yet returned from the hunt. They therefore had no choice but to lodge first at the posthouse.

　　At the evening meal a servant came to the inn with a message: Lady Yu Jiao of the Great Chieftain’s residence had prepared a banquet and invited Chieftain Kong Xiaotian of the Tiger Tribe and his family to be guests in the inner city.

　　Hearing this, Kong Xiaotian was overjoyed and immediately took his wife and daughter, hurrying to the Great Chieftain’s residence for the banquet.

　　Along the way Xin Qiuping watched Kong Xiaotian’s impatient manner and silently cursed: “This old undying fellow is so eager to see that vixen—he has not changed in all these years. It will be the death of me!”

　　In the banquet hall of the Great Chieftain’s residence a long table had already been set. On the host’s side only Yu Jiao, accompanied by the two princesses Gong Min and Gong Jie, came to receive the guests.

　　Yu Jiao wore a bright lightyellow skirt and a yellow silk band about her head, looking as lovely as a yellow butterfly.

　　Years earlier Great Chieftain Gongdian of the Gongyou Clan had ordered that everyone must wrap the head in a yellow cloth; yet women need not wrap the entire head and needed only to bind the hair with a yellow silk band.

　　“Kong Xiaotian pays his respects to the Lady.” Kong Xiaotian performed the salute while staring fixedly at Yu Jiao with lecherous eyes.

　　Yu Jiao avoided his gaze and said: “Chieftain Kong Xiaotian, there is no need for such ceremony.”

　　Seeing Xin Qiuping she immediately came forward with an expression of delight and took Xin Qiuping’s hand: “Elder Sister, you have come as well! Your presence makes our humble dwelling shine. Come, sit at once.”

　　“Greetings to Lady Yu Jiao.” Xin Qiuping pretended joy as she returned the courtesy, yet inwardly she cursed: “Vixen, who is your elder sister? Am I so old?”

　　“Ah—and Miss Kong Ting has come as well. Come, let Aunt look at you. You have grown so tall—truly a girl changes eighteen times; you become more and more handsome.” Seeing Kong Ting, Yu Jiao came forward, took her hand, and examined her while speaking.

　　“Kong Ting pays her respects to the Lady.” Kong Ting’s face flushed and she hurriedly made a bow.

　　Beside her Xin Qiuping interrupted her daughter: “Ting’er, you have addressed her incorrectly—you should call her Mother!”

　　Hearing this, Kong Ting only lowered her head in silence. Xin Qiuping hastily nudged her with an elbow.

　　Yu Jiao was first startled, then recovered: “Yes—daughter, you should call me Mother. You have been betrothed to Gong Kang since childhood.”

　　“Vixen, letting my daughter call you Mother is already giving you an advantage.” Xin Qiuping cursed inwardly.

　　Gong Min and Gong Jie also came forward, bowed to Kong Xiaotian and Xin Qiuping, then took Kong Ting’s hands and seated her at the table.

　　“Chieftain Kong, Lady Kong, I am extremely sorry. The Great Chieftain went out hunting this morning and has not yet returned. Tonight I respectfully represent the Great Chieftain in extending a warm welcome to you and your family.”

　　“Lady, it does not matter. Your presence alone is enough to satisfy me.” In his excitement Kong Xiaotian actually blurted out such an oily remark, which made Xin Qiuping, seated beside him, so angry that she rolled her eyes at him.

　　Yu Jiao knew Kong Xiaotian’s character; every time he saw her he seemed to lose his soul, so she paid no heed to his words.

　　Delicious dishes filled the table. In addition to meat, maize, fruits, and fruit wine, a bowl of egg custard was placed before each person.

　　Yu Jiao explained to the guests that this was phoenixegg custard. Hearing this, Kong Xiaotian’s family were all rather moved. Phoenix eggs were a superior ingredient formerly enjoyed only by the celestial gods; this sufficiently demonstrated the host’s regard for the guests.

　　One phoenix egg was enough for several hundred people of the inner city. Although it was a season of scarcity, the stores of the Great Chieftain’s residence were still abundant. The wine and meat of the vermilion gates stink while the frozen bones lie by the roadside—it has always been so.

　　Yu Jiao noticed that Kong Ting ate little and therefore asked with concern: “Daughter, are you unwell? Or does the food not suit your taste?”

　　“Well, Lady, it is a long story.” Xin Qiuping took up the conversation. “My daughter has been like this for some time.”

　　“What—is the young lady ill?” Yu Jiao asked in surprise.

　　Xin Qiuping said: “When a daughter grows up she is truly beyond her parents’ control.”

　　“Lady Kong, what do you mean?”

　　“She is suffering from lovesickness.”

　　“Lovesickness?”

　　Seeing that the subject had already been raised, Xin Qiuping decided to come straight to the point: “Lady Yu Jiao, as you also know, our two families’ children have been betrothed since childhood. Now the children have both grown to adulthood; I hope the marriage may be arranged as soon as possible.”

　　Yu Jiao had already guessed the purpose of the Kong family’s visit. After a slight pause she said: “Mm… the Great Chieftain has not yet returned from the hunt. I believe he will be back in a day or two. You may lodge in Wangqiu for the time being. Marriage is a matter of the highest importance and must be decided after the Great Chieftain returns.”

　　“Then what is the Lady’s own view?” Xin Qiuping fixed her eyes upon Yu Jiao.

　　“Oh… I hope our two families may become related by marriage. I fully support the marriage of the two children. Both have already grown; the promise should be kept.”

　　“That is good. I only fear that your child Gong Kang may be unwilling.”

　　“Matters of marriage are decided by the parents; he has no say in the matter.”

　　That night the Kong family lodged at the outercity posthouse.

　　In the deep night, after Xin Qiuping had fallen into deep sleep, Kong Xiaotian again slipped secretly away to his old mistress Bai Xue…

　　At night, upon the summit platform of the pyramid, Su Ziqi and the other two, after the evening meal, sat as usual upon the rock, looking down at the night scene of Wangqiu City while conversing.

　　Su Ziqi continued to worry about Gongkong: “Sister Ya, why has Gongkong still not returned? I hope he has not met with danger.”

　　Previously, no matter how busy Gongkong was during the day, he would always arrive at the sacrificial platform at the evening meal and dine with Su Ziqi and the others. Tonight he had still not appeared, indicating that he had not yet returned.

　　Hearing this, Zheng Ya teased: “Ziqi, looking at your absentminded appearance all day, are you thinking of that sweetheart of yours, Gongkong?”

　　“Sister Ya, stop it—don’t talk nonsense.” Su Ziqi’s face flushed at Zheng Ya’s words; fortunately it was night and Zheng Ya and Wang Yue could not see clearly.

　　“Zheng Ya, you need not say it—on this dark and lonely night even I think of my family: my husband, my children, and other relatives and friends. I hope they are all well.” Wang Yue spoke softly.

　　Wang Yue was thirtyone this year and the mother of two children. Thinking that at this moment she and her family were in different times and spaces, separated by heaven and earth, and that perhaps they would never meet again, a thread of pain passed through her heart.

　　They had already been in Wangqiu City for nearly two months. Every day for them was like a year; each day felt extremely long and without hope.

　　A day upon Mu Star was far longer than a day upon Earth—this was a fact they still found difficult to adapt to. Apart from these objective factors, the greater cause of their daily anxiety was homesickness.

　　The day of departure from Earth seemed only yesterday. This inversion and disorder of time and space made them continually feel that they were living in illusion.

　　Every day they asked themselves: how could something like timetravel occur? How could such misfortune fall upon them?

　　In their dreams they would always dream of returning to Earth and living happily with their relatives. Yet upon waking and looking at the surrounding environment it was as though a basin of cold water had been poured over them; the soap bubbles of hope burst.

　　Perhaps life itself is virtual and fate is controlled. Humanity has never been able to grasp its own destiny and drifts with the current like a marionette whose strings are pulled.

　　Perhaps reality is the illusion and the illusory is the real. Illusion and reality coexist in the world; people sometimes, though living in reality, prefer to dwell in an illusory world.

　　When there is no hope one still strives to find hope in order to live; without the despair of life there would be no love of life.

　　Why is that so? Have you not seen that no matter how desperate life becomes, people in reality still live each day full of hope? Because so long as one lives there is hope.