Chapter 35 (1/2)

Qiao Fei

Zu Zu is Aulde’s younger brother. I met them when I was in Paris. They are similar, both very warm-hearted people.

He is a 19 year old boy, tall and handsome. When he smiles slightly, he looks shy. Right now during break, he is helping his father and mother take care of the family bakery.

The Ferlande family is of Italian-American origin. Their bakery has several decades of history. It was created by Aulde and Zu Zu’s grandfather. Though it’s not very large in size, it is welcomed by the people in the neighborhood, and well-known in the area.

“But in our generation, the industry suffered a crisis.” Aulde said.

“You make it sound severe. What happened exactly?” I said.

Aulde pointed at her brother, “In our family, this skill is transferred from male to male, not to females. My dad wants to give the shop to Zu Zu, but he doesn’t want to inherit it.”

“Then what does he want to do?”

Zu Zu was preparing to close the shop. Blocking the windows with a block of wood.

“He wants to go to Africa. Put on a blue helmet and be a peacekeeper there.”Aulde laughed, “Who knows how children think these days.”

“He doesn’t think. You can learn the skills and take care of the store.”

“Me?” Aulde stretched out her hand and looked at it. Shaking her head, saying, “Using this pair of tar and nicotine-stained hands to make bread for other people to eat? Forget it, I have no enmity with the government and I don’t want trouble.”

We sat down and chatted. Zu Zu finished taking care of the shop and busily cleaned it up and organized it. Not long after, he prepared dinner for us.

He had prepared fondue. There was goat cheese in a small pot in the center of table, covering cooked potatoes. We ate it dipped on bread. It had a rich, mellow taste. I had a big appet.i.te and ate a lot.

“In China, do you eat cheese?” Zu Zu asked.

“No, I don’t eat it.” I thought for a moment, “I don’t eat it a lot.”

I remembered the first time Cheng Jia Yang took me to eat Western food. I had tried authentic French cheese. At first I was not accustomed to the taste. Later, I started liking the scent and taste of it.

“China’s most famous food is dumplings.” I said.

“We also have that.” Zu Zu said.

“It’s not the same.” Aulde said to her brother, “China’s dumplings don’t have cheese as the filling, it has vegetables and meat.”

“It is tasty?” He asked, looking at me.

“In a few days I will make some dumplings and invite you guys over to eat them. Does that sound good?”

The boy laughed, “Don’t say a few days. Quickly tell me what time- my break isn’t very long.”

“Then how about two days? I will invite some other friends. We can have a little party.”

The siblings were very happy, Zu Zu said, “I will secretly bring some of my dad’s wine over.”

Aulde squeezed her eyes closed and said. “Haha, great, I wish you success.”

At that very moment, a big white dog sauntered out from behind and grazed my leg. I was very startled. It’s forelimbs climbed onto Zu Zu. Zu Zu stroked its forehead hairs out of its eyes and said, “This is Ou Luo Er, my little brother.”

It was obvious that the French loved dogs, even seeing them as part of the family.

He said to the big dog, “Ou Luo Er, this is Fei. Look, she’s so good at speaking French, isn’t she talented?”

The dog barked, as a way of greeting me.

Don’t say, he is really quite sensible.

We chatted for a while longer. When was late, I got ready to leave.

Aulde said, “What do we do? My parents took the car and left.”

Zu Zu said, “I’ll take her.”

Aulde said, “Forget it, don’t bring out your old motorcycle.”

“I’ll walk her home.”

“That’s good.” Aulde said, “Fei, he will escort you home. Rest a.s.sured, my brother is skilled.”

Nighttime in Southern France, however deep the sea was was how high the skies would be, on the deep blue dome screen, the stars would s.h.i.+ne, some sea birds sang as they flew overhead, bringing a tiny bit of the salty wind over, blowing onto the leaves, rustling, these seemed to be the sounds in a young person’s heart.

Looking at it this way, Zu Zu was not like his sister. When we had walked all the way to the train station, he still hadn’t said a word.

The train came, and I got ready to leave. Wis.h.i.+ng him goodnight and goodbye.

He got on with me, “I’ll send you to the university campus.”