When Wang He Di leaves the small village he grew up in, to find work in the streets of glamourous and dangerous Shanghai, the first thing that catches his eye is the beautiful Shen Yue, a young woman also trying to make her fortunes in the "Paris of...
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Yue wakes up to the smell of food cooking. What the hell is happening, she thinks to herself? She hardly ever uses the kitchen. She then remembers her house guest Wang He Di... he must be the one cooking. She gets out of bed, puts on a robe and then folds the bamboo screen up against the wall.
He Di looks up at her and smiles.
"Good morning, or should I say good afternoon. I made us some food, I hope you like fish? I got some real cheap down at the harbour. I used your flour to make some noodles and I also used your eggs. I hope you don't mind?"
Yue looks at the table and the food looks and smells delicious. He Di pulls out a chair and indicates for her to sit down. When she does, he starts to dish some food into her bowl. He then takes the teapot and pours some into her cup. The scent is unfamiliar to her...he must have bought the tea as well.
"I heard that this herb tea I made for you is good for vocals, and as a singer we must protect your voice."
He smiles, then sits down next to her and picks up a newspaper from the table. He hands it to her and says,
"Today's paper! I thought you might want it, seeing as you seem to like reading the paper."
He glances it at the book shelf.
"Th...thank you." Replies Yue, stunned by everything he has done for her.
He Di smiles beautifully at her and then tucks into his food with Yue still watching him. Realizing she is staring, she quickly picks up her chopsticks and starts eating. Wow! This is so tasty, she thinks to herself. She is about to eat another mouthful, when,
"Oh, sorry, let me..." He Di says, spearing her fish fillet with his chopsticks and separating it into bite size pieces for her. "All better now." He smiles again. "Eat up, you must be hungry after such a long night."
She takes a bite and glances at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to figure him out. No one has ever taken care of her like this before. Sure men will buy her flowers, candy, perfume and champagne, but to cook and to serve her? Well there is a first time for everything, she supposes. She decides to make conversation.
"What time is it?"
"It's just after noon."
"What time did you get up?"
"At nine. I wanted to make food for you, and being so close to the ocean, I thought it might be nice to try out the fish market."
"You look...clean?"
"I went to the bath house, like you suggested...the one here was occupied."
"Well you seem to have accomplished quite a bit while I was asleep."
