Cora Marshall looked down from the tree at the edge of the jungle. Her parents had bought the land because they intended to sell rubber for profit. But Cora, who was eighteen, was far more interested in the man they had hired to help them. Wang Qin had come to Malaysia a few years earlier when his parents left Southern China in search of a better life. As a result, Qin had spent time learning the process of farming rubber trees and was knowledgeable about processing rubber for profit. But Cora knew Qin had bigger dreams than working for a family of wealthy hobby farmers.
"Qin!" She shouted when he came into view. She giggled as he looked around in search of who was calling him.
"Up here!" She added.
Qin looked up with a furrow in his brow but then smiled.
"There you are Miss Marshall! But you should be careful. You could fall from the tree and be hurt." He answered her.
"Then maybe you should help me down if you think it's dangerous. And it's not Miss Marshall. It's Cora." She said, her heart pounding hard. Qin felt heat creeping up his neck at her words of a flirtatious nature, but he reasoned that she was technically his boss so he was only doing as he was told, right?
Qin came to stand underneath the tree and held his arms out to her. She jumped and he easily caught her in his arms as if she were a baby to be cradled. She threw her arms around his neck and grinned at him.
"I know I'm always safe with you near by." She said cheekily.
"Miss Cora—" he began but she cut him off. "Cora!" She corrected him.
"Cora. You know that we can't be more than friends." He explained as he gently sat her feet to the ground.
"What do you mean? Why can't we? Is it me? You don't like me, is that it? I know that you watch me out of the corner of your eyes when father calls you inside. You truly don't like me?" She asked him directly.
He blinked for a moment, taken aback by her directness, but strangely feeling that he liked it. It was very different from the girls and women he knew who were very indirect and reserved.
She tucked her arm in his and they meandered down the wooded path while he tried to explain himself.
"It's not at all because I do not like you. But rather because society says we can not be together." He began.
"You mean because my family is English and yours is Chinese. But my father won't object. He wants me to be happy." She assured him. Again, with the direct nature!
"But my family wouldn't accept it. Besides, your family is wealthy and mine is not. Chinese culture says it is a shame for a man to marry a woman who is much wealthier than he is." He explained.
"That's why your family won't approve? Because we have more money?" She asked. "Partially. But also because you are not Chinese and do not know Chinese culture. I'm expected to have a Chinese wife." He explained.
"Then what if I'm not your principal wife? I could be your second wife or your concubine. Isn't that part of Chinese culture?" Cora said, not to be deterred.
"Miss Cora! Please don't talk like that! You are too good a woman to be a concubine!" Qin all but shouted at her.
"Then let me be your wife!" Cora insisted as she turned to face him.
"Miss Cora—" he began but was cut off when Cora suddenly threw her arms around his neck and kissed him!
Against his own volition his arms went around her while she kissed him. She broke away her lips, and said, "I told you, call me Cora."
He panted breathlessly and nodded. "Cora," he whispered.
"If you don't like me then I won't mention it again. But if you reject me because of social expectations then I won't give up until I win your heart," she boldly proclaimed.
"Give me time to think about it, alright?" He asked her.
"Alright, but not too long. Promise?" She asked, looking up at him hopefully.
"I promise." He spoke with solemnity.
As he walked home he pondered all that had transpired between he and Cora. From the moment he came to work for her father he thought she was beautiful. Stunning actually; but much younger, and hopelessly out of reach. He admired her from afar but knew he could never have her. He'd certainly never imagined that she would be attracted to him as well. She was perceptive. He thought his quick glances in her direction had gone unnoticed. What would she think if she knew that late at night he was kept awake with images of her flitting and fluttering in his imagination? He hadn't felt that way about a woman since…well, since nearly a lifetime ago it seemed.
What was he to do? Her father would kill him, and that was if his own mother didn't kill him first! She was already anxious that he settle down and marry.
As if on queue, Xiao Mi darted into the well worn road in front of him.
"Gege! Auntie Ru An sent me to meet you and walk you home!" She called out to him. Qin groaned inwardly. Xiao Mi wasn't actually his little sister, but he had known her even back in China where their families used to live. They'd both come from the same village. In fact, he thought they might even be distant cousins. His mother not so subtly suggested that he settle down with Xiao Mi.
He couldn't deny that Xiao Mi was the ideal wife and daughter-in-law. She was cute, demure, filial, industrious, gracious, and intelligent. But…he just didn't feel anything toward her. She was like a younger sister even if she wasn't.
She blushed and lowered her eyes, falling into step with him.
"Gege, aren't you happy to see me?" She asked softly.
"Hmm." He mumbled absentmindedly. "Gege?" She tugged at his arm. He turned to her with a question in his eyes.
"I said, aren't you glad to see me?" Her eyes held unspoken hope.
He awkwardly cleared his throat.
"I'd better hurry. I mustn't keep Baba and Mama waiting. It's almost time for dinner. Have a good evening, Xiao Mi." He said kindly but firmly and hurried past.
"But—" Xiao Mi's words were lost in the wind. He made his way inside the raised stilted house where his family lived, in the kampung. "Baba. Mama." He nodded respectfully to them as he joined them at the dinner table. His father nodded in acknowledgment. His mother looked at him sharply.
"Where's Xiao Mimi?" Mother asked, using her nickname for the girl.
"She went home I assume." Qin answered. "You were supposed to invite her to dinner! That's why I told her to meet you on your way home! To give you two a chance to talk and an opportunity for you to show interest!" His mother scolded.
"Mama, I'm not interested in her." He said honestly.
"Aiyah! You're thirty-five years old and still unmarried, lah! You can't always use work as an excuse! And you can't be a fruitless branch on the tree! You must be filial and marry!" His mother fussed.
"I will marry in due time." He answered calmly.
"What? Do you have someone in mind? Who is she?" His mother asked.
"I met her while at work. But I'm not sure yet if anything will develop." He answered simply. "What? Who is she?" His mother practically jumped up in excitement.
"I had better not speak prematurely. It would bring bad luck." He said sagely.
"Yes, yes, that's right! But don't wait too long! Snatch her up! I want to see my grandchildren!" His mother exclaimed.