"Hua Mei, I've a favor to ask you." Cora said as she breezed into the kitchen of her family's mansion. Hua Mei, a young woman hired on as their cook looked up from the bread she was kneading.
"Yes Miss. What is it?" She asked.
"Will you teach me to cook? I mean, the Chinese way?" Cora asked anxiously. Hua Mei studied her carefully.
"You want to cook Chinese dishes?" Mei asked; a guarded look in her eyes.
"Yes." Cora reiterated.
"Why?" asked Mei.
"Because—well, because I want to cook something for Wang Qin." She admitted, a becoming blush spreading to her cheeks.
Mei's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wang Qin? As in, your father's foreman?" Hua Mei exclaimed.
Cora nodded, looking shy. Hua Mei sighed.
"Miss Cora, I don't mind teaching you, but I don't think this will work out in the way that you hope." Mei said diplomatically.
Cora rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, so I've been told. But I have to at least try!" She exclaimed.
"Very well. I will teach you." Hua Mei said.
——————-
Wang Qin was in a quandary. At thirty-five he was well past the normal marriageable age, so his parents were anxious to have him settled. Back in Guangdong over fifteen years past he had been in love with Ng Chun Hua, one of the most beautiful girls in their village. Their families had approved of the union but tragically, Hua Chun had died after contracting an illness. Back then, his parents had understandably backed off of putting pressure on him to marry. But so many years had passed and he'd never met anyone else that he wanted to be with. Now his mother was impatient and pushing for him to marry Xiao Mi. Xiao Mi had wanted to marry him ever since she was old enough to consider marriage. She'd spent the flowery days of her youth waiting, hoping that he would notice her. Her parents had threatened arranging a marriage for her with someone else but every time she cried and threatened to drown herself if they didn't allow her to marry Wang Qin. So Xiao Mi's mother and Wang Qin's mother conspired together to make them a match with one another. But Wang Qin knew he'd never love Xiao Mi as she hoped. He thought of her as a little sister.
He thought about Cora. She was so bold. She didn't mince words about what she wanted. To society that was appalling, but he found it endearing. She was youthful, gregarious, intelligent, and beautiful. Sometimes when he's needed to come up to the plantation to speak with her father he would listen outside of her father's study to hear Cora and her father discussing many subjects, from philosophy and religion to mathematics and physics. He realized she was more than a paper doll, fragile and on display. She was actually a student of subjects considered beyond her ability, subjects that even he didn't fully understand. But he wanted to. For the first time in over fifteen years he wanted to become a better man than he was in order to win the heart of the woman whose face kept him up at night. He wanted to be more than he was. He wanted to be able to support her well and be someone she could be proud of.
——————-
Wang Qin wiped sweat from his brow. A new shipment of rubber plants would arrive soon and he needed to till the soil in preparation. Breaking up the ground with a plough was hard work. It was nearly lunchtime and he was very thirsty. He was pleased at what he'd accomplished so far.
"Qin!" He heard his name and turned in the direction of the Marshall plantation. Miss Cora was crossing the field to him with a large basket over her arm.
"Are you ready to stop for lunch?" She called out.
"Yes, now is a good point to stop." He replied as she came to stand in front of him.
"I've brought something for you. Let's sit in the shade." She said as she tucked her free arm in his. Not for the world would he admit that her light and gentle touch had the power to fluster him, but it did. A thrill ran down his spine knowing he was doing something that some would consider forbidden.
He led her a short distance into the Malayan jungle where she stopped to spread a thin blanket in the top of the large basket. She sat down and motioned for him to join her. She brought out a crock filled with water and passed it to him, then handing him a set of matching cups.
"The water is chilled!" He said in surprise.
"Yes, we found keeping it in the underground cellar keeps it cool. Isn't it just lovely to drink in this heat?" Cora explained.
"En." He said softly.
"What?" She asked.
"I mean yes, it is." Qin answered.
Cora pulled out fresh fruits, cheeses, crackers, bread and more.
"I'm sorry. It's not what you're used to. But I am quickly realizing that I'm not very good at cooking. English or Chinese." Cora explained ruefully.
"Nonsense. You haven't done it very often. You're still learning. You'll figure it out and then you'll be the envy of town." Qin told her sincerely.
"Why do you say that?" She asked, confusion creasing her brow.
"Because you are intelligent and you are determined. You could accomplish anything you set your mind to." He said seriously.
"Anything? Even winning your heart?" She asked with trepidation.
Qin paused and then looked up, meeting her intense gaze.
"Anything." He said with quiet conviction.
Her hands clattered a spoon against a jam jar. His revelation had confounded her.
"Many think that I'm empty-headed because of my position in my family. Surely I only know about fashion and needlepoint, the piano or other inane things. But it isn't true. I love to read everything I can get my hands on. I love to discuss things like politics and business, world events, religion, culture…things like that. But no one knows that because they don't take me seriously. So I play my part, pretending to be the privileged simpleton they all think I am." Cora admitted to him.
"I know." Qin said, his hand taking hers.
"You know?" She asked incredulously.
He nodded. "I see your eyes when those topics come up. They come alive and sparkle. You take everything in like a sponge and water. You are anything but simple."
"I didn't think anyone noticed. Or cared." She replied in surprise.
"I notice. So be yourself. That is the woman who fascinates me." Qin said. Cora's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"You also want more. I know you don't want to work for my father forever. You're intelligent, though quiet. Sometimes I see you reading in the library." Cora said.
Qin blushed in embarrassment.
"I—" he began but Cora cut him off.
"It's okay. Father says that you're intelligent and that it should be encouraged. He says reading and education are the keys to the world."
Qin still felt embarrassed at having been found out, and by his employer no less.
"He also said I would be wise to marry a man like you." Cora said. Now it was her turn to blush.
"He said that?" Qin asked in surprise. She nodded.
"Qin, what is it that you want to do with your life?" Cora asked.
"I would like to study medicine. Or maybe teach. Perhaps somehow accomplish both, Really, I just want to make a difference." He admitted.
"But I will never be able to do those things. Only the rich can afford to dream." He added.
"Why can't you dream? I'm the only child of my father. He will leave everything to me and the man I marry. My wealth is yours if we are married and then you can study anything you like." Cora explained, as though it were the simplest solution in the world.
"No. I won't marry for money or the ability to climb socially. It's a shame for a man to do so. I will live by my own hard work." Qin insisted.
"But—" Cora began but it was now Qin's turn to cut her off.
"Cora, enough. If I were to marry you, then it must be with the understanding that it not be a union of convenience." He insisted.
"You want to marry me for love?" Cora whispered.
"We Chinese don't really talk much about love and romance, but yes, I think you're correct. A couple should marry because they want to be together and not because it is beneficial to one of them." He said.
"But what if it's both? What if we marry for love and it also happens to help you?" Cora asked.