Life of Bāo - Chapter 1

May 12, 2023

Chapter 1

May 12, 2023

China is a land of ancient dynasties and modern bullet trains. It boasts a population that includes subsistent rice farmers and quantum information technology specialists. It’s home to cities where architecture can be as varied as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing to the Shanghai World Financial Center, boasting a 100th-floor observation deck. The city of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province, reflects this dichotomy of ancient and modern. A 300-year-old tea house, the Guanyin Pavilion, and the modern Global Center Mall, the largest building in the world. It is also the home of an orphan named Loong Bāo. This is his story.

Bāo and Deng Yan walked between a row of booths at Chengdu’s Arts and Crafts Festival. It was a Friday, and the market was crowded. Locals and tourists crowded the tables. They walked down a row, with silver and gold jewelry displayed on one side and Dunhuang-inspired Hanfu dresses on the other. Holding hands, they pressed through the crowd and walked to the pedestrian railing at the Jinjiang River. From there, they could see the famous Anshun Veranda Bridge, which gracefully spanned the river. Its stone structure was symmetrical and elegant in design. Three stone semicircular substructure arches supported a restaurant on the North end and the Bridge Bar on the South end. It was a city landmark site. The symmetrical design was enhanced at night when the three semicircular arches, illuminated with yellow and orange lights, were reflected on the water. Bāo’s eyes gazed at the crowd as they entered and exited the Bridge Restaurant.

How many tourists visit each day? They all have money. Such easy marks for me. Bāo, fifteen, was 5'8" tall, lean, and muscular for his age. His black hair was long and styled in a top knot. His face was oval. Cheekbones high and a square jaw. He wore black straight-cut jeans, sneakers, a vintage soccer jersey, and a hoodie. The fashion is blokecore, inspired by the 1990’s British pub culture. Bāo knows female classmates stare at him. Bāo’s dark eyes, ever observant, scanned the crowd. There’s a ¥57,000 Rolex watch. Look at those designer shoes. Those are at least ¥1200. Bāo wasn’t interested in who they were or where they came from. He was interested in what they possessed and their worth. Look at that purse. A long strap, it’s a Demullier, at least ¥3,500. And how she carries it, it would be easy to cut the strap. Yan is standing right beside me. I can’t think like this now.

He observed Yan as she watched sailboats on the river. Air filled their sails. The force of the wind tilted three white hulls in the water. They glided across the water like ice dancers. She isn’t that gangly preteen I used to tease. She’s beautiful. Yan, seventeen, was two years older than Bāo. Teachers and staff at the orphanage described her as respectful, smart, and shy. What others labeled as shy, Yan labeled as private. Other than Bāo, she trusted no one.

Bāo loved to run away from the orphanage to be in the city. Chengdu is home to modern architecture, busy streets, and buildings that reach for the sky like China's tallest mountains. I feel at home here. I could move to the city with more money and a steady income. The only place he didn't feel at home was in the orphanage. The orphanage is my prison. I don’t have any money for the things I want. To survive on the streets, he learned to steal. At first, it was in stores for food. He observed teenagers on the street and saw what he didn’t have. He started to steal luxury items like smartphones, cameras, and watches. Buses and trains could be very crowded, and Bāo took advantage by stealing from wallets, purses, bags, and clothing. He could always sell to Big Eddie’s Pawn Shop.

Yan watched the sailboats.

Bāo asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Yan, who was not much for fashion trends, wore blue jeans, sneakers, a black V-neck sweater, and a hoodie. She brushed back her recently streaked red, long black hair behind her ear. The streak of red is as close as she would venture to the Asian baby girl fashion. “Promise not to laugh, but I was thinking about university."

“Why would I laugh at that? Maybe I'll join you."

"It's a long shot. We are orphans and labeled as such."

Bāo now took on a serious posture." I have also been thinking."

"About what?"

“Well, I –."

"What? Remember, you can tell me anything."

Bāo leaned against the pedestrian railing."Remember our first day in detention together?"

"Of course. We were so young then. You made me laugh. You still do.”

Bāo vision returned to the river and watched the sailboats as they maneuvered to turn into the wind. "The following day, at the end of class, the instructor, Mr. He, whom the students referred to as Mr. No-waist, called Chen Guo up to the front of the class."

"Yes, I remember."

“Mr. No-waist announced that Guo had a surprise guest. The classroom door opened, and an older man walked in. Mr. No-waist said, Guo, I want you to meet your grandfather. Guo was shocked and began to cry. He immediately ran to the man and hugged him around the waist. The entire class stood up and applauded.”

Yan said," We were all so happy for Guo and simultaneously sad."

"Guo went home that day. Home."

“Is that what you were thinking about? Family?”

“No,” Bāo said quickly. “I observed how his grandfather was dressed: a tailored suit and pants, a Rolex watch, and designer shoes.”

Her head tilted slightly, Yan inquisitively asked, as if she didn’t believe it, “That’s what you were thinking about?”

“Yes, and something else too.”

“What else?”

“Did you know that today is not my real birthday, but the date the hospital assigned to me, May 12."

“Oh, I'm sorry Bāo. I forgot that today is your birthday."

"It's okay, Xiao Mei.” Bāo stood and faced the river. “Your dream is to go to university. My dream is to be rich."

"But how?”

"I will find a way.” From what I see, money is more important than family. What would I need a family for if I could buy whatever I wanted? He didn’t want to appear too cold, so he answered, “For now, you are the only family I need, little sister."

Yan’s eyes began to tear, “And you are the only family I have."

Bāo reached into his pocket and showed Yan gold earrings, on which two gold chains dangled, one longer than the other. Green Jade was fastened to the end of each gold chain. “They match your eyes."

"When did you get these?"

“Yesterday, at Big Eddie’s.”

"They are beautiful. I worry about you. Please don't get caught or steal for me."

“I traded for them. Do not worry, Xiao Mei. I am too fast to get caught. Like magic, I can disappear into the crowd. If I am chased and have been, I can outrun anyone."

Yan put on the earrings, took the compact mirror out of her purse, and said," These are beautiful.             

***

I just spent the last of my money at Starbucks. I don’t want Yan to know that I am broke. I need some money. Bāo said, "Let's split up, and I'll meet you at the mobile phone store across the street from Starbucks."

"Really? I could shop for some clothes. I don't have any money, so it wouldn't be shopping, trying on clothes, and wishing."

Bāo stood, “One hour, okay?” If all goes well, I’ll have enough money for lunch for the both of us.

“Okay.”

Bāo walked quickly, reached the corner, and smiled, on schedule. His favorite shopping store arrived, a bus. I’m always able to get quick cash here. He stepped onto the bus and was happy to see it was crowded. He pushed his way between people to reach the back of the bus. On the way, he saw an open purse. This is too easy. He bumped into the woman, saying, “Excuse me,” his left hand easily retrieved and pocketed a wallet."So sorry, my apologies." He was soon sitting near the back of the bus. I’ll get off at the next stop. A well-dressed man wearing an expensive wristwatch and designer glasses captured his attention. The man wore a rather baggy leather jacket. The sunlight reflected something in the leather coat's side pocket. It sparkled.

Those are Italian leather shoes—no scuff marks. There is no manual labor for this guy. His vision again saw the sparkle from something in the leather coat pocket. I need a better look. That looks like gold! How lucky can I be? The movement of the bus rocked the passengers gently, like a baby in a car seat. Bāo observed the man’s head falling forward until he caught himself dozing, and his head would suddenly pop back up. Go to sleep, Mr. Fancy Shoes. I probably shouldn’t. I should be happy and get off the bus. The wallet is enough. I should get off at the next stop. The man’s head slowly lowered, and his chin rested on his chest. The bus had a gentle rhythm. His body swayed back and forth.

Bāo turned and looked out the front window. The next bus stop was only one block away. This will be easy. My timing must be just right. I shouldn’t. His heart beat faster as the adrenaline increased. I shouldn’t. The bus decelerated. The man was in a deep sleep. Bāo looked at the exit and then back at the sleeping man. His vision again caught the sparkle. Keeping his balance, Bāo stood and placed his hand on the back of the seat. A car stopped suddenly in front of the bus. The bus stopped abruptly, short of the bus stop. Bāo fell forward onto the sleeping man while his hand reached into the leather coat’s side pocket. His fingers wrapped around the prize. He stood.

“I’m sorry,” Bāo replied. He apologized several more times and walked toward the exit. He stepped down. The bus door opened. Bāo stepped down onto the sidewalk. I think I’m safe. As the door closed, he turned and walked in the opposite direction of the bus. He listened for the familiar slow acceleration and was relieved. He exhaled loudly. His heart beat rapidly. I did it. That wasn’t difficult. He removed his hand from his pocket and slowly unclenched his fingers, revealing a wide-band gold bracelet with an open circle in its center. This is heavy. It must be pure gold and worth a fortune. What’s that? He looked inside the bracelet’s cutout circle. Those look like Chinese pictograms. Are those carved lines animal symbols? This looks very old. His finger traced the inside of a circular opening in the bracelet's center. It’s not smooth. There is an indentation around the entire center. Support for something? Whatever it is, it’s missing. He returned the bracelet to his hoodie pocket.

A loud shrill of grinding metal startled him. He turned toward the direction of the sound. Oh no! The man jumped off the bus, looked, and started running in Bāo’s direction.

(Note to readers on Substack: All chapters are available in the Life of Bāo tab located on the home page of Joel’s Creative Garden.)