Life of Bāo - Chapter 12

May 15, 2023 - 5:30 PM

It hasn’t taken long for Bāo to find a place to stay. His life is about to change in an unexpected direction. Let’s return now with Bāo to the Jinsha Site Museum. The site is the first major discovery in China during the 21st century. But to Bāo, it’s just home - for now. Enjoy.

Chapter 12

May 15, 2023 - 5:30 PM

Bāo returned to the museum at 5:30 PM. He held the door for a woman with a toddler in tow. “You're welcome,” he replied to her gratitude. After entering, he immediately walked to the east stairwell, took the stairs to the basement, and entered the men's restroom. He remained there until the museum closed. Then, he walked down the hallway to the Archive Room, opened the door with the employee badge, and remained there until late at night. I’ll go to the cafeteria later tonight.

This would be his second night in the museum. He looked at many of the artifacts on the shelves. He enjoyed holding them in his hands, studying them closely, and creating a story about their use. This jade necklace was worn by the queen of the Shu dynasty. With idle time, he learned the archival system. The exhibit cards were filed in cabinets in the back of the room. He opened a file cabinet and removed an exhibit card. He read the item's name, jade ring. Each exhibit card was labeled with the number code at the top. B-02-02-06. ring, jade, 223 - 237 AD, Gansu burial site,1924. It included a picture of the artifact and a brief description. The jade ring belonged to Empress Jing’ai. She was empress of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period.

Bāo was curious about his discovery. Where is it? He noticed that the rows were labeled A to R. Here is row B. He looked at the second unit and all the shelves. On the second shelf from the bottom, he saw a small wooden box. He opened the box, and the jade ring was on white linen. He now knew that the second position, 02, referred to the second to the bottom shelf. There are six objects on the shelf, so the last position, 06, refers to the position on the shelf. He placed the jade ring on his little finger and daydreamed. This jade ring belonged to the Shu Han Empress Jing’ai. Impressed, he replaced the ring in the box and placed it back on the shelf. He returned to the file cabinet and looked at the pictures on the exhibit cards.

After an hour of looking at pictures, he stopped and stared at the most surreal artifact he had seen. It was a circular disc 25 mm, equal to the size of a one-yuan coin, slightly smaller than a US nickel. It was yellow with swirls of light tan and gray. A small hole was at the top for the owner to wear as a pendant.

He looked at the label, F-08-06-05, then at the description. The “Moon” pendant is made from rare yellow quartz and was found in Luoyang, Wei dynasty (386 to 535 AD). Bāo desired to hold it in his hands. He followed the card's nomenclature to its location. Whoever stored this thought it was so special that they placed it in a carved light green Jade box. He carefully took the Moon pendant from the box. The lights flickered and then went back on. Hmm…, that was odd. He held the artifact up to the light. Swirls of gray and tan appeared as he moved the artifact in the light. They’re moving like smoke in the air. He put it close to his eye. It's transparent but thick, but how can that be? As he went to put the artifact back, an overwhelming urge to possess it came over him. I have to have this. He returned to the files, scanned exhibit cards, and saw an ornate chain with a clasp. This is exactly what I need. He followed the directions on the exhibit card. He placed the end of the chain through the hole and secured the clasp, then placed the chain around his neck and under his shirt.

Thrilled for the moment, he resisted the urge to do more searches. He shut off the lights and sat in the corner, leaning back on the wall. It was 8 p.m., and he would need to wait until after 10 p.m. to go to the cafeteria.

***

The Archive Room was dark. He counted his steps to the hallway door. He saw no lights coming from the bottom of the door, so it was safe to open it. He stepped into the hallway, and the lights went on. He carefully closed the door to avoid any noise a guard might hear.

A black-haired, bespectacled janitor was dressed in a tan shirt and pants, buffing the floor of the main cafeteria. With those glasses, he looks more like a teacher than a janitor. His muscular arms shook as they held the handles of the buffing machine. The noise of the motor prevented the janitor from hearing any footsteps. I can barely hear myself think. He will never hear me. Bāo walked into the kitchen and immediately located the walk-in refrigerator. He opened the door and stepped in—containers of food lined on the shelves. If there is a heaven, this surely must be one of the rooms. His eyes scanned the containers. The middle shelves included Char siu, Brown rice, White rice, Kung Pow Chichen, Pau Jiao Feng Zhua- no thank you, and broccoli. Peking Roast Duck - jackpot! Bāo was famished. He ate as much as possible and as fast as he could. He put an apple in each pocket. As he peeled a banana, the refrigerator door opened. The janitor stood in the doorway. There was nowhere for Bāo to run. The bespectacled janitor said, “Good evening, young man. Did you get enough to eat?”

Bāo stood still, holding the half-eating banana, and said, “Yes, thank you for asking." Why did I say that? His mind cautioned - don’t be a smartass. He understood why he said thank you for asking. Any response that was not polite would get him nowhere in his current predicament.

"How long have you been here?"

"Two days."

The janitor shouted, “Two days!”

"Well, I wasn't exactly here for two days, but I have come and gone two days in a row. I have nowhere else to go."

"Why is that?"

"I ran away from an orphanage. I can't go back. I hope you understand."

“You, my friend, are in luck. I was also once an orphan. Your problem is that you cannot stay here. Where have you been sleeping, by the way?"

"In the basement. In the Archive Room."

The janitor audibly hummed while thinking, then spoke out loud to no one in particular. “You ran away and slept in the basement. You can’t stay here, can’t go back, and can't live on the streets. You have a problem. If I call the people’s police –"

Bāo interrupted and pleaded, "Please don't call the people’s police."

"No, I don't think that would solve your problem." He hesitated, "But I have a friend who owes me a favor, which might be the better solution."

"What is that solution?"

"Does it matter? Choose. I have two solutions."

Bāo was not in a position to be irritated, but he was."How can I choose one solution over the other if I don't know what they are?"

The janitor adjusted his black-framed glasses and said, “The first solution is the people’s police, so you choose solution number one, the people’s police, or solution number two, which is the better solution.” The janitor paused, “Or I guess you could return to the orphanage.”

"It's not fair, but I chose number two."

“Good choice. I should be finished soon, and then we can go.”

“But I need to get my things, my backpack."

"We will get them before we leave. Until then, you will stay here."

"It's cold in here."

“Every choice has a consequence. What is your name?”

“My name is Bāo. What is your name?"

“My name is solution number two. I hope you will take advantage of it. Now wait here, and I'll be back soon. Spend time and think about your choices, young Bāo.” With those words, he closed the door and walked away.

“Wait!” Bāo yelled. He watched through the refrigerator window as the janitor walked away. He pushed on the door, but a screwdriver had jammed it. It’s cold in here.

***

Three hours later, the door to the walk-in refrigerator opened. The janitor found Bāo doing exercises to stay warm. The janitor gestured for them to leave. “Let's go.”

Bāo looked at the clock on the wall as he stepped out of the walk-in refrigerator, shivering. 4:30 AM. They walked to the basement and then to the archive room. The janitor asked, “How did you get in here?”

Bāo removed the ID from his back pocket. “With this.”

The janitor snatched the badge, opened the door, and said, “Another bad choice.”

“Why do you care?”

“I was once just like you. I made one bad choice after another bad choice. Orphaned, I felt sorry for myself. You have a chance to choose better. Now get your backpack, and let's go.”

They stepped out of the building and into the pre-dawn air. Fog so thick you could taste it. Stillness surrounded them. Even the birds know better than to be up at this hour. Bāo walked a few steps behind the janitor. They walked for over one hour without speaking as they passed factories and skirted through alleys. Where are we? I should run, but what would be the point? Raindrops dotted the sidewalks. I’m exhausted and wet. Could this get any worse? I wonder what Yan was doing. They were in the factory district. Three-story brick buildings became a collage of brick, metal, and glass.

“We’re here.” These were the first words spoken by the janitor since they left the museum. Looking up, the tilt of Bāo’s head caused rainwater on his hair to stream down his neck. He stood at a rusted steel door and then turned to see. How did I miss those two? Two homeless men wearing many layers of clothes. The two men stood near a steel drum that glowed orange-yellow. Embers hissed, and grey smoke rose in the morning rain. The raindrops on their baseball hats reflected the light of the fire. He looked away from the men and down the alley. The street appeared to be more than a quarter mile away. He turned back to the door.

What have I gotten myself into? The fire provided a glow that danced on the door, brick walls, and pavement. A worn, eye-level tan rope hung to the right of the door and disappeared through the wall. The janitor pulled the rope. After five minutes, Bāo said, “Maybe they're not here. You should pull the rope again.”

The janitor replied, “Patience.” A barefooted man stood motionless when the door opened and scanned their faces. He appeared to be the same age as the janitor. His black hair was pulled back and braided with a yellow cloth fabric. He wore baggy brown pants and a brown buttonless shirt tied at the waist with twisted yellow rope. His brown eyes, with flecks of gold, reflected the light from the fire. Though his face remained calm and focused, his eyes smiled. Then his eyes appeared to laugh. He bowed to the janitor, made a fist with his right hand, placed it in front of him, and then enclosed the fist with his left hand.

The janitor bowed and performed the same fist-in-hand greeting. “I hope I find you well, Master Zhao.” (pronounced Joe).

“And I you, Ping Lu.” Then they both smiled and hugged.

With a serious look, Master Zhao Sun Feng said, “You have brought a visitor?”

“Yes, this is Bāo.”

Master Zhao looked directly into Bāo’s eyes as he said, “Please come in and sit.”

Bāo followed the janitor with apprehension. At least now I know his name. They walked into a vestibule. A dark wooden altar on the right supported a green Buddha statue, a round black ceramic plant holder with one purple orchid, and an incense burner. A plume of white smoke drifted slowly and disappeared into the air. It smelled of sandalwood and jasmine. A floor mat for shoes and wall hooks for coats were to the left. Bāo and Lu removed their shoes, hung their outerwear, and parted the hanging wooden beads to enter the second room. Bāo surveyed the 20 x 40-foot room. The walls were painted white with elaborate red, black, and blue geometric shapes. The wooden floor was constructed from large, long, wide oak boards. The ceiling was painted black and appeared to be two stories high. Massive wooden oak beams crossed the room’s ceiling. They were ushered into a third room about halfway down on the left. A dining table was in the middle of the room. They sat down. Master Zhao boiled water on a large stove in the corner of the room. He brought tea on a plain bamboo wooden tray. “Please enjoy and warm yourselves.” They sat in silence and drank tea. Master Zhao excused himself and returned with red bean buns, which were warm and delicious. I am so tired.

The room's warmth caused Bāo to become drowsy. His eyes closed, his head tilted forward, and his chin rested on his chest. He woke with a start, and as if in a dream, he looked at Lu and Master Zhao. When his eyes closed again, Lu guided him to a room connected to the kitchen and into a bed. Returning to the kitchen, Lu said, “Like you, at that age, he thinks he is immortal.”

“We all did, old friend.”

“How well I remember. In 1998, you were 15, and I was 18. We escaped with our lives.”

“We were fortunate.”

Lu exclaimed, “I was fortunate! Why your father also helped me, I'll never know.”

“We were friends.” Master Zhao paused, lifted his cup of tea, and said, “We still are.”

Lu lifted his cup in agreement. “I still don't understand how you became involved with the Sun Yee On, Red Dragons.”

“My father, Zhao Qianfan, was a famous archaeologist in Luoyang. You may not know that he was also a renowned Kung Fu Grand Master. At the young age of nine, I begged him to allow me to train in Kung Fu. I practiced every day and made quick progress. At 14, younger than Bāo, I began secretly associating with delinquents.”

Lu said, “At that time, I was already involved with the Red Dragons as a runner, making drops as needed. They liked using us. Our young age was an advantage to them. If the people’s police questioned us, we remained silent and were released because of our age. We feared the triad more than the people’s police.”

Master Zhao sipped his tea and reminisced about the day everything changed. “I was caught, along with you, while carrying drug sale money. This was a shock to my father and grandfather. With my grandfather's money and my father's reputation in Kung Fu, we were freed from the clutches of the Red Dragons.”

Lu said softly, “And our lives were never the same.”

Master Zhao nodded in agreement and repeated, “And our lives were never the same.”

Lu knew that this was the right time to make his request. “I have a favor to ask, old friend.” Lu adjusted his posture in the chair, sitting straighter and leaning forward slightly, “Would you help Bāo? Like us, he is in trouble. Like us, he has made wrong choices. I fear there is more to his story.” Lu shared what he knew about Bāo being a homeless orphan, hiding in the museum, and stealing. Lu continued, “But he is smart, street-wise, and determined to make his way in a broken world.”

Master Zhao did not speak. He remained silent. Lu asks me to take on this big responsibility. At one time, I also needed the assistance of others. I recall what my grandfather taught me. He shared a quote from Emperor Wu of Liang, one of the Southern Dynasties, ‘Repay good with good.’

Lu added,  “We were once immature, compulsive, reckless, materialistic, and impatient. Unlike you, he has no one and will become even more lost. He needs someone to guide him.” They sat silently.

Master Zhao answered with a proverb from the Tao. “Flowers can bloom even in the shade of a willow tree.”

Lu understood that Master Zhao had just agreed. “Thank you, old friend. I will also do what I can to help support him.”