My Asian Dragon

“And now?”

“Now I recognize that sometimes doing the little direct things can be just as powerful as anything else. Helping the kids get a better education, or tomorrow going out to help Yingtai’s mother pick vegetables is just as meaningful as what I was doing for AER.”

Longwei took a bite of his rice, and set his chopsticks aside. “Now, your turn. Any question you want to ask.”

Joy thought long and hard, her gaze going to the ceiling as she pondered what she wanted to ask. Finally, she decided. “When you told me about the villager’s expectations of you, you didn’t really answer my initial question. Are you happy being who you are as a village leader?”

Longwei sighed, and then looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. “You are a hard one to dissuade from a question. Honestly, no, I cannot see being just this village’s head man for the rest of my life. However, I can see myself trying to make a difference, and helping free some more areas of Triad control.”

“That’s a rather dangerous dream.”

“I know. So is being an anti-corruption journalist who takes on Triads and politicians.”

“True.”

After dinner, Longwei cleared away the dishes before leading her to an inner courtyard of the temple. The weather was warm for the time of year, and the sky was filled with a million diamond pinpricks from the stars. A blanket had been spread out, and a low table held the laptop. “I am sorry if the movie is not to your liking, I only have three movie DVDs,” he said. “I have wanted more, but village needs come before my own.”

“That’s okay,” she said. “I was thinking, if I am going to be staying here until Yingtai is healed, I will need to clear my apartment in Shanghai out. While I’m sure Billy could help with his van, do you have anywhere I could store my things?”

“Depends on how much, but yes,” Longwei replied. “Let’s discuss that later. Movie?”

Joy stretched out on the blanket, and laughed when the titles came. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith? You have a thing for Angelina Jolie?”

Longwei shrugged and sat down beside her. “Not really. But the other two movies I have are The Wizard of Oz and Dumbo. I keep them for the children. The third came with them in a Hong Kong set pack. I don’t know why.”