My Asian Dragon

“What do you mean?”

Longwei shrugged. “The villagers expect me to lead a Renaissance of sorts. They truly believe that I, or perhaps my children when I have them, will fight the Triads and the corruption in the Chinese government, destroy them, and lead our country into a new golden age. I’m supposed to be the father of this great dragon army, springing forth from my loins to cleanse Asia. Considering that I’m the only dragon I know, it’s a tall order for a man who doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”

“Oh really? And I thought here I was, holding your hand and walking with you after you kissed me just an hour ago.”

Longwei looked over at her, his eyes questioning. “Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

Joy laughed. “That sounds very junior high school, but from what I’ve known of you over the past weeks, yes. Or at least, I’d like the chance to find out more.”

Longwei smiled his soft smile, the one Joy was coming to think about so often. “I would like that to. I suppose then I’m to ask you out on a date?”

“Well, that’s normally supposed to happen before the first kiss, but yeah.”

Longwei chuckled. “I hope you do not expect a five star dining experience.”

*****

It had been a long time since Joy had felt so nervous on a first date. She fidgeted as she smoothed her hands over her shirt, aware this was not typical first date attire. She had no dress with her, so she hoped her button down shirt and jeans would be fine. She waited in her room, before a soft knock came on the door of what she now thought of as her “room” in the village temple, which she now realized doubled as a town hall and as Longwei’s private residence. The door slid open, and Longwei stood there, handsome in a pair of jeans and a button down silk shirt with Mandarin collar. “I see you brought out the fancy dress,” Joy said, eyeing the shirt.

“Actually, the jeans were more expensive,” Longwei replied. “I have kept these since I left university, and only bring them out for special occasions.”

“I appreciate the gesture,” Joy replied, taking his arm and walking down the hallway with him. “May I ask what you have planned for our date?”

“It may sound trite, but I thought I would do my best to give you a taste of American style dating,” Longwei replied. “Dinner and a movie.”

“A movie? Just where did you get a television?”

“A laptop computer from the school,” Longwei said, “along with a DVD.”

“So we are going to the school?”

“No. The computer and an extra battery pack was brought here. While most of the school is undamaged, classes are canceled for tomorrow to let the smoke air out.”

Joy sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t want to bring up such serious subjects tonight.”

“Do not worry. The children, by the way, have made an award for you. They would like to give it to you when the school reopens.”

Joy was touched by the sentiment. “Enough on that for tonight. I’m hungry.”

Dinner, it turned out, was a fairly accurate recreation of American-style Chinese takeout, with steaming plates of chicken in plum sauce, sweet spareribs, fried rice, vegetables, and even spring rolls. Joy stood in awe of the spread of food on the low table, before a question stopped her. “Longwei, this is too much.”

Longwei looked concerned. “What do you mean? Are you not hungry?”

“It’s not that,” she replied, shaking her head. “Longwei, in the weeks I’ve been here, I think I’ve gotten a pretty good estimation of what the people of this village eat on a regular basis. You have enough meat here for an entire family. Maybe even two or three day’s worth. I know you don’t have a supermarket in town, this chicken and pork had to come from someone’s livestock. I can’t take this off someone else’s table.”

Longwei’s concern evaporated and a large smile spread across his face. “Then you do not have to worry. The chicken was from Yingtai’s family, as a gift for you. They had already killed it before bringing it over, so there wasn’t much I could do. The pork is actually from me. I hunted a wild boar this afternoon, finding one in the woods a few kilometers away. Other than the ribs you see and the pork in the rice, the rest of it was given to Yingtai’s family.”

“How did you hunt a boar so quickly?”

Longwei’s look made her smile. “Joy, there are benefits to being able to become a dragon. Being able to cover large distances and hunt efficiently is one of them. Now, no more worries about the food, it is a gift from the village and from me to you. Let’s enjoy.”

Joy allowed herself to relax and enjoy, and was surprised at how wonderful the flavors were. “Your memory of American takeout is almost perfect,” she commented. “You really nailed the differences between real and American Chinese food.”

“Thank you. So Joy, tell me, why did you get into journalism?”

Joy thought about her answer for a long time. “I think the same reason why I offered to stay here in the village. Growing up on the poor side of Washington, I saw both the best and the worst that the United States had to offer. On one hand, there was the height of American power, where the ideals of the system were literally etched in stone. At the same time though, I saw the dirty politicians, the money grubbers, and the corruption there. In my neighborhood, I saw smaller versions of both. I saw hustlers, street pimps, drug dealers and gangbangers. At the same time, I saw kindness, and neighbors helping each other out. I saw that so many of the problems down below were due to exploitation from those above them in the socioeconomic ladder. I guess I got into journalism because I wanted to change the world for the better, and I thought I could do the most good there.”