Shengliver’s Note: Yujie the foodie risked her life for candy.

 

Like most Chinese dads, my father is serious and strict, but he is not a bad-tempered man.

When I was a child, Dad would satisfy my desire at every opportunity. Every night I slept between Mother and Father on their bed though Dad was a little unhappy. He told me that I should enjoy my own company. After I grew a bit older, I still wished to have Dad by my side for the sense of security it would bring. Basking in my parents’ love and affection, I did not believe my dad would ever go mad with me, but I was wrong.

One day when I was eight, I bought some candies from the store across from my home. Savouring the sweet pleasures, I did not notice some candies drop from my pocket onto the road. After a while I spotted the few sweets lying there about me. Immediately I bent over to pick them up one by one.

My little hands were busily scooping the treats when, all of a sudden, I saw out of the corner of my eye a black limousine streaking over from a bend up the road, but I had not got the last two candies. Because of my greed, I decided to grab them and then retreat to the roadside. Just as I was groping for the last candy, I found myself swept up off the ground and carried away. It happened in a split second so that I was dazed.

After my senses came back to normal, I found Dad standing right in front of me, eyeballs popping out, face beet red. Never had I seen my father react that way. I was absolutely petrified. After I was back on my feet, Dad took me home.

After closing the door behind him, Dad started to bawl. “Girl,” he said between his teeth, “don’t you know that what you were doing on the road could have cost your life? Were you blind at the moment? Did you see the car coming? Do the candies count more than your life? What a fool!”

Seeing the candies still in my hand, he seized them and flung them out. I was so paralysed by the vehemence that I shut my eyes. I dared not see his countenance. Meanwhile, tears were gushing out as I started to howl.

After a while, I felt hugged in warm big arms. They were my father’s. Although he was silent, his embrace comforted me and brought me back to myself.

That was the only time my dad had lost his temper. I do not think I will ever forget about it.