Assistant Architect

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

______________________

Feeling afraid, Fu Xinhuifrowned and sat there motionless.

When Zhang Siyi saw signs ofmovement, he seized the opportunity to continue talking to him about his ownexperience: “I've also felt the same. In fact, after graduation I could havegone back home to live. My parents would have continued to raise me and feedme, but what does it mean? If I did that, I wouldn't feel alive. My dad willalways look down on me. He would think that I was never able to achievesuccess. I want to prove to him that I am not a waste. I must stand on my ownand push forward so I work hard and work overtime. I want to make a fortune bymyself. This is my pursuit!"

With still red eyes, FuXinhui slowly put down his hand, and watched the water vapor rise from the hotpot with a gloomy look.

Zhang Siyi knows that he islistening, so he continued: "I know my current pursuit may not mean much to you.My family economic conditions are far away from yours. It might be that thecost of living is like pennies in a bucket for your parents. They can afford afew more sons like you so you can continue to be so capricious and do nothing."

Originally Zhang Siyi wasn'tsure what words to say to his friend, but as he spoke, he felt more and morecertain: “I didn’t advise you before because no matter how you live, youhave your own reasons for planning and considering where your life will go.But, now it's different. Heartless Han, you are my good friend and I can't seeyou being so depressed. No matter what they say your family is not a reason foryour self-destruction. Don't forget that you are already a grown man. You arefree so pull yourself together and live! You are smart and in good health bothemotionally and physically and you have many friends. What can't you do? Anyway,I will always be with you. If we have money, we can enjoy hot-pot and if we don't,we will eat instant noodles. Either way, we will be happy to live our lives!"

Fu Xinhui’s gaze slowlymoved to Zhang Siyi face. He did not expect his usually silly, stupid and cutefriend to say such a thing. Fu Xinhui was really touched: “Thank you.”

Fu Xinhui picked up theglass and touched Zhang Siyi's glass. Drinking both glasses empty, Zhang Siyi clenchedhis fist in the air waving and said with excitement: “You can do it!"

“Yeah.” Fu Xinhuifinally smiled. The fragility in his eyes slowly dissipated, and he re-emergedwith a hint of hope. He learned Zhang Siyi’s tone: “Just do it!”

Chuckling, Zhang Siyi smiledand looked at the boiling hot pot: “Come on, the beef is boiled. Live toeat another day!"

The two men ate the hot potto the bottom and with another bottle of beer finished, they were red faced andfull. The coldness of winter struck their faces as they left the hot-potrestaurant. Walking slowly, the two swayed home with content stomachs.

After walking for a while,Fu Xinhui suddenly asked Zhang Siyi: “You say you want to make money, thenwhat if you had money?”

After eating and drinking,Zhang Siyi's brain wasn't working quite right. "Eh?"

Fu Xinhui asked again:“If one day you have a lot of money, so your pursuit is completed, thenwhat will you do?”

Zhang Siyi: “I haven’tthought so far ahead. I guess I hope that I will become famous at that timelike a big architect who is respected by thousands of people. Then I would haveanother starting point. Anyway, as long as there is a reason to pursuesomething, then I can get up every day happy to live."

Fu Xinhui was silent andlooked thoughtful.

Zhang Siyi paused for a fewseconds then continued: “Unfortunately, I am still a poor man and I can'teven afford the rent of a square meter house in Haicheng. Even though I haven'tasked for a penny from my family, if I didn't have help then I would have eatendirt. Sometimes I think life is really difficult. It's so hard to make money!"

Zhang Siyi opened his armsand embraced the cold blue sky and said with emotion, “Hurry and rain downcoin. Let me experience the feeling of drowning in lots of money!"

Fu Xinhui smiled and rubbedhis hands in his trouser pockets. He also looked up at the sky and said:“I just said that I don’t know what I want because I really have thefeeling of drowning in money.”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Fu Xinhui lost his voice: "Ican't understand why so many people are frantically pursuing the life of therich. In my opinion, life is good and complete now. I am able to be with the peopleI like every day and talk about things; don't quarrel, can eat food, can buygifts on special days, buy a house or rent a house, why does it matter? Why doyou need so much money?"

Zhang Siyi choked on hiswords. While he knows Fu Xinhui is saying this from the bottom of his heart, hecan't help but feel a bit irritated. "Only the rich can say such words. All myhard work and still, I have a few bucks a week left to eat instant fishflavored pork rice. I only had a good meal with you. I'll take 'too much money'any day!"

Fu Xinhui smiled and said:“It doesn’t cost much to eat. If you want to eat well, I'll invite you toeat every day.”

Zhang Siyi was just joking.He didn't expect Fu Xinhui to take it seriously. He wrinkled his face again:“No, I am not a little white face that you have to support. I willcontinue to eat my fish flavored pork rice.”

Fu Xinhui: “…”

Zhang Siyi: "To tell you thetruth, I think the position you are in is a blessing. Even though you have ahateful sister, they don't prevent you from pursing your own life. With yourfamily background and financial ability, you are standing at the end of manypeople's goals. You have to grasp these resources and be strong as soon aspossible."

“I know …” FuXinhui, lowering his eyes and pondering: “I’ll think about it. You canrest assured.”

Since Zhang Siyi has beenhome for a three-day holiday, he has been sleeping in too much in the morningsand thus can't seem to sleep at night. He was on the net for while thinkingabout Fu Xinhui's suffering at home and the conversation he last had with GuYu. He was feeling annoyed and before he realized what he was doing, heunconsciously found the score to song-r and downloaded it.

"……" (=_=) Forgetit, just be free to practice.

Zhang Siyi took out theviolin and began to play the music on the screen: ” Quack, Quack, Quack,Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack,Quack, Quack……"

A few minutes later, Fu Xinhui’sroar sounded at the door: “Zhang Siyi!!! You have some nerve playing in themiddle of the night!!!"

Zhang Siyi: “………”

Returning to the company the next day, out of the elevator and towards hisdesk, Zhang Siyi met Gu Yu while he was attending the landscape wall. ZhangSiyi was going to say hello, but Gu Yu gave him a faint look and walked rightpassed Zhang Siyi. Shit! He really is mad!

In the morning, the Ministry of Finance informed the staff to pick up theirNew Year's Day holiday card as well as handing in their meal refund tickets.Jubilant, Zhang Siyi prepared his receipts in advance and headed to the financeroom early in the day. After receiving subsidies, he whispered to the cashier:"Miss, when will our salary and quarterly bonuses be issued?"

Finance attendant replied: “I will send it in the afternoon! I willsend it in the afternoon! Go back and wait.”

With a wide smile on his face, Zhang Siyi waited from ten in the morninguntil three in the afternoon for his paycheck. When he saw his salary card textmessage "On January 4th your account number XXX received transfer of26,890.00." he practically jumped out of his seat and danced.

Ah-ah-ah-ah! Twenty-six thousand! A lot of money!!

In his mind Zhang Siyi quickly calculated; tax deduction is seven thousand,'Love My Job' is one thousand, so the bonus from City-Z project is aroundeighteen thousand!

Ah, ah, ah, ah, for giving me so much work, Gu Yu, I love you.!!!

Excitedly holding his phone and hoppingaround, Zhang Siyi has never seen so much money. He decided! Determined, he wasgoing to go back home and continue to practice the violin!

On his way home at night, Zhang Siyi, fullof enthusiasm, went to the deli to buy a roast goose and planned to celebrate hisfirst achievement in his life with Fu Xinhui.

Arriving at home, Zhang Siyi took out thekey to open the door. He heard a hair dryer coming from the room and was aboutto call FU Xinhui name when he felt something on his feet. He looked down: "Eh?What is this dog doing here?"

A golden-haired retriever puppy wassitting in front of Zhang Siyi with his tongue out panting, “ha Chee haChee”, drooling and, looking at the goose in his hand.

Fu Xinhui came out with a hair dryer andshouted: “Cheer-Up! Come back!” Seeing Zhang Siyi standing in thedoorway, he turned off the hair dryer: “You are home early today.”

Zhang Siyi turned his face and pointed atthe hairball on his feet: “You said, think about it, and the result is tobuy a dog!”

Fu Xinhui came over, crouched down andpicked up the little golden hair puppy in his arms. Smiling he asked: “Isn'tthe dog cute?” I went to several pet stores before I choose one. It tookme all day.

Speechless, Zhang Siyi asked: “I askedyou to talk! Why didn’t you discuss it with me if you want a dog?"

Fu Xinhui patted the dog on the head andstood up strangely: “Didn’t I tell you I was going to raise a dog?”

Zhang Siyi is a bit frazzled: “Ithought you were just joking! Well, evenif you wanted one, I thought you said you would consider a dog when Jiang Haimoved. Does he know you have a dog now? Is he ok with that?"

Fu Xinhui shrugged: “Jiang Hai calledme today about it.”

Zhang Siyi was surprised: “Wha-? Whyis it so sudden?

Fu Xinhui explained: "Since he and TianJing have been together, he has rarely come back. It's difficult for me to askfor his rent when he isn't living here so I told him if he doesn't want to staythen to tell me directly. Well, he called me to today and said he wasn't goingto pay rent for the next quarter. I haven't had time to tell you. He will comeback in two days to pack up his things."

Zhang Siyi: “…”