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It is a hot humid day in the North China salt farms. Chao's sweating like a fountain while loading the barrels with the fresh salt she just harvested. She was about to finish when her brothers called her in. She walks towards her siheyuan (home) wondering why she was called in while she was working. She walks inside the house full of different types of pottery and paintings, but a stranger is sitting on the bench in the corner of the room and her family was sitting there in front of the stranger. The stranger watches Chao curiously and immediately addresses her by saying, "Hello Chao, I am Fa, I was just walking by and your wonderful family called me in for a drink of water."
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Chao instantly dislikes Fa. He started showering her with compliments, and she could tell that he was only doing it for Chao's parents. They absolutely adored him. Chao's parents decided for Chao and Fa to get to know each other a little bit better. "Chao, you and Fa should go take a walk." Chao's father said. Chao wanted to disagree, but the look in her father's face said that it was already decided. Chao would go with Fa. She knew better than to argue with her parents, so she silently agreed and walked out of the house with Fa.
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Chao and Fa continue their walk, and Fa seems to have changed. Before, he was giving her many compliments, but now, he was very quiet and kept looking over his shoulder. They took a sudden turn into a small area with no people. Then, Fa starts to yell at Chao. "You aren't special at all! You shouldn't mess with me, so just stay quiet!" Chao is stunned, and stays quiet in shock for a little bit. She wonders why Fa is being like this. She starts to talk, but Fa cuts her off and continues to insult her. She doesn't know what to do. Was she was supposed to be someone who was seen nor heard. She looks down, and allows Fa to continue yelling at her. But the question of why he was doing this was circling around her head, like bees around a flower full of pollen. He eventually gets tired of yelling, and leaves. Chao is still in shock, as it was so sudden and abrupt. She knew she had to tell her parents, but they might get mad at her. She decides to say nothing, and stay quiet.
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As soon as Chao walked into the room, she instantly disliked Fa. Trying to charm Chao, Fa showered her with many compliments. Chao was annoyed and told him to bug off. Her father smacked her. It left a big mark on her face. She sat down and listened to her parents. Her father then said, "Chao, you are to marry this man. And before you think about saying no, it's already decided. You will marry this man whether you like it or not!"
Chao is livid. Why doesn't she get to choose who she gets to marry. She lashes out and yells at her parents. Once again, her father smacks her, but on the the other side of her face. Though this time, he had done it very hard. Her parents tell her that she must go on a walk with Fa, and if she does not, she will be locked up in the chamber for the rest of the day, with no supper. She decides that even though she dislikes and hates Fa, that it is a good idea to go with him.
Chao is livid. Why doesn't she get to choose who she gets to marry. She lashes out and yells at her parents. Once again, her father smacks her, but on the the other side of her face. Though this time, he had done it very hard. Her parents tell her that she must go on a walk with Fa, and if she does not, she will be locked up in the chamber for the rest of the day, with no supper. She decides that even though she dislikes and hates Fa, that it is a good idea to go with him.
As they start to walk Chao tries to start a conversation, but Fa cuts her off and continues to stay quiet. She doesn't know what to do. Was she supposed to be someone who was seen and not heard.
Suddenly, Fa turns a corner into an area where there aren't many people. Suddenly, he starts to insult Chao. "You aren't special! You should just be quiet!" Chao finally snaps, and starts to insult him back! His face turns red, and insults fly like army planes. They eventually tire each other out from yelling, and just turn around and leave. Well this is going to be a fantastic friendship, Chao thought sarcastically. Throughout the rest of the day, she kept wondering to herself, Why is he doing this.
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