A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo Read Free Book Online Page B

drinking.
    “Noble, eh?”
    “Yes,” I say, “because when you start talk then you look very proud. I like the confidence. I don’t have.”
    The man holding his big pint listens careful but not sure about what I mean.
    A while, he says: “Love, you only think my words are noble because I can speak English properly”—oh
properly
, that word again!—“but it
is
my mother tongue, you know. It’s not that hard. But anyway, thank you for the compliment.”
    “You deserving it,” I answer seriously.
    But the man calls me “Love”! Love is cheap object in London.
    My eyes looking towards delicious feast on side table. Everything ready waiting but no action.
    I think the man gets hint from me, so he introduces me to English food system in pub calling
Buffet
, is meaning same word for “self service.”
    “Why two words for same food system?” I ask him.
    He laughs: “Because one is the English word and one is the French word. The French word is more
noble
.”
    All old mans laughing.
    Buffet.
Now I remember this noble word.
    There are some white sticky stuffs on the plate. It looks like Tofu, but smells bad.
    “What is this?” I ask bar man.
    “That is goat’s cheese, darling. Would you like to try some?”
    In China we not have cheese. We not like drinking milk, until last ten years maybe. I feel very surprise. I thought goat is too skinny make cheese.
    “No. Thanks. What that? That Blue stuff?”
    “It’s another cheese. Stilton.”
    “Another stinking cheese with different names?” So many different cheeses! Like our Tofu system!
    “Is this made by cow?” I ask.
    “That’s right, love,” the barman laughs loudly. “Handmade by Communist cows.”
    “What?” I am confused.
    “Sorry to tease you, sweetheart. What you’re trying to ask is ‘Is it made
from
cow’s milk?’ English is a bloody nightmare, isn’t it?”
    Back home I write list my new learnings for Mrs. Margaret:
made by, made from
.
    drifter   
n.
1. a person who moves aimlessly from place to place or job to job; 2. a fishing boat equipped with drift nets.
    drifter
    Third day you are away. Feels like you are gone for a month. Before, I never be alone living in this house. Now, I realise this
your
house. Everything yours, and everything in this place
made by
you. Very little to do with me. But this place completely take over my life. I am a little alone teacup belonging to your cupboard.
    I wandering in your house, silently, lonely, like cat without master.
    On your dusty books shelf, I take out photo album.
    There is picture of you, arms around big tree, like lover. You naked in the picture. Very young and with a brown skin. You smiling at the person with camera. Must be your lover.
    Another picture, you on boat. Is old black and white photo, so sea looks totally brown. You only wear shorts, and your muscles are strong. You smile to camera, holding the boat’s paddle.
    Who with you on that boat? Which sea it is?
    Another old picture, you are with a man, a young man. You both are naked, standing on rock by the sea. The waves coming up on your legs. Man beside you is handsome. Who is person taking this photo? Man or woman? You must be three very intimate, very close friend, if you both naked in front the camera.
    Putting back photo album, I am jealous, and I feel the pain from my jealousy.
    I open one of your old boxes on top the books shelf. Some letters inside. I think they are love letters. Letters you wrote and being returned from somebody in a one big package. You said in one letter:
    Of course I am committed to you, and I always will be. But I can never see myself in a couple. Yes, you are my lover, but you are also my friend, and we will always feel special together. Friendship always endures longer than romance.
    Romance
not to be found in my
Concise Chinese–English Dictionary
.
    Some your old diaries in box too, from 1970s and 1980s. A long time ago. When I was really little. This is the man really older than me twenty