I apologized if it’s not a next chapter everyone expecting. More like a Ramadan/Eid-special short. Without ado, Eid Mubarak!
Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, Empire of China, 18th July, 2015 C.E.
It is the end of Ramadan - the Islamic holy month of fasting and the time of Eid Al-fitr, celebrated by Muslims around the world. In China, the day of Eid Al-fitr is a public holiday. And it is even celebrated by Han Chinese population. Regardless of their religious beliefs, the Chinese are entitled to either a one-day or three-day official holiday on the said day, varied by provinces and autonomous regions. During the special time of Eid Al-fitr, supplies of mutton, lamb and beef are distributed to households as part of welfare programme funded by government agencies, public and private institutions, and businesses. Eid Al-fitr is held to not only celebrating the end of fasting, it’s also to honour the month that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
A festival is held in the city and all over world that marks the end of Ramadan. In this particular street of Xi’an, where Muslim merchants and travellers first arrived in the Middle Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty, is known as the place where Chinese Muslims are concentrated. This said street is known as the Muslim Quarter. As times goes-by until modern-day, the street has evolved into one of the most popular food corners in the world, providing a variety of alternatives for Muslims during Ramadan as well as non-Muslims, ranging from halal to vegetarian.
For the 15 million Muslims living in the city, restaurants and shops that carry traces of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties are flooded by visitors because of the holy month. Those who look for traditional tastes go to the Muslim Quarter where bananas, eggs, rice, traditional deserts made with soybean, ice creams, drinks and Chinese appetizers are sold.
Many restaurants run by Muslims hosted local and foreign visitors in the Muslim Quarter. The liveliness of the street, which is nearly 750 metres long, spreads to other side streets. At Bazaar markets, vendors hawking their wares hoping to attract potential customers.
In Xi’an, the cradle of Chinese culture and civilization and the capital of many dynasties in the past, crafters and workers of the Muslim Quarter go to the 13th century Great Mosque of Xi’an, one of the oldest mosque in the country, and the Xiaotaoyuan mosque, which is nearly 1000 years-old, for tarawih (
a special late-night prayer Ramadan prayer), after they break their fast. Not only the old mosques they attended to, the Muslims also went to mosques which were built in contemporary modern designs to accommodate the growing demands of the changing time.
Walking down the street are the nine girls from Golden Peony High School, dressed in their casual clothes. They’re attending the Eid festival to participate in the celebration and spend more time for fun, going out together.
“Hey wait up!” The lead redhead cries out, catches up to her friends. The girls are enjoying their tanghulu, traditional Chinese candied-fruit snacks.
“Thank God we finished homework before we got out~.” Nianwen, the diminutive black-haired girl, quipped.
“Well, it will not do us any good if you get held back in the grade,
senior.” Mei said, the violet-eyed redhead.
“Oi!” She sounded peeved at the remark.
“Now, now, you know she’s right.” Zhuyuan titters. “Unless you have complains, if you’re not going to make an effort or any motivation to do so, you might want some
extra lessons from me~.” Her smile turned into coy one as if suggesting mischief.
“Urgh…no thanks. I’m good.” The Hui girl meeped, covering her dainty chest.
“Well, now we’ve done our schoolwork and its Saturday, we have plenty of time to spend. Let’s make sure we have fun.” Alisa, the blonde-haired Eurasian spoke.
“I’m just looking forward to the foods~.” Lian quipped with her cat-like smile.
“Haha…me too.” Jiahua chuckles.
“I’m so happy that we’re all here.” Honghua beamed happily. However, she was actually looking forward to festivity indulgence of holiday treats. She can imagine the huge assortment of food goodies presented at the Eid festival.
“Hey Honghua, didn’t we tell you it’s better to finish homework first? Even its three-day holidays, you have to complete them.” Ouyi lectures her best friend. “And no, I’m not going to let you borrow mine."
“Sorry, me too.” Kongyi said, clasping her hands together as if begging for forgiveness.
“Aiya, not this again.” Honghua pouted. While the redhead is far from academically inept, she’s often lazy about her homework.
“Oh yeah, what are we going to do on Eid?” Alisa asked, taking a bite of her candied apple.
“Well, we’ve already done our Isha prayers. We have time for some munchies~.” Nianwen cheerfully chimes. “Praise be to the Heavens~.”
“I agree, heehee~.” Honghua quipped, munching on her candied apple.
“Hm, hey Honghua, is that him?” Kongyi pointed her finger at one particular corner.
Noticing Kongyi as the girls looked over in her directions, they see two handsome young men loitering at the corner, appearing to be chatting together. Both of them are wearing casual outfits like ‘cool boys’. Recognizing one of them, Honghua suddenly rushes over towards the one wearing the shades and tackles him like a playful cat.
“Big brother!” She chirped, hugging him.
The girls except Kongyi, Alisa, Zhuyuan and Ouyi were stunned. “Eh!?” They exclaimed in surprise. The other man is surprised as well.
“Ah, little Honghua…how have you been?” The said lad hugs her in return. He then patted her on the head like a loving older brother.
“Hey, who is he?” Nianwen demanded.
“Big brother!” Kongyi chirped happily, interrupting Nianwen. “Aiya, sorry everyone, he’s actually my cousin.”
“Cousin!” Lian, Jiahua, Mei and Nianwen said in unison with looks of disbelief.
“B-but this guy is too hot to be one!” The twin-tailed girl cries out. Zhuyuan and Alisa burst into fits of giggles in response; they seemed to know who the man is beforehand.
“My apologies for the sudden confusion, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Shenlong, nice to meet you.” The young man with shades introduced himself. He took them off, revealing his handsome facial features. He’s like a model. “I knew Honghua ever since she was a little girl.”
However, Ouyi has something to say.
“Actually, Lord Shenlong is-” She was cut off by Shenlong.
“Ouyi…remember I’m a commoner in public?” He shushed her with. He then winked at Zhuyuan and Alisa, the two reciprocates with their knowing smiles and gave out their tacit nods.
“Ah, yes milord.” The long-haired girl sighed. She’s bit of the stickler for protocols especially dealing with members of high society.
“Milord?” Lian asked.
“Wait, is he rich? A noble!?” Nianwen gasped in shock. She quickly gave Shenlong a polite bow. “Oh, do please forgive this one.”
Shenlong laughs, “Haha, it’s alright. It’s all good. All is forgiven.”
“Shenlong may look cool. But he’s a good person.” Honghua quipped.
“Oh, she’s your little sister? I didn’t know she’ll be this cute. Like your cousin.” The other man remarked about Shenlong’s relations with Honghua.
“Ah hello, big brother Baatar~!” Kongyi greeted him.
“Yo!” ‘Baatar’ reciprocate with his friendly wave.
“Hello, ‘iron hero’?” Ouyi said flatly, she didn’t look all that happy with the man for some reason.
“Hello, ‘ice queen’, you missed me?” The black-haired lad jested, sounding bit annoyed. This earned a mock huff from the said girl.
“As if, dummy.” She responded with witty taunt of her own, not facing him as if he doesn’t exists. Honghua and Kongyi giggled at the bantering between the two. The rest of the girls, they’re surprised to see Ouyi being openly affable with the opposite sex for first time, they knew her to be very shy around males. What happens in front of them is not what they expected.
“Wuh!” Nianwen spluttered in shock.
“Ehhh?” Mei widens her eyes with surprise.
“Oh my.” Zhuyuan giggled.
“Aiya, just who is he?” Lian wondered.
“He’s her friend.” Honghua answered their curiosities in their minds.
“Everyone, meet Tömörbaatar.” Ouyi introduces her male friend.
“Hello, nice to meet you ladies~!” Tömörbaatar greeted the girls despite his imposing appearance.
“Say big brother, where were you all this time? I missed you.” Honghua asked with her mock pout.
“Haha, well, busy with work overseas. I was planning to spend some time for Eid until I saw you girls. You looked like you’re having fun.” Shenlong replied with a smile.
“Thank you~.” Zhuyuan quipped.
“Say, what is your job, sir?” Mei asked.
“They work in the army. They’ve been away to Middle-East, fighting bad guys. As a matter of fact, big brother Shenlong and Tömörbaatar are in Special-Forces.” Kongyi answered her question. “Isn’t that right, big brother?” She smiled.
“You could say that, little Kongyi.” Shenlong shrugged.
“So cool~!” Lian and Jiahua said in unison, sounding awe.
“Welp, they’re no match for the Middle Kingdom. That’s for sure.” Tömörbaatar said. “Thank the Gods we have good people in the team. However…” He went into a pose in attempt to flatter the girls, trying to show-off. “I, Tömörbaatar, will make sure the world is safe. There’s no bad guy I cannot defeat~.”
“A monkey can at least show-off better than you, Nergüi.” Ouyi lifted her head up like a snob.
“EH!? Why you, woman!?” The Mongolian growled at her, shaking his fist. “What gives!? Your chest isn’t any better.”
Feeling miffed, Ouyi retorted angrily, “Excuse me! I’m a growing girl!”
Watching the two broke into a petty argument, speaking in mixture of Mongolian and Chinese, the duo acted like bickering children. The girls seemed to look on with amusements, from cheeky grins to quiet tittering. They didn’t expect Ouyi, a reserved and logically-thinking girl, to be more open with someone other than them. Truth be told, they find it refreshing change of pace.
“My…” Shenlong observed with amusements. “Here they go again.”
“Heehee…it’s nice to see Ouyi like this. Nobody will believe us a strict girl can be this open.” Honghua commented.
“Oh my, come to think of it they looked like they make a cute couple together~.” Zhuyuan remarked. More like she’s making a joke.
“No, we’re not!” Both Tömörbaatar and Ouyi shouted altogether, blushing with embarrassment. Looking aghast in reaction to the Zhuyuan’s words, they didn’t seem to take well on her joke.
“Him! Never!” The long-haired girl protested, pointing her finger at Tömörbaatar as if he’s a criminal.
“With this princess, no way!” The senior boy howled, not liking the way Ouyi described him.
“What did you said!? At least it sounds better than being a big hulk of lug like you!”
“Say that again, woman!” Tömörbaatar growled.
“Grrr…” The two glared at each other in the comedic fashion before turning around and let out their annoyed huffs. Again, this becomes an amusing spectacle for their friends. Most of the girls burst into laughter.
“Come on, I know the place. They served good dumplings and kebabs.” Shenlong gestures them to follow him.
“Sounds good, lead the way.” Alisa said.
They then proceed to walked down the streets altogether; they planned to enjoy the very evening to celebrate the festival of the end of the Ramadan. In spite of Eid being a Muslim holiday, everyone treated it as any holidays in the Middle Kingdom and considered it a good time to spend time with family, friends and people they love.
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Cast
The characters are named in traditional East Asian name order.
- Golden Peony High School (from left to right in order)
- Tunggaid Zhuyuan
- Xia Lian
- Konggolo Jiahua
- ??? Kongyi
- Xiao Honghua
- ??? Ouyi
- Ma Nianwen
- Niohuru Mei
- Wang Alisa
Imperial Chinese Army
