It happened on one day, when I was 8 years old.
I saw an old man at a booth before a bridge, 'had a white hair and a white dress the like the costumes used in fantasy/ historical Asian movies or so, I thought.
I went to him and gave a penny, that I had in the pocket.
When I wanted to leave he stopped me and said, " Be careful in the future, because there be a storm at what you think is home"
He let go of me, but I asked, " How do you know that?"
"I'm a fortuneteller and not a beggar, but because of this one penny of kindness I thought that, I should remind you to be careful. Kindness should be repaid with kindness. So, don't worry if your kind, happiness will be there for you. You will not be alone forever, just temporary. That's all I can say now, if there is fate then we will meet in the future. I wish you good luck, dear girl", said the old man.
As I was in daze, because of the words I heard from the old man. But after I digested those words, I realize that he disappeared in air.
Just like that I was stunned again and thinking, what storm could be waiting for me. Why will I be alone temporary, what will happen and other questions.
So, that I don't feel down, I went to the shopping center to buy some gifts to my parents. Before meeting the old man I was on a field trip from school, but didn't buy souvenirs there. Since other classmates said that shopping could bring the mood up, I went to mall.
As my mother likes jewelry I went to a jewelry shop to buy her a gift there. While sightseeing the jewelries, in a corner of the shop a saw a brooch with a blooming iris motive. The brooch will be moms gift from me. She likes flowers, in special the irises.
As for my father that works in suits I bought a handkerchief with the same motive for him.
With the thought of 'husband and wife as being one', said by someone to me.
After buying gifts I wasn't feeling down so, I went home. But as I arrived home, at door I heard some screaming. While wondering whose voice is screaming, I heard that something broke.
"Why... Why are you kissing here?" said mom in a shaking and screaming voice, while tears were falling.
The door was half open and I arrived there and saw opposite mom was dad and a woman. Stunned by this scene I realize that the woman was someone I was familiar to, because she was an ex-secretary at my father's side. While my eyes were focused on the two, a head popped out from behind the woman.
"Who are you?", asked me the popped head. At the same time my parents and others in room saw me with a shocked expression at the door.
While observing I saw mom's tears falling, father's shocked face, the woman besides father and the head behind that woman had a smug expressions.
In the shock of seeing the similarities in the head of behind that woman and my father, the words of the old man rang in my ears, "a storm is in what you think is home".
Now I have understood half of the old man words. Storm at home, means that father was cheating and brought his mistress and daughter and son in front of mom and me. That daughter was just between one or two years younger or the same age as me. But the son was just three years old in appearance.
"why...." just this word could escape from my mouth as I asked my father,then I lost my conscient.
Mother, Bai Yue, realized that I fainted, came to me. Seeing the pale skin, because of the news and how I fainted so studdently, as she couldn't pick me up, she asked the maids to help put me in my bedroom.
After a while Bai Yue came in Qingjia's bedroom and her tears started falling again, some sobbing escaped from her mouth.
Seeing the frowning and pale face of Qingjia's there was someone knocking on the door.
"Who is it", said Bai Yue frowning.
"It's Miran, madam", replied the maid.
"Come in", said Bai Yue in a clam tone, while thinking why she came to her.
The door opened and Miran said,
"Madam, master said he needs you down", after that she bows, went out to do her duty.
In the silence just Qingjia's breath was heard. Bai Yue thought, " What is that scumbag wanting to do now, why does he not come to see Qingqing".
After five minutes she went out.
.....