Fay is about school age, and it is time to give her a 'big name', although she loves dearly her little name, or literally ‘milk name’, Fay.
She was known by that name since birth, it is a name for family and friends, but when it is time to explore the outside world, she needs to be equipped with a big name that sounds a lot more important, if not assuming.
Fay longs for school, several of her friends already started, and suddenly they become so erudite, even Tong, who didn't know how to tie his shoes now has something to impress her. One day, she saw him writing some numbers on the ground, "This is math, Fay, you know, it is very complicated, I got a C in my exam, and I bet when you start school, you can't even get a D!" Said Tong with great concern.
Fay has never had any exams in her life, but she used to be one of the brightest in her short-lived kindergarten education, which she had to give up after six months because her parents needed her to take care of her little sister. The experience in kindergarten, although limited, gives Fay much confidence, but she hastily remembered how it disappointed her father, himself being a math teacher, when she failed to solve a seemingly easy addition, her father locked her up in the kitchen, and there she cried herself to sleep. Not every teacher is like Dad, Fay thinks to herself, besides if Tong can make it, I surely can do better.
Fay knows very well that going to school means the end of her wandering days, but what a bless to be able to read and write like her father. She is happy to trade all those joyful days just for one class at school. Maybe not those days when she went fishing with her friends, how funny it was when Chao kneeled on the river bank praying to the river god for luck, and how embarrassed he was when he realized Fay was watching him from behind. And those days when she invited all the kids in her neighbourhood to her family’s strawberry field to taste the first ripe strawberries, so they don’t have to go through the trouble of sneaking into the field and stealing all those unripe ones. Oh, don’t forget all those afternoon plays, she never got to play the role of princess because she does not have long hair, but she was equally content to be just the princess’s maid.
“It would be nice if my big name sounds like a princess,” Fay is thinking something like Snow White, or something related to moon or flowers, “oh, and it is time to learn how to use a hair band, so mom will allow me to wear long hair.” But first things first, Fay needs a big name before the summer holiday ends.
Earlier today, Dandan shared his ‘big name’ with her, Lu Yonghua. It means either forever prosper, or forever Chinese, either way, it is grand and supposed to be awe-inspiring, although Fay only came to think of it a few years later, but at that moment, even the sound of it renders Dandan a more admirable human being, especially in contrast with his milk name ‘Dandan’, which means balls in Chinese.
Ninety percent of the people in this village have the same surname Lu, and Fay’s family is one of them. Fay really envy the other ten percent, and wishes to have a cool family name that she does not even know how to pronounce properly, however, in due time will she learn that rarity is only relative, a common name in her village is but the rare one in another.
Nevertheless, Fay did have the chance to have another surname. She was adopted, a fact she knew since she can remember. Her real parents are her mom’s sister and brother-in-law, who live 10 miles away in another village. She was adopted because at that time her mom wanted a girl, and her real mom needed to get rid of one to make room for a future baby boy. Fey felt so lucky that she was adopted, otherwise it would be really awkward to live with some people that she only visits once or twice a year, not to mention that during her visit, her real mom never let her watch TV all night. Their family name may be much cooler, but Fay prefers to make this sacrifice for a much more comfortable life. And it is indeed a much more comfortable life, except she hated people constantly asking her which pair of parents treat her better, how she wishes nobody in her village knows this open secret and treats her just like another girl with a surname Lu.
She probably has to get over her surname, but she still can rely on her first name to be princess-like. Snow White so far is her favourite, but she is also very fond of Dew, Crystal, Cloud, Moon, Belle and Flora.
Fay decided to consult her father on this matter, it is not that she does not trust her mom’s taste, but she hasn’t seen her since last week, after mom had a big fight with dad, she left home with a suitcase. Fay also packed all her valuables that day, a bag full of candy wrappers she collected all these years, and a few pencils she prepared for school. But mom didn’t take Fay, she took Fay’s little sister Jun. Jun is the most annoying kid in the world, but now Fay starts to miss her.
Fay waited until late that night, when her father finally came back, Fay was already half-asleep.
"Dad, what should I be called at school? "
"What school? We haven’t finally decided whether you should go this year. "
"But have you thought of a big name for me? "
"Of course, it was decided when you were born. Lu Zhenhua, you know, making China stronger, with lots of power."
Fay does not know what China looks like, and so far hasn’t cared much about it, but it sounds like one of those decent names she could never come up with.
Fay hopes she could start to use her big name this year.