Diary of Xia Feng

[The Lion Turtle]

Day 1. Gogatsu. Mid-Spring.
Midafternoon. Sunny and pleasant.

Mother suggested I keep a journal for myself, but it feels rather strange to do it. I never much cared to tell anyone about my thoughts, much less a blank book. But I will do a Mother suggested, as she often has wisdom when I do not.

My name is Xia Feng, and I am twenty years old. I have one older brother, but he is a soldier, and much older than I, so I haven't seen him much in my life. I live with my mother and father in a village called Xing. My father is a powerful merchant in this town, so we're quite well-off. We live in a nice house on a hill, with a part-time maid to help mother with the cooking and cleaning. Her name is Usagi, and quite gruff despite her name.

There is nothing much interesting about my life. Mother and I run the house for father, while he sells his goods to many caravans that run through Xing. Sometimes he even takes his own caravan on long trips to places like Bai Seng Sei or Omashu or Tachi Dai. Mother hates it when he leaves. She says she misses him so much she feels like she could die, but Father simply tells her that absences makes the heart grow fonder.

Mother and Father are looking for a husband for me. Today, Father told me he thought he found one. He arranged a meeting with the man and his parents, and they were coming for tea tomorrow afternoon. I... I'm not sure what to think. Mother and Father want what's best for me, and if they think this man would be a suitable husband, so be it. Perhaps we shall like eachother enough to fall in love like Mother and Father did.

Either way, I'll reserve my judgement untill I meet the man. Until tomorrow, little Diary...



Xia Feng

[The Lion Turtle]

Day 2. Gogatsu. Mid Spring.
Nighttime. Partly Cloudy and breezy.

We met with the Bao family today. Their son, Jing Mu, is the man my father wished to arrange a marrage with for me. I must say, he is a very... plain man. No, there's nothing wrong with him, but he is not very attractive, nor exciting, even as a soilder. Oh, I'm sure he'll make a good husband, for I can see the goodness in him, but he is honestly just... boring.

I suppose I shouldn't talk like this. He is a nice man, and he and his family gratefully accepted my father's offer. I shouldbe thankful he wants to marry me at all.

So, that's that. I am betrothed. I suppose I should be more angry about it -- in all of the fictional stories, women usually were unhappy with the men their father picked for them -- but I am not. I am not exactly happy, nor very indifferent, but I am also not upset. I guess it's just being grateful.

We've set the date in Late Winter. Jing must go back to the war for the time being, but he has leave coming to him in that time. Maybe by then I'll have grown to like him.... maybe not.

Xia Feng

[The Lion Turtle]

Day Three. Gogatsu. Mid-Spring.
Evening. Clear, cool and still.

Life here in Xing isn't very exciting, but it can get busy.

Today Usagi, the maid, and I took over all of the business and housework since mother came down with a cold. Since I hardly know anything of my father's bussiness, Usagi took all of the orders and clients with Father while I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. Mother said it was good for me to experience this so I can be prepared when I have my own household to run.

So I did the wash -- Usagi laughed at me because I was timid in handling Father's clothes -- I swept the floors, dusted, straightened the house, fixed the meals with some help from both Mother and Usagi, and washed the dishes. I even brought tea to Mother in bed.

She had me take a break to chat with her while she drank her tea.

"Well, Xia," she breathed, and gave me one of her slow, wise smiles. She is one of those rare women how have aged beautifully, and it's even more evidant when she smiles. I gave her a smile in return, but I must have looked exhausted, for she said:

"It is all in a mother's day. It will be worse when you have kids, but you'll grow to find it will come easier and easier the more you do it."

I nodded. Mother always had good words. She finished the tea in silence and I took the cup away. I realized Mother's hope was riding on my shoulders. She hoped for me to have a good life, and she and Father both work hard for it.

I'm a little sad I'm going to be leaving this place in a little less than a year.

Now, little diary. I'm tired, so I'll leave you on my bedside table. I told you my life really isn't that interesting.

Xia Feng

[The Lion Turtle]

Day Ten. Gogatsu. Mid-Spring.
Early Morning. Rainy.

Little diary, forgive me for not writing sooner. Mother got evenn more ill than before, and Father suddenly got more business. Usagi had to help Father, so it was up to me too maintain the house and care for mother.

Everynight I fell asleep as I hit the pillow. Sweep, cook, wash dishes and dirty laundary, wait on Mother, garden, feed the goat-chickens and ostridge-horses. Father hired a boy of one of the famers he buys from to help me, and so he did, but he constantly teased me about the way I worked. He said that I was a little spoiled. I said nothing to him.

But Mother's better now, and the boy, Tu Wei, has not been back in a few days. I still do most of the work, but Mother and Usagi help out when they get the chance.

Mother said that soon we'll go out to fit me for a wedding dress. She warned me that there will be much to plan.

But that's not the best news. To help me plan my wedding, Father is going to take me to Ba Seng Sei to stay with Jing's parents for a while! We leave in two months' time. Unfortunately, that's Mid-Summer. I fear the heat.

Until tomorrow, little diary. I hear Usagi in the kitchen, and she'll want my help. Besides, I'm to excited to sit!

Xia Feng

[The Lion Turtle]

Day Twelve. Gogatsu. Mid-Spring.
Evening. Drizzling.

The rain persists. I don't mind, though. Soon, flowers will be in bloom and the world alight with colors. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. Even now the buds are growing.

The day was slower. Mother's feeling much better, and I got to relax. After the morning work was done, we left the household in Usagi's tender care and went to the seamstress in town, Amani. She showed Mother and I different fabrics and patterns. I picked out a soft jade color with an ornate circle pattern embrodered in a crisp white. Amani took my measurements and promised it would be done within a fortnight.

Mother and I returned to the house to join Father for lunch. His friend Chaung was there, talking to Father about the trip. Chaung is an older man, not elderly but at least twice my age. He has a strong face, and is a little handsome (but not near as so as my Father, brother or some of the soldiers I have met). From what I hear, he is an Earthbender of great power but never went to war, instead investing in a trading business with my Father. Chaung was unmarried, though my Mother would often playfully ask why; Chaung replied he was waiting for the right woman.

When Mother and I came into the room, serving tea, Chaung looked at me as though I was a fish he was thinking of buying. It made me uneasy, so I lowered my head to aviod looking into his eyes. I doubt his intentions were honorable.

I must sleep, little diary. I'll write more tomorrow.

Xia Feng