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           Contents of ESL                              By Lisa Lee

Kui Hua woke up and smiled. Through the window, she saw a few of the sunflowers that Tin Ming planted for her. She liked the green leaves and the flower-buds. She thought of herself as a sunflower, full of vitality. Since getting married, she was happy and satisfied because Tin Ming treated her well, no like other mean treated their wives--as slaves. She loved her husband’s boyish manner and his tenderness, even though he was spoiled by his mother.

One morning, as usual, Kui Hua woke up early. She gazed at her charming husband and lightly kissed his face. Tin Ming pretended to be asleep. When Kui Hua was leaving the bed, Tin Ming caught her and ticked her waist. Kui Hua laughed so hard, she could barely breathe.

"Oh, Please!" she begged.
             "All right! Then tell me about Canton City. I think it is a wonderful place," Tin Ming said.

Kui Hua described Canton City in Detail. When Kui Hua was twelve years old, her mother got sick. Kui Hua's father was a country teacher who earned only a little money. Fortunately, Aunt Kim, Kui Hua’s mother’s elder sister, insisted on taking Kui Hua’s mother to Canton and sending her to the hospital there. Therefore, Kui Hua went with her mother and took care of her.

In that time, Kui Hua and her cousin Meili, Aunt Kim’s daughter, became good friends. Meili was two years older than Kui Hua. She was an open and active girl who liked sports and disliked studying. Meili admired Kui Hua’s cleverness and knowledge of Chinese poetry. Kui Hua envied Mei’s chance to go to school. Meili told Kui Hua about Canton, the famous southern import and export business city of China. Meili and Kui Hua walked over the huge Sea Pearl Bridge, and looked at the sailing ships and boats. There were many big and tall buildings, decorated with different colored neon lights. At night, Canton City had a splendid view.

"Ah, hoe nice! How long did you stay there?" asked Tin Ming.
            "About five years. After my mother died, I came back to my village. Canton is a very prosperous city, and I always knew that I did not belong there."
           "I hope I have a chance to go to Canton. Can you ask Meili?" Tin Ming asked eagerly.
            Kui Hua hesitated. When she met Tin Ming's eyes, she said, "Let me contact Aunt Kim first, because Meili got married three years ago."

 Looking at her excited husband, somehow Kui Hua's heart felt a little anxious.

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