[RP] All Quiet In Ibigawa

[The Yeti]

17 MAY 1967 — SUNDAY
JIBANYAN, IBIGAWA PREFECTURE, WEST KYOWARA​

It was another quiet, snowy afternoon in the city of Jibanyan, a hermit town existing solely in quietude beneath the imposing figures of the Sengakuji Mountains covered in snow much like the grey hair of advanced age. No more than a hundred thousand inhabited this small city of its own, where the people ate, drank, worked and lived in harmony as a community of themselves. The streets were merely paved, the buildings poorly built, the gilded pagodas of Aida faith crumbling under the little sunshine the harsh, cold weather had to offer in a January day. The main street of Yuichimori Avenue, changed recently from what the locals knew as the Drung Hal, echoed with the sounds of vendors trying to lure in customers to buy their fresh apricots, newly caught sardines or handmade tools of housekeeping while being accompanied by their trusted canines or children whom could not be afforded for education. Tengchen Dhargey was one of those children, born to a fruit vendor father and an absent mother who had ran away to the big city, having to work with his father to sell the produce of their modest garden in order to feed himself and his younger sister, caught in the claws of poverty in a city that was barely scraping the bottom of the barrel. Indeed, Tengchen's fate was not unheard of in Jibanyan, as poverty grew each passing day as the government kept implementing new taxes, new embargoes and new regulations every single day. The only thing people of Jibanyan were guilty of was being from a different descent, was refusing Iziku normalcy, the attempt to preserve their faith, their heritage and dignity.

"Teng." called Ngawang, his elderly father, placing a calloused hand over the young boy's boney shoulder, "The government men will be here to take you to school. You can't keep working with me here."

"What are you saying, apha?" asked Tengchen, confusion etched on his young face. School? He never thought he would be offered the oppurtunity, but why now? Why him? Most of his friends worked with their fathers just like him for years to learn profession and trade, why would he go to school instead of bringing home bread for his sister Lhaya and his father? "If I go to school, who'd tend your stand? You are well over fifty, we cannot afford having you working alone."

Ngawang smiled, his silver mustache curling up as he offered a wry grin to his teenage son. "My sweet child, always eager to help. Your apha may be a little rusted, but he will do well. You know whatever the government says is law, you and I have no choice but to obey." he said, his tone stern and matter-of-fact. As he inspected Tengchen's confused, pondering brown eyes, he knew he had to soothe his son. Tengchen was afraid of change, afraid of leaving his family behind and Ngawang was well aware of it all. But he had to be strong for his son like he always had, he knew Tengchen would be taken from him one way or another. "Take it from the bright side, son. You'll get an education, a degree, like those urbanite kids of Shinji. Maybe you'll be a lawyer, or a doctor..."

"But why do I have to leave you and Lhaya? What'll I do when I know you are left behind?" Tengchen asked, his voice carrying hints of desparation, hints of indecisiveness. "How will I live knowing you are alone?"

"I won't be alone. Neither will be your sister." Ngawang nodded, assuring. "You've always been the stubborn kind, the fiery one. I love that about you. But... please, do this for me. I would rather have you register with your own consent rather than the government people come and take you like prey."

Tengchen sighed, a cacophony of million possibilities blurring his mind. An hour, just an hour ago, he was blissfully unaware of this fateful event that was going to change his life - for the better or worse - and now he was left to ponder all possibilities. But regardless, he also knew to respect his father's wishes, no matter how stubborn he might be. It was puzzling, yet, there was only one option to be chosen. This was so sudden. Tengchen rose from his seat to hug his father tightly, before gazing into his tired eyes, seeing the burst capapillaries of Ngawang's eyes from hours of working, the spent expression, years of labour. "What now?" he asked, his voice coming off as hoarse and raspy, "when will I go?"

"They will come to take you the school in the outskirts of the nearby village tomorrow morning by bus. Tell your sister to pack you clean clothes and some cigarettes. You can always come back to here to see us, alright?" Ngawang said with a reassuring, warm smile. "You are my brave soldier, son, I know you won't disappoint us. I will send you twenty thousand wans every month, alright? You just focus on your studies and be what your old man failed to be." he said. "Now, go home and gather your stuff. Eat some food. Kiss Lhaya goodbye. I need to tend the stand, those apricots won't sell themselves."