① Why did Li Fang feel like a fool? →Because he was alone and heart-broken.

② What was Li Fang afraid that Hu Jin was doing? →She could be with her friends laughing at him.

③ How did Li Fang know the manager wanted to shut the coffee shop? →He saw the manager wipe the tables, sit down and turn on the TV.

④ Why do people want the weather to be fine on Qiqiaojie? →Because if it rains Zhinu would weep and the couple wouldn't be able to meet.

⑤ What is the reason why Li Fang and Hu Jin did not meet on time? →For Li Fang had gone to the wrong place to meet Hu Jin. They should meet at the tea shop.

⑥ Why was Li Fang so worried at the end of the story? →Because he had no gifts for Hu Jin.

6. Acting a text play

Next we are going to put the text A Sad Love Story on stage, that is, to play the story.

　　　　　　　　　　　A text play of A SAD LOVE STORY

(Time: Valentine's Day; Place: the coffee shop and the tea shop; People: Li Fang, the coffee shop manager and Hu Jin )

Li: (heart-broken) (to the manager) What time is it now, Sir?

Manager: It is ten to ten. Are you waiting for someone here?

Li Fang: Yes, I am meeting my girl friend here. She said she would be here by seven o'clock. It is almost ten now. We agreed to meet here, at this coffee shop after work. But she has not turned up yet.

Manager: You look heart-broken. Don't worry. I am sure she will be here very soon. Maybe she is with someone right now, doing something. But she will keep her word.

Li Fang: I don't think she will come to meet me. I look forward to being alone all my life. She is laughing at me. Oh, my God. I look like a fool, being alone on this Valentine's Day, with nobody loving me in this world.

Manager: So hold your breath for me to calm you down. Don't drown your sadness in coffee.

Li Fang: It is obvious that you want me to leave, don't you? What are you doing? Are you wiping the table? Why did you sit down and turn on the TV?

Manager: No, I won't ask you to go. Look! It's a sad Chinese story about love, on TV.

Li Fang: I do not watch TV plays very much.

Manager: But this one you must watch! It tells about a weaving girl and a herd boy. They have fallen in love with each other.

Li Fang: Are they married?

Manager: Yes, they got married secretly. But the mother of the girl, the Goddess, doesn't like her daughter to be married to a human. See she becomes angry and orders her to return to the Heaven.

Li Fang: How about Niulang? Will he follow the girl back to the Heaven?

Manager: Yes, he tries to follow her. But...

Li Fang: But what?

Manager: See the river? The Milky Way? It is impossible for this boy to cross the river.

Li Fang: I see. The mother has decided to let the couple meet once a year. But how do they cross the river, the Milky Way?

Manager: The heavenly magpies make a bridge of their wings so the couple can cross the river to meet.

Li Fang: When do they meet?

Manager: They meet once every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Li Fang: The TV play is over and I have to be off now, to meet my girl. But where is my girl?

Hu Jin: Why? It's you, Li Fang? Why didn't you come to meet me? I have been waiting for you ever since 7 this evening.

Li Fang: I am heart-broken. You leave me alone in the coffee shop, waiting for you the whole evening. Are you in love with someone else?

Hu Jin: I was waiting for you at the tea shop. Did you forget that we agreed to meet there?

Li Fang: Is it the tea shop, not the coffee shop?

Hu Jin: Absolutely!

Li Fang: Sorry! I apologise to you. My memory failed me.

Hu Jin: So you set off for home? Anyway you are here. Now here you are, the gift from me. You know it's the Valentine's Day?

Li Fang: But, but I have thrown mine away?

Hu Jin: Why?

Li Fang: Because I don't want them to remind me of you. I thought you would never turn up in front of me, to see me, to love me.

Hu Jin: I passed a man on the corner on my way here looking for you. I heard him singing the song of Qiqiaojie. I thought it was you. So I waved at him. But it turned out to be a stranger.

Li Fang: Could you forgive me? I have no gifts for you on this happy and sad Valentine's Day.