A woman was looking for Zhou Zhijun? Aunt Zhou furrowed her brow slightly and walked to the kitchen door to look out, but there was no one in sight.
“Who’s looking for your Uncle Zhijun?”
Xiangguo glanced toward the yard gate and, after catching her breath, said, “Some fancy-looking woman… I was cutting grass on the hillside when she asked me for directions. She said she was looking for my uncle, so I brought her here.”
Aunt Zhou muttered, “A woman from the city?” She had never heard that Zhou Zhijun knew any city girls.
Just as she finished speaking, a young, fashionable woman walked into the yard.
Her perm was a voluminous mass of springy curls, and her face was covered in thick powder, making her skin look startlingly white. Her lips were painted a vivid red, impossible to miss.
She wore a maroon wool coat that fell below her knees, a close-fitting cream sweater underneath, and dark-gray stretch pants that clung tightly to her legs. On her feet were a pair of shiny black leather boots that reached above her knees.
Though the soles were splattered with mud, they did nothing to diminish her fashionable appearance. Standing in the yard, she was even more dazzling than a salesgirl at the county department store.
A black faux-leather handbag hung from her left shoulder, while in her right hand she carried a large net bag filled with beauty products.
Aunt Zhou studied her thoughtfully. The woman took a handkerchief from her bag and dabbed the sweat from her forehead before asking with a smile, “Ma’am, is this the home of Zhou Zhijun’s second aunt?”
“That’s right. And you are?” Aunt Zhou asked, her face breaking into a welcoming smile.
“My name is Zuo Jinhui. I’m friends with Brother Zhijun. I came to see him today, and I also have something to discuss with him.”
Chuntao and Zhou Xiaowei had heard the commotion in the yard from the inner room. Zhou Xiaowei didn’t recognize Zuo Jinhui, but Chuntao remembered her.
She recalled running into Zuo Jinhui in the county town last time. Zuo Jinhui had asked her to deliver a note to Zhou Zhijun, but Zhou Zhijun had simply thrown it away.
At the time, Chuntao hadn’t been pregnant yet. Now the twins—a boy and a girl—were already born, and nearly a year had passed. Zuo Jinhui had actually managed to find this place!
“I’ll go take a look!” Zhou Xiaowei exclaimed. The moment he heard that a woman had come looking for his second uncle, he hurried out of the inner room.
As soon as he saw the fashionable, city-bred woman in the yard, his eyes widened.
When had his second uncle gotten to know such a refined woman? How come he knew nothing about it?
While Zhou Xiaowei was puzzling over this, he heard Zuo Jinhui say, “Wu Mingwei is my cousin. He and Brother Zhijun served in the same unit.”
Aunt Zhou and Zhou Xiaowei finally understood.
Aunt Zhou smiled and picked up the conversation. “I’m Zhou Zhijun’s mother. I know Wu Mingwei—that young man’s a fine fellow!”
“So you’re Aunt Zhou!” Zuo Jinhui’s eyes lit up, and her tone grew even warmer. “My cousin often talks about you. He says you treated him well and that you’re a straightforward, bighearted woman!”
Aunt Zhou began to wonder. This was Wu Mingwei’s cousin, and she claimed to have something to discuss with Zhijun. Could Wu Mingwei have asked her to deliver a message?
Seeing the things Zuo Jinhui was carrying, she smiled and stepped forward to take them, speaking politely all the while. “Girl, you shouldn’t have brought anything. Just coming to visit is enough—you’re too thoughtful!”
As she spoke, she led her toward the north room, then called out to Zhou Xiaowei, who was still standing dazed in the doorway, “Go pour our guest a bowl of tea!”
Zuo Jinhui quickly waved her hands. “Aunt Zhou, please don’t go to any trouble. I’ve always thought of Brother Zhijun as my own brother.”
Just then, Second Aunt Zhou came into the room carrying a bowl of egg tea. Smiling, she said, “You must be Zhijun’s friend, right? Don’t be shy. Let Aunt Zhou make you a bowl of egg tea too!”
“Have a seat. I’ll go heat some up for you in the kitchen!” Aunt Zhou said, starting toward the kitchen.
Zuo Jinhui hurriedly stopped her. “Auntie, don’t go to all that trouble. I’m not hungry!”
“You came all this way. How could you not be hungry?”
“Auntie, I really am not hungry!”
She insisted so firmly that Aunt Zhou did not press her.
After seeing Second Aunt Zhou carry the egg tea into the inner room, Aunt Zhou said to Zuo Jinhui, “Have a seat, dear. I’ll help Chuntao sit up so she can eat something while it’s still warm.”
Aunt Zhou went into the inner room to help Chuntao, while Second Aunt Zhou handed her the bowl of egg tea. “Drink it while it’s hot. I added plenty of brown sugar. It’ll warm you up and help with your milk.”
Chuntao had kept in mind all the help Zuo Jinhui had given her. Since Zuo Jinhui had come such a long way, it would be terribly rude not to say anything to her.
Besides, she and Zhou Zhijun had already registered their marriage. Avoiding Zuo Jinhui now would only make it look as though they had something to hide.
She set the bowl on the bedside table and braced herself to get out of bed. “Sister Zuo is here. I should go out and greet her.”
Only then did Aunt Zhou and Second Aunt Zhou realize that Chuntao knew Zuo Jinhui as well.
Since they were acquainted, proper etiquette dictated that Chuntao should at least go out and exchange a few words with her.
Aunt Zhou helped her out of bed, quickly draped a padded jacket over her shoulders, and pulled a knitted cap down over her head. “There’s a draft by the door. You mustn’t catch a chill!”
As she supported Chuntao toward the doorway of the inner room, Aunt Zhou reminded her in a low voice, “Just say hello, then come right back. Get back into bed and rest!”
Chuntao walked out of the inner room on unsteady legs. Her pale little face wore a faint smile, and her soft voice was weak with exhaustion from having just given birth. “Sister Zuo, you’re here.”
Zuo Jinhui pretended to be surprised. Rising to her feet, she asked, “Chuntao? You’re…”
“Chuntao gave birth today—a boy and a girl, no less. She’s still very weak,” Aunt Zhou added from the side.
Wu Mingwei had already told Zuo Jinhui that Chuntao was pregnant, but a sliver of hope had remained in her heart.
Now that she had heard with her own ears that Chuntao had given birth to twins—a boy and a girl—her mind went completely blank.
Her body swayed almost imperceptibly, and she even forgot to take the teacup Zhou Xiaowei held out to her.
Seeing her standing there in a daze, Aunt Zhou quickly took the cup and called to her again. “Dear, you’ve come such a long way. Sit down and have some tea to soothe your throat!”
Only then did Zuo Jinhui come back to herself. She accepted the cup and clutched it tightly in her hands.
Her heart felt as though it had been pierced by an icy blade—cold and aching. Yet she insisted on appearing composed, forcing a smile. “Congratulations, Sister Chuntao.”
Chuntao noticed her discomfort and gave her a gentle smile. “You must be exhausted after traveling so far. Sit down and rest for a while.”
Aunt Zhou chimed in as well. “Go on, sit down. Don’t be shy.” Then she turned to Chuntao. “Come on, I’ll help you back inside. Don’t overexert yourself. Your egg tea will be getting cold.”
Just then, the heavy thud of footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Zhou Zhijun had returned.
Zhou Xiaowei hurried out to meet him, took the things from his hands, and lowered his voice. “Second Uncle, someone’s here to see you—a woman from the city.”
Zhou Zhijun frowned and looked toward the room. Just then, Zuo Jinhui happened to glance outside as well.
The instant their eyes met, a complicated light flickered in Zuo Jinhui’s eyes, while Zhou Zhijun’s face remained utterly expressionless.
“Brother Zhijun, you’re back.” Zuo Jinhui rose and walked to the doorway.
Zhou Zhijun gave a faint nod. “Sit.”
When he entered the room, he saw Aunt Zhou supporting Chuntao as they stood by the doorway to the inner room. Concern and tenderness immediately filled his eyes. He strode forward and said, “Chuntao, why are you out of bed?”
As he spoke, he carefully helped her back toward the inner room.
Seeing the love in Zhou Zhijun’s eyes as he looked at Chuntao, and the tenderness with which he supported her, Zuo Jinhui felt another stab of pain in her heart.
She bit her lip hard, a trace of bitterness and loneliness flashing across her eyes.
“Zhijun, Mingwei’s cousin came all this way to see you. She says she has something to tell you.” Aunt Zhou gave Zhou Zhijun a meaningful look, signaling for him to go outside and talk.
Something to tell him? Zhou Zhijun couldn’t help wondering what important matter she could possibly have.
He stepped outside and got straight to the point. “Jinhui, what brings you here today?”
The emotions faded from Zuo Jinhui’s face, replaced by a gentle smile. She took half a step toward the outside and said, “Brother Zhijun, about this matter…”
She hesitated, then finally said, “Why don’t we take a walk? I’ll tell you along the way…”
