When Xiao Mandong got off work, she went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought some vegetables. From now on, she planned to cook at home every day. That way, she could keep the kang heated as well. Sleeping on a warm kang in the middle of winter really was wonderful. Though her space was maintained at a comfortable temperature and never felt cold, it simply couldn’t compare with a kang. The heat seeped into her back, hot and soothing. Just thinking about it was enough to make her feel comfortable.
She had only just finished washing the vegetables when someone knocked on the door. Xiao Mandong shook the water from her hands and hurried to open it. Two women stood outside, one of them holding an enamel basin.
“You must be Doctor Xiao, right? You’re every bit as beautiful as everyone says. I work in the hospital’s finance department—you can just call me Sister Li. This is my younger sister-in-law, Zou Yan. You probably don’t know me. I’m still on sick leave, and I made these steamed buns myself, so I brought some for you to try. I live in the building up ahead. I just got back from my parents’ home today and thought I’d come over to meet you.”
Li Yuehua began introducing herself the moment she stepped inside. Her husband had gone out of his way to send word to her parents’ home today. He had told her that Doctor Xiao knew a foreign language, and as it turned out, the instruction manual Xiao Mandong translated had really helped the factory repair a machine. The factory director had been so pleased that he promoted him to team leader, giving him an extra ten yuan a month. He had urged her to hurry back to the residential compound, pay Doctor Xiao a visit, and get on good terms with her. If anyone bullied Doctor Xiao, she was to help protect her.
She had been on sick leave for half a year and had not returned to the residential compound. She had heard that Xiao Mandong knew English from a former colleague. Never had she expected that merely mentioning it to her husband would bring her such a stroke of luck.
“Hello, Sister Li. Come in and sit down. But you really shouldn’t have brought these. Please take them back.”
Seeing the white-flour steamed buns Li Yuehua took from the basin, Xiao Mandong felt a little puzzled. White flour was precious in those days. They had never even met before, so why was Li Yuehua giving her such an expensive gift?
“My husband works at the machinery factory. He told the factory director that you knew a foreign language, and we never imagined you’d be so capable. The technicians used the manual you translated and managed to get the machine running again. The director was delighted and promoted my husband to team leader. I came today specifically to thank you.”
Li Yuehua seemed to notice her doubts and quickly explained. Otherwise, anyone would be wary of such sudden kindness from a complete stranger.
Only after hearing her explanation did Xiao Mandong let down her guard. She made the two women cups of brown-sugar water, then sat down and chatted with them.
Zou Yan was a cheerful person and told Xiao Mandong about all the families living in the compound.
For example, the family upstairs worked in the hospital’s radiology department. The husband and wife had both been married before, and each had brought a child into the marriage. Recently, they had been quarreling over whether to send one of the children to the countryside or buy them a job.
Then there was Aunt Xu, who lived alone. Her younger son was an unfilial wretch, while her older son was stationed at the border.
The daughter who had gone to the countryside from the rear courtyard had returned a few days ago. In order to get back to the city, she had deliberately crippled her own leg. Otherwise, she would have ended up being targeted by some old bachelor in the countryside. That girl was truly ruthless…
Just then, a commotion broke out outside. Xiao Mandong and the two sisters-in-law went out together and saw a large crowd gathered not far ahead.
Zou Yan darted into the crowd and soon ran back.
“Oh, sister-in-law, you’d never have guessed it—Cui Lijuan actually has two children, and they’re both grown!”
“Her daughter is quite something, too. She stood at the entrance to the compound shouting, ‘Cui Lijuan is heartless! She abandoned her husband and children and refuses to support them—she’s utterly shameless!’ She managed to draw everyone over. Cui Lijuan hasn’t gotten off work yet. She’ll probably go crazy when she comes back.”
Zou Yan spilled everything she had heard in one breath.
In those days, apart from watching the excitement, people had little entertainment. Whenever they had nothing to do, they passed the time gossiping about this family and that.
Xiao Mandong pushed through the crowd and saw Xiaoli in the middle, telling everyone her story.
She had never expected Xiaoli to make such a huge scene. Originally, Xiao Mandong had planned to accompany her to the police station that day, but Xiaoli had refused. She said she would handle her own affairs and didn’t want to cause trouble for Xiao Mandong.
Hearing that, Xiao Mandong decided not to involve herself too deeply in someone else’s affairs. Besides, she could tell that Xiaoli was no ordinary girl—she had a mind of her own. Her instincts told her that Xiaoli had already planned exactly what she was going to do.
At the police station, Xiaoli had finally met her biological mother, Cui Lijuan. To her surprise, Cui Lijuan had shown no concern whatsoever for the son she had not seen in twenty years, nor did she appear to feel the slightest guilt toward either of them. The first thing she said was that she was sorry, but she could not acknowledge them.
She had even given Xiaoli five ten-yuan bills and told her to return to their hometown for now. In a couple of years, she would go back to find them.
Xiaoli had said nothing at the time. She took her brother back to the guesthouse. Then, around the time the workday was ending, she brought him straight to the residential compound.
If you’re afraid of something, then I’ll make sure you face it.
After making such a scene, Xiaoli told everyone what had happened over the years. The neighbors finally learned the truth. No one had expected that Cui Lijuan had not only married someone while she was in the countryside, but had also had children with him. Many people began to sympathize with Section Chief Tang.
The cafeteria workers got off work a little later than everyone else. When Cui Lijuan heard what had happened, she ran home as fast as she could.
She pushed through the crowd and heard Xiaoli’s accusations. She nearly fainted.
She knew she was finished. Her own daughter had ruined her. She never would have imagined that the silent girl at the police station would be so ruthless.
“Shi Xiaoli, I’ve sent money to you every month. I’ve also bought plenty of things and mailed them back. Ask yourself—though I haven’t been by your side, have I ever spent a penny less on you? And you came here to make a scene. Are you trying to destroy me?” Cui Lijuan pointed at Shi Xiaoli, her teeth clenched in fury.
“Cui Lijuan, I haven’t received a single thing or a single letter from you since I was six. You say you sent money—who did you send it to? Where did you send it? Produce the remittance receipts and let everyone see who’s telling the truth.”
Shi Xiaoli looked at Cui Lijuan calmly and fearlessly.
“You left with all the money, and because of that, my brother missed the chance to receive treatment. When we came looking for you, you gave me fifty yuan and thought you could send us back to our hometown. Do you know that we escaped from there? Didn’t the police tell you why we came looking for you?”
Shi Xiaoli spoke with the grim determination of someone prepared to risk everything. The police had already told Cui Lijuan what had happened to them in the village that day, yet she still wanted Xiaoli to take her brother back. If that was how she wanted to play it, then there was no reason for Xiaoli to hold anything back.
Cui Lijuan’s chest ached with rage. To keep Tang Guanshan from discovering anything, she had always had her second sister-in-law send the money and packages for her.
Could it be that her second sister-in-law had never sent the remittances at all?
Just then, Tang Guanshan hurried over. When he saw the scene before him, the veins on his forehead bulged.
His face flushed red, then turned white. He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails nearly dug into his palms.
