Dong Lie got up and saw Dong Jun standing beside Xu Qingru staring fixedly at Dong Yunzhou as if he had done something terrible.
“What is it?” Dong Lie asked touching his forehead and looking between them.
“Father I was only concerned that Comrade Xu would feel uncomfortable here alone,” Dong Yunzhou said after thinking.
“Uncle Dong Comrade Dong had not even said anything yet,” Xu Qingru spoke up.
Dong Jun froze. It was true Dong Yunzhou was usually stern and he had worried he might frighten the girl. But Dong Yunzhou had said nothing and done nothing and now it seemed Dong Jun was making trouble out of nothing.
“Well since we are to be family why do you keep calling each other comrade” Dong Jun said finding a reason to smooth things over. “You should call him elder brother.”
Xu Qingru glanced at Dong Yunzhou and said nothing. Seeing her reluctance to speak the title Dong Yunzhou felt an inexplicable irritation.
“We are not yet family” he said sharply. “Comrade is fine.”
Xu Qingru nodded at once. “That is true.” He was going to recommend her to the institute so agreeing with him was the sensible thing to do.
Dong Yunzhou’s irritation deepened. Then discomfort from his stomach overtook his annoyance his face turned ashen and he turned and left quickly. Dong Jun and Dong Lie followed without hesitation. In their hurry they had forgotten their own distress. When they had all attended to themselves Xu Qingru had already washed and dried every dish.
Dong Jun led the others back to the living room. After a few steps he frowned. He pressed his lower back and shifted his right leg which had carried an old battle injury and had always ached. Before he could feel carefully the usual sharp stinging pain was gone entirely.
Dong Yunzhou noticed his movement and asked at once. “Father has your old injury flared up?”
Dong Jun shook his head gravely. “It has not flared up. It has healed.”
“Has the recent treatment worked then?” Dong Yunzhou asked assuming it was medicine.
Dong Jun pressed his back and said earnestly. “No it pained me before the meal. It felt lighter only after my stomach settled.”
Dong Lie looked up. “I feel lighter too. I hurt my leg running the other day and now it feels better.”
Dong Yunzhou looked from Dong Jun to Dong Lie and then to the gash on Dong Lie’s forehead. It had been bleeding openly yet now it was crusted over leaving only a faint pale mark. The others might be mistaken but this was undeniable.
Dong Jun exclaimed. “Your head wound it has closed!”
Dong Lie touched his forehead finding only fresh damp blood. “Has it?” he asked dazedly.
Dong Yunzhou showed him the wound clearly. Xu Qingru seeing it had healed so fast was startled too. The fish was far too effective. It would be strange if they did not suspect her. She pressed her lips together lowered her head and wondered how to explain.
“Could you bring another fish tomorrow?” Dong Yunzhou asked suddenly.
Relieved he did not press the matter Xu Qingru nodded eagerly. He meant to study the black fish she supposed. If good came of research it was all to the better.
After she left Dong Jun looked gravely at both young men. “Not a word of this to anyone” he warned. “Or I will answer to you both myself.”
Dong Yunzhou understood the gravity. Dong Lie though usually lighthearted was sensible and nodded at once. Then he added. “If the fish heals could it help the fourth brother?”
They looked at one another and Dong Yunzhou shook his head. “Shuyan’s trouble is of the spirit. It is unlikely to help.”
“We should try at least!” Dong Lie said anxiously. Why give up without trying? Dong Yunzhou stayed silent. Dong Lie resolved to ask Xu Qingru to take him to buy the fish next time they met.
Dong Yunzhou suspected the fish could not be bought anywhere. As for Xu Qingru’s secrets she meant them no harm or she would not have shared the fish with them. He reflected on his own behaviour toward her. Had he been unkind?
When Xu Qingru returned to her dormitory Ma Xiulan was still out. She went to her space and brought out another fish. If it strengthened the body her mother should have more of it. Before she could cook Xu Hui arrived.
“Qingru are you angry with me?” he asked wearing the guise of a caring father.
Xu Qingru suppressed her rising disgust. In her past life she had married Chen Jiashu for his sake only to hear him say when her talent for research emerged that a girl should step aside and let men lead. He had claimed the path was too hard and he wished to spare her yet later she learned he had taken money from Chen Jiashu while he was gravely ill to force her into the marriage. Trembling with memory she lifted her face and stood before him.
“Father what would I hold against you? Choosing to go with Mother was my own choice. But tell me are you not afraid of being associated with her?”
Xu Hui moved closer. “You are my daughter. Why would I be afraid?” Then he added. “I am your real father you know.”
Xu Qingru looked at him waiting. At last he could not hold back. “What is your mother’s relationship with Dong Jun?”
Xu Qingru smiled. “Uncle Dong has asked to marry her.”
“What!” He had guessed but hearing it confirmed was another matter. His face paled and he struggled to contain his anger.
“Father” she said. “Now that Mother will not be sent away are you not happy for her?”