“And so Cat got your tongue?”
Seeing Su Wan fall silent Zhang Guiqing assumed she had struck a nerve.
“Let me make this clear Su Wan divorce is fine but don’t you dare expect our Lin family to hand over those three thousand yuan!”
Su Wan snapped back to her senses gazing at the face before her well preserved yet undeniably showing its age. A flicker of pity crossed her eyes.
“Comrade Zhang Guiqing we’re both women. If you found out your husband was keeping a mistress behind your back and even expected you to raise the child he had with her would you still be so magnanimous pretending nothing ever happened?”
Zhang Guiqing’s expression shifted. “What exactly are you implying?”
“Simply this your youngest daughter isn’t an orphan at all. She’s the product of your husband’s affair with your best friend.”
Su Wan’s eyes glinted with scorn. “And that’s not the only mistress he’s got. There’s another younger one and she’s already carrying his child! No wonder Lin Wenchuan is so cold and heartless runs in the blood doesn’t it?”
Zhang Guiqing stared in utter disbelief her voice rising sharply.
“Say another word of that nonsense Su Wan and see what happens!”
“Is it nonsense Go home and look into it yourself you’ll find out soon enough.”
Su Wan caught sight of Lin Wenchuan and Bai Wei walking toward them. Her gaze flickered and she lowered her voice.
“Your beloved eldest son was the one who let it slip when he’d had too much to drink.”
What!
Zhang Guiqing froze on the spot her face draining of color inch by inch.
Lin Wenchuan approached his face still bruised and swollen. He seethed with resentment Su Wan had made him swallow a bitter pill and he’d had no way to speak up. When his mother had suggested coming to confront her together he hadn’t objected. He’d deliberately kept his distance just now waiting for her to blow up. But seeing things going wrong he hurried over.
“Mom have you finished talking?”
Zhang Guiqing whipped around and grabbed his arm.
“Wenchuan did you know all along where your little sister came from?”
Lin Wenchuan’s heart jolted. He adjusted his glasses with a nervous hand.
“Where she came from She’s just Dad adopted her from the orphanage isn’t she?”
Zhang Guiqing saw the evasion in his eyes. Her heart sank.
She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
Lin Wenchuan’s head snapped to the side stunned.
“Mom have you lost your mind Why are you hitting me?”
“Yes Auntie why hit Brother Chuan He’s your own son!” Bai Wei chimed in quickly.
“I have no such ungrateful son who bites the hand that feeds him!” Zhang Guiqing’s chest heaved violently.
All her life she’d lived for her husband and sons worked hard kept the house respectable preserved appearances. And for what Her husband cheating right under her nose her own son knowing and keeping it from her conspiring together to make a fool of her!
“Wait Mom how am I ungrateful” Lin Wenchuan protested.
Zhang Guiqing ignored him for the moment turning back to Su Wan. “Tell me who is this other woman the one who’s pregnant?”
Su Wan glanced at the glass pane. Typical just when it mattered the faint image had vanished. But if the other party wouldn’t speak that didn’t mean she couldn’t stir things up!
With that thought she deliberately glanced toward Bai Wei.
“Who is she Find out yourself won’t you?”
Zhang Guiqing understood instantly. She turned slowly toward Bai Wei her face turning pale then green with rage. She thought back to these past few years how her husband had at first hated coming to the countryside then gradually seemed eager to visit. Could it be the child Bai Wei is carrying is his! That shameless hussy carrying on with her son and now even her husband!
“Bai Wei you tell me the truth whose child are you carrying?” Her eyes blazed as if she might tear the girl apart with her bare hands.
Terrified Bai Wei stepped back instinctively covering her stomach.
“Why Brother Chuan’s of course. Auntie why are you asking such things?”
To Zhang Guiqing that nervous guilty look was proof of wrongdoing. Anger surged through her veins. She grabbed Bai Wei by the hair and rained blows on her face.
“You shameless little hussy Still lying I’ll teach you to go chasing men I’ll beat the truth out of you!”
Bai Wei shrieked but dared not strike back out of respect for Zhang Guiqing’s age. Her face was soon swollen and bruised.
“Mom stop it What on earth has gotten into you!” Lin Wenchuan pulled her away roughly standing between his mother and the weeping Bai Wei.
“And you’re defending her Do you even know who the father of her baby really is?” Zhang Guiqing panted.
Lin Wenchuan looked at Bai Wei suspicion clouding his face.
“What do you mean Auntie I swear before heaven this child is Brother Chuan’s!” Bai Wei said stinging from the blows.
“Mom why are you asking this all of a sudden” Lin Wenchuan demanded. Then he seemed to realize something and turned sharply toward Su Wan. “It’s you isn’t it You’ve been filling my mother’s head with lies!”
“I haven’t said a single untrue word.” Su Wan shrugs looking thoroughly pleased with the scene. “Now shall we go inside and finish the paperwork I’ve got things to do later.”
She walked ahead without waiting. Lin Wenchuan’s face darkened.
“Mom don’t go believing everything you hear. Su Wan just wants to see us turn against each other!”
The initial fury faded and Zhang Guiqing slowly calmed down. Logically she knew he was right but the doubt had taken root and wouldn’t be so easily pulled out. She’d come here ready to accuse and demand answers now she’d lost all heart for it. Straightening her clothes she turned and walked toward the village entrance.
She’d given birth to two sons. Her husband had always wanted a daughter said only then would their family be complete. But knowing another pregnancy might harm her health he’d suggested adoption instead. A daughter would marry away someday anyway. Back then she’d thought herself truly blessed married to a promising tender thoughtful man. She’d never imagined he would deceive her like this. No she had to go back and find out for herself. Everything.
“Su Wan what exactly did you say to my mother” Lin Wenchuan caught up his voice low and menacing.
“Ask her yourself once we’ve finished the paperwork.” Su Wan held out the divorce papers. “Read them carefully. Sign if you’ve no objections.”
Lin Wenchuan suppressed his anger his voice sharp with warning. “Su Wan I’m up for a promotion soon. If you breathe a word about me and Bai Wei don’t say I haven’t warned you.”
Su Wan couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. Once he’d signed she held out her hand. “The three thousand yuan compensation.”
Lin Wenchuan gritted his teeth opened his black leather satchel and pulled out stacks of banknotes along with ration coupons for grain oil and cloth. Bai Wei stood nearby wincing as she watched Su Wan take the money money that should have been hers!
Su Wan tucked the cash and coupons into a cloth bag then went with Lin Wenchuan into the Civil Affairs office. The formalities were quick. Their two red marriage certificates decorated with wheat sheaves and flags were taken away and replaced with divorce certificates. She stepped outside looked up at the sky and clenched her fingers gently. Next she had to find that poor child.
“Comrade Su Wan.”
Lu Linzhou strode toward her his forest green army trousers crisp and immaculate.
Su Wan looked up. “Commander Lu are you here on business?”
He didn’t say he’d been thinking about her situation all this time. “I came to ask has that ointment been prepared?”
“Yes I finished it last night. If you hadn’t come I would have sent word to bring it to you.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” His gaze was steady and sincere.
“Come with me then.”
“Right.”
From the office doorway Lin Wenchuan watched them talking amiably as they walked toward the health clinic his expression darkening further. Divorced only moments ago and already so friendly with Lu Linzhou Did she think he’d be her next husband Who did she think she was A divorced woman with a child even an ordinary villager wouldn’t touch her let alone someone from a distinguished family like Lu Linzhou!