“Brother Chuan when are we getting married”
Bai Wei ignored the burning pain in her face and tugged at Lin Wenchuan asking him.
Lin Wenchuan looked back at her swollen and red face feeling agitated for a moment.
“It is not the right time yet”
“Then when will it be”
“We need a letter of introduction from our work unit to get married” Lin Wenchuan said irritably. “If I remarry right after getting divorced do you want everyone to say I cheated during my marriage”
“What am I supposed to do then” Bai Wei placed her hand on her belly looking frantic and distressed. “My belly will start showing soon. Su Wan promised not to say anything but everyone saw what happened. People are calling me a hussy behind my back and even to my face I cannot stay here another minute Please take me away with you right now”
Lin Wenchuan felt very troubled. “You have a family home to go back to. If you cannot stand it here stay at your parents place for a while”
She could hear the impatience in his tone and felt deeply wronged. “Brother Chuan how can I go home looking like this My mother has always wanted me to get married so she can use my bride price to get a wife for my younger brother. I kept telling them I would marry someone from the city after passing the university entrance exam and bring back more money so they stopped pressuring me. Now thanks to Su Wan my reputation is ruined. If my family finds out they will never let me come home”
“Am I supposed to just stay here locked up living in a cattle shed that even dogs would not live in and have everyone look at me with scorn”
Lin Wenchuan grew even more unsettled listening to her weeping complaints. Everything had been planned perfectly why did it all go wrong Not only did Su Wan take a large sum of money from him now he was also stuck with a heavy burden.
He glanced at Bai Weis belly and spoke in a calmer tone. “Stop crying now. I have a cousin who lives in the next village. I will speak to her and you can stay there for a while. Once things quiet down I will marry you”
He needed to go back home immediately. He did not know what Su Wan had told his mother but she had asked that strange question all of a sudden. He had found out by accident that his father was seeing someone. He never expected his father to be so irresponsible keeping a mistress and even bringing the mistresss daughter home to be raised by his own wife. He had turned a blind eye to it only because exposing the truth would ruin his fathers future and hurt his own career.
Someone was watching him from the shadows of a nearby tree. Lin Wenchuan caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and felt a slight tightening in his chest.
Meanwhile Lu Linzhou followed Su Wan to the health clinic. Su Wan handed him several jars of the ointment she had prepared.
“Same as before apply a proper amount to the affected areas when they itch twice a day”
“Thank you” Lu Linzhou took the cloth bag of medicine looked at her calm face and asked casually. “You took care of your business just now”
“Yes I just got divorced” She spoke in a flat tone as if she was talking about something very ordinary. In this era marriage was supposed to be free and women held up half the sky but divorce still meant facing harsh judgment from society.
Lu Linzhou paused for a moment. “Do not let what others say bother you. If you face any difficulties come find me at the military station”
Su Wan stopped organizing the things on her desk and looked up at him. His face was firm and he looked completely sincere. He seemed like a very responsible man.
She looked away and said with a hint of meaning. “Yes I will be seeing you quite often from now on”
If he really was the childs father and if he had lost his memory which was why he never came back for her then she would forgive him for leaving without a word all those years ago.
“What do you mean by that” Lu Linzhou looked at her with a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
“I promised I would fully heal your injuries how can I do that without seeing you regularly” Su Wan replied.
That was what she meant. Lu Linzhou felt a little embarrassed for having misunderstood her. Fortunately his skin had darkened from working outdoors so she probably did not notice. He cleared his throat and took out a stack of industrial ration coupons from his pocket.
“Please take these as a token of my gratitude”
Su Wan glanced at them and was about to refuse but then she remembered she needed to go to the neighbouring city to look for her child and industrial coupons would be very useful. As a military officer Lu Linzhou had coupons that were valid nationwide which would save her a lot of trouble. She accepted them happily.
“I actually need to go to the neighbouring city to buy medical supplies so I will take these. When I return I will focus on helping you fully recover from your old injuries”
She was going to the neighbouring city That was exactly where he was being sent on a mission tomorrow. Lu Linzhou thought for a moment. “When do you leave Are you going alone”
“Yes if nothing unexpected happens I will leave tomorrow morning” The sooner she arrived the sooner she would find out where her daughter was.
Su Wan put the coupons into the cloth bag where she kept her money and stood up. “Commander Lu I am going to the credit union to deposit this money now if you are busy you can go”
“I am free I will walk with you”
Su Wan fell silent. That was not what she meant. She was trying to say he could go if he had other things to do. This man was usually so sharp how could he misunderstand her She hesitated for a moment wondering if she should say no but did not want to hurt his feelings.
Lu Linzhou seemed to notice her hesitation and added. “Do not misunderstand. There is a military operation today and we are patrolling the area alongside local public security officers. The route happens to pass by the credit union so I am not going out of my way to accompany you”
He sounded perfectly reasonable and she could not find anything wrong with his explanation. “In that case thank you Commander Lu”
Lu Linzhou let out a quiet sigh of relief. Dealing with women was far more exhausting than leading troops into battle.
At the credit union Su Wan deposited most of her money keeping only a small amount of cash and coupons. She walked out and saw Lu Linzhou waiting for her under the porch. He stood tall and straight his stern and handsome face turning heads as other women walked past. He softened his expression when he saw her come out.
“Finished”
“Yes”
“Keep your things safe and be careful on your way back” Lu Linzhou gave her a few more words of advice before leaving with two young soldiers who had been waiting nearby.
He was thoughtful and upright. If he really was Yayas father he would be a good one. Thinking of her daughter Su Wan decided to stop by the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some White Rabbit milk candies peach shortbread and malted milk for the little girl.
The cooperative was not far away. She rode her bicycle and arrived shortly. From a distance she saw a crowd gathered at the entrance pointing and talking loudly. Screaming and shouting could be heard clearly from inside. Curious she parked her bicycle and heard people gasping in shock.
“Look she is bleeding down there”
“She looks like she has had a miscarriage”
“Serves her right for messing around with a married man”
The word miscarriage made Su Wan rush into the crowd. She stopped in surprise when she saw who was standing there.