Su Wan’s pupils flared sharply shock plain on her face.
Four years ago she had given birth to a pair of twins one boy one girl.
But Lin Wenchuan had told her the boy had died at birth leaving only their daughter Yaya.
So this was yet another of his lies.
Su Wan ached to demand answers from her future self right then.
But faint footsteps sounded behind her.
Someone was coming.
She closed her eyes tamping down the roiling storm inside and lightly squeezed the vial tucked in her pocket.
Turning she saw two ne’er‑do‑wells from the neighboring village approaching one tall one short grinning savagely eyes fixed hungrily on her.
Su Wan what are you doing out here all alone Waiting for someone to keep you company huh
Your man’s gone back to the city and left you hasn’t he Must be hard sleeping in an empty bed Tonight the two of us will keep you real good company
Su Wan listened to their lewd taunts and feigned alarm backing away.
What do you think you are doing Stay back I am warning you I did not come alone My husband Wenchuan is with me
Oh yeah Where is he then
Wenchuan Su Wan called out.
Save your breath Su Wan In a minute you will be screaming our names nonstop The tall one lunged to grab her.
She gasped playing the terrified victim perfectly and turned to flee deeper into the reeds. The pair laughed coarsely as they gave chase spewing filth all the while until Su Wan stopped abruptly.
Why did you stop The tall man panted his gaze roving shamelessly over her heaving chest Got away from me five years ago did not you I have been thinking about you every day since Had a baby but your waist is even nicer now Last time you got lucky someone stepped in This time who is going to save you
The words struck her like shards of ice unlocking a memory she had buried deep five years ago on the eve of her wedding to Lin Wenchuan.
That evening after finishing the brigade’s account books and seeing a storm was coming she had taken the shortcut home. That was when this same man had cornered her dragging her into the woods. She had screamed for help but he had clamped a drugged handkerchief tight over her mouth. Her mind clouded and through the haze she had seen a tall figure burst forward tackling her attacker. The thug was no match and begged for mercy then when her rescuer loosened his grip he had snatched up a stone and smashed it into the back of the man’s head.
She had heard a low groan and then things blurred. It felt like a dream an improper one where she had been the one to take charge climbing atop him stripping away his clothes taking advantage of his injury. When she woke she was alone in a cave. He was gone. But the ache in her body told her it had not been a dream. A stranger had made her his.
His voice echoed in her memory low and gentle Do not be afraid I will take responsibility Wait for me I will come back
He never did. Instead she had learned she was carrying his child.
Returning to the present Su Wan looked at the two advancing men her gaze turning cold and still. She backed away again seemingly terrified while her fingers twisted the cap off the vial and she flung its contents toward them. It held a powder she had perfected a potent neurotoxin that scrambled senses and paralyzed will.
Her father had been the village barefoot doctor her family had run a pharmacy in town since the Qing Dynasty. As a girl she had hated the smell of herbs and refused to learn. After high school she had kept the brigade’s accounts. Then came marriage children and Lin Wenchuan’s transfer to the county supply cooperative. She had wanted to keep her job until he had worn her down persuading her to hand it over to Bai Wei. The Bais saved my life he had said Bai Wei is like a little sister to me She is all alone and frail be a good wife and help her out
Foolish trusting Su Wan had agreed. Only to feed her family she had turned to medicine studying under her father and earning her certification. Now she saw it all clearly she had been played for a fool by those two traitors.
Within moments the thugs inhaled the powder. Flushed disoriented they began grabbing at each other lost in delirium. Su Wan stepped back to clean ground watching them writhe.
Then torches flared in the distance voices carrying lanterns bobbing through the dark. Bai Wei had arrived with her lynch mob just as planned.
Su Wan slipped silently into the shadows.
Look at that Someone is at it all right
Bai Wei said Su Wan came this way with two men Could it be true She is starved for attention after all
Quiet as a mouse in public but shameless behind closed doors who would have thought
Through the tall reeds Su Wan watched the crowd arrive and begin gossiping. Bai Wei stood at the center smiling in triumph.
Enough The village chief Su Wan’s uncle Su Zhenghua spoke up stern and unyielding It is pitch‑black out here None of you have seen a thing Who gave you leave to pass judgment
Funny a villager murmured those voices sound like two men not a woman
Another peered closer by torchlight at the two figures tangled on the ground.
Wait those are not Su Wan That is Er Gouzi and Huang Mao from the next village
Good grief they were just released for theft Now this Disgraceful
I think I am going to be sick
Bai Wei’s smile died instantly. Where were the two men she had hired And where where was Su Wan?