Su Wan hurried all the way and slipped into the house before Lin Wenchuan arrived.
She had just taken a sip of water and caught her breath when she heard the latch lifting outside.
Lin Wenchuan was back.
She quickly scooped cold water from the earthen jar and poured it over herself from head to toe.
Then she went into her room stripped off the wet clothes and took a fresh set from the chest of drawers.
Wan Wan are you back Lin Wenchuan pushed open the door and saw her changing.
Su Wan’s face showed pure fright and hurt.
Wenchuan where have you been I ran into those two good for nothings from the next village down by the river I was so scared
Lin Wenchuan adjusted his glasses hiding the calculation in his eyes.
He took the dry towel from her hands and gently patted her damp hair.
I was unwell and had to step out When I came back for you you were gone All I saw were those two men tangled together I hurried straight home fearing the worst Thank goodness you are safe and sound
Su Wan lowered her eyes masking her scorn.
You are away so often that I have got into the habit of carrying medicinal powder It is for protection against just such men If I had not had it tonight things might have turned out very differently
So that was it.
How careless of him He had never considered such a possibility.
All that planning wasted.
Lin Wenchuan glanced at the wet clothes on the floor.
You are soaked through Did you fall into the river
Yes I did I was so desperate to get away from them that I slipped and fell in Su Wan spoke the story she had prepared Fortunately I can swim so I let the current carry me across to the other bank As I did not know where you were I took the long way round home The wind was bitterly cold and I am frozen through
Lin Wenchuan had worried she might have noticed something.
The sweetened water he had prepared for her was not as innocent as it seemed.
Now he breathed easier.
Between the cold plunge and the hurried walk home any lingering effect would have worn off completely.
He would need no further excuses.
Thank heaven you are unharmed I should have been heartbroken Lin Wenchuan wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back soft words flowing easily from his tongue.
Revulsion flickered in Su Wan’s eyes.
For five long years she had been deceived by his gentle mask.
She gave a deliberate sneeze and pushed firmly away from him.
Caught off balance Lin Wenchuan stumbled backward and struck his hip hard against the corner of the chest of drawers.
A sharp pain shot through him.
He cried out and pressed both hands to his lower back his face twisting in agony.
Su Wan suppressed the fierce satisfaction rising in her chest and feigned concern mixed with hesitation her eyes welling as if she might cry.
Wenchuan are you all right I did not mean to do it I think I have caught a cold and I would hate to pass it on to you
She sneezed several more times in quick succession.
Lin Wenchuan cursed inwardly.
Seeing her genuine distress he swallowed his irritation and forced a caring tone.
You sound very unwell You should boil some herbal medicine to drive out the chill right away
Su Wan sniffled and nodded obediently.
Wenchuan there is only the one bed and I do not want to keep you awake if I become feverish I think I will go and stay at my parents house tonight instead
Lin Wenchuan had come to the village as a sent down youth.
After they married the village had allocated this cottage to them at the foot of the hill.
Her parents home stood in the village centre beside the brigade office separated by vegetable plots and paddy fields.
It was a brisk ten minute walk.
She was deeply grateful to them for looking after Yaya over these past five years and lightening the burden of raising a child alone.
Very well I am in no state to walk you there myself Take care on the path in the dark Lin Wenchuan was only too happy to see her go it would give him the chance to be with Bai Wei.
Su Wan offered a few parting words of concern and then stepped out into the night.
The air was cool and crisp.
A pale moon hung low casting a silvery chill over everything.
Instead of leaving immediately she slipped into the thicket beside the path.
Why are you hiding here instead of going to your parents The faint translucent form of another Su Wan appeared above a puddle left by recent rain.
She was growing accustomed to these sudden appearances.
Because I intend to catch them in the act Lin Wenchuan has been denied his way for a fortnight I cannot believe he would waste such a perfect opportunity
She could not bear to stay with him a moment longer.
She wanted a divorce.
But the cause must never be seen as her fault.
Since they were so fond of schemes let them now fall into one of their own.
Before long Lin Wenchuan crept out of the house wrapped in his coat.
The path was empty He crouched by the wall and gave a low hoot imitating an owl.
The scoundrel That is the signal agreed upon Su Wan’s voice dropped with disdain.
Her hands clenched into fists.
For five years he had rarely touched her even when he returned from trips he would find excuses to stay elsewhere or visit her parents with her and the child.
She had assumed he was simply preoccupied or perhaps troubled by the knowledge that she had carried another man’s child.
But all along he had been bringing Bai Wei here to her very bed.
The thought filled her with sickness and rage.
The youth dormitory stood nearby scarcely two minutes away.
Many of the other sent down youth had long since returned to the city through university or family connections.
Bai Wei however had failed the entrance examinations twice and remained in the village.
Presently the dormitory door opened quietly and Bai Wei slipped out.
She looked carefully in all directions and then pushed open the door Lin Wenchuan had left unlatched for her.
Su Wan stepped from the shadows and approached the house where a faint light glowed through the window.
Inside.
Lin Wenchuan still felt a dull ache in his lower back.
Bai Wei had him lie face down and massaged the sore spot.
We came so close to being found out Do you think those men will tell anyone
They will not They are not foolish enough
And Su Wan She suspects nothing about what we arranged
Not a thing Lin Wenchuan laughed the sound cold and mocking.
You could call her simple or you could call her utterly stupid She was terrified soaked through and worrying about giving me her cold She went along quite willingly to her parents house
Bai Wei giggled her hands drifting caressingly lower over his waist.
That saves you the trouble of making up an excuse to send her away You are terrible
Lin Wenchuan’s breathing grew heavier He pulled her down beside him his tone light and coarse.
You are the one who insisted I keep my distance If it were not for your position as clerk I would have cast her aside long ago She is nothing but damaged goods
Outside the wall Su Wan listened to the rustle of clothing and the murmur of intimate voices.
Her chest heaved with restrained fury.
She lifted her head breathed deeply and forced her temper under control.
Then her gaze settled on a pile of dry straw and kindling stacked beside the house ready for the cooking fire.