Su Wan felt as though a ball of cotton had lodged in her throat.
It made swallowing painfully difficult. She drank the water in long gulps silently vowing to protect her family and ensure none of the terrible future events ever came to pass.
“Wan-wan your uncle says you have discussed divorce with Lin Wenchuan?” Her mother took the enamel mug watching her with deep concern.
“Yes we have reached an agreement.”
Su Wan wiped her lips and recounted the terms they had settled.
“That beast Lin Wenchuan plotting against my daughter! Letting him go so easily is far too generous!” Her father spoke with rising anger. “I shall go and settle this with him now!”
“Father please do not.” Su Wan stopped him quickly. “I have everything under control. He will not get away with what he has done.”
She paused and continued. “Once the divorce is finalized I will find our other child the son who was sold away four years ago.”
Her parents stared in shock. “Sold away? What do you mean?”
“I have learned the twin boy I gave birth to did not die as we were told. Lin Wenchuan sold him.”
Her father was stunned and furious. He seized a heavy stick ready to confront Lin Wenchuan. Su Wan calmed him down begging him not to act impulsively and risk alerting the guilty parties.
After seeing her parents safely back in their room Su Wan went to her own. A faint milky scent lingered in the air. She sat beside the bed looking down at her sleeping daughter and gently brushed her fingers over the child’s soft rosy cheek.
“My precious Yaya she is still here she has not been stolen away!” The faint figure shimmered beside the mirror voice thick with tears.
Su Wan’s heart tightened. “Was Yaya taken after something happened to our parents?”
“Yes! Su Wan you must remember this. On December eighth keep Yaya with you at all times. Do not entrust her to anyone. Especially your second cousin wife from your uncle’s family!”
Su Wan frowned. “You mean she is involved in Yaya’s disappearance?”
The figure faded away. “I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Su Wan fell silent. Had the warning drained all her energy?
She washed quickly then slipped into bed drawing her daughter gently into her arms. December eighth. Two months away. She would remember.
The next morning Su Wan woke late. Her daughter was no longer beside her. She stepped outside and saw the little girl sitting quietly at the table with two braided pigtails eating breakfast all by herself.
“Yaya.”
“Mother you are awake!” The girl’s face lit up and she ran to her. Su Wan knelt to catch her breathing in the sweet scent of her hair and felt her heart soften. Yaya had always been thoughtful and kind. She never cried or woke her mother unnecessarily. The thought of anyone taking her away filled Su Wan with dread and she held her tightly.
“You are up.” Her mother finished her morning chores looking at them with a mixture of affection and sorrow. Her daughter deserved so much better. She had been tricked into marriage and betrayed by a cruel selfish man. No one even knew who the real father of Yaya and the lost boy was. She dared not think what people would say if the truth came out.
“Mother where is father?” Su Wan sat down ladling sweet potato porridge.
“Someone from the next village called him out early this morning.” Her mother sat nearby and waited until Yaya had finished eating before speaking. “Your uncle has removed Bai Wei from her post and her housing. She is staying in the old abandoned cattle shed. As for Lin Wenchuan he left for the city early this morning by donkey cart.”
Su Wan’s eyes flashed coldly. She would watch and see how happily they lived now that her downfall had failed to happen as they planned.
After breakfast Su Wan went to the brigade office to collect her official divorce letter. Her uncle approved it quickly regretting her situation but offering no further comment.
Then she asked. “Uncle does my second cousin wife still work at the city photography studio?”
Four years earlier a terrible storm had struck. Her second cousin had drowned saving two children from the flood leaving his wife a widow while still young. She had left her child in the care of relatives and taken a work referral to the county photography studio saying she wished to ease the family’s burden.
“She is still there. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering.” Su Wan replied casually.
Someone knocked at the door and Lu Lizhou entered.
“Commander Lu is there something we can do?” Her uncle greeted him warmly.
“I have come to see Comrade Su Wan.” Lu Lizhou nodded politely then turned to her. “I would ask you to prepare another batch of medicinal ointment.”
“I have none ready made. I will need to gather fresh herbs from the hills.”
“Then I will accompany you.” He answered immediately.
Su Wan paused glancing at him curiously.
“I have survey work to conduct in the area.” He added.
“Wait one moment while I collect my things.”
“Certainly.”
The clinic stood next door. Her uncle watched Lu Lizhou’s gaze following Su Wan thoughtfully. This distinguished officer seemed unusually attentive. And he had heard Lin Wenchuan address Lu Lizhou as cousin. They were related by blood yet Lin Wenchuan behaved with obvious deference. Lu Lizhou must come from a most distinguished family indeed.
“You appear to be about twenty six or twenty seven.” Her uncle ventured. “Your accent suggests you are from the capital.”
“I am.”
“Are you married?”
“Not yet.”
“Then surely you have someone in mind?”
“I do not.”
Her uncle smiled to himself. He had taken a liking to her. “You are a fine young man decorated with honours. Many young women must admire you.”
Lu Lizhou smiled politely. “I have not met anyone who feels right. Besides there is no greater duty than serving and protecting one’s country.”
Su Wan returned with a bamboo basket and gestured toward the path. Lu Lizhou nodded to her uncle. “If you will excuse me.”
“Go ahead.” Her uncle watched him leave. He was courteous noble and brave. A hundred times better than the deceitful Lin Wenchuan. If only she had met him sooner.
They rode to the foot of the hill and began climbing. Lu Lizhou walked behind her admiring how easily she moved despite her slender build stopping to examine plants and herbs among the undergrowth. He silently held back branches for her and offered a steadying hand on steeper ground. Su Wan noticed his quiet kindness and felt reassured. He did not speak much yet his presence brought comfort.
As he brushed aside foliage she caught sight of a dark opening hidden among the rocks. She stopped short and a memory from five years ago rose sharply in her mind.