“This is Sichuan cold jelly.”
Shuiying served Ma Erbiao another half bowl. “Five cents a bowl.”
People nearby turned to watch.
An old farmer resting his hoe stopped. “What is that? Smells wonderful.”
“Would you like to try it Sir? Just five cents.”
He handed over the coin took a bite and his eyes went wide. “Goodness gracious it is spicy and numbing and full of flavor!”
“Give me a bowl!”
“Me too!”
Within half an hour the entire basin was empty.
Ma Erbiao stood by his face flushing red then pale. He had not sold a single ice pop all morning.
“You have some skill,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
Shuiying smiled counting and stacking the coins neatly. “Thank you Manager Ma.”
He huffed spun around and walked back toward his store. At the door he glanced back.
Shuiying did not catch the look in his eyes but Niannian did.
The little boy tugged at her apron. “Mother that fat uncle is watching you. He looks at you the same way Aunt Zhao does.”
Her hands paused. “The same way?”
“Yes.” Niannian nodded seriously. “Like they both want you gone.”
That evening she counted her earnings. One dollar and thirty seven cents. Less than half what she made inside the camp but it was still money.
She bought two meat buns for Niannian and ate a plain cold steamed bun she had brought from the guest house. By the time they pushed the cart back it was dark.
Near the camp gate she saw two figures standing by the wall behind the medical unit. One was Zhao Xueting. The other wore a uniform was short and slightly hunched. It looked like Wang Jun.
Shuiying stopped and pulled the cart into the shadow of a tree.
“I told you I will not do it,” came Wang Jun’s voice low and strained. “She has been kind to me.”
“Wang Jun,” Zhao Xueting spoke cold and slow. “Your sister’s nursing school place was given to someone else was it not?”
Silence.
“My father can make one phone call and get that place back for her,” Zhao Xueting gave a short laugh. “Or he can make sure your father’s work injury claim never gets approved.”
“Your father is bedridden. Your mother looks after him alone. Your sister’s admission papers are still held up at the county office. And you are here serving in the army.”
“Think carefully.”
Wang Jun’s breathing grew heavy. “I will not harm her. I will just stay silent.”
“Silent?” Zhao Xueting sneered. “Very well. Then go tell Lu Qingnian yourself that I intercepted the letters and forged the seal. Go on.”
A long heavy silence followed.
“What about my sister…” Wang Jun’s voice trembled. “Do you promise?”
“My father will call tomorrow.”
Footsteps faded away. Zhao Xueting was gone.
Wang Jun stood alone by the wall for a long time then sank down burying his face in his hands.
Shuiying waited in the shadows motionless. The night wind felt piercingly cold.
She pushed the cart slowly home thinking of the young man who had helped her find a seat on the train carried her bags and had called her sister so many days. Someone had found his weakness and was using it against him.
Back at the guest house several military wives sat together sorting vegetables. Leading them was Zhou Shufen the wife of an administrative officer in her forties with a loud voice who managed the compound affairs.
She set down her basket and pulled out a sheet of paper. “Shuiying this is a notice from the administration. Please sign it.”
“What notice?”
“Registration for temporary residents.” Zhou Shufen cleared her throat. “You have stayed here over a month. Regulations state that beyond the first month a maintenance fee of three dollars a month applies. Also you know business is not permitted inside the camp. If you sell outside daily this bed should be made available to officially recognized family members visiting their spouses.”
The yard went quiet. Three dollars nearly a third of what she earned in a month.
Shuiying read the paper but did not sign. “Sister Zhou.”
“Yes.”
“This is from the administration so why does it carry the family committee seal?”
Zhou Shufen faltered. “It is the same thing is it not?”
“It is not.” Shuiying handed it back. “This was decided among yourselves not issued by the army. Why should I pay three dollars based on that?”
“You…”
“Let me show you,” Shuiying held up one finger. “Three dollars a month adds up to thirty six a year.”
“Thirty six dollars buys a young pig. Raise it for a year and it sells for one hundred and twenty.”
“Charging me this for a year is like taking a whole pig from me.”
“I sell cold jelly and barely see meat once a year yet you come specifically to take it.”
Zhou Shufen’s face turned deep red.
“Besides,” Shuiying smiled. “My husband is Battalion Commander Lu. My son carries his name. I am here on a proper family visit. Why am I considered an outsider?”
“If this is truly about accommodation ask the administration to issue an official notice with their own seal. When that arrives I will leave immediately.”
She folded the paper twice and slipped it back into Zhou Shufen’s basket. “Until then take this back. It is thick enough to use as a shoe pattern.”
Zhou Shufen’s face turned a mottled red and purple.
“Do not make authority where none belongs,” Shuiying brushed dust from her apron. “I am heading to town tomorrow anyway.”
“If you are worried I will not pay come with me and collect the money yourself. Twenty cents a day plus meals.”
“You are impossible!” Zhou Shufen stammered unable to reply.
Shuiying said no more and took Niannian inside. The yard fell quiet again only the rustle of vegetables remained.
The next afternoon Zhao Xueting came to the guest house. She wore civilian clothes her hair loose her face lightly powdered and smart heels that made her look tall and striking.
“Shuiying.” She leaned against the doorframe. “I have a proposal for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“That stall in town will not last long,” Zhao Xueting smiled. “Without a license the authorities can seize it any day. But I can get you a temporary vendor permit.”
“That is very kind of you. What is the condition?”
Zhao Xueting stepped closer lowering her voice. “Take your son and go back to Sichuan.”
“I will speak to Lu Qingnian and make it right. Say you were not who you seemed. He will not lose face and neither will you. You can rebuild your life back home.”
“Agree and I will have the permit for you tomorrow.”
Shuiying looked at her. So beautiful yet so determined to have a man who belonged to someone else.
Then she smiled. “Zhao Xueting.”
“Yes?”