In her past life, the entire Yu family had fled, and the house in the courtyard had been sold. Yet even had it remained unsold, there would have been no home left for her to return to.
Zhou Xiangyang felt a tightness in his throat. He longed to speak yet found no words, uncertain what he ought to say. At last, watching Yu Zhaozhao prepare to depart, he spoke with difficulty. “Zhaozhao, please take great care of yourself.”
Yu Zhaozhao waved farewell to all the residents of the courtyard and rode away upon her bicycle. Those two simple words carried a weight of every emotion known to the heart.
In that former life, upon graduation he had been assigned to an island. The entire Zhou family and Yu family had gone with him. Meanwhile, she had endured suffering within the Wang family home, trapped in hardship and misery. When she had finally struggled free from that mire, she had heard news that they already expected a second child. One might claim the first had been arranged through scheming, but what of the second? Yu Zhaozhao could not set aside her feelings. People changed, after all. And she too had changed.
Now as she departed the courtyard, she felt not the slightest trace of attachment. She was like a solitary wild goose finally breaking free from its cage, casting aside all tangled bitterness and restraint to spread its wings and soar freely away. She did not look back even once. She pressed forward toward her future, resolute and unburdened.
Those who watched her go sighed softly in understanding. The Yu family had truly driven their own daughter away beyond all reconciliation.
When Yu Zhaozhao arrived at the hospital, Lu Shiguang was nowhere to be seen.
“I have sent him to seek suitable lodgings,” Lu Shiye explained. “The family home lies some distance from here. Even by bicycle, the round trip takes forty minutes. It would be far too exhausting for you to travel back and forth each day. Better that we find a place to rent temporarily nearby, so that you may rest conveniently.”
Yu Zhaozhao agreed at once. Renting a place close to the hospital seemed wise. She still felt unfamiliar with the Lu family home and would not have been entirely comfortable staying there.
At the hospital, public restrooms and washing basins stood at the end of every corridor. The hospital room itself was small, yet it contained a bed measuring one meter twenty, a table, chairs, and a folding wooden chair for resting. Yu Zhaozhao placed her belongings beside the window. Looking out, she saw an area set aside for drying laundry in the hospital rear courtyard.
Were Lu Shiye an ordinary patient with but one family member caring for him, she might have stayed right here in the room without concern. Yet Lu Shiye was a decorated hero, severely wounded and granted special permission to occupy this private room. In addition to medical staff, two comrades had been assigned to care for him. One remained inside the room throughout the day, while the other stood guard outside. The folding chair had been provided so the two soldiers might rest in turns. Two long wooden benches stood nearby as well.
“That folding chair was brought from home by Shiguang,” Lu Shiye told her. “And the two benches were brought here by Wenzi from his family home.”
“May you tell me what happened during your mission?” Yu Zhaozhao asked gently. Three months had passed and yet he remained swathed in bandages. His injuries must have been extraordinarily grave.
“I fought four men alone,” Lu Shiye replied. “I was struck three times by gunfire. I lay unconscious for two months before waking. In truth, I retained awareness throughout, yet felt trapped in utter darkness, unable to find my way back.”
He had suffered severe wounds during past missions, yet never so gravely as this time. He had sustained a concussion and three gunshot wounds. One bullet had passed merely one centimeter from his heart. A second had struck his abdomen. And the third had pierced his thigh. Lu Shiye did not speak of the mission itself or its particulars. Upon hearing that he had been shot three times, Yu Zhaozhao felt her heart tremble with fear.
She reached for an apple and began to peel it. Lu Shiye waved his hand gently. “Just give me a small portion. You may eat the rest. Apples are somewhat tart, and I have never cared for sour flavors.”
Yu Zhaozhao glanced at the bandages encircling his mouth. Fetching a bowl, she cut the apple into tiny pieces and fed them to him carefully with a spoon. Lu Shiye ordinarily found apples somewhat sharp and sour to the taste. Yet when placed upon his tongue by Yu Zhaozhao, each piece seemed remarkably sweet.
“It tastes sweeter when you feed it to me,” he said softly. “When I eat it myself, it tastes quite tart.”
“It is simply a very sweet apple,” Yu Zhaozhao replied with a smile. These were premium Red Fuji apples from Shandong. Crisp, succulent, richly sweet, carrying only the faintest hint of tartness. They were her favorite variety.
“It is delicious indeed.” Lu Shiye’s eyes shone with warmth. “If you enjoy it, you should eat more of it yourself.”
“What fruits do you prefer then?” Yu Zhaozhao asked. “Canned yellow peaches perhaps?”
She glanced into the cabinet. After distributing three portions of apples, malted milk extract, and canned peaches, three apples, one tin of malted milk extract, and one jar of canned yellow peaches remained.
“I am fond of lychees, longans, watermelons, bananas, and sugar oranges,” Lu Shiye answered.
“I enjoy those very same fruits as well,” Yu Zhaozhao said. It was clear to her now that he preferred sweetness and avoided sour flavors. Which meant he would surely appreciate malted milk extract.
“Let me prepare a cup of malted milk drink for you.”
Lu Shiye nodded. “I should like that. But do not make it too rich. One cup each day is plenty. Too much becomes cloying.”
Yu Zhaozhao poured hot water into his enamel mug. Opening the tin, she measured two spoonfuls into the steaming water.
“That is sufficient,” Lu Shiye said. “Two spoonfuls are enough. I do not care for excessive sweetness. Prepare one for yourself as well.”
“Very well.” Yu Zhaozhao did not hesitate. She carried malted milk extract in her own bag as well, a gift of apology from Zhou Xiangyang. Yet she said nothing of it, nor did she bring it out. She knew that if Lu Shiye learned its origin, he would refuse to drink it.
“It is delicious,” Lu Shiye said, sipping slowly. “Sweet and rich, carrying the full fragrance of malt.”
It tasted exactly as he remembered. In later years, she had purchased it again and again, yet whether due to changed ingredients or the shifting of her own heart, she had never again found that same flavor. Now here it was once more. Which meant the fault had never been hers. The recipe must have changed in time.
Although they were married, they remained in many ways strangers, learning who the other truly was. In her middle school years, her impression of Lu Shiye had been simply that he was quick to fight. Now Lu Shiye willingly shared his thoughts with her, and Yu Zhaozhao too wished to understand him more deeply. He spoke of amusing incidents from his past service, and she shared bits of neighborhood news and gossip.
When Lu Shiguang returned, he heard the sound of laughter drifting from within the hospital room. Yu Zhaozhao’s laugh rang clear and bright. Lu Shiye’s voice carried a warmer, deeper timbre. Lu Shiguang paused outside the door, uncertain whether to interrupt. Then realizing the hour was growing late, and that lodgings must still be prepared so his sister-in-law might rest there, he knocked gently and entered.
“Brother, Sister-in-law,” Lu Shiguang said. “I have found two possible places. The first stands quite close to the hospital. It is not inexpensive, costing five yuan each month. The room is small, a single chamber. Shared lavatories lie outside. One may not cook within the room. It serves only for washing and sleeping.”
“The second lies two hundred meters from the hospital, beside the meat processing plant. It is a charming small courtyard home containing lavatory, bathing area, and kitchen. It belongs to an elderly woman of sixty. Her daughter has married and settled in the provincial capital. She asks no rent, provided you prepare three meals daily. Breakfast is simple so long as it includes an egg. Lunch and dinner must each contain one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one soup. If these terms are not acceptable, she will not rent the place.”
“I should like to see both places,” Yu Zhaozhao said.
The first rental lacked private lavatory or bathing facilities and permitted no cooking. Yet if no better option existed, she would willingly take it. Being so close to the hospital would at least make using hospital facilities convenient. The second courtyard home lay within easy walking distance and seemed far more suitable. Much would depend upon the temperament of the elderly woman.
“Very well,” Lu Shiguang said. “I shall draw you a map.”
He quickly sketched directions upon paper and described both locations in detail, noting their features and surroundings. Yu Zhaozhao nodded, studying the sketch and committing the directions carefully to mind.
Then Lu Shiguang spoke of something else. “As I returned just now, I encountered Wang Baogen’s mother outside the hospital.”
Yu Zhaozhao paused. “Has Wang Baogen not been discharged yet?”
“Not yet,” Lu Shiguang replied. “I made inquiries. He is recovering in the building at the rear of the compound. Sister-in-law, you need not fear meeting them there.”
“I should not fear them even if I did,” Yu Zhaozhao said calmly.
Her mind turned to the evidence she had gathered against the Wang family. In her past life, it had taken three full years to collect. She knew precisely where Deputy Director Wang concealed his most incriminating documents. She possessed sufficient knowledge to ruin his standing, yet not enough to dismantle the Wang family’s foundations entirely. Only after three more years would she hold the power to bring them to absolute and lasting ruin.