Pengpu, Northern Shanghai
By the middle of the afternoon, the sky had turned the colour of old iron, thick clouds swallowing what little daylight remained.
The forecast had warned of a severe storm sweeping across Shanghai that evening, and judging by the way the thunder rolled above the rooftops, it seemed the heavens had decided to keep their promise.
Another crack of thunder shook the narrow streets.
Stray cats darted beneath overturned carts, while half-starved dogs crawled deeper beneath the awnings of shuttered shops.
Rainwater rushed along the uneven pavements, carrying cigarette butts, fallen leaves, and scraps of paper into the drains.
But inside a small, ageing noodle shop tucked away in one of Pengpu’s older neighbourhoods, Mu Wanqing stood beside the window, watching the rain with a faint smile.
She loved the rain.
Perhaps more than anything else in this world.
There was something about the first scent of rain striking dry earth, the damp, earthy fragrance rising from the pavement that she adored.
Whenever it rained, she could stand there for hours simply listening to the rhythmic tapping against the glass.
Perhaps it had something to do with her name.
Wanqing.
The character qing in her name could be associated with clear skies after rain.
A beautiful meaning.
Clear skies after rain.
Wanqing had always found that strangely comforting.
Unfortunately, if there was one thing her life had never known, it was clear skies.
Her smile slowly faded.
Her eyes remained fixed upon the rain outside as drops raced down the glass, each one catching the dim afternoon light before disappearing at the bottom.
Clear skies after rain?
What a beautiful lie.
For thirty-two years, she had waited for her own sky to clear.
It never had.
Her life had been nothing but one long stretch of grey days stitched together by poverty, humiliation, and misfortune.
She lowered her eyes.
Then…
Bang!
The wooden entrance gate was thrown open so violently that Wanqing’s shoulders jolted.
She turned around.
Standing at the doorway was the owner of the noodle shop, an elderly woman with a permanently sour face.
She was already glaring at Wanqing as though the woman had committed some unforgivable crime.
“What are you doing there?” she barked.
“Standing by the window and staring at the rain like some lovesick young maiden?
Look at you!
Thirty-two years old and still daydreaming like a little girl waiting for her Prince Charming.
An old cow dreaming about spring flowers, don’t you feel ashamed of yourself?”
A few customers glanced in their direction.
Wanqing lowered her gaze.
She had heard worse.
Much worse.
She simply reached for the dirty cloth lying beside the counter, wrung it out, and walked towards the entrance.
The old woman was not finished.
“Do you think I pay you fourteen hundred yuan every month so you can stand around staring out of windows?”
“I wasn’t…”
“You weren’t what?” the old woman snapped.
“Don’t talk back to me!
You should be grateful I even give you a place to work.
If I hadn’t taken you in, who knows where you’d be now?
Sleeping under a bridge, perhaps!”
The old woman clicked her tongue.
“Move!
The tables aren’t going to clean themselves.
And don’t waste water this time.
Do you think water comes from heaven for free?”
Wanqing picked up the bucket without replying.
She stepped through the doorway and began wiping the tables.
She did not mind the insults.
For fifteen years, she had perfected the art of swallowing words.
That was how she had survived.
The noodle shop itself was small and old-fashioned, squeezed between two ageing residential buildings in Pengpu.
Its signboard had faded under years of sunlight and rain, and the red characters on it were chipped around the edges.
Yet despite its shabby appearance, the shop was famous throughout the old neighbourhood.
The reason was simple.
The noodles were good, very good.
The old woman might have had a tongue like a knife and a heart that could measure kindness by the mao, but she knew how to cook.
Her hand-pulled noodles were springy, her broth rich, and her braised beef fragrant enough to make people forget the peeling walls and crooked tables.
And today, the shop was overflowing.
The storm was partly responsible.
But there was another reason.
Today was the day the College entrance exam(Gaokao) results had been released.
Some families came to celebrate.
Some came to drown their disappointment in food.
The noodle shop was packed with families sitting shoulder to shoulder, their conversations blending with the clatter of chopsticks, and the hiss of boiling broth.
Wanqing was the only paid server.
Which meant she did almost everything.
The old woman cooked.
Her son sat behind the counter, handling the accounts and collecting money.
And Wanqing?
She cleaned the tables, took orders, served food, washed dishes, carried bowls, wept the floor and prepared ingredients.
There was nothing equal about their division of work.
Wanqing knew that.
But knowing did not change anything.
What else could she do?
She had only completed high school.
At thirty-two, with no savings, no family she could depend upon, and fifteen years of her youth already spent behind the counter of this little noodle shop, what kind of work was waiting for her outside?
She had been seventeen when her adoptive parents had practically tried to sell her to the old man for the money, so she had to run away, therefore missing the collage entrance exam.
“Qingqing!”
Wanqing looked up.
An elderly couple and their son were standing near the entrance, rainwater dripping from their umbrellas.
Her expression immediately softened.
“Sister Lu, Brother-in-law, please, come inside.
Sit here.”
She hurried over and wiped a table clean.
The woman in her early fifties laughed warmly.
“Ah, Qingqing, you are still so sweet-tongued.
No wonder everyone in this neighbourhood likes you.”
She sat down with her husband and son.
The young man beside her was perhaps eighteen or nineteen, still carrying the awkwardness of someone who had only recently stepped out of childhood.
Sister Lu could barely contain her excitement.
“Qingqing, today my Xiao Kai finally did it!”
Her face was glowing with pride.
“My son passed the Collage entrance exam with flying colours.
Five hundred and thirty-two marks!
Five hundred and thirty-two!”
She said the number as though announcing the result to the world.
“He got into Chengdu University, Qingqing!
Our family finally has a university student!”
Her husband chuckled beside her.
“Enough, enough.
You have already told everyone on the way for three hundred times.”
“Three hundred times?
What’s wrong with that?” Sister Lu immediately shot back.
“My son got 532 marks!
Let me say it five hundred times if I want!”
Wanqing smiled, “Sister Lu is right.
Today is a day worth celebrating.” She turned towards the young man, “Xiao Kai, congratulations.
You did very well.
You were always a smart child.
I knew you would make something of yourself.”
The boy’s ears immediately turned red.
He glanced at Wanqing and lowered his head, “Thank you, Sister Wanqing.”
For just a moment, something stirred inside her.
A distant memory.
A seventeen-year-old girl sitting at a worn wooden desk, surrounded by second-hand textbooks.
A girl who had once believed that if she could get into university, everything would change.
She would leave that house, would find a proper job, earn her own money, would buy a small apartment one day and perhaps she would even have someone who loved her.
“Qingqing!” Sister Lu’s voice brought her back, “Take the order.
We must eat something good today.
Today is a happy occasion!”
Sister Lu didn’t even need to look at the menu, “One duck blood and tofu noodle soup, one braised beef noodle, Cong You Mian.
And bring us three sodas.” She paused, “Oh, and a plate of pickled vegetables.
The good ones, not the cheap stuff.”
Wanqing smiled as she wrote everything down, “All right.
I’ll bring them shortly.”
As she turned away, she could still hear Sister Lu boasting proudly about her son’s score.
Wanqing’s smile remained on her lips.
But her eyes had begun to sting.
Once upon a time, she had dreamed of that too.
But dreams were fragile things.
Sometimes all it took was one family decision to crush them.
She blinked rapidly, “No.” She quietly shook her head.
She wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, picked up the bowls, and returned to work.
The afternoon disappeared and the evening came.
The rain slowly was on verge of stopping.
By nine o’clock, the last customers had finally left.
The once-crowded noodle shop had fallen silent.
Wanqing carried the final stack of washed bowls into the kitchen and carefully placed them inside the cupboard.
The old woman sat behind the counter, counting the day’s money.
Wanqing picked up her worn handbag, “I’ll go now, Auntie.”
The old woman did not answer and simply glared at her.
Mu Wanqing sighed as she stepped out of the noodle shop.
Her entire body ached and shoulders were stiff, every step seemed to pull another thread of exhaustion from her already weary body.
All she wanted was to go home and lie down on her old mattress.
Fortunately, the rain had finally stopped.
The narrow road through the old Pengpu neighbourhood was still covered in puddles, reflecting the weak yellow light of the streetlamps.
Wanqing pulled her thin jacket tighter around herself.
It was late and the old district was not a safe place after dark, especially for a woman walking alone.
She lowered her head and quickened her pace.
She had barely walked a few dozen steps when a pair of glaring headlights suddenly swept across the wet road.
Wanqing instinctively stopped.
A black BMW emerged from the darkness and came to a smooth stop directly in front of her.
She frowned.
For a moment, she thought the driver had simply taken the wrong turn.
She moved to the side, intending to walk around it, but then the rear window lowered slightly and a woman’s coquettish voice drifted through the night.
“Sister…
Long time no see.”
Wanqing froze.
A strange chill travelled down her spine.
She slowly turned around.
The passenger door opened and a woman stepped out.
She was dressed from head to toe in expensive designer clothing, the kind Wanqing had only ever seen on television.
Almost every visible accessory carried the unmistakable LV written on it.
Wanqing didn’t know much about luxury brands.
But even she knew that woman was wearing more money than Wanqing had probably earned in several years.
Her face was covered in thick layers of makeup and lips were painted a deep red, she looked almost frightening.
Wanqing stared at her.
Then the woman’s words finally registered.
Sister….
Her heart skipped.
Sister?
She looked at the woman’s face again and her eyes widened, “Shen…
Ruoxi?”
The woman’s lips curved into a smile, “Ah…
So you still remember me.”
Shen Ruoxi, the daughter of her adoptive parents.
The younger sister she had once been forced to call family.
The moment that name entered her mind, all the horrible memories she had buried for fifteen years came rushing back.
Wanqing instinctively took a step backwards.
Her fingers curled tightly.
Why is she herr, after fifteen years?
Before she could think of an answer, another car door slammed open.
An irritated woman’s voice came from inside, “This bitch is still as annoying as ever…”
Wanqing’s blood ran cold.
She knew that voice.
An older woman stepped out.
She was considerably heavier than what Wanqing remembered, her face fuller, her hair streaked with grey, but there was no mistaking her.
Mu Qinglan, her adoptive mother.
Wanqing stood frozen.
For fifteen years, she had imagined what she would say if she ever saw this woman again.
She had imagined demanding an apology.
She had imagined confronting her about everything that had been taken from her.
But now that Mu Qinglan actually stood before her, Wanqing found herself unable to utter a single word.
Mu Qinglan looked her up and down, then sneered, “What?” She walked closer, “Never seen a rich woman before?”
Wanqing’s eyes flickered towards the BMW.
Mu Qinglan noticed.
Her smile became even more contemptuous, “What are you looking at?
Afraid you might dirty your eyes?”
Wanqing swallowed, “Why are you here?”
Mu Qinglan stopped directly in front of her.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then…
Slap!
The sound cracked through the empty street.
Wanqing’s face snapped sideways.
The force of the blow sent her stumbling backwards.
Her foot caught the edge of a puddle.
She lost her balance and fell hard into the cold, filthy water.
For a moment, she simply sat there in shock.
Her cheek burned and ears rang.
She slowly raised her head.
“Why…” Her voice trembled, “Why did you slap me?”
Mu Qinglan laughed coldly, “Why?” She took another step forward, “You still have the nerve to ask why?”
Wanqing struggled to stand, “What do you want?” Her voice grew desperate, “Didn’t you already get what you wanted?”
Mu Qinglan’s expression changed slightly.
“The demolition money for my grandmother’s house…” Wanqing’s breathing became uneven, “You took it all.
You got the compensation.
Look at you now, you have a car, good clothes, a comfortable life…” She looked at them with bewilderment.
“So why haven’t you left me alone?” She wiped the water from her face, “I never asked you for anything.
I never came looking for you.
Why did you come back?”
Mu Qinglan stared at her.
Then she smiled.
It was a smile that made Wanqing’s heart sink.
“You really haven’t changed.
Still stupid.”
She suddenly lunged forward, grabbed a fistful of Wanqing’s hair, and yanked her backwards.
Wanqing cried out, “Ah!”
“You think getting rid of you was enough?” Mu Qinglan hissed.
“You shameless whore.
After all these years, you’re still alive?”
Wanqing struggled desperately against her grip, “What are you saying?” Her eyes filled with fear, “What do you want from me?”
Mu Qinglan leaned closer, “You should have disappeared fifteen years ago.”
Wanqing’s heart began pounding, “Why?” She could barely get the words out, “I did nothing to you…”
“Nothing?” Mu Qinglan laughed, “Don’t pretend to be innocent with me.”
Wanqing shook her head desperately, “Please…” She tried to pry the woman’s fingers from her hair, “Whatever you want, just tell me.
I’ll give it to you if I can.” Her voice broke, “You already have the house.
You already have the money.
What else could I possibly have?”
She looked towards Shen Ruoxi, “Ruoxi…”
Shen Ruoxi immediately looked away.
That tiny movement frightened Wanqing more than anything else.
Wanqing’s breathing became faster.
Something was wrong, terribly wrong.
She struggled again, “Help!” The cry had barely escaped her mouth when a heavy blow struck her from behind.
Wanqing’s body lurched forward.
A large hand immediately covered her mouth, “Shut up!” A man’s furious voice came from behind her.
Wanqing’s eyes widened.
She turned her head as far as she could.
The man standing behind her was broad and heavyset.
She knew him too.
Shen Zeyu.
Mu Qinglan’s son, her adoptive brother.
Wanqing’s heart sank completely.
“Don’t shout,” Shen Zeyu snarled.
“You bastard, do you want everyone to hear?”
Shen Ruoxi looked around nervously, “Mom…” Her voice was suddenly less confident, “Let’s finish what we came here to do and leave.
What if she really attracts someone’s attention?”
“Nobody is coming.” Mu Qinglan gave a dismissive laugh, “Relax, who would come out at this hour?
This is Pengpu.
At night, people close their doors and mind their own business.
Even if someone hears something, who would be foolish enough to involve themselves?”
She leaned closer to Wanqing.
“Besides…” Her lips curled upward.
“We don’t need to dirty our own hands.”
Wanqing’s eyes widened.
Mu Qinglan released her hair for a moment.
Wanqing immediately tried to crawl away.
But Shen Zeyu caught her by the shoulder and dragged her backwards.
“No!” Wanqing kicked desperately.
Shen Ruoxi turned away and pulled out her phone.
After a brief conversation, she hung up.
She looked towards Mu Qinglan and nodded, “They’re coming.”
Mu Qinglan’s smile widened, “Good.”
A few minutes later, another vehicle appeared at the far end of the street.
It stopped behind the BMW.
Three men stepped out.
They wore dark clothing, their faces partially concealed, making it difficult to distinguish their features beneath the weak streetlights.
Wanqing stared at them and her entire body had gone cold.
Her voice trembled behind Shen Zeyu’s hand.
She desperately tried to free herself while her eyes begged for mercy.
The leading man approached.
Shen Zeyu nodded towards Wanqing, “Take care of this bitch.” He glanced at her struggling body, “She’s making too much noise and keeps trying to escape.”
The man looked at Wanqing.
His expression remained completely indifferent, “Don’t worry.” His voice was calm, “One strike.”
Wanqing’s pupils contracted.
Mu Qinglan nodded in satisfaction.
Then she walked towards her one last time.
She crouched down.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Wanqing saw no trace of the woman she had once called Mother.
There was only hatred and something even colder.
Mu Qinglan smiled, “Don’t be afraid.” She reached towards Wanqing’s hair again, “They’re good people.”
Wanqing shook her head violently.
Mu Qinglan’s fingers tightened around her hair, “They’re only taking you to meet that old hag.”
Wanqing’s heart stopped.
Her grandmother.
Mu Qinglan’s voice became strangely gentle, “You missed her so much, didn’t you?”
Wanqing’s eyes filled with tears.
Mu Qinglan smiled, “Then I’ll do one final good deed for you.
Send you to meet her in afterlife.”
She yanked Wanqing’s hair upward with all her force.
Wanqing cried out, “Ah!” Blood sipped out of her head where the hair were pulled.
Mu Wanqing could hear Shen Ruoxi saying something.
She could hear Shen Zeyu cursing but her agony was simply too much because of pain, that she immediately felt the world around her spun.
Everything seemed to become distant.
Her mind refused to accept what was happening.
Tears finally slipped down her face.
“Please…”
The BMW’s engine started and it pulled away.
Its red taillights disappeared into the darkness.
Wanqing watched them leave and for one brief moment, she thought perhaps it had all been a nightmare.
Than a sudden movement came from behind and her body stiffened.
Pain exploded through her.
She tried to scream.
But no sound came as her mouth and nose was immediately covered.
Again and again the sharp object was being stabbed in her back and the dirty yellow puddle under her suddenly turned red as she felt one wave of pain after another until her strength began to disappear and collapsed The cold water beneath her slowly seeped through her clothes, but she could no longer feel it.
Her vision became hazy.
The streetlights above her stretched into long, trembling streaks.
Suddenly anger took over her, as she thought of her entire worthless life, as every humiliation and agony flashed through her mind like a film and with the final strength remained she clenched her fist and then silence.
Her eyelids grew heavier.
Her breathing became weaker.
The world slowly slipped away.
A new novel is here!
❤️
I know the previous two novels are still unfinished, but don’t worry, I’ll complete all of them.
😭❤️
I haven’t been able to write much over the past few days because I got caught up with a few things.
But somewhere along the way, I suddenly realised how distant I had become from something that has always been close to my heart, writing.
So, before I lose even the last spark of that passion, I want to pour every story living inside my imagination here.
I have always loved reading three particular kinds of stories, but I often felt that something was missing from them, something I wished I could read myself.
So, instead of waiting for someone else to write those stories, I decided to create them with my own imagination.
And now, hopefully, I’ll be back to writing regularly ❤️
Thank you, as always, for all your love, support, patience, and encouragement.
It truly means more to me than I can put into words.
💕
Happy reading!
I hope you enjoy this new journey with me.