Xu Qingzhou was a soldier his strength was beyond question. Held firmly by the nape, Fang Yao could twist and turn yet find no escape. Beads of anxiety pricked her forehead, and her voice came thick with distress. “Xu Qingzhou… I didn’t mean it. You’ve ruined my pattern.”
Xu Qingzhou’s heart gave a sharp lurch. He realized at once he had overstepped. Releasing her, he stepped back to a respectful distance. As he looked upon her flushed, blushing cheeks this close to another person for the very first time warmth crept high into his own ears.
“Then no more teasing. Agreed?”
Fang Yao pressed herself against the wall, huddled tight and wary, and gave a small, shaky nod. “Mmm.”
“Sleep now. It can be re-woven tomorrow.”
Xu Qingzhou reached to draw the quilt over her, but Fang Yao remained taut as a bowstring. Before his hand could draw near, she pulled the cover up herself, watching him with wide, dark eyes startled, mistrustful, like a frightened bird.
Xu Qingzhou sighed. He knew this was his doing; he must speak gently and with sincerity.
“Did I frighten you just now?”
Fang Yao saw him lift his hand, reaching slowly toward her. Instinct bade her flinch but she was already pressed to the wall. She could only watch as his hand came to rest gently upon the top of her head, stroking twice, soft and soothing.
“There now… gentle pat, no harm done.”
Fang Yao pressed her lips together and looked steadily into his eyes. Her breathing slowed, her heart steadied. Yet she knew boundaries must be set clearly, and soon.
“Xu Qingzhou… I am not one of your soldiers. I will not be ordered about like recruits in your camp.”
His hand remained resting upon her hair, stroking again and again, calming her frayed nerves. “Very well. I shall not speak so again.”
In an instant, all the fight drained out of her. Her lashes drooped, heavy and weary.
Had this been Xu Manjiang, he would have shouted back, argued endlessly and seized upon her striking him to heap every fault upon her shoulders. She had braced herself for a fight, ready to hurl words back and defend herself.
But Xu Qingzhou did not shout. He did not rage. He simply held her temper in his own steady hands and soothed her.
That was the difference, she thought. That was how differently people could treat one another.
“Let us sleep,” Fang Yao said at last, and settled beneath the quilt.
Relieved to see her anger fading, Xu Qingzhou murmured a quiet “Mm-hmm” and drew up his own bedding. Before lying down, he walked to the stove and added fresh firewood to keep the room warm through the night.
Fang Yao peered out from beneath her quilt, watching him steadily. Sensing him turn back, she closed her eyes at once and rolled to face the wall.
Moments later, the empty space beside her dipped with his weight. His breath fell warm and damp against her ear softer than the dry heat of the stove. Her eyelids fluttered; then another layer of quilt settled warmly over her.
Like the night before, Xu Qingzhou had drawn half his own coverlet over her.
“You’ll catch cold if you lie so loosely covered,” Fang Yao whispered, half-opening her eyes and reaching to return it.
Xu Qingzhou stayed her hand gently. His voice was deep and rich, tender with quiet affection. “Keep it. Men run hot. I shall not freeze.”
And with that, he patted her gently through the quilt rocking her like a child.
Warmth all around her, and that steady, soothing rhythm against her shoulder Fang Yao drifted quickly into sleep. When next she opened her eyes, dawn had broken bright. Wang Hua’s voice carried in from the courtyard. Xu Qingzhou entered with a basin of water; seeing her awake, he quietly drew the door shut to keep the warmth within.
“Awake? You slept soundly last night.”
Fang Yao nodded. Grateful for his kindness these past two days, she spoke earnestly. “Thank you… for being so good to me.”
Xu Qingzhou laughed it off, squatting to warm his hands at the fire. “What need for thanks between husband and wife? This is only the beginning.”
Fang Yao smiled softly, rose and dressed. After washing and sharing breakfast with Wang Hua, Xu Qingzhou and Wang Hua each mounted their bicycles and accompanied her home to her parents’ house.
Fang Yao’s family was of moderate standing. Her grandparents were both living and shared the household; her father had an elder brother, and among the cousins were one elder brother and one elder sister. She herself had two elder brothers five years and three years her senior.
Liu Bailan and Fang Daguo had been eagerly awaiting their daughter’s return. At dawn they had their sons string firecrackers above the gate, and all four stood waiting in the lane.
From far off, Liu Bailan caught the glint of bicycle wheels and beamed with joy. “They’re here! Light the fuses fire them the moment they arrive!”
Her eldest son, Fang Tong, lit a long-stemmed pipe and stood ready to ignite the string.
Her second son, Fang Bin, trotted forward a few paces to confirm the sight, then came bounding back grinning broadly. “I see them! Spirits, soda, whole crates and cloth too! Our new brother-in-law brings gifts finer than even the betrothal presents!”
Liu Bailan’s smile stretched wide at the mention of cloth!
As the bicycles drew nearer, Fang Daguo urged Fang Tong to light the firecrackers. Seeing him fumble repeatedly, he snatched the pipe. “Stand aside.” He stepped forward and lit them himself.
Crackling explosions filled the lane with joyous noise. Neighbours leaned curiously from doorways, and one called out playfully: “Aunt Fang! Your daughter returns with husband at last surely your two sons’ weddings must follow soon!”
“Rest assured you shall all be invited!” Liu Bailan replied, glowing with pride. She and her family hurried forward to greet the couple.
Then her eyes fell upon the grass-green army uniform. The man’s features his eyes, his nose none of them matched the son-in-law they had expected!
All four members of the Fang family stood frozen in bewilderment. They looked from Xu Qingzhou to Fang Yao and back again. Liu Bailan, stepping forward, asked in bewilderment:
“This… this is Manjiang’s cousin… what is the meaning of this, Yao Yao? Where is Manjiang? Why does he not come with you?”
Fang Yao looked upon her parents with aching heart. Poor souls they had no idea. She had lived and died once already. Xu Manjiang had betrayed their trust, broken every promise, hurt her beyond forgiveness and had even destroyed the child she carried.
“Mother…”
Grief and bitterness welled up, swelling uncontrollably before those she loved most.
Liu Bailan caught the tremor in her voice and sensed disaster. “Tell me what has happened, child! Speak to your mother!”
Fang Yao swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and said quietly: “The groom has been exchanged. Xu Qingzhou and I… we are husband and wife now.”
“Say what? The groom… has been exchanged?” Liu Bailan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Shock and astonishment fell upon every face in the Fang family.
Wang Hua stepped forward at once, taking Liu Bailan’s hand gently and speaking low. “My dear sister I am Qingzhou’s mother. The air is bitter cold out here, and the children have ridden far. Let us go inside first, out of the chill, and speak of everything properly. Will you not?”
Liu Bailan understood at once that this was no matter for public shouting. Gripping Fang Yao’s hand tightly, she turned sharply back toward the house.
“Inside. We shall speak inside.”
Fang Yao’s hand was squeezed so tightly it ached. With every step, she saw her mother’s face turn a shade more ashen. She knew then her family would not accept this marriage swap as easily as she had hoped.
And so it proved. Once inside, Liu Bailan did not so much as glance at the fine gifts Wang Hua and Xu Qingzhou had brought. She marched forward, anger blazing in her eyes.
“My daughter was married into your Xu family in good faith! Barely two days pass and now you tell us the groom has been swapped? What trickery have you played? Give us a full explanation today or we shall go straight to the village committee and charge your Xu family with human trafficking!”