Li Xuemiao listened to Wang Cuilian’s words, barely containing the secret delight swelling in her chest. Fang Yao shall soon walk the very same path I once walked!
And this was only the beginning!
She took Wang Cuilian’s arm, putting on a thoughtful, solemn air. “Mother such words carry weight. Without proof, we ought not speak so freely.”
Wang Cuilian flung her sleeve away, teeth clenched with conviction. “I speak nothing but truth! Before the wedding I had her fortune read. Her birth chart is hard and unyielding she is born to overpower her husband and bring ruin to her household!”
Li Xuemiao feigned astonishment. “You knew this and yet you still let Manjiang bring her into the family?”
“Because Manjiang wanted her! And the fortune-teller said my own birth chart was strong enough to subdue hers! That was why I consented! As for Wang Hua soft, indecisive, easily swayed what strength has she? The day she let Qingzhou marry that girl I knew it could end in nothing but ruin!” Wang Cuilian spoke with the pride of one who had foreseen everything, glorying in her foresight.
Li Xuemiao said nothing to contradict her. She knew the truth: even without the bridal swap, Xu Qingzhou’s fate was fixed. It had nothing whatsoever to do with Fang Yao’s birth chart. Yet she spoke soothingly:
“Mother say this only to me, I beg you. Never breathe a word to Aunt Wang Hua. Qingzhou’s life still hangs in the balance. She is terrified Fang Yao might refuse to honour the marriage now do you think she will listen to such talk? She would call it slander and turn every word against you. You would be blamed for everything!”
At this, Wang Cuilian flared up, sputtering with indignation. “Do you think I enjoy meddling in their affairs? It is the injustice that burns me! The money she swindled from us! Every coin lost makes my blood boil!”
Li Xuemiao pressed her lips together. Since her rebirth, everything had unfolded exactly as she had planned save for one thing: the two thousand yuan compensation Fang Yao had wrung from Xu Manjiang. That single loss had brought scandal and shame upon her name. And she would not suffer it to stand.
“Mother I have a plan!” Li Xuemiao leaned close and whispered. “Tell Grandmother what the fortune-teller said. Let her hear that Qingzhou was crippled by Fang Yao’s ill fortune and then see what she says!”
“Of course! Why did I not think of it myself?” Wang Cuilian slapped her thigh in delight, reasoning it through triumphantly. “Fang Yao brings ruin upon her husband! Qingzhou is the living proof of it! No man beneath heaven would dare take her now! Where is her pride then? And that stolen money every copper shall be returned to us!”
Head held high, Wang Cuilian marched off to find Old Madam Xu. Li Xuemiao watched her go, eyes narrowing in satisfaction and turned back inside to await the good news.
Wang Hua, with great effort, persuaded Old Madam Xu to remain at home and wait. She gathered their belongings and was driven back to the hospital by Yang Fan.
Xu Qingzhou had slept briefly and woken again. Seeing his lips cracked and parched, Fang Yao went to the nurse’s station, returned with a little glucose solution, and trickled it gently between his lips, drop by drop.
She heard the door open, set down the bowl, and stepped forward to take Wang Hua’s things.
The hospital room was small scarcely four square metres. Besides a cabinet and a chair, there was barely space to stand. Yet four of them crowded inside meaning even taking turns through the night, three would have nowhere to rest.
Fang Yao therefore proposed booking rooms at the guesthouse outside the military compound.
Wang Hua was about to agree when Liu Shitou spoke up. “No need, Auntie, Sister-in-law. Yang Fan and I are rough men we can sleep anywhere. Chairs in the corridor, a blanket beneath us it is rest enough.”
“But you must rest too,” Fang Yao insisted. “Let me book a room. You may sleep properly and bathe. That is settled.” She stepped out.
Liu Shitou hurried after her. “Sister-in-law our comrade lies broken in that bed. How could we leave him to rest comfortably elsewhere? Please do not spend the money.”
Fang Yao looked at his earnest face. She understood his loyalty his need to stand beside his commander in hardship. And because he felt so strongly, she must honour that bond all the more.
“His injuries are grave yes. But so too are your bodies precious. Rest assured we take turns. He is never alone. He would not wish you to exhaust yourselves either. If he could speak he would tell you the same.”
Liu Shitou scratched his head, moved. “Our Lieutenant has always treated us well. Very well, Sister-in-law we shall do as you say.”
Across from the hospital stood a single state-run guesthouse. Fang Yao crossed the road, pulled open the wind-buffeted door, and approached the reception desk, requesting a room with two beds.
The receptionist glanced at her plain, country clothing, frowned, and replied coldly: “Only single rooms and dormitories remain. No double rooms. And do you have a letter of introduction or work unit certification? Without it I cannot register you.”
Fang Yao ignored her rudeness. She produced Xu Qingzhou’s military officer’s certificate and handed it over. “This is my husband’s identification. Please register me under his name.”
The receptionist glanced at the document and snapped: “Rooms cannot be registered by proxy. The officer must come in person.”
Fang Yao had not expected such a rule. She sighed and pleaded: “Comrade might there be an exception? My husband lies in hospital he cannot come himself ”
Before she could finish, the door opened behind her. The receptionist’s expression transformed instantly. She leaned past Fang Yao, beaming with welcome.
“Good day, Sir! Do you have a reservation?”
A man stood there, dressed in a neat black tunic, a fur-trimmed cap upon his head, and black-rimmed spectacles. Every movement spoke of education and refinement.
“I have arrived on official assignment from the capital,” he said politely. “I had no time to reserve. Might I trouble you for a double room? I shall be accompanied by an assistant.”
“Ah you have arrived at the perfect moment!” the receptionist exclaimed. “One double room remains! Give me but a moment I shall prepare it at once!” She completely abandoned Fang Yao and began leading the man toward the stairs.
Fang Yao could bear it no longer. She stepped forward, voice steady and firm. “Comrade you told me no double rooms remained. How is it one is suddenly available? And I was here first.”
The receptionist’s face hardened. “You lack proper documentation! Even if I wished I cannot register you! Step aside! Do not block the way!”
Fang Yao stood her ground. She had held her tongue earlier out of care for Xu Qingzhou but she would not be pushed aside or bullied.
“I can return with proper identification,” she said. “But I was here first. Hold that room for me. I shall pay a deposit if need be.”
The receptionist, enraged that a village woman should dare argue, roughly brushed her hand away.
“Will you not cease your pestering?” she snapped, face dark with anger. “This gentleman is an official envoy from the capital! Here on government business! I have set aside a room for him! Have you no respect for protocol or rank!”