The birthday banquet at the hotel had not ended, and Xu Yongcheng needed to return to socialize with guests from all sides. The driver had pulled the car to the entrance and stood respectfully by the vehicle awaiting Xu Yongcheng’s instructions.
Xu Yongcheng called out to Xu Jiu that she should come back with him and he would introduce her to some people because when she started her internship at the company later those would all be key allies. Xu Jiu narrowed her eyes. Xu Yongcheng’s scheming was loud and clear now that Xu Zhen had failed him he had set his sights on her. She was no soft touch to be pushed around.
Xu Jiu stood timidly behind Liu Shuran and said she wanted to stay at Aunt Shuran’s that day. Xu Yongcheng frowned and said it was so far there and she had school the day after tomorrow. Xu Jiu shook her head repeatedly. She had no desire to face Xu Yongcheng’s resentful expression alone putting on the perfect father and daughter act was fine for a moment but keep it up and she would slip up and expose the truth.
Liu Shuran spoke up and said Xu Jiu and she had not seen each other in ages so she could stay two nights and Zhiyan would drop her at school on Monday. Xu Yongcheng considered that Liu Shuran was Ye Min’s close friend and seeing how shaken Xu Jiu was and clearly dreading the thought of going home he did not insist. He crouched down to speak gently to her and said he had not cared for her enough before and the next day he would go look at houses and buy whichever one she liked best. Xu Jiu nodded obediently and thanked him.
Jiang Jun drove a second hand Xiali practical for Liu Shuran’s commute. It was old but spotlessly clean without a hint of odour. Xu Jiu and Jiang Zhiyan sat in the back Xu Jiu’s eyes still faintly red as she glared at Xu Yongcheng standing by the hotel entrance. His shoulders seemed to have slumped all the arrogance he had shown at the start of the banquet gone. Serves you right.
Jiang Zhiyan clutched a damp handkerchief meant for drying her tears. Recalling her heart wrenching words in the hotel corridor he knew she had never been happy back at the Xu family home. If he had known it would be like this he would have taken her in even if she had blamed him for it. Liu Shuran and Jiang Jun were equally distressed glancing back at her repeatedly in the rear view mirror.
She looked thinner less quick to smile than in childhood and always crying. If Ye Min were still alive no one would dare mistreat her daughter Liu Shuran thought. She had assumed Xu Yongcheng’s wealth would give her a good life but it seemed money was not everything. Their family would give every cent they had for her while Xu Yongcheng could have ten thousand yet give her barely a hundred. She wiped a tear secretly and Jiang Jun noticed and squeezed her hand.
Liu Shuran’s home was in the Railway Family Compound in Xiangfang District allocated to Jiang Jun by his workplace a recently built apartment block bright and new. Back then Jiang Jun had commuted by motorcycle to stay near Liu Shuran who taught at a town school. When she was transferred to the city the whole family moved there. Liu Shuran had invited Xu Jiu over many times but Xu Zhen had always made excuses to turn her down. Over the years they had barely met.
The only other time Xu Jiu had visited was after Jiang Zhiyan’s passing. They had sorted through his things together there were few because his wants were simple except for a worn photo album tucked in a drawer filled with photos of the two of them young Xu Jiu smiling brightly in matching clothes Liu Shuran had sewn. Further back were photos of her in middle and high school taken without her knowledge. Liu Shuran said softly that her brother had taken those and thought of her always but could not bring himself to come see her. Xu Jiu wept silently and Liu Shuran held her and cried too. In minutes his whole life fit into two woven bags.
Thirty years later Xu Jiu was back. She glanced at Jiang Zhiyan beside her chest tight as cotton wool and hard to breathe. He had one hundred and two days left. If she could save him from being injured on the fourth surely she could change his fate. Jiang Zhiyan caught her looking and asked if there was something on his face. She thought of lines she had seen online and nodded that he was kind of cute.
He stared stunned. She said she had got an IV drip the previous day and asked if he knew what kind. He asked what was wrong and why she had not said anything. She told him to answer first and he asked what kind. She said it was missing you night. He looked away quickly colour rising from his ears to his neck. Before she could tease further he covered her mouth gently and said not to say any more.
Liu Shuran walked ahead unaware and said since they moved there her brother had been at university most of the year and when he graduated and joined the police he was hardly ever home and she had never come so the big house was just her Uncle Jiang and her. She unlocked the door and lined up slippers. A pink pair with rabbit ears was shown and she asked if they were cute. Xu Jiu said very.
She opened the cupboard to reveal five more pairs and said her brother had bought them every year just in case one did not fit. Xu Jiu’s fit perfectly. She looked at Jiang Zhiyan’s plain slippers black with stitched grass and suns handmade by Liu Shuran who had sewn most of her childhood clothes. She nudged his trouser leg with her toe. His leg tensed and asked what was it. She said she wanted his. He hesitated then stepped out of them. Liu Shuran said she would crochet her a pink pair next time and Xu Jiu thanked her.
Jiang Zhiyan stood awkwardly in slippers far too small. Jiang Jun tossed him another pair and said not to stretch hers out. The apartment was a simple three bedroom and immaculate. Jiang Jun headed to the kitchen there was no feast but plenty of food. Liu Shuran showed her room and Xu Jiu stepped in and froze pink bedding ribbons a lopsided stuffed rabbit with button eyes the one Jiang Zhiyan had made her after Ye Min died. Her teddy bear sat on the pillow her sling and old schoolwork were on the desk.
It was just like her room in the town. Six years ago Xu Yongcheng had arrived in the middle of the night insisting she come home because everything would be provided. She had assumed all this was gone. Liu Shuran said her brother had set it up and asked if she liked it. Eyes hot she nodded and Liu Shuran told her to stay as long as she liked.
When they were alone she held the rabbit and asked why keep it. He said she could not sleep without it. She said she was grown up now. He said not to him. She stood level with his shoulder and said she was taller than that now. He agreed. She said and more than just height boys asked her out and some said they would propose after graduation. He blinked.
She said if she was lucky she would be happy but if not what if she married someone like Li Tianci or Wang Jianjun and cried every day. He said never. She said people hid their true selves and how could he be sure someone would not change. He met her gaze and said he would bring her back and would not let anyone hurt her. She whispered coward. He asked what she had said. She said his answer was wrong and she would wait for the right one on her birthday.
Dinner was simple but hearty spicy pork ham with garlic scapes tomatoes with sugar and everyone ate well. Liu Shuran said they had not all sat together in years and her eyes glistened. Next year she would be at university then her brother would marry and move away and she would miss this. Xu Jiu placed her hand over theirs and said she would always be there and they would never be apart.
The news reported state owned enterprise restructuring and layoffs. Liu Shuran sighed and asked what they would do now. Jiang Jun said there were opportunities small businesses and new beginnings. Xu Jiu stared at the tobacco factory footage an armed robbery would happen there in a week with three hundred thousand yuan stolen. When word leaked laid off workers would protest violently and an innocent man would die in the chaos. Jiang Zhiyan and Qin Shuo would solve the case and be commended but they would be hurt. She needed to prevent the theft without costing them their success.
She had been locked away when it happened before so she knew the date but not who was responsible. If only she had paid attention then. That night she told Jiang Zhiyan about a friend who knew something important. He asked if it was right and said if it was right then do it because career could be rebuilt but the right choice would not come again. She smiled. She wondered how to get inside and knew she would need Xu Yongcheng’s help.
She woke early to the sounds of the compound music voices laughter. Liu Shuran spoke softly in the kitchen and said Zhiyan was late and to make her soy milk sweet because she liked it that way and they had been so close as children. Xu Jiu listened tears falling. It was her fault he had joined the force if not for her he would live a quiet life. Liu Shuran called breakfast was ready. Jiang Zhiyan returned from his run she smiled and said morning. He nodded flustered. Liu Shuran told her to eat well and grow strong so no one dared hurt her. Xu Jiu said they always had.
He walked her to school in a thick coat because the wind on the motorcycle was strong. She held him tight from behind. At the gate she told him to be careful and he said to call if she needed anything.
In class rumours flew Zhao Lei’s father had vanished. Xu Jiu’s deskmate leaned in and asked if her sister had called and if something was wrong. Xu Jiu said she had got what she deserved for trying to ruin her. Her friend was shocked.
At home Xu Yongcheng looked exhausted showing her house photos and a bankbook. She asked softly if he was angry with her. His face hardened against Fang Xue and Xu Zhen and said they had got what they deserved and no one would hurt her. She said she would love to visit the tobacco factory and he called the owner immediately and was told welcome anytime.
The plan was set.