Before dawn, Su Ying was woken by the faint sound of a door opening in Su Xiuxiu’s room. Years of harsh treatment had kept the original girl constantly on edge. Su Ying kept the light off and peered out Tian Cuifen was hurrying Su Xiuxiu toward the gate.
How callous, she thought. A life inside her, and they decide it so lightly. It was none of her doing, and she would not add to harm. Su Xiuxiu was clearly heading to catch an early bus. Su Ying went back to sleep.
Elsewhere, Lu Dongsheng had already run laps around the county seat. When he walked in, Zhao Yulan rushed from Lu Xiaofang’s room. “Dongsheng thank goodness! Your sister’s burning with fever, I can’t wake her!”
“Don’t worry, Mother I’ll take her to the clinic now.” Without changing clothes, he carried her out in her nightgown, his mother draping a blanket over her shoulders.
At the clinic, the doctor examined her and confirmed pneumonia from the flu. She was settled in a shared ward with four beds separated by curtains.
A nurse called from the doorway: “Su Ying? Is Su Ying here for the procedure?”
In the next bed, Su Xiuxiu flinched. She was using Su Ying’s name terrified someone would find out who she really was.
Lu Dongsheng’s eyes widened. Su Ying? “Procedure?” He frowned. Could it be her? Zhao Yulan watched his face was this the same girl he intended to marry? He rose, drawn toward the curtain, then hesitated. He refused to believe his judgment was so wrong. He lifted the curtain only to see a girl’s back.
“Do you recognize her?” Zhao Yulan whispered.
Before he could answer, voices carried from the next bed. “Disgraceful so young and already with no one beside her. Clearly up to no good.” “She’s from Su Fugui’s family mother died young, no one to guide her. Hussy sneaking in like this. Who’ll marry her now?”
Lu Dongsheng burned with anger. Something felt wrong was he missing something?
Zhao Yulan was furious. “Go see. If it’s her, I’ll never let her cross our threshold. Choose her and you bury me too.”
“That’s not her,” he said firmly. “She’s thin this girl is heavier. Someone with the same name.”
Zhao Yulan sighed her son was thoroughly bewitched. Seeing Xiaofang improve, he checked his watch. “I must go to Lin Village today. I’ll leave her in your care.”
“Go then ruin your life if you must.”
At the operating room, Su Xiuxiu heard screams from inside and froze. She touched her stomach thoughts of Wang Liang flooded back. I can’t lose this baby. What if he won’t marry me? She turned and ran. She would say it had miscarried naturally, then speak to Wang Liang.
In her haste, she collided with Lu Dongsheng in the corridor. “Can’t you watch where you’re going?” she snapped.
He recognized her instantly the same girl from the ward. Two girls with the same name, yet worlds apart. Before he could reply, the door opened. “Su Ying! Where are you? It’s your turn!”
She fled, glancing back and her heart skipped. How could anyone look so strong and handsome? She’d never seen a man like him. If only she’d met him first… she’d give up everything for a chance with him. But she carried Wang Liang’s child.
Su Ying was woken by the brigade loudspeaker: “All members report for work! First team clear hillside land; second repair mountain roads; third reinforce riverbanks. Late more than ten minutes = one work point deducted.”
She rubbed her head assigned to the first team. Hard labour was new to her; she’d barely lifted a finger in her former life. One bad line and I’m dropped into a book. No choice though. In the kitchen she found meagre potatoes and thin corn porridge. Grabbing two potatoes and a hoe, she set off up the slope.
Lin Yan caught up, breathless. “Here trade you. I like potatoes.” She pressed a warm sweet potato into Su Ying’s hand.
Su Ying’s throat tightened. This girl treated her better than her own blood ever had.