When Lu Dongsheng arrived at Su Ying’s gate, he found it shut tight. He checked his watch she’d be out in the fields by now. He needed to speak with her face to face so he wouldn’t startle her.
He headed next to the health clinic. Zhang Shengli had nothing to do and was helping a donkey mate next door. The two men stood watching the animals; Lu Dongsheng’s jaw tightened slightly. Zhang Shengli saw his stunned expression and chuckled.
“Never seen anything like it, huh? Don’t underestimate him he’s worth more than me. The best food and care in the whole brigade and I’m the one who waits on him.”
Lu Dongsheng looked away and idly examined the jars on the table. Zhang Shengli warned quickly: “Hey don’t touch that one. That’s knockout drops.”
Lu Dongsheng set it down at once and reached for another. “And not that one either that’s an aphrodisiac.”
“Why do you keep such things?”
“Animals aren’t like people sometimes you need these methods. Anyway what brings you here? I’ve never seen you so determined. This girl really means something to you.”
“Cut it out,” Lu Dongsheng said. “I’ve been back nearly two weeks. If things work out, I’ll take her with me when I leave. This is my future of course I’m in a hurry.”
“You haven’t filed your marriage application yet?”
“I did it over the phone. The Political Commissar said I can fill out the paperwork when I’m back.”
Zhang Shengli whistled that was typical Lu Dongsheng, moving fast.
Once the donkeys were separated and settled, Zhang Shengli returned to his office. He knew Lu Dongsheng he wouldn’t leave until this was resolved. He’d likely stay the night.
As the sun set, Su Xiuxiu doubled over in pain. Pale and sallow from early pregnancy, she’d watched Wang Liang all afternoon and Wang Liang had watched Su Ying, her new red dress making her the centre of attention. Su Xiuxiu burned with jealousy; if not for the crowd, she would have scratched Su Ying’s face.
When work ended, Su Ying and Lin Yan were still hoeing their plot while everyone else had gone ahead. On the walk home, Su Xiuxiu glanced repeatedly at Wang Liang he didn’t so much as look at her. Her anger flared. Tian Cuifen shot her a sharp look behave yourself, tonight’s the big plan, don’t mess it up.
Minutes after getting home, Tian Cuifen returned to the clinic and asked Zhang Shengli for the sedative and aphrodisiac. He refused; she left muttering curses.
Back in his room, Zhang Shengli told Lu Dongsheng: “Your future mother-in-law came asking for those drugs. I didn’t give them something’s not right about this.”
Lu Dongsheng’s instincts pricked those drugs would be used to harm someone. He had to go. What if they were hurting Su Ying again?
Barely minutes after Tian Cuifen returned home, Lu Dongsheng arrived with gifts.
“Excuse me is Su Ying at home?”
Su Xiuxiu was washing her face in the yard, eyes half-closed against the soap. Through the blur she saw a figure in army green at the gate. Tian Cuifen came out, eyes lighting up.
“You are…?”
At first glance, a fine, handsome young man. Then she recognised him wasn’t this the one who’d stood up for Su Ying? Why him? In that uniform… could he be the matchmaker’s suitor? It couldn’t be.
“You are…?” she asked again.
“Auntie didn’t the matchmaker mention me?”
Her heart sank. Oh no he knows Su Ying.
Su Xiuxiu wiped her face clean and saw him clearly this was the man from the hospital that morning, the one she’d nearly bumped into. She turned away, but too late. Lu Dongsheng frowned he recognised her. That was it she’d used Su Ying’s name. He remembered Zhang Shengli mentioning a stepdaughter now he’d been so focused on Su Ying he’d forgotten. Clearly this sister was no ally, quick to shift blame and ruin Su Ying’s reputation without a blink.
Tian Cuifen’s mind raced. A soldier, an officer, sixty or seventy yuan a month in pay this was too good for that little wretch. She’d hoped her own daughter might take Su Ying’s place maybe there was still a way.
“Su Ying… she’s already married,” she lied smoothly. “Is there something you need?”
Married? Lu Dongsheng thought he’d misheard. Impossible she’d been with him only yesterday.
Tian Cuifen smiled and pulled Su Xiuxiu aside: “Go wait at the crossroads. Make sure Su Ying doesn’t come back early.”
Su Xiuxiu hesitated it was also her chance to slip away to Wang Liang. She nodded, but as she passed Lu Dongsheng, she slowed to look. Why should Su Ying have such a fine match? It wasn’t fair. But tonight the lame man would take her away if she couldn’t have him, neither would that little brat.
Lu Dongsheng noticed her gaze; Su Xiuxiu’s nerves tightened. He knew. She ran from the house.
Tian Cuifen eyed the parcels in his hands they looked valuable.
Lu Dongsheng didn’t believe her. “Auntie if I may ask who did she marry? When was the wedding?”
“Oh, she’s so headstrong! Fell for a boy from the next village nothing we said changed her mind. She went over this afternoon. Likely staying the night. But that girl who just left is my elder daughter. You saw her she’s the lucky one. You seem a fine young man. How about it I’ll give my blessing you marry her instead.”
Lu Dongsheng was stunned. He’d never met anyone so shameless. Was he blind or simple? If he couldn’t see through such transparent tricks, he didn’t deserve his eyes.