Chapter 35: Sweet Words That Melt the Heart

Chapter 35: Sweet Words That Melt the Heart

In the dead of night, under a thatched roof, Sui Ling snuggled into the thin quilt and nestled into the man's arms. The work in the fields was almost done, and she finally didn't have to go back there.

"Husband, I want to visit my older brother," Sui Ling looked up at him and said, "Can you come with me?"

Qian Wei glanced down at the woman in his arms. Compared to two months ago, she seemed like a different person—her beauty, speech, and demeanor were far beyond those of a countrywoman. If he had despised her before, now he was completely smitten.

"Husband, say something," Sui Ling nudged him gently.

"Alright, when I have time, I'll ask around to find out where he is exactly." Qian Wei lifted Sui Ling's chin, tapping it lightly, contemplating what he might ask when they meet.

With this assurance, Sui Ling felt relieved. Thinking about the old hag at home who guarded the food more closely than a cat guards its prey, she decided to visit Sui Yu.

Two days later, after Qian Wei had gathered some information, Sui Ling found an excuse to slip out. She first went to the second alleyway, noticing the open gate and no one in the courtyard; she deduced that only Xiping was home. Leaving the alley, she headed straight for South Water Street, hearing Sui Yu's calls from afar. As she approached, she saw Sui Yu speaking humbly to an old woman in coarse clothes with a black face, bowing her head and smiling widely as she collected a few copper coins. Sui Ling curled her lip, thinking how fortunate she was not to be like Sui Yu, selling goods and smiling every day to earn pennies.

Cat Official was dozing by the stove when suddenly someone grabbed his head. Sensing danger, he pounced without opening his eyes. Sui Ling, caught off guard, yelped as her hand was scratched, glaring at the blood beads on her wrist.

"Sui Yu, your damn cat scratched me."

Sui Yu, annoyed by her presence, ignored her and continued serving customers, handing four buns to Sui Liang after he collected the coins.

Sui Ling glared at Sui Yu, seeing the cat still staring at her menacingly, and raised her foot to kick it.

"Do you want to die?" Sui Yu threw a bowl at her, "The cat did nothing to you, but you went and bothered it without a word. It doesn't know you; who else would it scratch?"

The earthenware bowl hit the ground but didn't break, rolling a few times before stopping in the middle of the road.

Sui Liang pulled Cat Official away, fearing Sui Ling might attack the cat again. He stared at the bowl but didn't pick it up.

"How was I supposed to know it would scratch me? Why do you bring it here while selling buns? It's so annoying." Sui Ling, though guilty, raised her voice. But since she needed something, she grumbled and then asked, "How much do you make a day?"

Sui Yu rolled her eyes at her and said, "If you have nothing important, leave quickly and don't waste my time." Seeing a passerby, she smiled and called out, "Ma'am, would you like to buy some buns? They're filled with radish and lard, very delicious, three copper coins each."

The passerby waved her off, and Sui Yu turned back, noticing a hand reaching for the steamer. She slapped it away impatiently, "What? Are you turning into a thief now, Miss High-and-Mighty?"

Hearing the sarcasm, Sui Ling bristled, ready to retort, but held back. After a moment, she changed her tone, "I'm planning to visit my older brother tomorrow. I thought of bringing something along. You know my mother-in-law; getting anything from her is harder than climbing Mount Tai. Can you give me a few buns to take with me?"

Sui Yu stared at her for a moment.

"Really, Qian Wei has already found out where my brother is." Sui Ling noticed her skepticism and sneered, adding, "Do you want to come see him? You owe everything you have today to my brother."

Sui Yu remained silent, greeting a regular customer, "Aunt Li, ten buns again today?"

"Yes, ten please." Aunt Li handed over her basket, asking, "Are there any left in the pot?"

"Yes." Sui Yu opened the steamer, serving ten buns and leaving six. She stacked the remaining ones and handed them to Sui Ling.

"Just this once," she said.

Sui Ling nodded half-heartedly, taking the buns and leaving without a word of thanks, as if she had paid for them.

Sui Liang spat at her, releasing Cat Official to pick up the bowl from the road.

"Don't associate with people like her. If you see her on the street, keep your distance. Don't respond if she calls, but don't offend her either," Sui Yu warned him.

Sui Liang nodded.

Another customer arrived, and Sui Yu put aside the unpleasantness, smiling warmly to greet them.

Sui Ling glanced back, seeing Sui Yu wasn't looking, ducked into an alley, and found a sheltered spot. She took a bite of the warm bun, the soft dough breaking apart, the steam scalding her mouth. She blew gently until the heat dissipated, savoring the filling. It had been a year since she was imprisoned and exiled, and during that time, she hadn't tasted anything as satisfying. At the Qian household, it was either congee or vegetable soup, and any meat went straight to the men. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

After finishing one bun, Sui Ling felt even hungrier. She decided that four buns would be enough for her brother and ate another one. With two buns down, feeling slightly full, she wiped her mouth, tucked the remaining buns into her clothes, and walked back, hunched over.

"Captain Zhao, delivering noodles again?"

Xiping nodded, quickening his pace, catching a glimpse of Sui Ling sneaking along the wall. He glanced at her briefly before looking away.

Once past him, Sui Ling breathed a sigh of relief, touching the buns in her clothes and smiling smugly.

"Where have you been? You still remember to come back?" As soon as she entered the house, Mother Qian started berating her, "Running around all the time, which man are you courting outside? Have you swept the floor? Fed the chickens? Washed the clothes?"

Sui Ling ignored her, heading straight into the room, glaring at the man lying on the bed, "You're not dead yet, why don't you say anything when your mother accuses me of courting other men?"

"Ah, let her talk," Qian Wei dismissed her annoyance.

"Hmph, let her talk? One day, I really will find another man..."

Qian Wei glared at her, sitting up and cursing, "You little vixen, are you tired of living... Hey, where did these come from?"

"Shh." Sui Ling pointed outside, lowering her voice, "For my brother tomorrow. I got them from Sui Yu."

"Only four? How stingy." Qian Wei got out of bed, grabbing one and biting into it, mumbling, "Let me taste it."

"Hey, I got these for my brother. If you want to eat, buy them yourself or give me money."

"Where would I get money? They're pretty good, try one." Qian Wei offered her a bite, saying, "Three buns should be enough for your brother; he's not starving."

Sui Ling glared at him but took a big bite anyway.

"Told you they're good. Let's share one more; it's lucky to send two." Qian Wei didn't notice her displeasure.

...

The next day, Sui Ling clutched two cold buns and rode a camel with Qian Wei out of the city. Once outside, the harsh wind cut through their clothes like knives.

"I'm freezing, I won't come when it's cold." Sui Ling shivered, hunching over. A bun fell from her clothes, and she managed to catch only one, the other crushed under the camel's hoof.

"Cursed thing." She slapped the camel angrily.

Sui Wen'an looked at the lone steamed bun handed to him and sighed. He felt that Sui Ling's life with her in-laws must be difficult. He didn't eat the bun but told Sui Ling to take it back, saying he could have three meals a day and wouldn't go hungry.

"Brother, working on the Great Wall is too hard. How about I go to Yumen Pass for you and talk to Officer Li, asking him to transfer you somewhere else?" Qian Wei spoke slowly after the two had finished catching up.

Sui Wen'an refused. Having seen many sycophants around his father, he knew their faces all too well—Qian Wei's probing was as obvious as a child wetting himself, unable to hold it in.

"This was my own request. A son repays his father's debts; I am redeeming my father's sins." He glanced at Sui Ling and said, "Go back with your husband. Don't come here anymore. Live your life peacefully. If I become an uncle, then you can come and share the good news."

In his view, only if Sui Ling had a child would her life become more secure, given Qian Wei's character.

Sui Ling frowned unhappily and shoved the frozen bun into his hands, saying, "We're leaving."

"Mm, do you have any news about Sister Yu?" Sui Wen'an asked another question.

"She's... she's doing very well," Sui Ling almost slipped up, then angrily added, "She's always happy-go-lucky; you don't need to worry about her. She doesn't even associate with us anymore; I can't even get through her door when I go to see her."

Sui Wen'an was somewhat skeptical but didn't say anything. After the two rode away on their camels, he stood there and ate the cold bun before the inspector came to hurry him along. Then, he carried his load to sift sand.

"Your brother is a fool, refusing help and making things hard for himself." On the way back, Qian Wei grumbled, then asked, "Have you met Officer Li?"

Sui Ling shook her head and whispered, "My father only saw my elder brother before he died."

Qian Wei snorted and said, "No more visits. Look at your cousin; she's focused on making money every day. Don't you have any ambition?"

Resentment flashed in Sui Ling's eyes; she hated being compared to others. Making women earn money was humiliating.

By the time they got home, it was dark. Sui Ling, chilled from the journey, started sneezing as soon as she entered and rushed to the side room, shivering under the blankets.

"Get out and start cooking! You've been out all day, and now you're lying in bed like a spoiled miss!" Mother Qian stormed in with a ladle, yelling, "Lazing around all day, not earning a single coin, just greedy and lazy. Who acts like you?"

"What rest? When have I ever rested? It's not raining or snowing, so what's cold? The wife of Zhao Xiping next door just came back from closing her stall. She doesn't mind the cold while earning money, yet you, who does nothing, complain about the cold? Get down now!" Mother Qian raised the ladle and hit her, scolding, "I'll sell you tomorrow. Raising you is worse than raising a pig."

Sui Ling endured a few hits and, hearing this, became both angry and scared. She burst into tears, her grievance turning to hatred, wishing she could kill those who bullied her.

Sui Yu, gathering firewood outside, heard the crying and shouting. She took a deep breath and went inside, closing the door.

"Soup noodles or dumpling soup tonight?" she asked in the kitchen.

"It's late; let's make dumpling soup." Zhao Xiping brought two pairs of straw shoes to the stove, finishing them by the firelight. "There's half a bundle of straw left; I'll make two more pairs when I have time."

Sui Yu nodded happily. "Now I can earn three to four coins a day. With the savings from selling at the West City Gate, in a couple of days, I'll buy some cloth. We'll all get new warm clothes; it's getting colder."

"I don't need new clothes; you two should get more."

"No, that won't do. Captain Zhao has been good to me, and I should be good to him." Sui Yu smiled, nodding. "Captain Zhao, right?"

Captain Zhao remained silent; he disliked hearing such sweet words.