Chapter 11: Leaving

Chapter 11: Departure

When Lin Zhijin arrived at the front courtyard, everyone in the household had already gathered there. She quietly slipped behind Eighth Concubine and watched Second Master Chen making small talk with the leading officer.

Lin Zhijin hadn't seen this officer before, but Division Chief Yang and Director Zhang behind him were both people she'd met that day. She hadn't expected them to come together.

"Director Zhao, rest assured, we're all aware of the national policies. Even if you hadn't come today, I would have gone to report to you. It's mainly because my father passed away recently, and I've just taken over this large family business—I've been swamped." Second Master Chen gestured to the people in the courtyard. "Everyone in the household is here now. Please give your instructions."

Lin Zhijin had expected a confrontation, but Second Master Chen folded so fast.

That made sense—Second Master Chen was a merchant, good at reading the room. If the Chen family lacked that ability, they wouldn't have survived this long.

Director Zhao smiled and patted Second Master Chen's arm. "If only the other big families in town were as cooperative as you, Second Master Chen."

Hearing this, Second Master Chen hastily replied, "Oh no, no, no. My name is Chen Yongsheng. Please just call me Xiao Chen."

Director Zhao smiled at him. He'd originally planned to make an example of someone, but the Chen family proved surprisingly cooperative. Still, no matter—as the richest family in the south side of town, with them setting the example, the other families would be easier to handle.

Facing the crowd, he announced in a loud voice, "Everyone, I am Zhao Kangping, director of the temporary Military Control Office. I called you all here today to tell you that our country is different now. This is a communist society, a democracy. Everyone's equal..."

"Ninth Concubine, you hear that? My dad was right—we really don't have to be servants anymore!" Xiaohong tugged at Lin Zhijin's arm excitedly.

Hu Xiaoyue nearby shot them a glance and snorted softly. Idiot. As a servant in the Chen house, you got food in your belly and clothes on your back. Leave this place and you'll starve before you know it. She rubbed her belly, still flat. Good thing she was carrying the old master's posthumous kid—she'd keep living the high life.

Then Hu Xiaoyue heard Director Zhao say that concubines would be liberated and the country would implement monogamy. Her face went white as a sheet. She was pregnant—did that mean she'd be liberated too?

"Comrade, I can't be liberated. I'm pregnant. You wouldn't make me get rid of my baby, would you?" Hu Xiaoyue gritted her teeth and asked boldly.

Second Master Chen's face went dark. Stupid woman. If Director Zhao and the others weren't here, he'd have slapped her. Why's she sticking her nose in? Even if she left, could they, as sons, just abandon their old man's posthumous kid?

Director Zhao looked across the crowd at Hu Xiaoyue and asked, "Who's that?"

"This is my father's concubine, pregnant with his posthumous child. Director Zhao, what's the procedure here?" Second Master Chen kept his posture humble.

"The government ain't heartless. For concubines who've had kids, it's up to them. This comrade here is pregnant—if she wants to stay, she can." Director Zhao said with a smile.

Ever since the founding, they'd freed women like her everywhere they went, so they had this down to a science.

"Understood. We will strictly follow the rules and regulations." With that, Second Master Chen pulled a stack of contracts from his coat—the servants' indenture papers. After showing them to Director Zhao and the others, he set them on fire right there in front of everyone.

Some were happy—no more being servants, no more being bossed around. Some were scared—sure, they were servants, but they lived better than most regular folks out there. Most were just lost, not knowing what to do with themselves.

Xiaohong belonged to the happy group. Her parents were also Chen household servants, but both were minor stewards who had saved up some wealth over the years. They'd long wanted to buy their freedom—and now they didn't even have to pay the redemption fee to become free people. It was like winning the lottery.

Seeing her about to bust with excitement, Lin Zhijin squeezed her hand. They were still on Chen turf—acting this happy wouldn't sit well with Second Master Chen and the rest. What if they held a grudge?

Xiaohong realized she'd gotten carried away and quickly ducked her head, sticking close to Lin Zhijin.

Director Zhao was real pleased with how cooperative the Chens were. He waved his hand, leaving Director Zhang to talk sense into the concubines and chamber maids while he took the crew to the next house.

Lin Zhijin caught Director Zhang's eye for a second, then quickly looked away. She walked over to the First Madam and asked with a frightened expression, "First Madam, what should I do? Am I going to be kicked out of the Chen estate?"

First Madam had been scared half to death by the soldiers storming in, her face white as a ghost. Seeing Lin Zhijin come over and thinking of her little brother back home, she forced herself to pull it together. "You're just leaving the Chen house, not cutting ties. Your place in the east is all set up—you always wanted to stay there a few days. Think of it as a change of scenery. It ain't far, so come by and see me whenever you got time."

Lin Zhijin nodded, all shy. When a women's federation worker called her name, she answered and headed over, glancing back every few steps.

"Lin Pandi, 17. This past February, you married the late Master Chen to bring him luck, becoming the Ninth Concubine. That right?" Director Zhang asked while writing something.

After Lin Zhijin left that day, they'd sent people to look into her and Goldstone Mountain. Her background wasn't hard to dig up—just a regular young woman. If anything made her stand out, it was that she was sharp and knew how to keep her head down.

Director Zhang liked her. Smart, patriotic, got a good head on her shoulders. With the right training, she could do real good for the country.

"That's correct." Lin Zhijin pressed her lips together, looking frightened.

A flicker of amusement showed in Director Zhang's eyes. She was a pretty good actress. "Alright. You going back home, or you want us to set something up?"

Lin Zhijin glanced back at First Madam. "I'm not going home. I... I'll stay in the city."

Director Zhang wrote down "will follow organizational arrangements" and went on, "You got a place in the city? Need us to set up a dorm?"

"I have a place." Lin Zhijin glanced at First Madam again and said quietly.

"Good. Go pack your stuff, move out ASAP, and report to me at the women's federation by nine tomorrow." Director Zhang had Lin Zhijin press her fingerprint and moved on to the next person.

Lin Zhijin hesitated, looked at First Madam, then turned and headed back to the Bamboo Courtyard. On the way, she ran into Hu Xiaoyue, who took a jab at her.

"Concubine or not, no kid means you're out on your ass. Hmph, I heard the old master's inheritance to you is all in First Madam's hands? What a dummy." Hu Xiaoyue sneered and walked away.

"Ninth Concubine, don't listen to her crap. You're still young. Leave this place, find a husband your age who'll treat you right—anything's better than being a widow in this house." Xiaohong didn't leave immediately but followed Lin Zhijin back to the Bamboo Courtyard.

"I'm not mad. Xiaohong, I ain't the Ninth Concubine no more. Don't call me that. I'm a few years older than you—if you don't mind, call me sister." Lin Zhijin took Xiaohong's hand and smiled.

Xiaohong shook her head over and over. She was free now, but old habits die hard—she still couldn't bring herself to call her old mistress "sister."

"I'll call you Miss Lin. You got a lot of stuff—let me help you pack." Xiaohong followed Lin Zhijin into the room and, once she confirmed no one else was around, lowered her voice and asked, "Miss Lin, did you figure the Liberation Army would free us, so you moved your stuff to the east city place ahead of time?"

Lin Zhijin hadn't really hidden things from Xiaohong—mainly because she couldn't. Now that she'd asked, Lin Zhijin smiled and said, "I got Boss Yin at Splendid Fabric Shop to thank for that. She told me this is the New China now, and once the Liberation Army came, folks like us would be freed. She even read me the papers, so I got ready."

Xiaohong suddenly got it. So that's why Boss Yin was always whispering with the Ninth Concubine all secretive like that.

"Things I've worn and used—others probably won't want them. Pack them all up and take them." Lin Zhijin had planned this out in her head many times, so she packed efficiently.

It didn't look like much, but before she knew it, she'd filled several trunks. And that wasn't even counting the clothes and bedding.

"Miss Lin, we're running out of trunks." Xiaohong frowned at the room full of boxes.

"Don't call me Miss Lin—call me Sister Lin." Lin Zhijin corrected her again.

Perhaps the casual chat had brought them closer, or maybe Xiaohong was adapting to her new identity, but she obediently called her Sister Lin.

"The household should be in chaos right now. Ah, I remember there are still a few bolts of cotton cloth—we can use those to wrap the clothes and bedding." This was actually something Lin Zhijin had prepared from the start. It came in handy after all.

Once everything was packed, Lin Zhijin went out with Xiaohong to check. The household's cars and rickshaws had already been taken by the other concubines, so she had Xiaohong find a few porters and hail a rickshaw. They had to move everything in one trip before First Madam and the others could react.

"Xiaohong, I can go by myself. You're not a maid of the Chen estate anymore. From now on, we're the same—ordinary citizens. Your parents are probably waiting for you at home. Go on back." Lin Zhijin stopped Xiaohong and said with a gentle smile.

"Sister Lin." Xiaohong's eyes suddenly reddened, tears welling up. "Let me at least see you off. I don't feel right letting you go alone."

"Really, no need. The city is full of Liberation Army soldiers now—it's perfectly safe. You've already helped me pack for so long, that's more than enough. Go home and pack your own things too. Don't leave anything behind. Come find me in the east city when you're free—you know where I live." Before parting, Lin Zhijin pressed a small box into Xiaohong's hands.

Xiaohong opened it to find twenty silver dollars, a gold bracelet, and a pair of pearl earrings.

"This is too valuable. I can't accept it." Xiaohong hastily closed the box and tried to give it back.

"Keep it. Remember you said you liked those earrings last time? All these days in the Chen estate, I've had you to thank for your careful care. And you never told anyone about what I did outside. Thank you. Consider this an early dowry from me. Don't tell anyone—keep it at the bottom of your trunk." Lin Zhijin hugged Xiaohong, patted her back, her own eyes slightly reddening. "I'm going now. Come visit me when you're free."

When Lin Zhijin had first arrived in this world, she'd been completely in the dark, knowing nothing. She owed Xiaohong a great deal—the girl had told her everything in detail, taught her the Chen household rules, and even covered for her unusual behavior. She was truly grateful to this thirteen-year-old girl.

Settling into the rickshaw, Lin Zhijin looked back at the Chen estate's gate one last time, took a deep breath, and said in a clear voice, "Driver, to Maple Leaf Lane in the east city."

"Coming right up! Sit tight, off we go."

Author's note:

None.