Chapter 10

Back at home, Li Fu's expression was bleak. Madam Qian saw him and said earnestly, "Don't be angry. Children grow up and have their own ideas; that's normal."
Zhao Wanwan was setting the table; Li Qinghe followed her into the kitchen. When they were alone she whispered, "Sister, father came back just now. Mother said you ran off after arranging to meet someone."
Before Li Qinghe could answer, a shadow filled the doorway. She looked up to see Madam Qian's sour face; the woman reached out and grabbed Wanwan's ear. "You little brat, now you've learned to gossip behind people's backs."
Wanwan swung from the tug; Li Qinghe stepped forward and pushed the woman away. "Don't hit her."
After being pushed aside, Wanwan's ear was bright red. Li Qinghe frowned. "Don't you care about your own daughter...?"
Madam Qian bumped against the doorframe, clutching her shoulder and cursing, "You debt-collector, conspiring with outsiders to bully me."
Li Fu, who had come out at the noise, heard that and frowned. "What's all this fuss? Not eating? If you're not going to eat, then get out!"
Madam Qian swallowed the curse she was about to fling. Wanwan lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. Li Qinghe was surprised too, Li Fu seldom lost his temper like this, especially toward Madam Qian, he'd always been gentle and indulgent.
The meal was stifling. After finishing, Li Fu flung down his chopsticks and rose to leave.
Madam Qian hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?" She paused, then added, "Do you want me to bring you lunch?"
"No." Li Fu turned to her. "I'm going to town to find Qian Laiwen and ask him for the silver."
Madam Qian went pale. "I..."
Li Fu raised a hand to stop her. "I've said it before: the silver I give you, you may spend it as you wish, buy clothes or treats for your parents, that's fine. A husband earning money to buy his wife garments and jewelry and to show respect to his in-laws is proper. But giving the silver to your brother, not a single coin, I won't agree to that!"
Madam Qian's eyes filled with tears. "He borrowed it, he'll pay it back. He's my younger brother. He came asking to borrow silver to buy rice; can I really refuse?"
Li Fu nodded. "Then go change your clothes. We'll go to town and see exactly what he's up to."
Madam Qian had some inkling of her brother's habits; he liked to hang out at the entertainment houses. It was nearly noon and those places in town weren't open yet, so she didn't protest. She went back to her room in tears to change.
Wanwan began clearing the dishes. Li Fu stood in the yard with his hands behind his back, glancing at her reddened ear. After a few moments and a couple of trips between the kitchen and the main room, he said, "Wanwan, you should change too. Come with us."
Hearing that, Wanwan's eyes lit up. "Really?" she asked, delighted.
Li Qinghe came out carrying a bowl and overheard them. Li Fu looked a little awkward. "Qinghe, do you want to go?"
Of course she did.
On the way to town, Li Fu was icy; the mood was heavy. Madam Qian tried several times to speak with him but to no avail.
Wanwan, meanwhile, was quite excited. Because the mood ahead was awkward, she kept her distance and quietly chatted with Li Qinghe about their last trip to town, that had been during the New Year, more than half a year ago.
"My favorite is the steamed buns. The last time you brought some back I got one. I couldn't bring myself to eat it all at once, I split it into three meals. It was so delicious," she said, even smacking her lips.
Li Qinghe was surprised. "Only one?"
That time she'd bought at least ten. She took two herself, and there were eight left.
Wanwan looked toward Madam Qian and whispered, "Mother said Father works hard and we should save them for him."
After that Wanwan fell silent, as if lost in thought. They walked quickly; by the time they reached town it was just past noon. Li Fu headed straight toward the back of East Street, where Qian Laiwen's rented courtyard lay.
At the gate, Madam Qian was visibly nervous. Li Fu knocked. After a long while with no answer, so long they began to fear no one was home, a man's lazy voice finally called, "Who is it?"
Li Fu glanced at Madam Qian.
Madam Qian understood and said, "It's me."
After a long while, the door finally opened.
Then Li Qinghe only caught a glimpse before Li Fu darted to block the doorway and ordered, "Qinghe, take Wanwan and go for a walk in town. Wait for us at the village entrance."
Even though Li Fu moved quickly, she still saw enough: Qian Laiwen's clothes were loose, and he had a half‑naked, heavily made‑up girl tucked in his arms, clearly not from a respectable family. That they'd taken so long to open the door, it wasn't hard to imagine what they'd been doing.
They didn't speak until they reached West Street. Zhao Wanwan stayed silent; Li Qinghe glanced at her and tugged her toward the bun shop.
Caught by the unique scent of meat buns, Zhao Wanwan looked up, part surprised and part anxious. "Sister, I don't have any silver."
"I have some," Li Qinghe said as she sat her down. "I'll treat you."
The bun‑shop woman brought out four buns and, as she was leaving, asked with a smile, "Have you ever worked at the Xilai tavern?"
Li Qinghe was surprised. Although the buns were good, she hadn't eaten here often and didn't really know the woman, so she nodded, "Yes, but not anymore."
The woman waved the remark off and went on, "Here's the thing: the Sun family over in East Town, the eldest son is marrying on the sixth. The head cook is hired, but they still need kitchen helpers for two days. Pay is half a qian of silver."
That was a good job; after all, Li Qinghe used to earn only two qian of silver a month.
Seeing Li Qinghe's interest, the woman smiled, "I'll take you there when the time comes."
The woman had run the bun shop as long as Li Qinghe could remember. Though she hadn't come in often, the woman had always been there, so there shouldn't be any trouble.
"Can I go?" Zhao Wanwan asked softly. "I've cooked at home since I was small. If they think I'm no good at seasoning, I can wash dishes."
Li Qinghe was a little surprised. The woman glanced at Wanwan and nodded, "Dishwashing is fine too, but it's only forty wen."
Even so, Zhao Wanwan was delighted and hurriedly agreed.
"Town really is better for finding work," she sighed as they left the shop.
Li Qinghe suddenly asked, "Will your mother let you go out to work?"
Zhao Wanwan's smile froze. "Aren't you a helper for two years? She should agree…" By the end she wasn't even sure herself.
They strolled through town without hurry. Li Qinghe had no intention of buying anything, she was plotting ways to make silver, eyes scanning everywhere, when Wanwan tugged her sleeve. "Sister, that's Brother Zhou over there."
Li Qinghe looked over and indeed it was Zhou Chengkang's elder brother, and he wasn't alone. He carried a shoulder pole, accompanied by a young woman.
What struck them as odd was the woman's hair: it was pinned up, a style usually reserved for married women.