Day Three

When Wen Congyin returned home, she was running. Zhou Yanhong came to open the door and, seeing Wen Congyin alone, paused and looked behind her, asking, “Where’s Xiaoli? Why didn’t she come back with you?”

Wen Congyin’s face was cold. She went inside to change her shoes. Wen’s father was in the living room reading the newspaper. Seeing her expression, he sensed something was wrong with tonight’s social gathering. Folding the paper, he stood up and asked, “What happened? Is something wrong?”

Wen Congli came panting after her, and they overheard Wen Congyin say to Zhou Yanhong and Wen’s father, “There’s no need to mention anything about Zhao Shiren and me anymore. If you want to ask, ask Wen Congli.”

To show her anger, Wen Congyin strode into the room and slammed the door shut with a bang, locking it tightly.

Wen’s father and Zhou Yanhong both realized the situation was grave.

Zhou Yanhong hurriedly grabbed Wen Congli. “What’s wrong? What happened? You were supposed to accompany your sister to the matchmaking, how did this turn into a mess?”

Two flushed red patches, frozen on Wen Congli’s face, appeared. She sniffled nervously and said, “How would I know? Brother Zhao and sister had nothing to talk about, maybe sister got mad.”

She dared not let her father know about her seduction of Zhao Shiren. Yet, she was reluctant to give up such a good prospect. To her, Zhao Shiren, surrounded by admirers, was as respectable as a commune secretary.

If it weren’t for Zhao Shiren’s constant warnings along the way—not to slip up and to explain things properly to her sister—Wen Congli would have confessed everything about tonight long ago.

Wen’s father, a leader, was not easily fooled.

In his fifties, ambitious despite his stature, he said, “Xiaoli, that’s dishonest of you. I know my daughters well. Congyin is always obedient. If she’s so angry she cut off all contact, something serious must have happened.”

He chuckled, “Could it be you did something wrong and angered your sister?”

Wen Congli met his seemingly gentle but actually icy gaze, and a chill ran down her spine. These recent days of ease had made her underestimate Wen’s father’s cunning. She nervously glanced at Zhou Yanhong.

Zhou Yanhong raised her hand and smacked her a few times. “I told you not to go with your sister, but you insisted. You’re impossible! I could just beat you!”

Wen Congli’s cries came from outside the room.

Wen Congyin paid no heed and felt no sympathy for Wen Congli. In the novel, the one who had an affair with Zhao Shiren and was caught in bed by the original self was indeed Wen Congli.

Though unrelated by blood and only recognized as a sister later, the original Wen Congyin had cared for Wen Congli, sharing clothes, teaching city life skills, and even helping find work. Yet Wen Congli repaid her by teaming up with a scoundrel to torment her.

Tonight, Wen Congyin had only intended to test the extent of their relationship, but Wen Congli seized every chance, pulling Zhao Shiren into the woods.

It was clear their sordid affair must have begun before marriage.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

Zhou Yanhong dragged Wen Congli to the door, knocking and calling out, “Congyin, open the door! Your sister wants to apologize!”

Wen Congyin frowned but ignored them, counting her savings. The original Wen Congyin had worked for a year. Her father, hoping to marry her well, had not demanded her wages.

Frugal in dress and food, she had saved three hundred and twenty-five yuan over the year as a nurse, along with some ration coupons for cloth, grain, and sugar.

The cloth and sugar coupons were reserved for the niece she planned to bring over in the future.

Looking at the neatly arranged coupons in the box, she sighed. No matter what, that niece must be brought back.

Zhou Yanhong knocked for quite a while. The neighbors, annoyed, poked their heads out and scolded. Wen’s father, prideful, apologized to the neighbors, then scolded Zhou Yanhong before looking at Wen Congli, his face devoid of its usual kindness. “You must apologize to your sister. The Zhao family and our family’s match must go through!”

Wen Congli was beaten by her own mother and felt quite resentful.

Zhou Yanhong hurried to reassure, “Don’t worry, Old Wen. I know what I’m doing. This child just acted foolishly for a moment. I promise she won’t ruin your big plan!”

Wen Congli heard this and grew even more dissatisfied, her eyes burning with ambition.

The next day, Wen’s father left for work early. When Wen Congyin came out, Zhou Yanhong greeted her with a beaming smile, wiping her hands on her waist apron. “Congyin, I bought you soy milk, fried dough sticks, and buns this morning, fresh and hot.”

Wen Congyin glanced at the table, took a bun, and said, “Thank you, Auntie. The hospital’s busy; I have to go.”

“No, Congyin, I got all this for you early this morning. Your father even scolded me last night, saying I didn’t take good care of you.”

Zhou Yanhong truly feared Wen’s father. Wearing a forced smile, she said, “Congyin, I’ve already scolded your sister about last night. She won’t dare again. Shiren is such a good boy, perfect for you. Don’t be foolish and miss such a good match. Where else will you find one like him?”

Wen Congyin stopped and glanced at the master bedroom door, slightly ajar with only a slit showing.

Sensing her gaze, someone behind the door moved back.

Wen Congyin looked at Zhou Yanhong and, after a pause, said, “Auntie Zhou, I’ll be honest with you. I’m not someone who tolerates nonsense. Your daughter’s involvement with Zhao Shiren—this I cannot accept. If you try to persuade me to be with him, then you and your daughter better be careful.”

The smile on Zhou Yanhong’s face froze.

She had always thought Wen Congyin was kind and honest to the point of naivety, never imagining this honest girl could speak so sharply.

She found it hard to believe what she had just heard. “Are you… threatening me?”

“Auntie Zhou, if you think that way, there’s nothing I can do.”

Wen Congyin patted Zhou Yanhong’s shoulder with her clean hand. “Think it over. If you were in my shoes, I don’t believe you’d be more tolerant.”

With that, she left.

Zhou Yanhong was so angry she could hardly breathe. Once the door closed, she stomped and cursed. Wen Congli quietly slipped out of the room.

She had slept on the sofa in the living room last night. The sofa was hard, and though there was bedding, it was torture for Wen Congli, who had grown accustomed to comfort over the past month.

She resolved deeply to marry a capable man and take revenge on Wen Congyin for tonight’s humiliation.

“Mom, you heard what that woman said, right?”

Wen Congli tugged on Zhou Yanhong’s sleeve. “I don’t think Uncle Wen treats you this well. If Congyin really gets together with Shiren and holds a grudge against us, forcing Uncle Wen to drive us out, what will we do? I don’t want to go back to the village.”

In just one month, her life had changed drastically. Coming to the city, she realized some people lived so well and enjoyed such luxury.

While the countryside was still poor, with people drinking thin porridge, city folk ate cakes, played with toy cars, and danced to unfamiliar music.

The toilets were clean and beautiful; no need to fetch water or fear falling into a dry latrine.

“It’s all your fault! Of all the men, you had to choose Zhao Shiren!”

Zhou Yanhong poked Wen Congli’s forehead irritably.

Wen Congli sneered, “Mom, you can say that, but didn’t you also fancy Uncle Wen back then?”

Zhou Yanhong was startled and quickly covered Wen Congli’s mouth, listening closely outside to ensure no one was in the hallway. Then she glared at her. “If you mention that again, I’ll send you back to your father!”

Wen Congli, feeling guilty and scared, stuck out her tongue.

Yet Wen Congli’s words struck a chord with Zhou Yanhong. Combined with Wen Congyin’s earlier threat, her expression shifted, and she changed her mind.

Wen Congyin worked at Beijing Second Hospital. She graduated from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, originally studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and expected to become a TCM practitioner.

However, Wen’s father had decided otherwise, assigning her as a nurse.

Director Zhang was head of the nursing department.

Early that morning, Director Zhang came to find Wen Congyin. After Wen Congyin had checked a few beds and delivered medication in the TCM ward, Zhang called her out.

The winter sky was a cold gray-blue, and the biting wind howled down the corridor. Wen Congyin anticipated Zhang’s purpose.

Sure enough.

Zhang began, “Little Wen, Zhao told me about last night. He said it was an accident; your sister tricked him. He’s sincere about you. Don’t let anger make you make a decision you’ll regret.”

Even though she expected this, Wen Congyin couldn’t help but find it ridiculous.

What a den of vipers and rats, conspiring together.

Zhao Shiren had the audacity to claim it was accidental, and Director Zhang shamelessly conveyed his words and even had the nerve to persuade her.

“Director Zhang, I don’t care what’s going on between Zhao and Wen Congli. I saw them hugging and cuddling with my own eyes. Tell me, under these circumstances, how can I shamelessly continue dating him?”

Wen Congyin feigned annoyance.

Though Zhang was head of nursing and Wen Congyin found her disgusting, she wished to resolve the matter as simply as possible.

But she had seriously underestimated Zhang’s shamelessness.

Zhang smiled and patted Wen Congyin’s arm affectionately. “You’re too young, girl. It’s not about shame or no shame. I’ve been through this. Let me be honest with you: men, especially powerful ones, are all like that. If a man isn’t flirtatious, it’s not because he doesn’t want to be, but because he can’t. I’ve watched Zhao grow up. Though he’s a bit sentimental, I believe he has feelings for you. Besides, he doesn’t mind that you brought your niece. Marry him, have a few sons, secure your place as Mrs. Zhao, and you won’t have to worry about anything for the rest of your life.”

“Don’t mistake a good man for a bad one.”