Day Nine

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Geng Xu and Wen Congyin’s arrival was like a gust of wind—swift and fleeting. The next day, when everyone learned they had left, they sighed with relief and couldn’t help but remark.

Grandma Sun muttered, “Look at that girl—so fiery and fierce yesterday, like a paper tiger—and now she’s just gone.”

Old Zhao pondered thoughtfully, “If she didn’t leave, what else could happen? That girl looks barely over twenty. She can’t be dragging someone around like dead weight. Besides, Zhao Anguo’s family probably wouldn’t be willing to transfer Lina’s household registration out.”

No one in the alley was foolish.

Everyone knew Zhao Anguo and his wife had taken Lina in because of the house left by her parents.

But such matters were natural human affairs, and since it wasn’t their own family business, they turned a blind eye.

“Baoshan, do your homework quickly.”

Huang Liying was cooking at the doorway, urging Zhao Baoshan to hurry with his homework.

Zhao Baoshan was lazy and fond of food; even when healthy, he procrastinated on assignments. Now, feigning illness, he was even less inclined to move.

“Mom, I don’t want to go to school.”

“No, you’ve already taken a few days off. If you don’t go today, how will your dad and mom face the neighbors when they ask your scores at the final exam?”

On this point, Huang Liying was strict and never indulged her child.

After repeated urging, Zhao Baoshan reluctantly picked up his pen. He had barely written a few words when he saw Zhao Lina emerge from the room, head lowered, clutching something close to her chest.

Zhao Lina shared the same room as Zhao Baoshan. He had the bed; she slept on the floor.

They never got along. Yesterday, after their parents were shamed because of Zhao Lina, Baoshan held a grudge. He immediately dropped his pen and ran over, grabbing at Zhao Lina.

“What are you holding?”

Zhao Lina said nothing, only hiding the object deeper into her arms.

Seeing this, Zhao Baoshan grew more suspicious. “Did you steal something from me? Mom, Lina stole my things!”

Huang Liying, chopping vegetables nearby, heard this and hurried inside. Seeing Zhao Lina indeed clutching something, she was instantly furious. “So you still say we wronged you yesterday? Now we’ve caught you!”

“What did you steal? Hand it over!”

Zhao Lina raised her head, eyes glaring at Huang Liying like a wild wolf cub. Huang Liying was startled, and as she regained composure, her shame and fear from yesterday surged up. She slapped Zhao Lina and yanked the child’s hand away.

A small badge dropped to the floor with a crisp sound.

On it was a classic quote, beside a few shining five-pointed stars.

Panic immediately flickered across Zhao Baoshan’s and Huang Liying’s faces.

Huang Liying hurried to close the door.

“Comrade Huang, what a coincidence.”

Wen Congyin and Geng Xu had arrived unnoticed.

“You—you all…” Huang Liying’s expression changed. “Hadn’t you left already?”

Inside, Zhao Anguo heard the noise and came out. Seeing Geng Xu and Wen Congyin, he was stunned.

Wen Congyin said, “Some matters weren’t finished, so I didn’t dare leave. But Comrade Zhao, do you want others overhearing our conversation?”

She glanced at the door behind her.

Zhao Anguo, thinking yesterday’s incident was over and no longer fearing them, said with confidence, “If you have something to say, just say it and leave quickly.”

“Are you sure?”

Wen Congyin looked down at the floor. “I just saw your wife throw that badge to the ground.”

“Bullshit! It was Zhao Lina who dropped it!”

Huang Liying had witnessed people being denounced as class enemies and had even struck others. She wouldn’t dare take the blame.

Zhao Anguo’s face darkened seeing the badge.

Wen Congyin gave him a half-smile. Feeling a chill, he hurriedly closed the door and picked up the badge, inspecting it carefully before relaxing. “The badge accidentally fell, it’s not damaged. If you want to slander us with this, forget it.”

Wen Congyin glanced at Lina. The child’s face bore a clear handprint from a slap, and yesterday’s clothes were nowhere to be found. She sneered. “Director Zhao, what are you afraid of? Is it because you’ve used such tactics before, so your guilty conscience nags you?”

Zhao Anguo’s face darkened further, a mix of guilt and insult. “You’re just a young girl—I won’t argue with you. Don’t push your luck. If you really anger me, you won’t end well!”

“Oh? Really?”

Wen Congyin scanned the room, then suddenly changed the subject. “Comrade Zhao, this house is quite well-off—there’s a television, a phonograph, even a carpet. The tableware looks upscale. But I recall you’re only the procurement director at the cotton mill, and Comrade Huang is unemployed. How can your income afford such things?”

Zhao Lina spoke up: “The TV was a gift from Uncle Huang and Uncle Yun together; the phonograph came from Uncle Liu at the department store…”

She grew up in this family. Zhao Anguo and his wife treated her like a servant, like a mute.

But they never suspected her.

No one would have guessed that a six-year-old could remember all these names.

As Zhao Lina named each person who secretly came bearing gifts, Zhao Anguo and his wife grew more and more uneasy.

Wen Congyin took the badge from Zhao Anguo’s hand, toyed with it, then looked up at him. “Comrade Zhao, I remember a few years ago when we met, you were just an ordinary worker at the cotton mill. You climbed so high in so few years—surely you schemed a lot behind people’s backs. Guess what would happen if Lina told these stories? Those you persecuted, forced to wear the dunce cap, denounced, and others—how would they feel?”

Zhao Anguo stared at Wen Congyin’s calm face, feeling a chill from deep within.

He had thought Wen Congyin just an ordinary girl, never expecting such depth of thought.

“What… do you want?”

“I want nothing.”

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Wen Congyin said calmly.

Huang Liying’s composure completely broke, “You just want Zhao Lina, right? We’ll give her to you!”

Wen Congyin stroked Zhao Lina’s head and asked, “Where are your clothes?”

Zhao Lina looked at Huang Liying.

At first, Huang Liying didn’t react, until Zhao Anguo tapped her and whispered through gritted teeth, “Where are the clothes the child wore yesterday?”

Only then did she realize, hurriedly fetching the clothes from inside. “They’re all here. I just thought the clothes were dirty and wanted to wash them.”

Wen Congyin ignored her; lies like these only fooled herself.

She helped Zhao Lina put on the clothes.

Zhao Anguo couldn’t sit still. “You can have the child, what more do you want?”

For Zhao Anguo, life was rare and precious now, and he didn’t want anyone ruining it.

Wen Congyin didn’t look at him but at Huang Liying. “Why did you slap the child just now?”

Huang Liying opened her mouth, sharp-tongued all her life, but for the first time, she found there were things she was unable to say.

She bit her lip and fiercely slapped herself.

The sharp sound echoed crisply.

Zhao Baoshan was frightened into silence, trembling but afraid to cry aloud.

“Let’s go to the police station and transfer the child’s household registration.”

Wen Congyin withdrew her gaze. “As long as you cooperate, everything else can be discussed.”

If this had been before, Wen Congyin trying to take Zhao Lina away would have had Zhao Anguo and his wife tearing her apart.

But now, with leverage in her hand, Zhao Anguo and his wife dared not say much. They went with Grandma Lin to the police station to transfer the registration.

Grandma Lin was puzzled but seeing Zhao Anguo and his wife’s shamefaced looks, she sensed something was amiss.

“This is the page for the transfer-out. But you must hurry and find a place to register the child. Otherwise, the child will become an unregistered resident.”

Actually, the police station’s handling was not strictly by procedure. Usually, the receiving location must issue a transfer-in certificate before the sending location can process the transfer-out.

But exceptions often existed.

Looking at the transfer certificate, Zhao Lina felt dazed.

Since she was old enough to understand, she had imagined escaping the Zhao family, but never thought this day would come so soon, so unexpectedly, making her wonder if she was dreaming.

“Let’s call it even!”

Zhao Anguo nervously asked Wen Congyin.

Wen Congyin glanced at them and said coldly, “Get lost.”

“You!”

Huang Liying glared at Wen Congyin, seemingly about to explode, but Zhao Anguo pulled her away.

Grandma Lin looked at them, then at Wen Congyin and Zhao Lina, sighing, “Will Lina stay with you from now on?”

Wen Congyin held the little girl’s hand tightly. “Her mother is my childhood sister. Though not related by blood, as her aunt, I won’t treat her unfairly.”

“I can see that—you’re capable.”

Grandma Lin took three yuan from her pocket and pressed it into Zhao Lina’s hand. “I can’t do much for you, but keep this to buy some candy. Let’s hope your days ahead are sweet.”

Zhao Lina tried to push the money away, but Wen Congyin said, “Accept it. This is Grandma Lin’s kindness. Say thank you.”

Hesitating for a moment, Zhao Lina parted her sealed lips, “Thank you…”

Her voice was very soft.

Grandma Lin was somewhat surprised. Previously, Zhao Lina was always stiff and expressionless. Though everyone pitied her, no one could say she was polite or greeted others.

Now it seemed she just lacked someone to teach her properly.

After handling things, that afternoon Geng Xu bought train tickets. Wen Congyin bought some buns and eggs nearby for dinner. Boarding the train, she found they had soft sleeper berths.

The soft sleeper was dressed in green sheets, hard and firm, with a small table in the middle for placing things.

Wen Congyin’s eyes showed surprise. She glanced at Geng Xu.

She settled the child in and asked if Zhao Lina wanted to sleep.

Zhao Lina shook her head, clutching Wen Congyin’s sleeve, her face showing hesitation.

Wen Congyin understood. “You want to ask why I’m not reporting Zhao Anguo?”

Zhao Lina’s gaze was resolute, her face marked by a hatred not befitting her years.

Wen Congyin stroked her head. “Auntie wants to help you get revenge, but if we spook them too early, we’ve already used this matter to threaten them. Surely, their first move will be to hide those appliances. Without evidence, how can we accuse him of embezzlement? Also, Zhao Anguo’s rise to director, with all his corruption, must have allies and protectors at the cotton mill. We don’t know the situation well and couldn’t find anyone trustworthy to accept our complaint. What if the person we choose is his protector?”

Zhao Lina looked thoughtful. Though she still hated Zhao Anguo, she was clearly accepting Wen Congyin’s explanation.

“Don’t worry. A dog can’t change its nature. Zhao Anguo’s used to embezzling and won’t change. When you grow up, you’ll take this revenge.”

Wen Congyin patted Zhao Lina’s head. “Alright?”

Zhao Lina bit her lip and nodded.

While Wen Congyin and Zhao Lina talked, Geng Xu sat opposite. When she finished, he gave her a look, signaling her to follow him out.

Wen Congyin was puzzled but told Zhao Lina to sleep, then followed Geng Xu. He asked the attendant to keep an eye on the child in the soft sleeper and led Wen Congyin to the dining car.

“What would you like to drink? There’s tea and liquor on this train.”

Geng Xu handed Wen Congyin the menu.

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Wen Congyin smiled, “You even have liquor?”

The attendant eagerly recommended, “We have a Maotai that’s excellent, though a bit pricey—seven yuan fifty a bottle.”

“Seven fifty?” Wen Congyin’s face showed surprise.

The attendant blushed. “Comrade, yes, it’s expensive, but it’s good wine.”

Wen Congyin thought it was very cheap. In later times, Maotai would cost thousands per bottle. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Give me four bottles. I’ll have tea, and Comrade Geng, what about you?”

“Same as you.” Geng Xu sat with his hands crossed, his deep-set features, high nose, and full, clearly defined lips catching Wen Congyin’s attention. She was used to observing people’s health, and looking at him, only one thought came to mind: this man was truly healthy.

The attendant brought the tea.

This train was at its initial departure station; the dining car was still empty.

Wen Congyin sipped the tea, feeling comforted after days of toil and scheming. Looking up from her cup, her amber eyes met Geng Xu’s. “Comrade Geng, can you finally tell me why you brought me out?”

Geng Xu put down his cup, pondered briefly, and said directly, “My military leave isn’t long. I came out this time to meet a potential bride and decide on marriage.”

Wen Congyin nodded, though her mind remained foggy.

“I suppose you know my situation,” Geng Xu glanced at Wen Congyin.

Wen Congyin shyly looked away. “Comrade Geng, you’re joking. I know nothing.”

As the attendant passed behind them, she caught some of the conversation and glanced at them gossiping before quietly turning to share with her colleagues.

This was unusual.

She had never seen anyone hold a matchmaking meeting in the dining car before.

“I’ll introduce myself. I’m 29, a regiment commander in the army, deputy regiment level 16, with a monthly income of 110. I have a nephew, a posthumous child of a fallen comrade, living with me. If I marry you, I promise to hand over all my salary monthly and share some household chores.”

Geng Xu spoke calmly, with no hint of embarrassment.

Wen Congyin’s mouth opened in surprise. Even if slow, she understood now. “You’re… proposing yourself?”

A faint smile flickered in Geng Xu’s eyes.

“What do you think, Comrade Wen?”

He paused. “I can accept you bringing a niece. I’ll treat her as I do my nephew. I hope you’ll treat both children the same.”

Wen Congyin wasn’t very surprised; after all, a man attentive to a woman usually had one reason.

She just found it sudden.

“We haven’t known each other long. You trust me that much already?”

Geng Xu glanced at Wen Congyin. “I had someone check your background, and after spending two days with you, I think it’s enough.”

Checked her background…

No wonder he knew where she lived.

Though surprised, Wen Congyin thought about it carefully. She stood to gain nothing by refusing. Taking Lina back, Wen’s father would certainly disapprove. Housing was hard to find, and registering the child’s household was no easy matter.

Besides, that troublemaker Zhao Shiren would likely cause ongoing problems.

All of this would be resolved if she agreed to marry Geng Xu.

“I agree, but I have one condition: after marriage, I won’t be a housewife. I need a job.”

Geng Xu said lightly, “We’re on the same page. I want my partner to pursue a career and not be bound by trivial affections.”

The attendant, urged by colleagues, came to eavesdrop and heard these two attractive young people openly discussing bride price and dowry.

The attendant, still unmarried after three years of matchmaking, twitched her lips, pretended to wipe the table, and went to spread the news.

“This happened already?” Chef Zhao Dayong stared wide-eyed at the attendant.

“Yes. When I arrived, they were already discussing what bride price and dowry to prepare.”

Zhao Dayong and others were stunned.

Zhao Dayong grumbled, “Strange. In my previous matchmaking, when I mentioned wanting to marry soon, the ladies all gave me a hard time. Why isn’t this lady angry?”

The attendant looked at Zhao Dayong’s burly figure, then at Geng Xu’s handsome, steady demeanor. Everything was clear without words.

The train arrived in Beijing just after nine the next morning. After disembarking, Wen Congyin handed Zhao Lina’s clothes to Geng Xu. She crouched down and said, “Lina, for a few days, you’ll stay with Uncle Geng, alright? Auntie has some things to take care of.”

Zhao Lina, understanding, said nothing but nodded.

Beijing was much colder than Shanghai; breath turned to frost. Xiao Xu came to pick them up, and Wen Congyin asked to be dropped at the hospital.

Geng Xu glanced at her. “Aren’t you going home to rest?”

Wen Congyin shook her head. “No. The leave I took from the hospital is temporary. I can’t delay too long. Since we’re back, I should report back soon.”

“Then I’ll come to your place tonight,” Geng Xu said after a moment’s thought. “We have to inform your family about us.”

Wen Congyin didn’t oppose.

No matter what, Wen’s father needed to be told plainly, so he could give up.

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