Then they heard the sound of leather shoes outside. Manlu said to her sister, "It's probably the nurse who gave me the injection." Manzhen asked, "What kind of injection is it, sister?" Hongcai interjected, "A glucose injection. Look at all the medicine we have here, enough to open a whole pharmacy! Sigh! Your sister's illness is really worrying!" Manzhen said, "Sister's complexion is alright." Hongcai laughed and said, "With all that makeup on her face, how can you tell if her complexion is good? Second sister, you're talking nonsense! Haven't you seen those women, even lying in the funeral home, their faces are still red and white!"
Just then, the nurse came in and started giving Manlu an injection. Manzhen felt that Hongcai was being incredibly disrespectful to her sister in front of others, and her sister remained silent, pretending not to hear. She wondered when her sister had become so virtuous, while Hongcai's arrogance had only grown. Manzhen felt indignant. She stood up and said she was leaving. Hongcai said, "Let's go together. I also need to go out; I'll give you a ride." Manzhen quickly replied, "No need, it's easy to get a taxi from here." Manlu asked Hongcai with a sullen face, "Why are you going out again so soon after we got back?" Hongcai coldly replied, "If you're not allowed to go out now that you're back, would I dare come back?"
Yimanlu, with her temperament, would have fought him to the bitter end and refused to let him out no matter what. But no matter what, once a person has money, they have a status, and are then bound by that status. In front of the caregiver, it was certainly even more inconvenient for her to make a scene.
Manzhen picked up her purse to leave, but Hongcai stopped her again, saying, "Second sister, wait for me. I'm leaving right away." He hurriedly slipped into the next room, disappearing without a trace. Manzhen then said to Manlu, "I won't wait for my brother-in-law. I really don't need him to see me off." Manlu frowned and said, "Just let him see you off; it'll be faster." She had complete faith in her sister, knowing she wouldn't seduce her husband. Although Hongcai was somewhat lecherous, she figured he wouldn't dare do anything.
At this moment, Hongcai came out and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go." Manzhen felt that if she insisted on refusing, it would be a bit ridiculous to be watched by the nurse, so she didn't say anything.
The two went downstairs together. Hongcai said, "You haven't been here before, have you? There are two places you absolutely must see. I went to a lot of trouble to have an expert design them." He walked around the former leader's room, the guest room, and the dining room, then added, "My proudest room is this study. The murals on the walls were a cheap job; I had an art school student paint them for only eighty yuan. If that design expert had recommended someone to paint them, it would have cost at least a thousand!" Sure enough, the walls of that room were covered with colorful oil paintings, depicting angels, the Virgin Mary, Cupid with his bow and arrow, the Goddess of Peace with her doves of peace, and various landscapes and figures, densely packed from ceiling to floor, without an inch of space. The floor was paved with Arabic-style mosaic tiles of colorful squares, and the windows were inlaid with stained glass, making it even more dazzling. Hongcai said, "Sometimes when I come back and feel tired, I rest in this room." Manzhen almost burst out laughing. She remembered her sister saying that he was mentally ill, and that even a perfectly healthy person would go insane if he rested in this room for too long.
As they stepped out the gate, the car was parked right there. Hongcai exclaimed again, "I've been ripped off on this car!" He then rattled off an astonishing price. He was always boasting, but whether he boasted or not made no difference to Manzhen; she had absolutely no knowledge of car market prices.
Once inside the car, it became clear why Hongcai had gone to another room earlier. Besides getting cosmetic surgery, he had obviously also sprayed on a large amount of cologne. In the confined air of the car, the fragrance was particularly strong, impossible to ignore. Men wearing cologne is often seen as something only gigolos or con artists do; for a middle-aged shrewd man to be so pervasive with perfume was truly odd.
The driver turned around and asked, "Where to?" Hongcai replied, "Second sister, I'll treat you to coffee. It's rare to run into you. You're a busy person, and so am I."
Manzhen smiled and said, "I had some things to do today, so I was in a hurry to go back. Otherwise, I would have stayed a little longer. It's rare for me to come and see you, sister." Hongcai could only smile and say, "It's really rare for you to come. I hope you will come to visit often in the future." Manzhen smiled and said, "I will come whenever I have time." Hongcai said to the driver, "Take the second young lady first. Do you know where the second young lady lives?" The driver replied that he did.
The car moved silently. Hongcai was proud of its speed, but today he resented it for going too fast. He had always considered Manzhen an unapproachable figure; although the saying goes, "money emboldens people," and wealth naturally breeds boldness, he was still somewhat afraid of her. He sat in a corner of the carriage, whistling idly a couple of times, without any melody. Manzhen didn't say anything, only quietly emitting a cool aura. Hongcai, on the other hand, quietly exuded a fragrance.
The car arrived at Manzhen's house. Manzhen told the driver, "Just stop outside the alley." Hongcai, however, said, "Let's go in. I need to get out too. I want to talk to my mother-in-law; it's been so long since I've seen her." Manzhen smiled and said, "Mom just happened to take the children to the park today. Grandma's home alone today. I'm going out again in a bit." Hongcai asked, "Oh, you're going somewhere else?" Manzhen replied, "A colleague invited me to a movie." Hongcai said, "If I'd known earlier, I would have taken you there directly."
Manzhen smiled and said, "No, I'm coming back for a visit. Mr. Shen promised to come pick me up here." Hongcai nodded. He glanced at his watch and said, "Oh dear, it's almost five o'clock. I have an appointment, so I won't come down. I'll come see you another day."
That night, Hongcai didn't return home until almost dawn. Drunk, he staggered into the room, his shoes still on, and collapsed onto the bed. He didn't turn on the light, but Manlu turned on the bedside lamp. She hadn't slept all night, her eyes red and hair disheveled. She sat up abruptly and shouted, "Where have you been again? Tell me the truth, or I'll really fight you!" This time she was aggressive, and Hongcai, even if he wasn't drunk, would have pretended, let alone that he was truly intoxicated. He lay there stiffly, eyes closed, ignoring her. Manlu then threw a pillow at him with a "thud," hitting him in the face, yelling angrily, "You're playing dead! You're playing dead!" Hongcai threw the pillow away, but then whispered, "Manlu!" Manlu was quite surprised, because she hadn't seen him show such tenderness in a long, long time. She thought he must still love her; today, his true feelings were revealed after drinking. Her demeanor softened. She responded with a soft, "Hmm?" Sit down.
Hongcai placed her hand on his chest, looked at her and smiled, "I'll listen to you from now on and won't go out, but there's one condition." Manlu suddenly became suspicious and asked, "What condition? What good thing is it! Humph, you won't tell, you won't tell—" She pushed and punched him hard, making Hongcai's wine churn. Hongcai cried out, "Ouch, ouch, I'm about to throw up! Tell Wang Ma to pour me a cup of tea."
Manlu, however, became attentive again, saying, "I'll pour you some." She stood up, personally poured a cup of strong tea, and gracefully brought it over, feeding him spoonful by spoonful. Hongcai took a sip and laughed, "Manlu, how come Second Sister is getting more and more beautiful?" Manlu's expression changed, "And you, your madness is getting worse and worse!" She put the teacup on the table and ignored it.
Hongcai, still gazing blankly at the sky, said, "Actually, there are many prettier women than her, but I don't know why, I keep thinking about her." Manlu said, "How dare you say that! You should stop dreaming! Let me tell you, even if she agreed, I wouldn't—to be honest, I've earned money to give my sister all these years of education, it wasn't easy. I sacrificed myself to create such a person, and I don't expect her to end up as someone's concubine. Don't think that all the girls in the Gu family are destined to be concubines—" Hongcai said.
Manlu was furious and refused to give up. She continued to grumble and curse: "I knew you had ulterior motives! You're always looking for something better than what you have. You think you're all that now that you have some money? You think you can do whatever you want? Everyone only cares about money."
"Don't you think about it? Even I didn't marry you because you were rich!" Hongcai suddenly sat up abruptly and said, "You always bring that up! Everyone knows I used to be a penniless pauper, and what are you? A worthless slut! Shameless!"
Manlu was stunned, not expecting him to be so hurtful. She said, "Fine, go ahead and insult me!" Hongcai braced himself on the edge of the bed, his eyes red as he looked at her. He said, "I insulted you, so what if I hit you? I'll hit you, you shameless filthy slut!" Manlu saw that he looked like he was about to hit her, his face flushed with alcohol. She knew that if they fought, she would be the one who suffered. So she could only burst into tears and sob, saying, "Hit me, hit me—you heartless bastard! I deserve it, who told me to mistake you for someone else! You deserve to beat me to death!" With that, she collapsed onto the bed, covering her face and weeping bitterly.
Hongcai sensed her softening tone, but he remained seated on the edge of the bed, watching her. After a long while, he let out a long yawn, then turned and lay down to continue his sleep. His snoring grew louder, but her sobbing continued unabated. Perhaps her initial intention was to use this as an excuse to back down, but as she cried, she was overcome with grief, feeling that her future was bleak and unimaginable. Outside, the sky was already bright, and a bedside lamp remained on in the room, its light dimmed by the morning light, appearing rather bleak.
Hongcai hadn't slept for more than two hours when the maid woke him up as usual. Since the mornings were the most crucial for speculation, even though there were several telephones at home, including a direct line to the office, he still habitually rushed out early. He had a long-stay room at the hotel where he could take a nap anytime.
That afternoon, Manlu's mother called and gave her the address of her old friend, Abao. Manlu hadn't used Abao before because Hongcai often tried to chat her up, which Manlu found a bit dangerous. Now the situation was different, and she thought it might be good to have someone like Abao around, perhaps someone who could keep Hongcai in check. She hadn't expected that Hongcai was so different now; he wouldn't even consider such a young woman a threat.
She immediately wrote down Abao's address. Her mother said, "Your second sister came back yesterday and said you're feeling better." Manlu replied, "I am much better. I'll come see you when I'm better, Mom." For the sake of her sister, she thought it best to keep a distance. Although this matter was entirely her sister's fault, and had nothing to do with her mother, her tone on the phone was somewhat cold, perhaps unconsciously. Mrs. Gu, though not one to overthink, felt that her daughter was now too wealthy, and the disparity in wealth was significant, so she couldn't help but be mindful in some ways. She immediately said, "Okay, come visit as soon as you're better. Grandma has been thinking about you."
Since that phone call, Mrs. Gu hadn't visited her daughter for two whole months. Manlu hadn't contacted them either. That day, she came to the city to buy things and stopped by her parents' house for a visit. She hadn't been back in a long time, arriving in a huge, brand-new car. The neighbors and other residents stood watching, a triumphant return indeed. Her younger brothers were learning to ride bicycles in the alley, a young man holding the bikes for them. Manzhen stood by the back door, arms crossed, leaning against the door, watching. Manlu jumped out of the car, and Manzhen exclaimed with a smile, "Oh, sister's here!" Hearing this address, the young man seemed very attentive, turning his gaze towards Manlu. However, Manlu's eyes were like lightning, also scrutinizing him. His gaze wasn't as sharp as hers; he couldn't match hers and quickly looked away. His impression of her was simply a middle-aged woman in a leather coat. It turns out that Manlu is now striving to rise in status, and to match her position, she has abandoned her stage makeup—false eyelashes, black eyeliner, bright red rouge—all gone. She doesn't realize that by doing so, she has voluntarily surrendered. Time is cruel; at her age, heavy makeup certainly makes her look more haggard, but suddenly dressing like a middle-aged woman only makes her look more like one. Manlu hadn't thought about it at first, but today, when she went to the silk shop to buy fabric, she picked up a purplish-red piece to examine. While she was considering it, the tactless shop assistant strongly recommended a dark blue one, saying, "Is it for yourself? This blue is nice, very elegant." Manlu was furious, thinking, "Do you think I'm an old lady? I'll buy the red one anyway!" Although she bought it out of spite, she was very unhappy.
Her mother was also unhappy today because her little brother, Jemin, had hurt his leg.
Manlu went upstairs, where her mother was bandaging Jiemin's knee. Manlu said, "Oh dear, how did he fall so badly?" Mrs. Gu said, "It's his own fault! He insisted on learning to ride a bike, and I knew he was going to cause trouble! Now that he has this bike, everyone's gone crazy, you ride it and I ride it!" Manlu asked, "Is this bicycle new?" Mrs. Gu said, "Your younger brother said his school is too far, and he has to take the tram every day, so riding a bike is more cost-effective. He's always wanted a bicycle, but I never bought him one. Recently, Mr. Shen bought one for him." As she said this, she frowned tightly. She had been very happy when Shijun gave them a bicycle, but now, because she felt sorry for the children, she couldn't help but feel angry at Shijun.
Manlu asked, "Who is this Mr. Shen? I saw someone at the door just now, could it be him?" Mrs. Gu said, "Oh, you already saw him?" Manlu smiled and said, "Is he my second sister's friend?" Mrs. Gu nodded and said, "He's one of her colleagues." Manlu asked, "Does he come often?" Mrs. Gu dismissed Jiemin before whispering with a smile, "He's been here almost every day lately." She said, "That's right, I've been wondering about this too. I only see the two of them together all day long, but I've never heard them talk about marriage." Manlu said, "Mom, why don't you ask my second sister?" Mrs. Gu said, "It's pointless to ask. If I ask her, she'll just say silly things, saying she'll wait until her younger siblings are older before she gets married. I said, how can anyone wait that long! But judging from the way he seems, Mr. Shen doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all. It's making me anxious." Manlu suddenly said, "Oh dear! Miss, could you have been tricked?" Mrs. Gu said, "She wouldn't. Maybe." Mrs. Gu said, "But Mr. Shen, I think he's an honest man." "Manlu laughed, "Hmph, honest man! I think his eyes are quite wicked, always lurking around!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but raise her hand and proudly stroke her hair. Little did she know that Shijun had paid special attention to her earlier because he knew her history and couldn't help but feel curious about her.
Mrs. Gu said, "I think he's quite honest. If you don't believe me, you'll know once you talk to him later." Manlu said, "I do want to talk to him. I've met many people, and I'm sure I can tell what kind of person he is." Since Manlu was now a married woman, Mrs. Gu didn't object to her getting close to Manzhen's boyfriend, so she said, "By the way, you can help me take a look."
As they were talking, Manlu suddenly heard Manzhen talking to her grandmother at the top of the stairs. She quickly gave her mother a wink, and her mother fell silent. Then Manzhen went into the room, opened the closet, and took out her coat. Mrs. Gu asked, "Are you going out?" Manzhen smiled and said, "To see a movie. Otherwise, I won't go. I've already bought the tickets. Sister, you play a little longer and eat here." She left in a hurry. Shijun never came upstairs, so Manlu had no chance to observe him.
Mrs. Gu and Manlu stood side by side by the window, watching Manzhen and Shijun leave, and then watching the children learn to ride bicycles, riding around the alley. Mrs. Gu casually said, "Abao came by a few days ago." Abao is now working as a maid for Manlu. Manlu said, "Yes, I heard her say that a letter from the countryside arrived here, and she came to pick it up." Mrs. Gu said, "Hmm. —Is the son-in-law still the same?" After reporting this to his mother-in-law, she laughed and said, "That Abao is always so talkative!"
Mrs. Gu chuckled, "You'll say I'm being nosy again—but I have to advise you, don't argue with him every time you see him. It hurts your relationship." Manlu remained silent. She didn't want to complain to her mother, even though she desperately needed someone to confide in, and there was no one more suitable than her mother. However, her mother's words of comfort never really hit the mark, often leaving her feeling both amused and exasperated. Mrs. Gu then whispered, "How old is your son-in-law this year? He's almost forty, isn't he? Don't say men don't want children; at a certain age, they really do! I think you haven't wronged him in any other way, except for this one thing." Manlu had two abortions before, and the doctor said she couldn't have any more children.
Mrs. Gu continued, "I heard you say that none of them in the countryside have sons, only daughters?" Manlu lazily replied, "What, didn't Abao tell you? Someone from the countryside came out and took the child with them." Mrs. Gu was surprised and said, "Oh? Wasn't she always with her mother?" Mrs. Gu paused, then said, "Her mother is dead? -- Really? -- Oh dear, child, your grandmother always said you were lucky, and it turns out you really are lucky! I'm not as composed as you!" As she spoke, a smile spread across her face. Manlu simply smiled faintly.
Mrs. Gu continued, "I have to advise you again. It's quite pitiful for a child without a mother. You should treat her better." Manlu had just bought a shoebox from the large bags she had bought at the market. She handed it to her mother and said with a smile, "Look, I bought her leather shoes, and I'm even teaching her to read. What more do you want?"
Mrs. Gu smiled and asked, "How old is the child?" Manlu replied, "Eight." Mrs. Gu said, "What's her name? If only you could give her a little brother! Sigh, they say you're lucky, but why are you childless?" Manlu's expression darkened, and she said bitterly, "You keep saying I'm lucky, but you know I'm full of bitterness!" With that, she turned away from her mother, and all that could be heard was her impatiently tapping the glass window with her fingertips, making a "tap-tap" sound. Her nails were exceptionally long and sharp. Mrs. Gu was silent for a moment before saying, "Try to look on the bright side, my lady!" Beside her, she remained speechless for a long time.
Manlu blew her nose with a handkerchief and said, "Men change their minds so quickly. Back then, he was willing to commit bigamy to marry me, but now his wife is dead, and I want him to go through the marriage formalities again, but he absolutely refuses." Mrs. Gu said, "Why do you need to go through any formalities? Weren't you officially married? That doesn't count. His wife was still alive then. I understand." Although she said she didn't understand, she somewhat understood Manlu's situation; it was certainly very dangerous.
Mrs. Gu thought for a moment, then said, "Anyway, don't make a fuss for him. Even if he has someone else, there's still a first-come-first-served rule—" Manlu said, "What first-come-first-served rule? Zhaodi's mother is a prime example. I really feel heartbroken. They were husband and wife, and she died in the countryside. It was the clan who pooled their money to buy her a coffin." Mrs. Gu sighed deeply and said, "In the end, it all comes down to this: if only you had a son! If it were before, it would have been so much easier. I could have arranged for someone for my husband, someone else to raise a child. I know you wouldn't listen to me." She herself felt that this kind of thinking was too outdated, and she couldn't help but laugh as she said this. Manlu forced a smile and said, "Alright, alright, Mom!" Mrs. Gu said, "Then you should take a child." Manlu laughed and said, "Alright, we already have a motherless child at home. Go and take another one—open an orphanage?"
The mother and daughter were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't realize it had gotten dark. The room was pitch black until Grandma Gu reached out and turned on the light, laughing, "Why are you sitting here in the dark? I was wondering where you two had been." "Auntie, are you having dinner here today?" The lady also said to Manlu, "I'll make you a couple of light dishes, I promise you won't get sick." Manlu replied, "Then I'll call home and tell them not to wait for me."
She called home, partly to keep track of Hongcai's movements. Abao answered the phone, saying, "Your son-in-law just got back, should we let him speak to you?" Manlu replied, "Hmm—no need. I'll be back soon too." After her mother repeatedly urged her to stay for dinner, she said, "Let her go home, her son-in-law is waiting for her."
Manlu rushed home and went straight upstairs to her bedroom, where she ran into Hongcai leaving. He had come back to change his clothes. Manlu asked, "Where are you going again?" Hongcai replied, "None of your business!" He slammed the door shut. Manlu opened the door and chased after him, but Hongcai had already disappeared downstairs like a gust of wind, leaving behind a trail of fragrance.
The little girl named Zhaodi happened to run out at this moment. She was especially excited because Manlu had told her before she went out today that she would buy her leather shoes.
She was playing in the maid's room when she heard the sound of high heels and ran out, shouting, "Abao! Mom's back!" She called Manlu "Mom," which was something the maids had taught her to do, and it wasn't the first time Hongcai had heard her call her that. But today, for some reason, he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for Manlu. At the foot of the stairs, he shouted, "What the hell is she? You call her Mom! She doesn't deserve it!" He threw her down, but Abao grabbed him tightly.
Manlu was so angry she couldn't speak. Hongcai had already walked far away. She had just finished cursing: "Who would want that snotty-nosed girl as their daughter? A little beggar, a country bumpkin! I wouldn't want her even if she were given to me!" The child, with her eyes blinking, stood to the side, watching this performance. If the child's mother had a soul, she must be feeling very pleased, Manlu thought, as if she could hear her triumphant laughter in the air.
Since Zhaodi came here, Manlu had originally thought that as long as she could win her over, the child could become a bridge in their relationship. Although Hongcai was heartless, he still had some fatherly affection for his daughter. However, this child was not a bridge at all; instead, she became a fuse. When the couple quarreled, with Zhaodi caught in the middle as an observer, Manlu was even more unwilling to lose face, so the quarrel became even more intense.
The girl was thin and dark-skinned, with a piece of white yarn tied in her braid. She stood there staring blankly at her. She really wanted to slap her. She tore apart the shoebox she had brought back in a few quick movements, and the two patent leather shoes rolled to the ground. She then picked them up and stomped on them. But leather shoes are surprisingly sturdy, and it was practically impossible to destroy them. In the end, she threw the two shoes downstairs.
In Zhao Di's eyes, Man Lu must have felt that she was just like her father, unpredictable and moody.
Manlu returned to her room, skipped dinner, and went straight to bed. Abao brought her a hot water bottle and tucked it into her blankets. Seeing Abao, she suddenly remembered something and said, "What did you say to Madam last time? I hate it when servants gossip like that." Abao still addressed Manlu as "Miss" and her mother as "Madam." Abao quickly said, "I didn't say anything, Madam asked me—" Manlu coldly sneered: Oh, Madam is still in the wrong. She tidied herself up and left.
I went to bed especially early tonight, anticipating a particularly long night. Facing the endless night, Manlu felt as if she were traversing a dark tunnel; she felt fear, yet she had no choice but to grit her teeth and push forward.
A bedside lamp and a clock. Everything was silent except for the loud ticking of the clock. Manlu reached out, picked up the clock, and put it in the drawer.
Opening the drawer, she found a pile of small pieces of paper—characters she taught Zhaodi to recognize every day. Manlu scooped them out by the handful and threw them into the spittoon. Actually, her anger had subsided by then; she only felt sad. Some of the small pieces of paper with drawings of rice fields, cats, dogs, cows, and sheep on the back were lying outside the spittoon and inside her slippers.