Chapter 5

The moment I returned home,

Mother asked whether I had pawned my betrothal pendant.

News had reached her remarkably fast.

Without a word of concern, her next question was, “Where’s the money?”

My gaze moved to the table beside her. Two cups of tea stood there.

Someone had visited.

Master Su, most likely.

It seemed Mother had known him far earlier than I had imagined.

“I lost it,” I said.

She shot to her feet. “All that money? Lost? They went out of their way to give you a generous loan! How could you lose it? Where?”

I raised an eyebrow. She seemed to realize what she had revealed and softened her voice.

“Ah Miao, we’re a family. If you want cloth for a dress, rouge, or powder, of course I’ll think of you as well as your sister. But there are so many mouths waiting to be fed! Your sister needs clothes for her coming-of-age ceremony soon, and new hair ornaments… You must have a conscience. Tell me, Ah Miao. Where is the money?”

I smiled and held out my empty hands. “I really did lose it. If you don’t believe me, search.”

She did. Together with Old Sun, whom she had never dismissed, she dragged me into my room and searched me from head to foot.

They even took down my hair to look through it. I stood there disheveled, my hair hanging loose.

I stared out of the dim room. It was only the ninth month, yet a chill rose from the soles of my feet.

Their hands searched my clothing again and again.

Mother looked at me and suddenly said, “My Ah Miao is all grown up.”

My brother came to the crack in the window and peered in curiously.

“Get out,” I told him flatly. “You idiot. Never seen someone being bullied before?”

Mother flew into a rage, seized on the excuse, and slapped me. Tears in her eyes, she shouted,

“Is that how you speak to your brother? He’s only a child! What does he understand? You’re his sister. What’s wrong with him looking? Jiang Miao, you’ve changed! You’ve spent too long running about outside. It’s made you wild.”

She ordered Old Sun to lock me up, and told my brother and sister not to feed me until I said where the money was.

Old Sun alone was no match for me.

One shove sent her sprawling on her back.

Mother angrily called for help. My sister and brother joined in.

Two more useless creatures.

I slapped each of them. Before I could say a word, something struck the back of my head with a crash. Pain exploded through it.

Mother dropped the stool in her hands and watched me fall. “Rebellion! This is rebellion! Quickly, tie this unfilial daughter up!”