Chapter 9

After He Zhili died, Aunt believed a rumor that Uncle had killed him. She threw the He household into such chaos that she was eventually confined to the family shrine.

Yaoguang’s marriage to my brother came to nothing.

Father had prepared three feet of white silk and ordered it sent to Little Four’s room.

But one day, on his way home from court, a masked man abducted him. The man preferred men. In a ruined temple, he pinned Father beneath him.

I brought men to rescue Father and said nothing of what had happened in the temple.

Afterward, he said nothing more of Little Four’s lost chastity either.

Grandmother fell seriously ill and kept Little Four beside her, ostensibly to nurse her.

Jiaoyue secretly told me that Grandmother meant to drive Little Four to her death and arrange a ghost marriage to He Zhili.

She did not openly beat or torment her.

Reclining against a large cushion, she turned away from the medicine Little Four offered. “Stand over there,” she said indifferently. “You’re unclean now. Don’t touch my things and bring bad luck into the room.”

“I hear Ah Ci had several new outfits made for you. You belong to Zhili, after all. He’s scarcely dead, and you’re already thinking of dressing up. What, only a few days have passed and you want another marriage?”

“If I were you, I’d have hanged myself long ago. How can you have the nerve to go on living?”

“No one wants you alive. Better to join Zhili below and be his ghost bride. His descendants will make offerings to you. That’s better than wandering alone as a hungry ghost after you die.”

Little Four had never been talkative, let alone answered her elders back.

This time her voice was clear. “You asked me to nurse you, Grandmother. Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison your medicine?”

Grandmother paused with the bowl halfway to her lips. Suddenly she did not dare drink.

I pushed open the door, drew Little Four to my side and stood before Grandmother’s bed. “Remember this, Grandmother,” I said gently. “If anything happens to her, I’ll find an old man to strip naked and climb into your bed. You know how many unmarried old soldiers serve under our general. I wonder whether you’ll be able to go on living afterward. Will you find a rope and hang yourself?”

“And if you’re too fond of life to die, I’ll go and weep at Grandfather’s grave.”

“Jiang Yanci!” Grandmother shook with fury. “I am your grandmother!”

“And you know I keep my word.”

I asked my mother-in-law to take Little Four as her adopted daughter. After informing Father, I brought her to live with me at the Huaiyuan residence.

Before, she had not been allowed out and had been afraid to leave. Even when I offered to take her out secretly, she would not come.

“Grandmother says that as long as no one outside knows how ugly I am, they may still find me a husband. Once he lifts my bridal veil on the wedding night, it will be too late for regrets.”

Now Little Four understood her circumstances and had no hopes of marriage. She was repelled by the idea. That freed her from her fear of going out. She could not even be bothered with a veil.

I hired teachers to continue her lessons in reading and writing, and to teach her the abacus and bookkeeping, archery and riding.

She helped me run the household, accompanied me on visits to our farms, restaurants and shops, and made friends.

At first people talked about her face.

Gradually, though, Little Four became simply an ordinary-looking girl in the capital.

Every year, Mother would clutch her and have a good cry.

“How will you ever find a husband?”

The older Little Four grew, the more anxious Mother became.

Finally, when she was nineteen, Mother begged me, “Ah Ci, why not have your husband take Little Four as a concubine? She won’t compete with you for anything. Just let her live here and give her a little food. Take pity on her.”

Before I could speak, Little Four flung down her teacup in fury. “Can you not bear to see me living well?”

“I’ve lived and eaten in this house for years. What difference would that make? Has Sister ever asked the Jiang family for a single copper of all she’s spent on me? My adoptive mother loves me. My sister protects me. Wherever I go, people respect me as a daughter of the Huaiyuan household. What is there to pity?”

Mother’s tears came on command. “Little Four, it’s for your own good! What woman doesn’t marry? Who will you depend on?”

Little Four clenched her teeth. “Watch me, Mother. I’ll never marry, and we’ll see whether I live better than you.”

“Mother,” I said quietly. “You’re always so eager for Little Four to be a concubine. You must be very fond of concubines. As it happens, one of the general’s comrades died in battle and left a widowed younger aunt with no one to depend on. Why shouldn’t Father take her in?”

“She’s a year older than you and a widow. She won’t compete with you for anything. Just take pity on her. Let her live in the house and give her a little food.”

Mother stared in shock. “Ah Ci, are you deliberately trying to upset me? What daughter sends her father a concubine?”

She had not heard a word about the aunt’s circumstances. Only that I wanted Father to take a concubine.

“What mother-in-law asks her son-in-law to take a concubine? What mother asks her daughter to become one?” I sneered. “You have so much time on your hands lately. Grandmother has died, and you must be lonely. I’ll advise Father to find you a sister to keep you company.”

Father had no great interest in women. But sharing the general’s burdens and caring for the family of a soldier who had died for his country—that, he was very willing to do.

The new concubine kept to her rooms after arriving, but she and Father appeared to get along well.

Father spent every night in her room.

Mother complained to me.

I did not tell her that the new concubine was no younger aunt at all. He was a younger uncle.

The masked man who preferred men.

Father probably had no wish to spend every night in his “new concubine’s” room. But it was hardly his choice.

I only told Mother, “Another of the general’s comrades died in battle. His parents are dead too, and he left an elder sister who missed her chance to marry while caring for the household. She has no one to depend on. Why not have Father take her in as well? Then you’ll have another sister, and your rooms won’t be so lonely. Someone to talk to.”

For a long time afterward, Mother did not set foot in the Huaiyuan residence.

Little Four never married. She became the old maid of the Huaiyuan household, but apart from a little harmless gossip, it made very little difference to her life.

The children of the household called her Aunt. She had relatives, family, friends and loyal servants. Her days were lively, and life treated her well.

She simply had no husband. That was all.