Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When I returned home through the rain, the big yellow dog under the eaves was holding the meat dumplings I had made in its mouth.

The papers in my arms were nearly half-soaked.

I was already in a foul mood.

I was about to scold the big yellow dog and ask why it had stolen the meat dumplings I had gotten up before dawn to make for Yu’er’s birthday.

Yu’er loved them more than anything.

He had tried dumplings sold outside before.

But every time, he would only take one bite before pouting his little lips.

“Mother’s are the most fragrant!”

Then I heard a spoiled, coquettish voice coming from inside the house.

“Father, Sister Jiang smells so nice. Not like Mother.”

“And these pastries taste better than meat dumplings too.”

Zheng Huaishu did not refute him. He only instructed him, “Yu’er, don’t say that in front of your mother. Remember?”

Yu’er obediently agreed. “I know.”

“If Mother found out, she’d definitely scold me. She’d blame Sister Jiang for giving me delicious pastries too. But she’s just not pretty, and she doesn’t smell nice. I’m tired of her dumplings anyway.”

“Mother is too fierce. I’m afraid she’ll bully Sister Jiang.”

I stood beneath the eaves.

The rain chilled my back.

The bits and pieces I had been holding scattered all over the ground.

At last, the half-closed door opened from within.

Zheng Huaishu only glanced at me once before his eyes shifted away guiltily.

Yu’er was still clutching half a piece of pastry in his hand, his face gone deathly pale from fright.

Zheng Huaishu coughed.

“The rain is so heavy. Instead of coming inside, you stood out there eavesdropping. What kind of behavior is that?”

“As his mother, surely you aren’t going to quibble over a child’s joking words.”

“You’ve frightened Yu’er.”

Zheng Huaishu took two steps forward and reached for my hand.

He probably had not expected it to be so cold. The chill made him flinch back.

I slapped his hand away, my gaze falling on Yu’er.

Perhaps he was afraid that a mother who slaughtered and sold pigs would hit him too hard.

Or perhaps he knew how hurtful his words had been.

Shrinking back, he hid behind the skirt of the county magistrate’s daughter, Jiang Rong, and began to whimper.

Jiang Rong bent down, her fine, pale hand gently patting Yu’er’s back.

She apologized on Yu’er’s behalf. “Sister Liu, children speak without thinking. Yu’er only said those clever little things to please me. How could I ever compare to his own mother?”

“Sister Liu, if you usually speak to Yu’er in a softer, gentler voice, he’ll naturally grow closer to you.”

“Come, Yu’er. Apologize to Sister Liu.”

Jiang Rong took Yu’er’s small hand and led him toward me.

I caught the sweet, delicate scent of powder and rouge from her clothes.

Then I flew into a completely irrational rage.

Just like the fierce mother Zheng Yu had described, I threw every last one of the odds and ends I had bought out of the courtyard.

I grabbed Zheng Huaishu and shoved him into the rain.

Then I looked coldly at Zheng Yu and pointed at him.

“You get out too.”

Jiang Rong held up a green oil-paper umbrella, weak and delicate as she sheltered the father and son from the rain.

Zheng Huaishu was angry with me as well.

He refused to say even a few words to coax me.

Holding Yu’er in his arms, he stood beneath the same umbrella as Miss Jiang.

Shoulder to shoulder in the rain, they gradually walked farther and farther away.