0:00 push her in. That was my grandmother. Well, the woman I'd called grandmother for a year. She said it the way you'd tell a maid to empty a chamber pot. Then she stepped back from me like I might splash. It was the middle of the night. We were standing at the lotus pond behind the shoe mansion. Calling it a lotus pond was generous. It had four lily pads and a lot of ambition, and around it stood the whole shoe family. The old lady, my father, my uncle, their wives, a row of brothers and sisters in silk. Nobody said a word for me. Not one. Let me give you the 10-second version of how I got here. 10 minutes earlier, I'd been asleep. I'd had a nightmare. Not a real one, more like a memory that came with the body. A little girl, 4 years old, on her hands and knees in the dirt, barking, actually barking at a stray dog because the dog had her bun. The dog ran. She grabbed the bun, brushed off the mud, and bit it. And then a woman in a pretty skirt 1:00 walked over and knocked it out of her hand into a crack in the stones. That woman was concubine shoe, the little girl's mother. My mother, technically. You're the third miss of the Shu family, she'd said. Fighting a dog for food. Have you no shame? The little girl said, I'm hungry. She hadn't eaten in 2 days. Concubine Shia had her locked in the dark shed for two more. I woke up with that taste in my mouth. Mud and bread. I got out of bed for some water and something on the floor went hiss. A snake right there in a locked room on the second floor of a mansion. So I did what any reasonable person does. I grabbed it behind the head and slammed it into the floorboards until it stopped being a snake. Then the door banged open and two matrons marched in without knocking. Third, miss. The old lady wants you. Come. That's how I ended up at the pond in my nightclo. And that's how I found out the snake was the polite option. Here's the thing you need to 2:02 know about me. My name is Shu Yu. I'm 18. And a year ago, I was somebody else. Somebody from a world with electric lights and takeout. I died there. And I woke up here inside a novel I'd actually read in this body. The third miss of the shoe family. a concubine's daughter. So unimportant that the book mentions her twice. But I know how the book ends. In three months, the eldest shoe daughter, the cannon's doomed supporting girl, chases the male lead off a cliff of bad decisions. She drags the whole family with her. The shoe family get exiled a thousand miles south. All of them, me included, as a footnote. I tried to change it twice. Both times the plot just shrugged and walked the ending right back. So I gave up fighting it. I figured exile was a location, not a sentence. The book never said what happens after. That part I could write myself. So for a year I was the quietest girl in the house. I ate, I slept, I 3:04 saved money. Three more months and I'd be out. Apparently the shoe family had a faster plan. Wait. I stepped sideways away from the matrons. You're killing me. Why? The old lady wouldn't even look at me. Her head matron did the talking. You're not the third miss. You were never the third miss. Concubine Sue bribed a doctor, faked a pregnancy, and bought a baby off the street on the day of the birth. You're that baby, a nobody's brat. You've had 18 years of silk you never earned. Now the family is setting things right. Huh? That was new. That was not in the book. Setting things right, I said, by drowning me in a pond. The shoe family, said the old lady finally, cannot allow a stain like you to exist. I had a strong opinion about that. Several, actually, most of them had four letters, and the snake in my room, also you. The eldest shoe daughter sniffed. Honestly, the snake would have 4:06 been kinder. Thank you, big sister, noted. The matrons came at me with two ropes. My hands twitched. I could have put both of them in the pond. In my old life, I'd learned a lot of things a girl doesn't learn at embroidery class, but I stopped. Think the plot can't be changed. In 3 months, these people will be exiled no matter what. I don't have to waste a single punch on them. The plot will do it for me. Still going quietly. Not my style. So, I smiled. Fine. You want me dead. I can't stop you. But a dying girl gets last words, doesn't she? Last words. The eldest daughter laughed. Go on, let's hear it. They tied my hands behind me, and I looked at them one by one. Not the way the quiet third miss looked at people the other way. Eldest uncle. I nodded at him. How's the pretty lady on Golden Peace Lane? The one your wife sold off last spring. I hear you bought her right 5:07 back and she's expecting. That's true love. His face went white. His wife turned and stared at him. Eldest aunt, your nephew just beat his second wife to death, didn't he? And now you're quietly arranging to marry him, our second sister, the concubines girl. Solves two problems at once. Very efficient. Second uncle, you're gambling debts. Grandmother paid them out of her own savings. Keep going, and next time it'll come out of the family accounts. Second aunt, you slipped concubine Lou something that made her lose the baby. Poor second uncle. No wonder he drinks. And big sister, you. Shut up. Shut up. The old lady banged her cane on the stones. Every person I'd named was turning a different color. What are you waiting for? Do it. But you said I could finish. Lies. All of it. You sat in this house like a mute for 18 years. And now at the end, you try to tear my family apart. Lies, right? Everything I'd said 6:09 was in the book. Chapter 40ome, the exile list. They'd find out soon enough. The matrons tied a rock to my ankle. They shoved me in. I went down like a stone because I was attached to one, and the old lady stood there until the water went still. She didn't know that I'd slipped the knot on my wrists before my head went under, or that the rope on my ankle came off at the bottom like a shoelace. I swam under the mud, came up beneath a lily pad, and watched. Pull her out tomorrow night, said the old lady. Say the third miss went out for some cool air, and slipped. Very sad. Yes, madam. And concubine shoe, deal with her. Tell people she died of grief. My father said, "Yes, mom." That was all. In the book, Concubine Sa goes into exile with the rest of us. I didn't know how she was going to slip out of that. But standing in the pond, I finally understood her, why she'd starved that little girl, why she'd left her with a 7:10 fever in an empty room, why she'd made her kneel in the sun until she fainted. Everyone in the house thought SA hated her daughter for being a girl. She didn't hate a daughter. She hated a receipt. I was the thing she'd bought. The lights in the main courtyard didn't go out all night. Through the wall, I could hear shouting. Somebody yelled that the old lady had fainted. I climbed out of the pond, went back to my room, changed into dry clothes, and packed a small bag. Then I went over the back wall. By dawn, I was standing outside the mansion gate, dripping a little, waiting for the city gates to open. A nun was waiting, too. I knew her robes. The Dongqing temple outside the city. A year ago, the Shu family took me there to burn incense, and the third miss fell off a cliff. That's when I moved into this body. I spent half a month recovering at that temple. The abbus was an odd woman. She read faces like other people read menus, and she was never wrong. I followed her around and learned 8:11 what I could. I even called her teacher when nobody was listening. The nun held out a box from the abbis. She told me to wait here until you came out. Inside was a letter and travel papers, real ones with my description. I opened the letter. Au, by the time you read this, I'll be gone. Go and find your birth parents. Some debts, if you don't pay them, will make every step you take heavier. Here are their names and their village. Take care. I stared at it. 12 hours ago, I didn't know I was adopted, purchased, whatever. And this woman already had my parents address. Did she say anything else? The little nun glanced up, then down, and her voice got very small. She said, "The Shoe family found out about you because she told them. I've been standing here for 2 days." I closed the box. Click. Excuse me. My teacher sold me out to my own murderers and then left a forwarding address. I turned around and walked off 9:14 without a word. The address was a place called Shangshi village, Djang Yuan County, the poorest county in the whole prefecture, the far edge of the map. I didn't want to go. I didn't want new parents. I had 60 tales to my name, two banknotes I'd earned behind the shoe family backs, and a whole world to disappear into. Why tie myself to strangers? But the nuns words kept circling. If you have questions, the abbis said, go to that address and you'll understand. I had questions. Oh, I had questions. Why my teacher knew what debt and what she was playing at. And if the plot dragged me back into exile in 3 months anyway, I'd never get any answers at all. Fine. One look, then I'm gone. I rented a carriage, a full day on the road. In Jan, I found an ox cart going past Shangi, packed with village women and their baskets. I climbed on with my one small bundle and every head turned. A girl in town 10:16 clothes on an ox cart. They whispered about me like I was a weather event. I climbed back down. Uncle, can you wait for me a few minutes? We leave in a quarter hour. I ran back into town, not to change clothes, to buy gifts. In my old life, I'd worked my way up to the right hand of a very dangerous man, and I'd learned one thing there. Never knock on a door empty-handed. two packets of pastries, a slab of pork, and a fistful of cheap candy just in case. I made it back with a minute to spare. At the last second, a woman came running red-faced, waving her arms. Uncle who? Wait, you promised me a seat. You said you weren't coming back with me. Did I? You must have heard wrong. She jabbed a finger at the cart. And now you've given my seat away to some stranger. I pointed at myself. Should I get off? Oh, no, no, no, dear. You sit. She waved me down like a queen. This is between me and Uncle who. Then she turned back to him. 11:18 Fine, I'm generous. I'll walk. But my basket's too heavy. You'll carry it home for me free since this is your fault. She glared around at the other women, and I remember all your faces. If anything's missing from my basket, I'll come knocking. I watched her march off. She was from Shangshi. The whole ride, nobody talked about anything but her. Leang, her name was stingy, shameless, lazy, and married to a man just like her. A man called Lou III. They'd raised one son to bully every kid in the village, including their own nephews. Lou, same surname as the man in my teacher's letter. Oh, good. At the village gate, a man was squatting in the dust with a blade of grass in his teeth. The moment the cart stopped, he jumped up, ran to his wife's basket, and counted everything in it, one item at a time, with his finger. Then he slung it on his back and left, not even a thank you. Uncle who spat after him. The man 12:20 spun around. You want something? Uncle who whipped his ox and fled. The man fled, too, in the other direction. I stood there. You know what? I think I'm going to like this village. I walked in with my pastries and my pork. Near the gate, there was a pack of kids playing in the dirt. The second they saw what I was carrying, they stopped dead and swallowed. Suddenly, the pork felt very heavy. I held up a handful of candy. Whoever answers my question gets one. Me? Ask me. I know everything. You don't know anything. I'm the boss. Where does Lou or live? Blank faces. Kids don't know grown-ups names. Then the biggest one lit up. I know. Lou Airb's the ugly girl's dad. And he pointed. A little girl was walking up the path with a basket of pig grass on her back, bigger than she was. Her clothes were all patches. Her wrists and ankles stuck out of them, and the whole pack of kids ran 13:21 at her, circling and chanting. Ugly face. Ugly face. Cutting grass. Fell flat. Broke her face. No one wants her. Haha. She stood in the middle, both hands over her face, biting her lips so she wouldn't cry. She tried to step out, her feet tangled. She went down again, and the basket spilled. "Look, she fell. She always falls. My mom says she's going to be lame like her dad." she cried then quietly and she scrambled to gather the grass back into the basket fast with tears running because if she was slow they'd stomp on it and the whole day's work would be gone. Then a pair of clean white hands started picking up the grass with her. She looked up at me. Her eyes went huge. I could see what she was thinking. A fairy. A real one. The kids had gone dead quiet behind us. Up close, I saw the scar. a small one across her cheek. It wasn't big, it just looked big 14:21 because she was so thin and so yellow that it was the brightest thing on her face. She caught me looking and pulled her hair down to hide it. Don't worry about that, I said. I had a scar on my face when I was little, too. It went away. Really? Do you see one? I didn't tell her the rest. In my last life, I'd needed to get close to the man who'd murdered my parents. close enough to be useful, not close the other way. So I took a knife and cut my own face and made myself too valuable to throw out. I spent 10 years at his side. Then I took his whole organization apart, piece by piece, and it took me with it. He hated that scar. He sent me to doctors. I turned out to be allergic to the cream, and it nearly ate my face. But I learned everything there was to know about scar cream. What's your name? Is your father Lou Air? She nodded slowly. I'm I'm Sa, third girl. That's a name in a family that ran out of ideas or money for 15:22 ideas. SA, will you take me to your house? I picked up her basket. I'll carry it. I'm faster. She looked at her muddy hands, then at my clean sleeve, and pulled her hands back. I gave a candy to the boy who'd pointed. Only him. The rest of them after that little performance could watch. Sa was watching too. She wanted that candy so badly her eyes shook. I held one out. She shook her head hard and hurried ahead. I'll show you the way. Tough kid. I liked her already. Big sister, she said after a while in a tiny voice. Why are you going to my house? Do you know my dad? Your dad helped me once. She tripped again. She was back on her feet before I could reach her. Sorry. Why are you saying sorry? She didn't know. She just said it a lot. I knew that because I had a memory in this body of a little girl saying sorry a 100 times a day to 16:22 concubine Sue. Same skinny arms, same flinch. That's when I stopped wondering whether this was my family, this was my sister. I'd have bet my 60 tales on it. And whatever they'd done 18 years ago, it wasn't her fault. I popped the candy straight into her mouth. Her eyes went round as plums. Don't drop it. Waste of candy. She clapped both hands over her mouth. A second later, her eyes curved into crescent. It's so sweet. The Lou house was at the very back of the village. The yard was smaller than my old closet and full. The walls leaned. The roof had opinions about rain. SA ran into the kitchen and came back with a bowl. It had a chip in the rim. I washed it twice, she whispered. This side isn't chipped. It won't cut you. That was their best bowl. I drank. It was cold and sweet. This is good water. My brother carries it down from the spring every day. She didn't say it was the 17:25 water they saved to brew her dad's medicine. Who else lives here? My mom and my grandma and my big sister got married and my second sister. She stopped. Her fingers twisted her sleeve. You want more water? Don't you lock the gate? We don't have anything. Grandma says rats walk around our house. She thought about it. And my third uncle sits outside his door across the road all day. Nobody comes this way because of him. The man with the basket, of course. Then voices came up the path. a woman's high and sharp. I told you to stay home, but no, you have to go to the fields and now you've fallen on that leg. And you know what? There's no money to fix it again. It can rot. You can sit at home and die. I'm done with you. I'm sorry, Mom. I felt better today. I thought I could help. Help? Staying home is how you help. I must have done something terrible in a past life to get a son like you. My little sister ran 18:26 out. Grandma, we have a guest. A guest? What guest? Your own uncles won't come near us. Then the old woman slapped her own thigh. Oh, no. A debt collector. I knew my eye was twitching all morning. No, no. She came to thank Dad. Thank him for what? The grandmother came through the gate, dragging a limping man by the arm. She saw me in the doorway and stepped in front of him like a hen, like I might bite him. The man lifted his head and I froze. It was him. A year ago, when I woke up in this body, I was hanging halfway down a cliff, every bone screaming. A man climbed up to me, a stranger. He carried me down. Then a boulder came loose above us, and there was no time. He shoved me clear. It hit him instead, his leg. I'd asked him later at the temple why he didn't just drop me and save himself. He didn't know. He said his body just moved. Then he left before I could even thank him. 19:28 Because he had a daughter who'd gone missing years ago, and he'd heard a rumor she might be near that temple. He'd lost days on me. He couldn't lose more. I never learned his name, only that it was Lou. Now I understood my teacher's letter. The debt wasn't for being born. It was this. It was mine. He stared at me for a long moment. Then his eyes went wide. Miss. Miss Shu, it's me, Uncle Lou. It's been a while. They were all like SA, yellow, thin, in clothes that were more patched than cloth. He looked 10 years older than he had a year ago. He couldn't have been much past 30. Miss Shu, what brings you here? Is something wrong? I looked at his leg. We should talk inside. Yes, yes, inside. His mother gave me a look. The look said, "Who invited you to give orders in my house?" But she and his wife took him by both arms and helped him in. The little one brought water for everybody. 20:29 Mine was the bowl with one chip. "Everyone else's had four. We don't have any tea," Uncle Lou mumbled. "I'm sorry. I like spring water better." His mother elbowed him hard. "Well, introduce her. Who is she? How do you know a girl like that? You never said a word. Shuyu, I said. That's my name. A year ago, I fell off a cliff and Uncle Lou saved my life. I was barely conscious after. By the time I could walk, he'd gone. And I didn't know where he lived. I never even thanked him. I've never been so glad I stopped to buy pork. Imagine finding out the stranger who saved you is also your father, and you showed up with empty hands. I pushed the pastries and the meat across the table. I came in a hurry, so it's just No, no, no. You already gave me silver back then. That was plenty. His mother swept the pork to her side of the table before he could finish. Have you lost your mind? It's 21:29 her thanks. You refuse it, she'll feel bad, and the meat can't go back to the butcher. The doctor said, "You need building up. When did you last eat meat?" And the twins have never had a proper pastry in their lives. So, Grandma was a woman of strategy, noted. And I noticed something else. He'd never told them how he hurt his leg. If Grandma knew it happened, saving me, she wouldn't be this calm. He wasn't going to say it, which made it worse. Uncle Lou, how's the leg? It sounded like he fell again today. The village doctor's out. It's nothing. A couple of days rest. His face said otherwise. He'd been gritting his teeth since the yard. Let me look. You know, medicine, said Grandma. A little, more like nursing. In my last life, the man I worked for retired because of his health, and his right hand had to know how to handle that. But I said it calmly enough that Grandma jumped out of her seat. Uncle Lou went red to the ears. Mom, she's a 22:31 young lady. She can't go poking at a man's leg. I was already kneeling. You saved my life. I can look at a leg and I'm not a young lady anymore. Think of me as a doctor's girl. The Shu family had sworn the temple to silence about who I was in case some peasant tried to cash in on saving their daughter. So, he had no idea who I'd been. I pressed along the shin and frowned. The bone never set straight. It's out of line. What does that mean? It has to be broken again and reset. Three people sucked in air at once. broken again. If it isn't, it'll only get worse. And today's fall made it swell. Leave it and he could lose the leg. But Dr. Yan said it was just bruising. A few more plasters and it heal. Dr. Yan said it. That quack. Grandma's voice could have stripped paint. A year. A whole year of plasters and nothing. A hen that won't lay. A man who sits on the pot and mom. Cough. 23:34 Cough. Grandma shut her mouth, then opened it again. Can you fix it, Miss Shu? Right after the injury, maybe. Not now. He needs a real bone setter. His wife spoke for the first time, almost in a whisper. There's a doctor shoe in the county town. He's good with bones. Good and expensive. Grandma glared at her. Sell you? And we still couldn't pay him. His wife shrank. She was the quietest woman I'd ever seen. Even her breathing was polite. How much? I asked. Grandma held up one hand, five fingers, five tails. Before anyone could answer, Sa yelped outside. I was out the door first. In the lane, a round little boy was dancing in front of my little sister with a candy held up high. Ha! Ugly liar. Like your family could ever buy candy. You lot can only dream about sugar water. This is candy. My mom bought it in town. You've never even seen one. SA was on the ground again. 24:36 She got up on her own, fast, practiced. I'm not a liar. You are. Say it again and I'll hit you. She stepped back straight into my legs. The little fatty blinked at me. Who are you? Why are you at my second uncle's house? Second uncle. So, this was the third uncle's boy, the family from across the lane. I smiled at him, a not very nice smile. Then I took a candy out of my sleeve and put it in the little one's mouth right in front of him. Candy first, I told her. There are pastries in the house for later. And I gave her the rest of the handful. His eyes went from her hand to my face to her hand. Give it here. What's a girl need candy for? Give it. He charged. I caught him by the collar, spun him round once like a top, and sent him back the way he came, gently. He staggered two steps and stopped. Then he looked down and saw his own candy in the dirt. He sat down and howled. My candy. 25:39 Ugly girl, pay me back. I want pastries. Wa looked up at me, worried. I crouched and patted her head. We're not his parents. We don't have to fix it. He can cry till dark. He can cry till the end of time. He heard that. He jumped up and pointed at us. Wait right there. I'm telling my dad as soon as he's done on the pot, he's coming to get you. Lovely. A threat with a schedule. When I turned around, my little sister was smiling. A tiny secret smile. What's funny? Nothing. The candy's sweet. She didn't say it was the first time in her life she'd made Dao cry instead of the other way round. She thought that was a wicked thought. She was going to think it for one more second and then stop. If you like it, I'll buy you more next time. next time." Her hands squeezed mine tighter. She didn't dare ask. Then I looked up and met her mother's eyes. She was standing at the gate, staring at me. Her lips 26:39 were shaking. Her eyes were red. Did I do something weird? I just made a kid cry. Normal Tuesday. She wiped her face and managed a smile. Come inside. Back at the table, Grandma had decided about Debau. If his father comes, I'll handle him. Now, Miss Shu, is there really no other way for the leg? He has to see a doctor tomorrow. Waiting makes it worse. I knew this house couldn't find five tails. They probably couldn't find half of one. I put two pieces of silver on the table. I'll pay for the doctor. Uncle Lou pushed them straight back. No, I can't take your money. Uncle Lou, if you don't take it, I'll never be able to look you in the face again. He went still. I could see him wanting to say it wasn't my fault, that he'd left the temple too early, but he couldn't say it in front of his mother or she'd make me pay for his whole life. He made a fist on the table. Then it's a loan. When the leg's better, I'll work and I'll pay you 27:40 back. Yes, yes, said Grandma. First the leg, then we'll find the money. I'll pick lots of wild greens, said Sonia. I didn't argue. Loan, gift, whatever. Leg first. Grandma practically skipped out the door to borrow the village head's ox cart. Then she paused. Cook that pork tonight. Miss Shu, it's late. Stay the night. Our house is a wreck. But she'd been planning to stretch that pork over a week, a sliver a day. Now she was cooking all of it. That's how you tell when grandma likes you. The little one ran off to find her brother. And the moment we were alone, her mother turned to me with that same burning look. Miss Shu, who are your parents? Why is a girl like you traveling alone? Wife, said Uncle Lou sharply. That's her business. She didn't even hear him. Miss Shu, could I ask on your left arm, do you have two moles? Stop it. She covered her 28:41 face and cried. He turned to me helpless. I'm sorry, Miss Shu. You know I have a daughter who went missing. My wife, you're about the age our UA would be. seeing you. She He got up on his crutch and pulled her out to the kitchen. I waited until they were gone. Then I pushed up my left sleeve. Two small dark moles right on the wrist. I didn't know what to do with that. I knew now they hadn't thrown me away. They'd spent everything they had looking for me. But in 3 months, the Shoe family would be exiled, and the plot liked to drag things back. If it dragged me back, would it drag this family down with me? They weren't in the book. Nobody knew how their story ended. Through the wall, I heard her sobbing. I'm not crazy. When she turned around, holding SA's hand, laughing, it was like seeing Dia. Her nose, her eyes. Look at her face and tell me she doesn't look like Dia. And his voice, slow and low. She's got 29:42 parents, a home. She's clearly done well. Even if even if she is Arya, she's better off than she'd be with us. A long silence. Then I hope it's her, she whispered. At least it means she didn't suffer. I went out into the yard. The gate creaked. A boy came in backwards, dragging a bundle of firewood twice his size. He was as thin as my little sister. Same face almost. He saw me and looked around like he'd walked into the wrong house. Who are you? Yord who? Big tiger. The name was doing a lot of work. I took the wood off him and saw his palms rubbed raw by the rope. Small body, big stubborn heart. He'd wanted to bring back the biggest bundle in the world. He followed me around the yard staring. When I looked at him, he went red and stared at his feet. Grandma came back, still yelling over her shoulder. Lou III, you go home. We've got a guest. You come over here making trouble. I'll 30:43 lie down in your house and you can feed me till I die. She slammed the gate on a very angry man, the one from the cart, the basket counter. So the bargain lady with the free basket was third aunt Leang, and the fat little crybaby was their son. What a small world. What a small, stingy world. Later, I heard the twins whispering on the steps. Miss Shu gave me these, SA said. So I gave grandma one and mom and dad one and this is yours and I'm saving the rest for big sister so her life can be sweet too. Then save one for second sister said Dahoo for when we find her. I'll save two. Mom says second sister's all alone out there. Maybe she's had a really bitter life. If she eats lots of candy it won't be bitter anymore. Inside nobody spoke. My eyes stung. I looked at the wall until they stopped. Grandma looked away too. Grandma Louu, I said, "How did I go missing?" She sighed. It's 31:45 no secret. Everybody knows. This family married into a bad bunch. That old woman, the ruined grandmother, heard someone wanted to buy a newborn. Urya had just been born, so she came over saying she'd help her daughter through the lying in. Her own granddaughter's grandmother, and when nobody was looking, she took the baby and sold her. Didn't even know who, too. A stranger from far away. No wonder Uncle Lou's wife took every scolding with her head down. 18 years, not one word back. It was her own mother who did it. We went to the county. The magistrate said it was a family matter, and if we kept making noise, he'd have us all beaten. So, I took the men of the family over to the ruin family, and we had it out. That old hag was in bed half a year after, and ever since, my son's been looking. any rumor, any village. He runs, "Look at this house." Some days I think, "Stop. Maybe she's happy somewhere." And he says, "What if she isn't? What if she's suffering, waiting for us to come? 32:47 If we give up, she's really lost." My hands were fists on the table. She wiped her eyes. Miss Shu, I'll be honest. I'm telling you this because I want something. You're a lady from a big family. You know people. If you really want to repay my son, help us look for Urya. Help them look for me. All right, I said. My scalp was prickling. Dinner was the best meal that family had seen in a year. Pork, cabbage, eggs with chives, melon fried in pork fat, a little soup. The twins couldn't take their eyes off the meat. They'd had meat at New Year, shreds of it. Their mother gave me a bowl of rice packed so hard it was heavy. Everybody else had porridge so thin you could count the grains. We worked in the sun all day, said Uncle Lou. Porridge goes down easier. Sure it does. I swapped my rice for the little one's porridge. I ate in town. I'm not hungry. I ate fast and barely touched 33:47 the pork. I left the table so they'd finish it. When I looked back, Grandma had given each person one small piece and put the rest away in the cupboard for tomorrow. in this heat tomorrow. That night, I slept in Grandma's room. She went to sleep at her eldest son's. I couldn't stop her, and I slept better than I had in a whole year in the shoe mansion. Next morning, cousin Danu drove us to town in the borrowed cart. He was a big, quiet boy, and he drove slowly over every bump without being asked. Dr. Shu took one look at the leg. Misaligned. Has to be broken and reset. Grandma cursed Dr. Yan with her whole chest. "Are you treating it or not?" said Dr. Shu. Everybody looked at me. It was my silver. Of course we are. 15 tales all told. Medicine setting the stay. I paid five down and told him not to save on the good herbs. Uncle Lou would have to stay in the clinic with 34:48 grandma. I went back to the village with Dano and a cart full of rice, flour, oil, and new bowls. Bowls without chips. It was the least I could do. We were barely through the village gate when a woman ran at the cart. Danu, where's your grandma? Your uncle? Something's happened at your second uncle's. What happened? I asked. That old ruin woman's back. She's brought a girl with her. Says it's a one she sold all those years ago. She found her. They're in the yard right now. I was off the cart before it stopped. Bring the food. There was a crowd outside the Lou gate. Front row, best seats. Third uncle and third aunt. Of course. In the yard, an old woman with graying hair sat on a stool, wailing. My child, I'm so sorry. I was possessed by a demon. You haven't spoken to me in all these years. Do you know how that hurts your mother? The twins stood on either side of their mother. Sa was clinging to her hand like she was 35:49 scared of the old woman. Dahu just watched, lips pressed tight. Here she is. The old woman shoved a skinny girl forward. Your Urya. Doesn't she look just like you and your husband? I looked at the girl. Like them? Not one feature. Not the eyes, not the nose, not the mouth. The girl dropped to her knees. Thump. A real one. Mom, I finally found you. The crowd gasped. Is it really Ya? old ruins, crying like she means it. That old woman's never been nice to her daughter. Why would she go to all that trouble? Why would she lie? The Lou family have nothing. What's there to steal? Third uncle grinned. Who knows? My poor little niece vanished as a baby. But her mother will know her, won't she? Right on Q, the old woman pushed up the girl's sleeve. Look, look at her arm. Two moles, just like when she was a baby. Ya's mother grabbed the girl's arm. Her voice shook. You You really are 36:52 Ura? The girl burst into tears. Mom, I've missed you so much. All these years I've been on the streets. Bad people beat me. Nobody fed me. I drank water to fill my belly. I slept under a bridge. Stop, whispered the mother. Please stop. She dreamed this exact moment every night for 18 years. It was eating her alive. The old woman went over to the twins with two candies so old they'd gone cloudy. Dahoo. Sea, your sister's home. Here, granny brought you sweets. The twins backed away. The old woman's smile slipped for a second, then glued itself back on. Take them. Granny bought them specially. I slapped the candy out of her hand. Who do you think you are? She looked up. Then she met my eyes and stopped talking. Eldest uncle had arrived from the fields too, still holding a hoe, getting the story from third uncle. I walked up to the kneeling girl. She was holding Ira's mother by 37:53 the arm. Let go. Who are you? She's my mother. Why should I? Because you're a fake. The whole crowd went quiet. Then the whispering started. I pulled her hand off. She swung at my face with her nails. I tilted my head, put a knee in her stomach, and swept her legs. She went down and stayed down. Wo, said the crowd. Third uncle rubbed his own leg. Last night he'd wanted to come over and settle the score about his son. His mother had stopped him. He was suddenly very grateful to his mother. Then the ruan grandmother came at me. Not to fight, smiling. You must be Miss Shu, the rich young lady who sent my son-in-law to the doctor. Oh, it's a misunderstanding. This really is Arya. My daughter's luck has finally turned. A great lady helping and her lost girl found. Good days are coming. And there it was. She hadn't come for the Lou family. They had nothing. She'd come for me. She'd heard a rich girl was paying 38:55 for things. So she'd grabbed a beggar with two moles and come to get her foot in the door. Whether he's back or not is none of your business, I said. Looking at her made my skin crawl. This was the woman who'd sold a baby. Take your fake and get out. Her smile fell off. Who are you to talk to me like that? This is my family's business. You're a guest. A guest should be congratulating us, bringing a gift. Instead, you call her a fake and beat her. She turned to the crowd. Everyone, tell me, does an outsider know better than a girl's own mother? My daughter hasn't said a word, but this one's running the house like she's the mistress here. The crowd's eyes went wide. Was she saying the rich young lady had her eye on Lou Erby? Old, poor, and lame Lou Erby. No, no, no, no. Everybody shook their heads. Eldest uncle couldn't take it. You're the one talking nonsense. After what you did, you expect us to believe you went and found Ura out of kindness? Oh, so you 39:57 know Miss Shu, do you clothes? Are you? What she got for proof? Nothing. He went purple and couldn't think of a single word. He wasn't a talker. He turned to me. Miss Shu, I'm Airby's older brother. If you're so sure, have you got proof? Yes, crowed the old woman. Proof? Can't just call someone a fake. If she really is Arya, you're the villain here. The twins ran in front of me. Sya, who couldn't say sorry quietly enough, lifted her chin at the whole village. Big sister shoe is good. She's not mean. Don't pick on her. Something in my chest went soft and stupid. I put a hand on her head. Then I turned my back on the crowd, looked at the mother, and pushed up my sleeve. She looked down. She grabbed my arm with both hands and stared at the two moles. Eldest uncle saw them, too. "You've got the same moles. Your area." "It's you," she whispered. "I knew it. I knew it." The 41:00 old woman lunged in to look. Her face went gray. No, no, it can't be. She's Ya. Why not? You wanted proof. I'm the proof. If I'm the baby you stole and sold, then she's the fake. But she has the moles. So do I. Then how do you know which one's real? Easy. I turned to the mother. The real area must have another mark. One nobody else knows about. She nodded so fast. Yes. There is. So, what are you so nervous about? I asked the old woman. You said a mother always knows. Oh, right. When you stole her, you were in such a hurry. You only saw the moles. She opened her mouth. Nothing came out. She'd never even unwrapped the baby. She'd grabbed the money and run. The buyer had wanted a boy. She cheated him, too. There's a birthark, said the mother, on the back of her neck, like a grain of rice. The Lou family had never told anyone. The old woman and the 42:02 beggar looked at each other. I swept my hair over one shoulder and bent my head. I couldn't see my own neck. But my teacher had sent me here and my teacher was never wrong. One look and the mother broke. It's you. You're my daughter. Ura, you came home. She threw her arms around me. I didn't know what to do with my hands. In my last life, my parents died when I was small. After that, I didn't trust anyone. I didn't have friends. Nobody hugged me. I climbed higher and higher alone. Now, this tiny woman was crying into my shoulder like I was the most important thing in the world. After a long moment, I patted her back stiffly. Don't cry. Then, somebody screamed. Third, aunt Leang had grabbed the beggar girl, spat on the back of her neck, and scrubbed hard. A layer of dirt came off. There, no birthark, a fake. I had not seen that coming. I'd met that 43:03 woman twice. She'd surprised me both times. The old ruin woman flew at her, spitting on people. Are you insane? Third aunt shoved her off. I'm helping my sister-in-law check her own daughter. Miss Shu showed her neck nice and easy. You're hiding it because you're guilty. Yeah, said third uncle. You came when mom and my brother were away. You thought the Lou family had nobody home. And the two of them planted themselves on either side of me, glaring like a pair of guard geese. A minute ago, they'd been selling popcorn at the gate. Interesting. I walked toward the beggar. So, who are you and who sent you? The Lou family have nothing to steal. So, what's the real plan? Are you planning to settle in Shang Xi under a false name? Do something to this village? Who's working with you? The crowds eyes narrowed. The whole village was suddenly looking at her like she'd come to steal their chickens. She cracked like an egg. Not me. I'm a beggar. She found me. She 44:04 saw my moles and said if I pretended to be Aria, I'd get a roof and food. Then I got here and the house was falling down. But a roof's a roof. It was all her idea. The old woman was already backing toward the gate. I was tricked too. I'm the victim. I only wanted my daughter to stop grieving. Then she turned and ran. The beggar ran the other way. I'll get her, said Third Aunt. Leave it, said eldest uncle. What would they do? Beat their sister-in-law's own mother? I didn't chase anyone either. Arya's mother had both arms locked around mine. Like if she let go, I'd disappear again. The twins inched closer, staring at me, thrilled and shy. A fairy who turned out to be their sister. My little sister reached out to hold my hand, touched it, pulled back. I took her hand. She went pink to the ears. Eldest uncle cleared the crowd and shut the gate. Then he studied my face for a long time. She does look like Da. Sister-in-law, are 45:07 you sure? I'm sure. She held me tighter like he might try to take me away. Good. Good. We<unk>ll do it properly when mom and I are back. He looked at me and tried to say ya and couldn't. Shuyu, I said. Call me that. Lu Shuyu. My mother's face lit up. She said my name with the Lu in it. Shuyu was my name before all this. My real name. The Shu family wrote it with a different character. A rain one. Same sound, different girl. Across the lane, I found out later third uncle was already doing sums. She's rich, he told his wife. That old ruin hog nearly got in ahead of us. A rich niece can spare a little for her poor uncle, can't she? We helped her today. Meanwhile, my mother had a hundred questions. Where had I grown up? Had they been kind? My adoptive parents were good to me, I said. I was their only daughter. Total lie. I'd been their 46:08 only reject, but she lit up like a lantern. Then we owe them. When things settle, I'll go with you to thank them. Sure, I'll just look up the address of the people who drowned me. Danu turned up with the groceries. Rice, flour, oil, eggs, pork. My mother stood there holding a sack of flour like it might bite. Ya, this is too much. Mom, no, not yet. If you keep being polite with me, you're treating me like an outsider. That shut her up. I made noodles, egg and pork noodles with enough oil that the bowl shown. The twins took one bite each and their eyes rolled back. M goo. That was SA mouth full trying to say good and I made one bowl extra because I knew who'd knock. Knock knock knock. Third uncle stood at the gate with a pair of chopsticks already in his hand. Just a taste of the family luck. A little noodle. That's not too much to 47:08 ask, is it? Take the whole bowl. His eyes went wide, then narrow. A free bowl from me. Where's the catch? Third uncle. That ruined woman found a beggar with moles and trained her up. When did she do that? Days ago, I heard. days ago before I came when the Lou family had nothing at all. So why plant a fake in a house with nothing in it? He chewed. He hadn't thought of that. Find out for me and I'll throw in two candies. He looked at the candies like they were an insult. Then he took them, stingy but honest about it. I could work with that. That night he told his whole family, third aunt and Dao included. From now on, nobody crosses. Understand? Those noodles weren't free. I counted my money in bed. 60 tales when I left the shoe family. 20 gone on the leg. A tail and a half on the road. Groceries. 38 left. 38 48:10 tails. A family of six. A broken leg. And a house that leaned. I needed to make money fast. My mother knocked. She'd noticed my skirt had torn on the cart. She sat on the edge of the bed and mended it. And when she handed it back, I couldn't find the tear. "Not anywhere. It's the only thing your mother's good at," she whispered. "Thank you. I love it." She looked at me for a long moment. I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to call her mom. She didn't ask. She just smiled and went out. Then the little one appeared at my window in the dark. Second sister, c can I sleep with you tonight? She curled up against me like a cat. Second sister, I really like you. Then she touched her cheek. Second sister, ugly. Not ugly. When she was asleep, her fist fell open. Two candies, the two she'd saved for the sister who'd had a bitter life. I lay awake for a long time after that. Next morning, we 49:11 all went to town to see dad. Third aunt walked us to the village gate, suddenly the sweetest woman alive. On the road, my little brother pointed at a young man in a scholar's robe. That scholar, Tang, he passed the county exam at 18. He was fine. I'd seen better. A year ago at the temple, there had been a man with a face like a painting and a voice that made your ears warm. I'd seen him exactly twice. All I knew was his surname, Mang. His doctor was the one who'd saved Dad and me. Second sister, you used so many big words, said Dahoo, impressed. At the clinic, Grandma looked at my moles, then the birthmark, then grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Ura, my good, you came home. Dad just said, "Good, good," over and over. He didn't have more words. He didn't need them. Then I told them who'd sold me, and Grandma's face went to stone. I asked Dr. Shu to let me use his 50:11 mortar. I mixed a scar cream for SA, the one I'd learned the hard way. He watched with his arms folded. That girl's small. I won't let you hurt her. My sister won't hurt me, said my little sister. If this cream really takes the scar away, I said, would you buy the recipe? He narrowed his eyes. If it really works, I'll buy. Sly, he muttered when I'd gone. Fair. I took Grandma outside. Grandma, let's step out a minute. She stopped dead. Grandma, I'd said grandma. She had to look at the sky for a second. And then third uncle came puffing up the street with spinach in his teeth. Big news. Big. There's a vegetable on your tooth. Never mind the vegetable. I found out. Master Yu, the rich man in the market town. He's got a fortune teller. And the fortune teller says if he adopts a pair of boygirl twins under 10, a son of his own will follow. And guess who 51:12 promised him a pair? The ruin woman. The ruin woman are Dahu and Sya and Master Yu's friends with the county magistrate. We can't touch him. So that was why she'd planted the fake to get a foot in the door. To get the twins. They think nobody's home at the Lou family, said third uncle. They've been shearing this sheep so long. They've got a taste for wool. I didn't argue. I put the twins somewhere safe in town, hired a mule cart, and said, "Ruan village." Hurry, you want to fight the ruin family? You can't. Those two brothers are built like oxen. They hit hard. Let's go home and get eldest uncle and Danu. And where's the house? Down there. Third house, left, second door. The ruin house was twice the size of ours. Brick and tile on one side, a cart against the wall, a cow loing in the shed, thick quilts airing on a bamboo pole, fish in the water jar, dried meat hanging under the eaves. The two ruined brothers came out 52:14 of the main room, big and pink, with pastry crumbs on their lips. Every brick of this house was bought with the money they got for me. The old woman came out of the gate and almost walked into me. Well, well, it's the longlost Urya. finally come to see your grandmother? Empty-handed, I see. No manners. I walked past her like she was a post. Rude. Not even a greeting. Are you mute? I saw an axe leaning in the corner. I picked it up and tested the weight. Third uncle at the gate made a small noise and pulled his head in like a turtle. The old woman ran in front of me. I'm talking to you, you little quiet. The axe head stopped an inch from her nose. She sat down hard in the dirt. The brothers hurried over. Hrya, that's your grandma. Put that thing down. Come in. Have some water. Let's talk like family. Family. These two were my mother's little brothers. She'd raised them, carried them on her back, and 53:15 they'd helped their mother steal her newborn and sell it. What's the axe for? I said, "You'll see." I swung. The bamboo poles snapped. Every quilt hit the mud. I walked over them. Another swing. The water jar burst. The fish flopped. The water soaked the quilts. You're insane. You're insane. I kept walking. The chairs under the eaves, the winnowing baskets, the pickle jars. Every step left a wreck behind it. The brothers charged. I turned the axe on them. Who wants to be first? Put it down, you mad girl. Why? I heard that the year I was stolen, my grandma and my uncles came over here and gave you a beating and that was it. I think they did it wrong. They should have torn the whole house down so you couldn't sit fat on my sale money like a pair of prize pigs. I lifted the axe. So whatever they didn't finish 18 years ago, I'll finish today. I went into the kitchen. Crash 54:17 the cupboard. crash. Every pot, every bowl, every wine jar, the table in half. The old woman was slapping her thighs in the yard. Murder! She's wrecking everything. Somebody stop her. The brothers came back with a carrying pole and a hoe. As I stepped out, the older one swung the pole. I caught it in one hand and chopped it in two with the other. The younger one swung the hoe. I sidestepped and kicked his knee, and he went down flat. The older one lunged. The ax blade came to rest on his collar. Move, I said. Go on, try. I'm your uncle. You wouldn't dare kill your uncle. I put my foot on the younger brother's back as he tried to get up. Kill, please. I'm a nice girl. I don't kill people. But I could make sure you spend the rest of your life lying in bed. That's not killing. The old woman stopped crying. She ran out the gate screaming, "Help! Murder, help. She 55:17 knocked third uncle on his backside on her way out. He hid behind the gate post. The neighbors poured in. What's going on? Who are you? Who am I? My father is Lui, the Ruan family son-in-law. My mother is the Ruan family eldest daughter. I'm the Lou girl, their second daughter. They stopped. The sold one. Everyone in that village knew that story. So, you know what they did to me? I'm here to settle a family debt, a private matter. [clears throat] Do you want to get involved? Lou, girl, she's still your grandmother. Say sorry to your uncles and they'll forgive you. Me? Say sorry? Not killing them is me being generous. Either stay out of it or come and meet my axe. The old woman wailed. You're all ruins. Will you let some outsider come into our village and do this? That worked. Three men started toward me. Put the axe down, girl, or we'll stop being polite. Go ahead. I 56:18 kicked the older brother into them. They went down like Skittles. Then I walked into the main hall and kept going. Chop. Crash. Chop. The village head. The village heads here. I put the axe on my shoulder and strolled out. The village head was old and furious. What do you think you're doing? Is there nobody left in Ruan village that you can come here and run wild? Somebody whispered in his ear, "This is Lou Airby's girl, the one she sold." His anger shifted. He glared at the old woman. "That's on you." The younger brother staggered up, grabbed the hoe again, and swung it straight at my head. "I'll kill you, you ungrateful." Half a step to the side. "Didn't learn, did you?" The axe handle came down across his back. He went face first into the step and came up minus a tooth. The whole yard winced. Lou girl said the village head very stiff. I know you're angry, but look at this house. Ruined village won't let this go. I said 57:21 it's a private feud. Are you saying you want to make it a fight between villages? Her grandmother sold you. Yes. But your family came and beat her half to death for it. That settled it. And I promised the Lou family we'd keep her in line. Now you've attacked first. We'll be going to your family for damages. Good point. So tell me, village head, did you keep her in line? Of course. Then why is she trying to sell my little brother and sister? Silence. The kind you could hear. Our house is barely standing. Everybody here knows it, and she still won't stop. She wants to sell her own daughter's children twice. Village head, you kept her in line so well, she doubled down. I'm starting to think you were cheering her on. No. Now the villagers were scrambling. We didn't know. That's on her, not us. Selling your own grandchildren? Even a dog wouldn't. The old woman went white. How did I know? She hadn't told a soul. Not 58:22 even her own grandkids. It's a lie. She's framing me. Proof, said the village head. His voice had gone cold. Have you got proof? Of course. I held up a paper packet. pastries from the Lou Bakery in the market town. I found these in the main room. The buyer gave them to her to tempt the twins, but she didn't want to waste good pastries on my brother and sister, so her sons stayed home from the fields today and ate them. Their wives had just come back from the fields. They turned and looked at their husbands. You ate pastries and didn't share with your own kids. Lies. You brought those yourself to frame us. Before you call me a liar, wipe your mouths. Every eye in the yard went to their lips. Both brothers lifted their sleeves and wiped at the same time. That was the end of the argument. Also, I said, dropping the packet at the old woman's feet. Leu bakery stamps the date. That's today's date. Did you go to town today? No. Then who bought them for 59:23 you? Enough. The village head turned on the brothers. You've got arms and legs and a good house. Your sister raised you. You sold one of her children. And now you want to finish her off. Have you got hearts at all? They didn't look sorry. They'd been raised to think sisters existed to pay for brothers, and the rich man was rich. The twins would be living in silk. What was the harm? Can I go now? I asked. The village head looked at the wreckage. He wanted to ask for damages. He looked at the axe. He looked at his own villagers faces. He nodded. Go. I'll punish them. And don't spread this around. Our village has a name to keep. I said it was private from the start. You're the one who made it a village matter. Keep them away from my family and I'll keep my mouth shut. I walked out. The old woman screamed after me. I'll report you breaking into a house. Go ahead. Right now, the county magistrate had his own problems. That morning in town, I'd heard officials 1:00:25 from the capital had arrived at the prefecture. The Shu family would be exiled in 3 months, but the investigation had already started. The magistrate in Janon danced to the Shu family tune. Right now, he was busy burning his own paperwork. A family squabble was the last thing he'd touch. That's why I'd done it loudly. The whole district needed to know the Lou family weren't easy prey anymore. The plot's clock was ticking. Fine, I'd use it. On my way past, I crouched by the old woman and very quietly so only she could hear. Don't rush. Your hard times haven't started. Neither has my revenge. A smashed kitchen wasn't revenge. That was a warm-up. You shrew. She screamed at my back. No man will ever marry you. I'd never planned to marry. Not last life. Not this one. And San Ya and Dahoo. They'll never marry either because of you. She was going to go running to the rich man's people. I knew that. I'd just 1:01:27 get there first. Third uncle trotted after me like a duckling. I did shout, "Watch out! I didn't come in because you obviously had it handled and I'd only slow you down." I didn't say anything. That scared him more than shouting. "The market town?" I told the driver. "Town? You're going after? He's friends with the magistrate. You got into the ruined family, but you'll never get through the rich man's people gate. If you're scared, go home. Feed my chickens. He sulked. He stayed on the cart. He was terrified and dying to see what happened next. That's third uncle in one sentence. In town, I sat at a tea stall opposite the ugate. Third uncle sat opposite me, nodding off. How are you going to take on the rich man's people? Give them what they want. Late in the afternoon, a well-fed woman came out of the main gate and got into a sedan chair. Who's that? Madame Yu, the master's wife. At this hour, I dropped 1:02:29 some coins and followed. The sedan stopped at a little courtyard by the river. A man in towist robes opened the door, handsome in a pudding sort of way. So, this was the fortune teller, the one who' told the rich old master to adopt twins. I really wanted to roll up my sleeves and go straight in. Instead, I went over the wall. Third uncle stayed outside, staring at the empty spot where I'd been. Through a crack in the shutter, I learned three things very quickly. One, the rich man's wife and the fortune teller were very, very close. Two, she was a month along with his child. Three, that was the plan. Once the twins come, said the fortune teller, your husband thinks my prophecy worked. Then he trusts me with everything. You inside, me outside, and the whole you fortune is ours. The old woman promised them in 2 days, said the rich man's wife. She says they're half starved. They'll be happy with us. But hurry, I was sick this morning. My maid 1:03:31 said it was too many Hawthorns. Tomorrow he'll call a doctor. I'll give you charms to burn. Tell him they drive out evil spirits and make you dizzy. Come tomorrow morning yourself. Charming. I went back over the wall. Third uncle almost had a heart attack. The rich man's wife came out. I thought I'd die. Go home and don't forget my chickens. Chickens? Chickens? I'm going to eat your chickens. When he looked up, I was gone. I bought what I needed, took a room at an inn, and in the morning I came out as somebody else. gray Buddhist robes, an older face painted on, hair up under a cap. I looked holier than the fortune teller ever had. The rich man came out of his shop. I put my head down and walked straight into him. Watch where you're going. I pressed my palms together. Forgive me, benefactor. I was in a hurry. I saw a dark aura over the street and feared disaster. He was superstitious. He softened at once. No, 1:04:33 no, my fault, sister. Then wait. Dark aura. I looked at him, then gasped very gently. Oh, it's on you. On me, benefactor. Has something happened lately? Your brow is dark. You've been touched by a debt of fate. A great disaster is. I stopped. I sighed. I shook my head and turned to go. He blocked my way. Because nothing scares a superstitious man like half a sentence. Benefactor, I'm only passing through. It isn't my place. If the darkness came from this shop, I'd have stayed to protect the innocent, but it comes from you and from a debt of fate. To meal would go against heaven. Think of me as a fraud. Goodbye. He sent two servants to stop me. That's giving people what they want. Please, sister, if heaven sent you to me, how can it be against heaven? I sighed like a woman about to break a sacred vow. Write me a 1:05:34 character. He wrote one child. Of course, he did. Unlucky, I said. On the left, the sign for son. So this darkness is about your heirs. On the right, the last of the 12 branches. Cold, dark, the end of the line. And add a horse to it, and it becomes the word for terror. Whoever means you harm is tied to the horse, a horsear or a horse name. He went gray. It comes from the northwest near water. And look for a door number with a 1 4 6 10 or 12 in it. I looked above his head and flinched. Benefactor, it's growing. Somebody wants your whole fortune. Go northwest now while there's still time. Come with me, sister. Partly to keep an eye on me. I didn't blame him. northwest by water, the river where his trusted fortune teller lived. He was thinking, "Good. I'll ask the master if this nun is a fraud." Then a servant 1:06:34 said, "Isn't that madam sedan?" I stopped. "Wait, that sedan is full of darkness, too." "My wife is in danger." I let a long sad pause go by. "That sedan looks like the source," his face shut. "You must be mistaken, sister. I hope so, but I noticed he walked the long way round so the sedan bearers wouldn't see him, and I heard him thinking. His wife was born in the year of the horse. Then he saw the door number 36. He sent a servant over the wall. The servant came back down looking like he'd swallowed a frog, and whispered in his ear. The rich old master's eyes went huge. "You sure?" I tied up the maid at the gate. "Will you go in, sir?" Yes. He turned and gave me one long look. I pressed my palms together. Go in, benefactor. This is the source. I can do no more. There was a lot of crashing, some crying, a man begging. I found a nice shady rock and 1:07:36 sat down. It was very hot. I moved once into the shade. I'd moved twice when the gate opened. The rich man came out looking like a man whose house had fallen on him. He bowed to me deeply. Sister, I owe you everything. I've done nothing. Then I coughed, swayed, and spat blood neatly. I'd bought the little pouch in town that morning. Sister, the backlash, I whispered. I revealed heaven's secrets. To heal it, I must do good deeds. Feed the poor. Help the old and the young. He pressed two banknotes into my hands. Then do your good deeds with this. Is it enough? I pee. 100 tales. Enough. More than enough. I wanted to squeeze him harder, but he was a sharp merchant with one soft spot. And when that soft spot cooled down, he'd start to think squeeze too hard and he'd dig up the whole province to find me. Exactly right was a hundred. I refused 1:08:38 three times politely and took it on the fourth. Sister, please help me. Will I ever have a child? benefactor. What is meant for you will come. What isn't, you can't force. If you truly love children and treat them kindly and never use crooked means to hurt one, children will know your house is a good place to be born. I don't know a thing about fertility. I'm not a doctor, but it sounded holy. Your name, sister. Where can I find you? If fate wills it, we'll meet again. What I found out later, his wife and the fortune teller confessed everything inside an hour. Her maid, the sedan bearers, a steward, all bought, and the steward named an old woman from Ruin Village. The rich old master thought about what the nun had said about hurting children. Then he thought about the old woman who'd sold one grandchild and was trying to sell two more. So when the old woman came running to the rich man's people to complain that a mad girl had smashed her house, 1:09:39 she walked straight into it. The young men went to Ruan village and tore down half of her house, and the elder Ruan brother came home with a broken leg. She'd gone to the rich man's people to sell my brother and sister. The rich man's people came to her instead with hammers, half her roof. The other half was still standing for now. I washed off the old face and walked home with meat buns. I gave one to third uncle, who it turned out, had fed my chickens with his own chicken feed. He ate the bun and looked like a man who'd been paid in gold. Then I sent him to Ruan village to see what was left. At home, third aunt said my older sister had come by while we were out. Da. She'd swept the house and fed the chickens and left a basket. I lifted the cloth off it, a length of blue cotton, and under it peaches. My sister, I'd never met her, and she'd already brought me a gift. Third uncle came back the next day, glowing like a lamp. The rich man's people's steward 1:10:41 smashed the Ruan house flat, half of it, and broke the eldest Ruan's leg. Grandma came home from the clinic that same evening. She'd heard I'd split the ruin grandmother in two with an axe. She ran in, grabbed my arms, checked me all over. Then she saw I was fine and the twins were fine, and she sat down in the yard and cried. "My children," she said. "My children are all safe." I made her dinner. She ate every bite. After dinner, I sat Grandma down. "Grandma, how does this family make money?" She laughed like I'd told a joke. Three moo of land. They used to have eight before dad sold it bit by bit looking for me. Mom sewed, Dad used to carve, and they couldn't find a hundred copper coins in the whole house. What if we rent out the land and open a little business? A business needs money. What would we even sell? A skill. In my old life, I'd stood next to a man who couldn't be seen with anyone badly dressed. I'd learned to 1:11:41 make a plain woman look like a duchess in an hour. Hair, face, clothes, all of it. Ready-made clothes and makeup. We open a clothing shop in town. She stared at me. I could see her thinking, "This girl's been home 5 days and she wants to open a shop in the county town." What I didn't tell her was the other plan, the one under the shop. In 3 months, the Shoe family would be exiled, and there was a decent chance the plot would drag me along with them. Fine, I'd survive exile. But a year ago, I'd have walked away from it and never looked back. Now I had somewhere to come back to, so I needed a road back. In the book, a woman called Madame Deng, married into a wine family in this very county, was cousin to the wife of a judge in the capital. A judge who'd one day review the shoe case. If I could get close to Madame Deng, I'd have a door. I'd never needed a door before. Now I had a family. Grandma, let's open a clothing shop. 1:12:42 I'll explain the rest later. Then I asked about my sister. Grandma's face fell. She's three years older than you. Married two years ago to a man called Jang Shu in Diane village. A good, quiet boy. Always helped out when he visited, but no baby. 2 years and no baby. His family turned cold on her. She used to come home every month and a half. Now she barely comes and they call her back within the hour. She wiped her eyes. Last time I saw her, she was skin and bone. She looked 10 years older. If it goes on another year, the whole village will point at her. Grandma, babies take two. Maybe it's not Da. Maybe it's him. Impossible. Why? Look at the rich man. A wife and a whole row of concubines and not one child. Are all of them unlucky? And now his wife is expecting with somebody else. So clearly not her problem. Grandma smacked my arm. A girl your age talking like that have you no 1:13:44 shame. Grandma, I think you're focusing on the wrong part. The little man caught me in the yard afterwards with a little clay pot, holding it out with both hands like a holy relic. The scarc base. He'd brewed it himself exactly how I told him. And he'd stirred it for an hour. Second sister, is it right? Not finished yet. I have to add something. Leave the rest to me. Sa is going to be a beauty. He beamed like the sun had come out of his face. Next morning, Dad was well enough to come home, and third uncle somehow ended up on the trip. I paid Dr. Shu another eight tales. Third uncle watched the silver leave my hand with real pain. I bought the twins shoes and cloth. Then I helped Dad to the cart. He stopped halfway, staring down the street. Dad, what's wrong? It came out on its own the first time. behind me. Mom nearly dropped her bundle. Dad didn't even hear me. Oh yeah, that man. 1:14:44 Isn't that the doctor? I turned and looked and my stomach dropped. It was the traveling doctor from the temple. The one who'd patched up me and Dad a year ago. Dr. Xiao. He'd been sharp, funny, the kind of doctor who joked while he stitched. Now he was sitting in the street and a pack of kids were pushing him and laughing and spitting on him. and he was hiding his face and crying. Don't hit me. Don't eat me. I don't taste good. They snatched his flatbread. I'm hungry. Give it back, please. Dad tried to get off the cart. I pushed him back. I'll go. Stop that or I'll throw every one of you in the river. They took one look at my face and ran. I knelt. Dr. Xiao. Dr. Xiao. Nothing. I fetched a pastry from mom's basket, the one I'd bought for the twins, and held it out. He snatched it, ate half like a starving dog, stuffed the rest in his shirt, and ran. I chased him into an alley. He was pounding on a 1:15:46 gate. Open a yan. Open the door. A bad person's chasing me. She's going to kill me. I'm not a bad person. I The gate opened and there he was, the man from the temple. The one with the face like a painting and the voice that made your ears warm. Mr. Mang. The doctor dived under his arm and peered out at me from behind his sleeve. Mr. Mang recognized me at once. I saw it. Too late to run. Mr. Mang, it's been a long time. He smiled, nodded, and stepped aside. Please come in. inside. He gave the doctor a little hand sign, patted his head, and sent him into the house like you'd settle a child. Mr. Mang, what? He touched his throat, shook his head. He couldn't speak. That voice gone. A year ago, one of them was a brilliant doctor, and the other could have stepped out of a scroll painting. Now, one was simple and one was mute, and both of them were 1:16:47 thinner than me. He went inside and came back with paper and a brush. He wrote, "An accident. Why is Miss Shu here?" He didn't want to explain. "Good, neither did I. I had an accident, too. Mr. Mang, could you pretend you never saw me today?" He thought, then smiled and nodded and wrote. Then Miss Shu never saw us either. "Deal? If you two ever need help, tell me. I can't do much, but I'll try." He shook his head. "No, thank you." I got to the gate, then I turned back. I shouldn't have. Mr. Mang, if you're not happy, you don't have to keep smiling. That smile's a little fake. Then I ran. What I found out later, the gate shut and his smile slid off his face. He touched his own cheek. Everybody always said his smile was like spring sunshine. He looked at the doctor who was eating his half pastry on the step. The doctor thought about it, then nodded very firmly. My silent friend 1:17:49 went inside without a word. On the cart, Dad asked a hundred questions. "He's fine," I said. "Someone's looking after him." "A promise is a promise." We got home at dusk. Third uncle, under my eye, carried dad off the cart on his back without being asked. Grandma watched him with deep suspicion. "What's Aria got on him?" That night, Mom stood in the kitchen beside Grandma, quiet, and I knew something had changed. She'd heard about the twins. From that night on, she told me later, she had no mother's family, only this one. Dad sat up in bed with a bowl of noodles and watched all of us eating at once. Grandma, mom, the twins, me. He didn't say anything. He just looked. All of us in one room, whole. The next day was the family gathering so everyone could meet the lost daughter. Eldest Aunt Lee came into the kitchen, took one look around, and said loudly, "Arya's not helping, hiding while her family cooks for guests. A 1:18:51 girl mustn't be lazy. Grandma didn't even turn around." "Who's lazy? If you don't want to work, go home." I told ya to stay out of the kitchen. You have a problem? Aunt Lee did not have a problem. The cousins piled in. Lanoa, my age. Ernu, 10. Dabao and little Bioa three clinging to third aunt's skirt. The little one dragged Lanoa over. My second sister's home. We're so happy I laugh in my sleep. Lana looked at me, then down at her own dress and went a bit quiet. The snack plate was sour wild fruit. Bioa took one bite and wailed. Where's the cake? Where's the candy? Be grateful there's food. His third aunt. Look at the state of your second uncle's house. I'll make something better than cake, I said. I promise you've never had it. In the kitchen, Aunt Lee sniffed. A girl has to cook, you know, or nobody will marry her. And my quiet little mother, who apologized to door frames, 1:19:52 said, "My ya cooks wonderfully, better than all of us." I'd never cooked for her in my life. She just decided. I took a handful of dried corn, a spoon of oil, and a lid. Everyone watched like I was about to poison them. Then the pot started popping. Pop pop pop like firecrackers. Dahoo jumped a foot. I tipped out a white cloud and shook sugar over it. It's called popcorn. The kids put it in their mouths and the kitchen went silent except for crunching. Grandma looked straight at Aunt Lee. Who said Arya can't cook? Which of you can do that? Dao finished his share in about 4 seconds. He looked at me, then at the bowl, then at me. Can you make me more? Nope. Why? Because you bullied Dahoo and SA. He threw himself on the floor and screamed, kicking, swearing at me. Words a boy his age shouldn't know. Third aunt rushed over to hush him. Let him cry. I 1:20:54 said he's eight. Sonia's younger and she cuts pig grass everyday. Dahoo's younger and he carries firewood. Daba, you have three choices. Keep crying and get nothing. go home or think about what you did. He ran out the door. He came back an hour later holding five candied fruits in his fist. Sticky, old. He'd been saving them forever. He gave them to the twins one by one. These are mine. I didn't even eat them. I'm sharing and I won't pick on them anymore. So now, can you make me something? If you keep your word. 15 minutes later, the three of them were chasing each other around the yard, shrieking. Grandma came out of the kitchen, saw it, and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Then the gate opened, and big sister walked in. She looked like me. That's the first thing. The nose, the eyes. Then everything else hit. She was so thin, her cheekbones looked sharp. Her hands were cracked. She was 21 and she looked 30. Grandma grabbed 1:21:57 her. Our area's home safe. The family's back together. Nobody's leaving again. My big sister looked at me. I'm back, I said. Big sister. I hugged her. Under my hands, there was almost nothing, just bones. They dug into my palms. At the table, she ate only vegetables, a spoonful at a time. And before the afternoon was out, she was standing up. I promised my mother-in-law I'd be home early. It wouldn't look right to stay. Stay one night. I can't. When she'd gone, Grandma sat looking at the gate. I want to keep her, too, but she's like that. I don't want to make it harder for her. I didn't say anything, but I'd already decided she was coming home. The next week was all business. The broker found me a shop on Ningshu Street, the best street in town. The shop had been a rouge and powder shop belonging to the Yu family. The rich man's wife was unwell, the broker said. She'd been 1:22:58 unwell since about the day I'd spat fake blood on her husband. Small world, very small, very guilty world. The youth steward wanted five tales a month. I said I loved the place. Then I mentioned I was from Shangshi. He went still. Shangshi? Do you know a pair of Lu twins there? Yes. And if you're after my family, I'm not renting. He held up both hands. Suddenly he remembered that the going rate around here was more like three tales. And of course, Miss Lou was welcome to haggle. If I pay 6 months upfront, I said, "Could we do two tales?" Done. Instantly, no pause at all. Damn, I'd started too high. What I found out later, the rich old master had told his steward that if anyone from the twins family ever came asking, give them a good price, good deeds for the nuns backlash. 12 tales for half a year, plus a five-tail deposit. The steward threw 1:23:59 in 20 odd boxes of leftover rouge and powder for free. Then I went to the livestock market and bought a mule and a cart for 12 tales. Bought, not rented. I drove it into Shangshi. The women at the well were waiting. If you ask me, the Lou family should thank that Ruan woman. If she hadn't sold that girl to rich people, they'd never be living like this. I stopped the mule. Excuse me. You want to say that to my face? Would you like me to come round and smash your place, too? Silence. And this cart isn't rented. It's mine. If that bothers you, swallow it. Third uncle came sprinting up the lane. Hrya, you bought a mule. This is yours. Where are you parking it? I parked it in his yard. He looked at that mule like it was a new son. At home, eldest uncle frowned at the plan. Herbai. A shop's not easy. Think it through. I know, said Dad. Ya has a skill. You've never been past the county 1:25:00 town, Grandma told her eldest son. And you know less than Urya does about anything. Shut up. He shut up. I gave mom the patterns for the sample dresses and opened the rouge boxes on the bed. Everyone take some. Mom picked up a little pot of red and turned it over in her fingers. "Your father bought me rouge once," she said softly. "The year after we married, it was the only one I ever had." "Then her face closed. My mother came by 2 days later and took it." "Of course she did, Mom. We sell beauty. If we don't make ourselves pretty, why would a customer believe we can make her pretty? Wear it. She held that pot like it was made of gold. Dad had gone quiet. Everyone had a job but him. He was lying there with his legs strapped, feeling like a sack of rice, so I went into his room. Dad, I need mannequins, wooden figures to hang dresses on, and hangers. Lots of hangers. Can you make them? He sat 1:26:00 straight up. I can make anything. You'll have them in no time. He sent me to Carpenter Jenang on East Gate Street, number 57, his oldest friend. Then he looked at me very seriously. And from now on, don't let anyone call you. Not in town. People hear second girl, and look down on you. Use your real name, Shuyu, or Au. Grandma slapped the table. Au it is. I'll tell the others. So that's what they call me now. Au. Outside, Dao was trying to ride the mule and my little brother was holding the halter like a tiny policeman. Dao, stop crying. You can't ride a mule. You'll get hurt. Be good. You have to call me big brother. Dahu, 5 years old and dead serious. That boy needed school. Whatever else we skimped on, it wasn't going to be that. Next morning, Danu turned up at the gate. Hey, you. Dad says I should come. I'm a man. I'm 1:27:00 strong. across the lane. Third uncle muttered that eldest brother was a sly one, sending his son to suck up now the second branch was rising. Carpenter Zang was honest. His wife was thrilled with the work. And by sunset, we had a plan. Big windows on the street side so people could see the clothes from outside, a fitting room out back, a bunk bed for whoever stayed overnight, and my cousin was already sweeping the shop without being asked. Dad hadn't lied. Zang was a good man. Walking back to the shop that evening, I turned the corner onto Ningshu Street and stopped. Two men were standing on the corner. One was Mr. Mang. The other I'd never met, but I'd heard him described a dozen times. Broad, quiet, honest face. Ciang Shu, Da's husband. What were those two doing together? Jang Shu smiled at the mute gentleman and walked off. Mr. Mang turned his head and his eyes landed right on me. So much for pretending we 1:28:01 never met. You know that man? He looked confused. I pointed after Jang Shu. He shook his head and smiled. Then he seemed to remember what I'd said about his smile and wiped it off his face very deliberately, like a man taking off a hat. He mouthed two words. Directions? You asked him for directions? He shook his head. He asked you? He nodded. I frowned. Grandma said, "My brother-in-law came to town every slack season to work odd jobs. He'd been doing it for years. He knew this town like his own yard. Why would he ask a stranger, an outoftowner, the way?" Something about that man felt wrong, like a smell you can't place. A hand waved in front of my face. "My silent friend looking at me like I'd gone somewhere. I'm opening a clothing shop on Ningshu Street," I said. "If you need anything, come and find me." He nodded and walked away. I watched him go. Look at that. A face 1:29:01 like that. And he can't speak. What a waste. Daniel wanted to move into the shop's back room to help with the building work. Fine by me. Whether Aunt Lee would let him was another matter. On the cart home, I closed my eyes and I saw Jang Shu<unk>s face. I sat up. Danu, let's<unk> go to Dean village to see Da. He brightened. Good. Let the Jang see we're doing well now. They'll treat her better. Danu, quiet, but nothing gets past him. We left the cart at the bridge and walked in. I saw her first down at the stream scrubbing the last of a whole family's laundry. My big cousin waved and shouted. She didn't hear over the water. She picked up her basket and went, and by the time we found the Jeang house, she was already inside. I raised my hand to knock and heard her voice through the gate. small and scared. Big sister-in-law, didn't you leave me any food? Oh, third sister-in-law, listen to 1:30:02 you. It's way past dinner. We thought you'd eaten out. Food would have gone off. But I haven't eaten all day. No. You had peaches to send home to your family and a nice length of cloth for your sister. You can't be that hungry. Maybe she's hiding something. Let's search her. The Jeang wall was low. I stood on a rock and looked over. Two women in the yard were pinching her, searching her, twisting the skin on her arms while they laughed, pulling her hair like it was a game. You're a Jeang now. Your nephews have never even tasted a peach, and you give them to your own family. I don't have anything, my sister whispered. I don't have anything. I pried a lump of dirt off the wall top. Danu, who'd climbed up beside me, saw my face and went pale. Then an old woman came out of the house. What's all the noise? The two sisters-in-law let go and turned sweet. Mom, she came home and started shouting at us about food. The 1:31:02 old woman's eyes went to Dia. You've got the nerve to ask. A hen that won't lay once feeding. Get in there and wash the bowls. Then strip that corn. Then fill the water jar. Don't think about sleeping until it's done. Big sister ducked her head and ran to the kitchen. The old woman spat after her. I climbed down. My cousin was already marching for the gate, fists clenched. We'll take her home right now. I walked the other way. Au, are we getting the others? There are three sons in there. She said she hasn't eaten all day. He stopped dead. Then he started walking faster than me. At the cart, I didn't get in. I took out a bundle and walked back toward the village. What's that for? Taking her out of there might take a while. She should eat first. Just us two. Just us two. Inside the Jang yard, my big sister was sitting against the wall, stripping corn. The sisters-in-law were cracking melon seeds and flicking the shells at 1:32:03 her. Then the boys joined in. Three little nephews lined up throwing shells at her head, laughing. When she lifted her hand to cover her face, they whined. Third aunt, put your hand down. We can't aim. Put your hand down, said the old woman. They're playing with you. Too good to play with children now. Mom, I have work. I don't have time to talking back. The old woman picked up an ear of corn and swung it. It hit Dia's arm. She raised it for a second swing. Bang. I kicked the gate in. The first thing I saw was my sister curled up in the corner, melon shells in her hair. I took a long breath and walked in. Who are you? Who said you could kick my gate? I didn't answer. No men in the yard. Inside somewhere or out? My sister looked up. Her face went white. She stood too fast and swayed. Are you dou? What are you doing here? The old woman's 1:33:03 eyes flicked from my face to my big cousin. She worked it out. Her voice went sticky. Oh, it's Da's little sister. So late. You should have said. I sat Dia down on a stool. I unwrapped the bundle in her lap. Meat buns, a bunch of grapes, two big chicken drumsticks. "Eat," I said softly. "You'll need your strength. Leave the rest to me and Danu." She stared at the food. Her stomach growled so loud the chickens looked up. "Au, why did you?" I put a bun in her hand. "Eat." The old woman bustled over. Oh, you shouldn't have. So much daughters, take all this inside. The sisters-in-law were already dividing it up with their eyes. Grandma, I want the drumstick, yelled one of the boys. I held the bun to Big sister's mouth. Eat or my feelings will be hurt. She bit. The bun was cold. She looked like she'd bitten into heaven. She almost cried. 1:34:04 The old woman couldn't stand it. She reached over. One's enough. We'll put the rest away for later. I stood up in front of her. Danu, stay here. Don't let anybody without a face come near this food. My sister hasn't eaten all day. Anyone who bothers her, grown up or kid, you hit them. Who are you calling faceless? That's an ugly thing to say. I picked up a stick from the corner and handed it to Danu over my shoulder without looking. Then I rolled my sleeves up. You're family by marriage. So, I'm sure you heard what happened at Ruin Village a little while ago. My grandmother's house. The old woman took a step back. They'd heard. Of course, they'd heard. They just hadn't believed it. A girl smashing up a house with two big men in it. People said she'd split the old woman in half. Ridiculous. And then the rich man's people had come and torn half the house down, and that story had swallowed mine. What do you mean by that? Nothing. I just want you to know 1:35:06 nobody pushes the Lou family around anymore. I kicked the nearest sister-in-law in the stomach. She folded up on the ground. The old woman screamed for her men. Husband, sons, murder. Three men came running out of the house. No, that man still in town. Who did this? That little witch. Dia's sister. What kind of family raises daughters like this? One can't lay an egg and the other's a wild. I already had her wrist. I twisted it behind her, put my foot on her backside, and sent her into her husband. They went down in a heap. The two sons charged me. You'll hit our parents. Au, I'll help. No, watch my sister. Da was already running at me to get between me and two grown men. My cousin caught her. When she looked up, one brother was on his knees and the other was on his back. The second sister-in-law was on the ground holding her hair. They got up. They grabbed 1:36:08 tools. They came again. Left, right, a sweep, a chop to the wrist, down again. Then I walked over to the three little boys cowering against the wall. Who threw shells at my sister's head? All three pointed at their aunt instantly, unanimously. Do you play like that a lot, throwing things at her? Yes, said the smallest. Third aunt always plays with us. Always. I looked at my big sister. She was standing behind Danu and tears were running down her face. She didn't wipe them. Her sister was standing between her and that family. For the first time in 2 years, she wasn't facing them alone. I put a candy in her mouth. The first day I came home, I gave Sea some candy. She and Dahoo sat on the step deciding to save one for you. They said, "If big sister eats candy, her life won't be bitter anymore." She threw her arms around me and howled. "Da," said my big cousin, eyes red. "I'm useless. I should have 1:37:09 come sooner." Outside, somebody was banging on the broken gate. "Auntie Gooey, what's going on? Are you beating your third daughter-in-law again?" "Again?" Even the neighbors knew. "Help!" shrieked the old woman. Murder. I didn't stop her. I took a box of rouge out of my bag, bright red. I dipped my finger and painted Da's temple, the corner of her mouth, the cracks around her fingernails. A you, what are you doing, Du? Carry her out on your back. Big sister, you fainted. Don't move. Don't speak. Whatever happens. I left the melon shells in her hair. My cousin looked from the rouge to the blood and his eyelid twitched. Then I rubbed my eyes once and burst into tears. One second. Instant, a professional skill. The gate flew open. The neighbors saw a girl hanging limp over Danu's back with red all down her face. What happened? What happened? This family isn't human. 1:38:10 My voice cracked and soared. My sister slaves for them from dawn to dark. They don't feed her. They beat her. They beat her till she coughed blood and threw her in the woodshed. This is attempted murder. If I hadn't come today to bring her a gift, I'd never have known. I turned back to the yard. I only gave you a little beating. If my sister didn't need a doctor, I'd tear this house down like I did the ruin families. Pray she's all right. The neighbors looked past me. The whole Jang family was lying on the ground, groaning. Let us through. I have to get her to a doctor. I stood close beside my big cousin, so nobody behind could see her face clearly, only the red on her fingers. What I found out later, the Jeangs howled that it was all fake, that the girl did all the hitting. The neighbors had just seen my sister carried out with her head bleeding, and the village doctor, who only knew scrapes, poked the jeangs and declared nothing was wrong with any of them. They were faking. So the whole village scolded them and went home. In the cart, 1:39:13 I wiped the rouge off big sister's face and gave her soy milk. I'd wanted cow's milk for my little sister's bones. Dr. Shu said that was why she kept falling. Couldn't find any. Soy would do. She reached up to brush the shells from her hair. I caught her hand. Not yet. Big sister, what now? After today, if you go back, they'll take every bit of it out on you. Double. She shivered. Then where would I go? Home. Divorce Jeang Shu and come home. Dan Yu yanked the res so hard the mule nearly sat down. Divorce. Nobody gets divorced. Theangs would never agree and she'd be pointed at for the rest of her life. Do you think she'll stay alive if she goes back? He didn't answer. If divorce was impossible, I could always try widowhood. I didn't say that out loud. My cousin looked at my face and decided not to ask. They could split off from the family. He said, "Live in Shani near 1:40:13 us. The Jeangs are vicious, but Jang Shu's all right." All right, big sister. Does Zang Shu treat you well? He's all right. When he's home, he stops them picking on me. When he was home, which was never. That's it. Does he give you any of his wages? Does he ever bring you something to eat? Buy you one piece of cloth, take you to town once? She shook her head slowly. He says we haven't split from his parents, so the money goes to his mother. He says if he hands over every coin, they'll be nicer to me since I can't give them a grandson. He says he works so hard he won't even buy himself plain noodles. Just drinks water when he's hungry. He says when I have a baby, then he'll buy me cloth and take me to town. Du's knuckles went white on the rains. He worked odd jobs, too. Bosses slipped you a few extra coins. He gave most to his mother and kept a few back to buy his fianceé a hairpin. Drinks water when he's hungry. The model 1:41:13 husband was built like a barn door. 2 years. Everything was her fault. No clothes, no money, no town, being beaten, being starved, all because she hadn't given him a son. That man was an artist. Divorce then, or worse, one or the other. At home, third uncle came running for the mule and saw Dia's face and stopped grinning. Mom, brother, something's happened to Dia. I told the family everything, the pinching, the shells, the corn cob. Grandma held my big sister's arms, the bruises up and down them, and wept so hard she nearly fainted. Dad's jaw was shaking. Dahoo ran for the door. I'll get them for her. Eldest uncle caught him by the collar in the doorway. She's not going back, said Grandma. Let Zong Shu live his own life. Then let her divorce him, I said. The room went dead quiet. Nobody had ever thought of it. Aunt Lee and Third Aunt 1:42:14 traded a look. Diaz had it hard, said Third Aunt slowly. But a divorce, it sounds so bad. Aunt Lee went further. And what about the other girls? a divorced woman in the house. Lana, Bio, and Au, and SA most of all. Who's going to marry them then? My sister shot to her feet. I won't. I won't divorce. Don't make me. Her sister was at the age for matchmaking. She'd die before she ruined that. It's not her shame. It's theirs. We're asking for it, so everyone knows whose fault. I said I won't. She ran into the bedroom and shut the door. I turned and looked at Aunt Lee. She shuffled behind her husband. That was the closest I came to losing her. One sentence from Aunt Lee, and my sister was ready to walk back into that yard. Next day, eldest uncle took third uncle and my big cousin and some village boys to Diane to settle accounts. I took big sister to town. I showed her the shop. 1:43:15 Carpenter was knocking out the wall for the windows. Look, we're opening a shop. Things are only going to get better. Live here in town. If people talk, we'll open in the prefecture, in the capital, and when we're doing well, the matchmakers will be lining up. You can't drag us down. She walked around the shop slowly, and I watched it go the wrong way in her head. A shop needs a good name, especially now. She couldn't be the stain on it, so I took her to the best clinic in town. There was something else I wanted checked. the thing that was eating her alive, whether she could have a child at all. Doctor Who was old and calm and had seen everything. He felt her pulse. Weak blood, cold stomach, not enough sleep. You've run yourself into the ground. He wrote a prescription. 2 weeks, no heavy work. Doctor, I said, "Can she have children?" He took her pulse again. He looked up at me with an odd expression. some coldness. Nothing that food and rest 1:44:17 won't fix. There's nothing wrong with her. Nothing wrong with her. Two years of being called a barren hen. And there was nothing wrong with her. I got her out of there, took her to Dr. Shu's back room, shut the door, and sat in front of her. Big sister, I'm going to ask you some questions. Just answer. You're scaring me. I asked her about her marriage carefully. And after a while, it all came out in little pieces. her face going redder and redder. My brother-in-law had never once been a husband to her. Two years, not once. He slept on the bench by the door. He said he snored. He said she was tired. He said a decent man didn't bother a tired wife and she thought he was being kind. She didn't know any better. The night before her wedding, mom had sat down to tell her what being a wife meant. and Granny Ruan had turned up uninvited and screamed at the gate for hours about not being told her granddaughter was getting married. By the time they got rid of her, it was late. Mom just said, "Jang 1:45:19 Shu will know." And Jang Shu did know. That was the point. 2 years. 2 years of, "It's your fault there's no baby." While he made sure there couldn't be one. "Au," she whispered. "Is something wrong with him?" "Yes," I said. Something is very wrong with him. I told her the truth, all of it, gently. And I watched her face go from red to white and then start to shake. Not a little, her whole body. Then I It was never me. But why? What does he get? He said he wanted children. He let his whole family call me barren. He let the village laugh at me. He never said one word. Why? Either something was wrong with him or he had a reason to want a wife who'd never ask questions. I didn't like the second one at all. Big sister, you still have us. Nobody's touching you again. She grabbed me and broke. I you. It's been so hard. I've stood at that stream so many times. 1:46:22 I wanted to just walk in. I held her and didn't say anything for a long time. My eyes burned. that man. I was going to make him wish he'd never learned to smile. On the road home, I asked her again, "Do you want the divorce now?" She looked at the fields going by. She breathed like the air didn't hurt anymore. "Yes," she said. "I'll divorce him." I looked at her, and for the first time, there was light in her eyes. At home, third uncle was waiting with a full report. The Jang men had hidden, and the old woman and her daughters-in-law had screamed so much filth at the Lumen that they'd had to retreat. Third uncle had screamed back alone, outnumbered, proud of it. Zang Shu wasn't there, still in town. And the old woman says she'll tell him nothing. She says Da can stay gone. She's going to make him divorce her. Third, growled eldest uncle, glancing at my big sister. But my sister just stood up calm. I'll 1:47:24 go help mom with the sewing and went. I waited until the uncles had gone. Third uncle could keep a secret for about half a day and I wanted Jang Shu blind. Then after dinner with the whole family in the main room, I told them. I didn't send the twins out. One day someone might try something like this on them. They should know what a liar looks like. Mom grabbed Da's hands. Is it true? He never big sister shook her head. Grandma pulled her into the bedroom and shut the door. A while later, they came out and Grandma's legs went. I caught her. Grandma, easy. Easy. How can I be easy? My good da. They used her like that and laughed at us. That animal. Two years she carried that shame. Dad grabbed a stick, leg, and all and got up off the bed. Dad, dad, stop. He couldn't stop. One daughter starved, one daughter sold, two little ones in rags. All his fault. 1:48:24 He was going to beat the model husband to death. Dad, this is actually good news for her. That stopped him. Jeang Shu is the one at fault. She has to leave him now. But if we expose him, nobody blames her. Everyone feels sorry for her. And one day, if she wants to marry again, she can. Better than dad hobbling to Diane with a stick and getting beaten. They all looked at me and without anybody saying it, the decision got made. Au handles it. Everybody else acts like they know nothing. The next morning I went across the lane. Third uncle met me at his gate looking worried. The mule's fine, fed and watered and in great spirits. I came to see you, not the mule. Was he a mule? Don't answer that. Third aunt was washing bowls in the kitchen with her neck stretched out the window like a goose. I took third uncle to the far side of the cart. Do you know where Bjang Shu works in town? How would I know that? Find out. Then follow him. 1:49:26 Where he goes, who he sees. His eyes lit up like I'd handed him a festival. You're going after the Jeangs. But why follow Jeang Shu? Jeang Shu's all right. It's the rest of them. I have my reasons. only town's a long way on two legs. From Diane to town and back, a man gets so tired his eyes drifted to the mule. Take the cart tomorrow. He nearly kissed the mule. That night he got up twice to feed it. In the morning he wiped down the cart with his own sleeve and drove off looking like a man who owned the county. The second he was gone, third aunt came out drying her hands. What did she want? The Jeangs are finished. he told her, very mysterious. Au is going to get even for Dia. Get even? She's young and stupid. She'll make it worse for Da when she goes back. Third aunt sniffed. Let her make a mess. We<unk>ll see how she cleans it up. He came back just afternoon. Not glowing, wilted. I was helping mom cut the silk. 1:50:29 Mom had turned my drawings into patterns in 2 days and was handling the expensive fabric like it was made of eggshell. She'd washed her hands four times. Hey, you. I'm back. Come out. Mom's scissors jerked. I caught her hand before she cut the wrong line. It's fine, Mom. Slow. She looked like she wanted to go out and strangle him in the yard. He pulled me to the wall. Au, I can't find him. Jang Shu vanished. Vanished. The Ciang neighbors said he's working at Master Pooh in town. I went straight there. Master Pooh's man says, "Sure. They hired five or six fellows to haul goods to the farm days ago. Finished, paid, sent home." Days ago. So, he'd finished the job and stayed in town. And I'd seen him myself asking a stranger for directions. Lend me the card again tomorrow. I've got friends in town. Loads of friends. I'll find him. Good. I'm going to town tomorrow, too. We'll 1:51:30 go together. I didn't tell my big sister. At the shop, carpenter had nearly finished the fitting room. Then one of his helpers came in. Miss Louu, there's a fancy gentleman outside. He won't come in. Just smiles and shakes his head when you talk to him. Mr. Mang. I took him to the back. He mimed writing. All I had was the rough paper and charcoal Jenang used for measurements. He looked at the charcoal stick like I'd offered him a dead fish. Then he took it. His fingers went black at once. He sighed through his nose and wrote, "The man who asked me for directions." "You know him?" "Yes." "You saw him again?" He nodded. "Where? What was he doing?" He wrote, "Outside my gate. Every time I go out these last two days, he is crouching by the wall, watching me." He paused, then added two words very eagerly. I stared at that. A week ago, I'd have needed a minute, but I just learned that my brother-in-law 1:52:31 had shared a roof with my sister for two years and never once been her husband. So, I got it in about half a second. I looked at the mute gentleman, a face like that. In my old life, I'd seen every famous face on every screen, and I'd still never seen a better one. That man had spent his whole life in one little county. He wasn't asking for directions. He was finding an excuse to stand close. And he'd finished his job days ago and stayed in town. That garbage, I said. That two-faced, rotten, pig-hearted lump of nothing. How has heaven not dropped a tree on him yet? Mr. Mang looked up at me very calm. Sorry. Got a bit worked up. Here's the thing. I don't care who anybody loves. Men, women, it's none of my business. But if you love men, go and love men. Find a way. Don't drag an innocent girl into it. Don't marry her so your mother has somebody to blame. Don't let her be starved and beaten and called barren for 1:53:32 2 years while you hide behind her skirt. That's not love. That's using a person as a wall. Thank you for telling me. I'll deal with it. He won't bother you again. He wrote, "What is he to you? It was all coming out soon anyway. My brother-in-law." He went still for a long moment. Then he wrote, "What do you want to do? I can help." "Why?" He wrote, "He disgusts me." "Fair. I want my sister divorced and I want him exposed so everyone knows whose fault it was. Any ideas," he thought. He must have a place in town. Find it first. "And probably a partner. He's been working in town for years and going home as little as he can. I bet he's got a whole second life here." At his age, the partner is likely married, too. So, there might be another girl, another one like my sister. His face went cold. He wrote, "I'll find the house and the man. You'll hear by evening." Then he burned 1:54:33 the paper in the stove. He was halfway out the door when I said, "Mr. Mang, do you have any sleeping powder? Just enough to knock out a cat. No pressure." He reached into his belt, tipped a third of a packet into a twist of paper, and handed it over without a word. Working with competent people is a joy. Third uncle came back dripping with sweat. Au, I still can't find him. You think he's dead? Forget it. You've worked hard. Go inside and have some water. I wasn't being nice to him. I was being nice to the mule. He looked at me with deep suspicion. Was that sarcasm? Then I darkened my face, changed into old clothes, and went to find the clinic where Jeang Shu used to take Da, the cheap one. A doctor who couldn't tell my sister was healthy after 2 years was either a fool or paid. Possibly both. Dr. Guo had a simple system. Anyone really sick, he sent away. Anyone with a cold, he sold his family secret 1:55:35 ointment. 15 coppers a jar. I sat down and croked. My throat hurts. My mother says it's the heat. A little heat in the blood, he said after feeling my pulse for about 1 second. It'll pass in a month or two or my ointment will clear it right up. I'll take it. On the way out, a white cat wandered in and wound round my ankles. Nobody's cat. Fancy that? I bent to pet it. The jar fell out of my sleeve and the lid popped off and the cat pounced on it and started licking. No, my medicine. The patient grabbed the cat by the scruff. It went limp in his hand, out cold, like it had dropped dead. I screamed. It ate his ointment and died. Your medicine's poison. You're selling poison to sick people. The whole waiting room exploded. People who'd already paid grabbed their money back. Somebody flipped his table. I snatched my 15 coppers, scooped up the dead cat, and sobbed my way out the door. I have to find its owner, and 1:56:37 apologize. The cat was a stray. I'd fed fish flakes all the way to that street. I'd put fish flakes in the ointment and a pinch of Mr. Mang's powder. I took her straight to an animal doctor. Under the dust, she was snow white. She'd earned her keep. I decided to keep her. At sunset, my silent friend came to the shop with his own brush and ink. A silent comment on my charcoal. He wrote, "Jang Shu lives at number 14 Linguay Lane. The partner is Joe Jen. The house belonged to Jojan's uncle who died last year. A few months ago, Jojan married a girl from a decent family. Birds of a feather. I wrote it down in my head under garbage. Pair of. Shall we go and look tonight? We went over the back wall after dark. He went up without touching anything. I needed a rock. I was a little jealous. Zhao Jan hadn't gone home to his wife. He was right there in the lit room with the model husband. We crouched under the window and listened. 1:57:37 I'll spare you most of it. I needed to look at Mr. Mang's face for a minute afterwards just to rinse out my eyes, but some of it I'll tell you because Joan said, "This mute you keep going on about. Is he really that handsome?" I looked at the mute gentleman. He'd gone very, very still. You've no idea. I've been watching him for days. The temperature around Mr. Mang dropped about 10°. I put my hand on his calm. They're ants. We<unk>ll step on them later. He smiled at me. A real fake smile this time. Terrifying. Then they started talking about their wives. You've been married months, said Jang Shu. Your wife's not like my idiot. She'll start asking questions. I can't stand being near her. If only she were as easy to fool as yours. She isn't. Di took me ages to find. He sounded proud. nobody to stand up for her. Her father ruined himself hunting for a lost daughter and then smashed his leg. Her 1:58:38 mother's a mouse with a rotten family. The little ones are tiny. The relatives stopped talking to them after he borrowed money from all of them. And Da will work herself to death and never complain. You won't find another fool like that anywhere. This time it was my silent friend who reached over and covered my ears. I smiled. I'm fine. I wasn't. Pity her sister came back, said my brother-in-law. That one's trouble. I'll have to go home for a while. You sort your wife out. We left the way we came. At his house, he wrote, "What now?" His wife's still untouched by any of this. Good. Then I don't have to hold back. When? Tomorrow. He went into the next room and came back with a small bottle. I pulled the stopper and leaned in to sniff. His hand came down over the top of it and my nose nearly hit his knuckles. What is it? He looked away. Sleep, he mouthed, then wrote it. Strong. One cup and they won't wake 1:59:39 until noon. Put it in their wine. They wake up locked in together in the middle of town with half the street watching. He nodded. I'll bring the street. He gave me the spare room and went to share a bed with the mad doctor. I barricaded the door and slept like a stone. What I found out later, the doctor rolled over in his sleep and threw an arm across Mr. Mang. The mute gentleman shoved him off the bed so hard he hit the wall. What's wrong with you? Mr. Mang just held up a hand. Sorry, he'd had a very bad evening. At first light, I slipped out. That man was already back crouching by my silent friend's wall, waiting for a glimpse. Mr. Mang didn't come out. Jang Shu gave up and went home to his love nest. I dosed the wine an hour later. Then I collected third uncle and Danu. Let's go look for Jeang Shu. Third uncle was delighted. Au was being so agreeable these days. Was she finally showing her 2:00:39 uncle some respect? I parked the cart near the city gate and made them walk. Third uncle complained for three streets. Then we heard a crowd. Number 14, Lingshu Lane. Go find out what's happening. I told third uncle. He was in that crowd like a rat into a pantry. What's going on? What happened? Big trouble. You know the Weey family, Westside. Five brothers, three cousins, all boys, and finally one girl. She got married a few months ago. She stayed at her mother's last night. And this morning, somebody stole her purse. So off she goes with her brothers after the thief. The mute gentleman's work. He'd made sure there was a thief. He'd made sure the thief ran this way. They chased him here to this house. Turns out it's her husband's house. She's got a key. So, she opens up and her brothers surround the place. And inside, guess who's sleeping it off, half-dressed, wrapped around each other in a room full of empty wine jars. Her husband with 2:01:41 some woman. Her husband, said the gossip with enormous satisfaction. With another man. Third uncle's mouth fell open. The way boys nearly beat the both of them to death and the girl says they've been married months and he's never even he's never been a husband to her. Can you imagine? Third uncle saw me behind him and shut his mouth so fast his teeth clicked. Who's the other man? I asked. No idea. Everyone was looking at Joe Jen. I'll look. Third uncle burrowed through the crowd backside first. He reached the front. He saw two men kneeling in the main room with bruised faces, shirts half off, trying to make themselves very small. One of them was the model husband. Third uncle rubbed his eyes with both fists and looked again. Then a big shape shoved past him. My cousin, eyes read. He went straight for Shu and started swinging. The way brothers grabbed him. Who are you? Danu 2:02:42 couldn't say. If he said who he was, Da Ya<unk>s name would be dragged into it. So I said it for him. We're<unk> victims, too. Same as you. I walked in. This man is Jong Shu, third son of the Jong family of Dean village. Two years ago, my older sister married him. Au, my big cousin and third uncle, both at once. Was I mad? Now she'd never be able to show her face. My sister married him two years ago and never had a child. So his family made her life hell. Starved her, beat her, treated her like a servant who didn't need feeding. A few days ago, I took her to the best doctor in town. There's nothing wrong with her. Nothing. The reason there's no child is that in 2 years, this man has never once treated her as his wife. The whole courtyard inhaled. I looked down at my brother-in-law. When we found out, we thought, "Maybe he's sick. Maybe it's something he's ashamed of. We were ready to be kind about it. I slapped him hard. 2:03:43 Love whoever you want. That's your business. But why ruin an innocent woman to hide it? You used my sister as your shield. You let her take every bit of shame, every whisper, every beating. You nearly killed her. I kicked him. My voice stayed quiet. Everyone could see I was furious. Then I went over to the way girl. She was crying in the corner. young, pretty, raised by five big brothers who adored her. Her whole world had just fallen in. Miss Wei, I'm sorry. This is a terrible day. But you're luckier than my sister. She had 2 years of it. His whole family could hit her, even the little nephews. She wasn't allowed home. She got nothing to eat but water. All because she couldn't give them a baby. And he's the one who made sure she couldn't. He even took her to that quack in Fishtail Alley. Dr. Guo, cheap, useless medicine, bitter as poison every single day. Fishtail alley. Somebody in the crowd. That's the one whose ointment killed a cat yesterday. 2:04:46 He and that quack were in it together. If that was my daughter, I'd kill him. I gave Miss Wei my handkerchief. I don't know what he'd have turned you into in 2 years. I wouldn't want to find out, but you caught it early. You can stop it now. She nodded through her tears. We'd like to take this one home, I told her eldest brother, if you'll allow it. What for? To get my sister out. A divorce. Divorce? Nobody in Jan County had ever done that. The courtyard went quiet. Jeang Shu found his voice. No, I won't divorce Da. You want to keep that poor girl as your family's slave forever? A man's voice from the crowd. Divorce is the least you owe her. Let her find somebody who will actually look after her. I glanced over. Next to the man who'd spoken stood Mr. Mang studying the sky planted. Of course, once one voice said it, the whole courtyard agreed. Our girls divorcing Joan too, said the 2:05:47 eldest way brother. Two families, both tricked, both walking out together. Much harder for anyone to blame the women. Take him and if you need anything, come to us. We were both cheated. We'll stand together. Third uncle, Danu. Find him a shirt and tie him up. We're going home to settle this for my sister. They grabbed the first shirt they found, didn't care whose, and bound him like a pig for market. On my way out, I caught my silent friend's eye. We both looked away like strangers. At the cart, third uncle went to push that man in. I put out my arm. He's not getting in my cart. He'll dirty it. Tie him to the back. He can walk. Third uncle's eyes shown. He tied that knot like a sailor. My cousin drove. Third uncle sat backwards watching the model husband stumble along on the rope. And it did his heart good. You know what he said about our family? I said, eyes closed. That Dia is a fool. Dad's a Mom's a mouse with a 2:06:48 rotten family. The little ones are too small. Eldest uncle can't make up his mind without his wife. Third uncle's lazy and a coward. The rest of the relatives don't talk to us. Shangshai is a mixed village with no backbone and the village head can't be bothered. So if Dia died in that house, nobody would lift a finger. He searched a long time, he said, to find a family that week. Third uncle went purple. Who's got no backbone? Who? Danu. Faster. What are you worried he can't keep up? My big cousin went faster. Behind us, Jeang Shu ran. At the village gate, people stopped dead and watched us drive in with my brother-in-law on a rope. Danu, when you fetch eldest uncle, bring the village head. The village head? The Ciangs won't<unk>t agree easily. But this is too big now. It's market day. Half of Diane was in town this morning. Their own village head will have to deal with it, if only to save the village's name. So, ours should be there, too. When I 2:07:50 walked into our yard, dad was throwing chunks of wood at that man. Mom was hitting him with her bare hands and grandma was holding my sister and sobbing. They thought he was ill. Now they knew he'd chosen her because she was easy to use. My cousin came back with eldest uncle's whole family, village head fan, a dozen neighbors, and their wives. He'd learned if Granny Jang was going to scream, we'd bring screamers. Village head fans spat at Jang Shu<unk>s feet. Today, I'll show you whether Shan Xi has a backbone. Dan Yu had told them everything on the way, every word the model husband had said about us. Even Aunt Lee was furious. He'd said her husband couldn't think without her. Her husband had given her a very long look about that. Dad had tears in his eyes. Uncle Fan, thank you. I'm useless. It's my daughter who's paid for it. Once my leg heals, I'll come and thank you properly. He couldn't go with us. If it came to a fight, he'd only be in the way. He looked at me. I nodded. 2:08:53 That was enough for him. He didn't really trust the village head or his brothers. He trusted me. On the road, village head fan asked me for the whole story. He wasn't a deep thinker. He thought he'd go over there and frighten old man Jeang, but he'd be dealing with another village head. So I told him the story and stirred the fire and steered him without him noticing. Behind us, three small figures were creeping along, ducking behind every tree. At the village gate, Debao turned round. SA go home. Mind Ba, wait for us. Why can't I come? I want to fight for big sister, too. He looked at her short legs. You fall over all the time. You'll slow us down. Aru was 10. Daba was eight. They'd heard the Jang boys threw melon shells at big sister. They were going to beat up the Jang boys and the little man had to come because he was Da's brother, even if he was five and the size of a three-year-old. San Ya stomped off crying. I hate you. I don't want 2:09:55 brothers anymore. She fell over. She got up. She kept crying and stomping. Girls, sighed Dao. Always crying. You cried at our house, said Dahu. because second sister wouldn't cook for you and you're eight. That was ages ago. Are you even a man? Come on, we'll lose them. The two village heads met at a crossroads in Dion. Brother Fan, what brings you justice for our girl? Village head fan shoved my brother-in-law forward. You've heard what this dog did. By rights, we could beat him to death, but we don't want blood on Da's name. We've come for a divorce. Let's not rush. Let's sit down at the Jiang house and talk it through. At the Jang gate, we heard them before we reached it. When's that Da coming back? Look at this mess. Relax. The Lu family can't feed her forever. 2 days and she'll be begging to come in. Then we starve her 3 days and give her a hiding. Aunt Lee said loud enough for 2:10:58 everyone. You can tell the family by the brat. I kicked the gate in. The one they just fixed. Bang. They jumped like rabbits. Then they saw the two village heads walk in behind me and the crowd at the gate. Old man Jang came out from behind his women this time. Village head, what's going on? Ask your son. Village head fan shoved Shu at his feet. Granny Jang dropped to her knees. My boy, who did this to you? You. She pointed at me. Village head. She did it. She came here and beat us before and now she's beaten my son. Not me this time. I folded my arms. Honestly, you should thank me. If I hadn't brought him home, he might have ended up at the bottom of a pond. Liar. That man was shaking his head at me desperately. He still had a rag in his mouth. Oh, you haven't heard? Something shocking happened in town this morning. I told them. The Way family, the stolen purse, the locked house. Two 2:12:00 married men caught together sleeping it off in each other's arms. Another woman? You're lying. Our boy would never. You're right. It wasn't another woman. That's the part everyone in town is talking about. Theangs went white. Every day in villager at the gate looked like they'd been slapped with a fish. By now, the whole town knows your family's a joke. And not just your family. I glanced at the Deon village head. Your village, too. He took the hint. I've heard. Tell me honestly. Did you know your son was like this? The old man shook his head, baffled. Granny Jang<unk>s eyes slid away. She knew, or she'd guessed, and she'd let Da take the blame anyway. Let's get on with it, said Village Head Fan. A divorce? Never, screamed Granny Jang. Da belongs to the Ciangs. Alive or dead? Grandma stepped forward. Then go and hit your head on that wall right now. Da can come to your 2:13:00 funeral and burn you some paper money. Then she'll divorce him. It'll be her farewell gift. Granny Jang shook with rage. Her daughters-in-law were too stunned to back her up. So she turned on Da. Divorce him then. Who will want you? A barren woman nobody's husband ever wanted. And my sister stood up, quiet, thin, shaking my big sister. She stood up in the middle of that yard in front of two villages. I'm not barren. The doctor says there's nothing wrong with me. Your son told me for 2 years it was my fault. He knew it wasn't. He never meant to have children with me at all. Nobody spoke. Even the Dian village heads stared at her. He'd planned to talk us out of it. I could see that plan die. Untie him," he said. "Jang Shu, what do you say?" They pulled the rag out. Jang Shu wasn't the quiet, honest farm boy anymore. His face had gone dark and flat. No divorce. Kill me. I won't 2:14:00 sign. He'd lost everything. So, he was going to drag her down with him. If he had to live in the dark, so would she. Grandma was trembling. You want to finish her off? Was your heart eaten by dogs? Third uncle looked at me. I looked at village head fan. Fan drew the dian head aside. Brother Yan, a word. He won't sign, said Yan, spreading his hands. What can we do? Fan sighed. Exactly as I told him to. Brother, think about it. This is all over town. If you let this go without lifting a finger, what does the county think of Diane? A village where a man can lie to his bride for two years, starve her, steal her dowy, and his village head shrugs who'll marry a daughter into Diane. After that, you'll<unk>ll be a village of bachelors in 5 years. Yan's face went through several colors. And if he won't sign, we go to the Yammen and let the officials rule. You think Jang Shu stays stubborn then? And Fan's cousin was the town 2:15:02 headman. Yan remembered that, too. There was one more thing. The model husband earned more than he let on. He'd slipped his village head a little something now and then. Yan didn't want to lose that, but there were old men in that crowd watching him. He turned around face like iron. Jang Shu, divorce her. No. What your son did has shamed this whole village. If we don't give Shang Xi and that girl justice, every soul in Diane will walk with their head down. So, two choices. Sign the divorce or your whole family leaves Diane for good. Expelled, the old man grabbed his sleeve. Village head. Our family's been here for generations. That's why I'm giving you a choice. The two elder brothers looked at my brother-in-law. Their wives went further. This is the third brother's mess. He can pay for it. We're not leaving the village. Privately, they'd already decided to split the household the minute this was over. They argued for a quarter of an hour. Then Yan sent 2:16:04 men to start carrying their furniture out. Divorce? Howled the old man. He'll divorce. Somebody had to write the letter. Village head fan called into the crowd. Scholar Tang, would you? The young scholar from our village stepped out with a book box on his back. I'd thought he'd come to gawk. He set up a table, ground his ink, and wrote a whole page in neat, fast characters. I read it out since hardly anyone else could, since our hearts are not one. Let each go to their own house and never meet again. Polite, gentler on him than I'd have been. But it leaned our way. Big sister, put your thumbrint here, and you're free. She looked at the paper. Free? That was it? She took a breath and pressed down hard. That man glared at me. Come on, I said. People want lunch. Half of them skipped it for your nonsense. He pressed his thumb down. Tomorrow I file it at the yammen, said Fan. And if any Jeang comes near our Da 2:17:06 again, Shangshi won't forgive it. Jeang Shu laughed low and flat. All right, I promise I won't trouble Da. The whole yard felt it like a snake had just smiled. Wait, said scholar Tang as we turned to go. In a divorce, the betroal gifts and the dowy go back where they came from. That's the proper form. I looked at him. Interesting. Dowy? Granny Jang laughed. The Lou family are poppers. We gave them five tails for her. Grandma pulled a folded paper out of her shirt. Poppers? Two years ago, my son's leg was still whole. We scraped together two tails for her box. Bedding, clothes, a cupboard, a dressing table, two chests made by my son from wood he cut himself. And your five tales. We didn't keep a coin. We sent it all back with her. Here's the list. The handwriting on the list looked familiar. Scholar Tangs. No wonder he'd brought it up. The furniture fine, snapped Granny 2:18:08 Jang. But the silver was hers. Who knows where she put it? Dea said, "Grandma, where's your silver?" After the wedding, mother-in-law said they'd built new rooms for us, and they were in debt. So, she took two tales. Then, little by little, somebody's sick, somebody's wedding, new year money for the nephews. Cang Shu gave all his wages to his mother, so it all came from my box. Then, one morning, the last four tales were just gone. I said there'd been a thief. She said I'd lost them myself. And then she started on how I couldn't have a baby. There had been a thief in the house. Lies. Granny Zang. Prove it. We can prove it. My little brother came running in. Behind him, Ernu and Dao, each dragging a Jang grandson by the collar. Tell them, said Ernu, giving his captive a shake. Or I'll feed you to the pigs. The little Jong boy burst into tears. His cousin talked fast. Grandma took the money. After New Year, she went 2:19:10 into third aunt's room when third aunt was in the fields and pulled out the little box from under the bed. Grandma's got a key. Click, click, open. She bought us candied haws and cakes so we wouldn't tell. I'll tear your mouths off. The boys didn't care. Their grandma was scary. The three boys who' just beaten them up were scarier. And standing next to Dahoo was the girl who'd flattened their whole family. Dah ho, get the little box from under big sister's bed. He shot off like a rabbit. Granny Jang lunged after him. Then third Aunt Leang was on her, grabbed her hair, ripped the key ring off her belt, nearly took the trousers with it. Granny Jang had to hold her waistband up with both hands. The sisters-in-law moved. I flicked two pebbles at their feet. Just their feet with all those witnesses. They remembered last time and froze. Third aunt handed me the keys. I have to say it. In a crisis, that woman is a genius. Dahu came back hugging a little 2:20:12 locked box. My sister nodded. That's it. I gave the box and the keys to the two village heads. You try. The third key opened it. Click. Yan threw the whole key ring at old man Jeang. Is this how you raise them? Get the silver now or out of dying. The furniture was found in the sisters-in-law's rooms and the old couple's room. The old man handed back Da's two tales, and under Yan's glare, two more for two wasted years. Two tales for two years. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough. But Fan gave Yan his face and let it stand. The Shangshi boys carried out the chests and the dressing table like they were looting a castle. I walked out last, big sister's hand in my left, the little man's in my right. At the gate, I looked back at the model husband. He was staring at my sister with pure poison. I smiled at him, and without a sound, I mouthed, "This isn't over." Behind us, the Jiang 2:21:14 house went up in wailing and screaming. The sisters-in-law against the mother-in-law, everyone against Cang Shu. Dahu was waiting for a scolding. He'd snuck out. Sorry, second sister. Sorry. You were brilliant. You're the real man of this family. Without those two boys, we'd never have known the key was the proof. His whole face went pink. Ernu and Dabau came pelting over. Us too. We helped. All of you. You were all brilliant. Then did you tell Dad you were going? My little brother's smile froze. Dad can't walk. If he couldn't find you, he'd try to come looking on that leg. All three were gone in a cloud of dust before I'd finished. Those three are better behaved than the Jang boys, said Yan. Shangshi sticks together, said Fan very smug. Look at them. Little brothers standing up for their big sister. Everyone from Shanga coughed. Debao normally bullied Dahu. Ernu didn't 2:22:17 play with either of them. Nobody knew when that had changed. I did. It had changed over a bowl of popcorn. By evening, the divorce was the talk of the county. To celebrate, I made fried potato chips with the little one. Third uncle arrived before the twins did. Oh, you. Your cooking's a miracle. Popcorn. These chips. You should open a snack shop. Why close? Because a recipe can be stolen. A skill can't. And because the people I needed to meet bought dresses, not snacks. Mom, he said through a mouthful. That Jeang Shu, did you see his eyes when we left? He's not done. I know. Grandma looked grim. A you? What are you going to do? Do he's ruined. What more could I do to him? Do I look like someone who'd hunt a man down? Third uncle looked at me for a long time. Yes. Yes, you do. The next morning, I was fixing an arm onto one of Dad's wooden mannequins when third uncle 2:23:18 burst into the yard, white as rice. Something's happened. I snapped the arm right off. Third uncle, must it always be a crisis? It is a crisis. I went to Diane this morning to see what they were saying. Somebody got into the Jeang house, broke into Jeang Shu<unk>s room with the whole family in the yard on the other side of the door, and nobody heard a thing. They found him on the floor beaten so badly the doctor says he'll be in bed for months and he won't be getting up to anything for a long time after that. The whole family dropped what they were holding except me. Third uncle looked at me sideways. Au did you have something to do with this? Dad threw a piece of wood at his head. What kind of thing is that to say about our IU? You never had any sense, said Grandma. And now you've lost the rest. That evening he was back. The Dian head took him to the Yammen to report it. And guess what? Joan, same thing, same night. The constables have turned his 2:24:19 whole house upside down. Not one clue. Serves him right, said Grandma. Heaven keeps books. I had a guess about who'd kept those books. I was down to a little over 10 tales. I counted it twice and held my chest. I still bought a box of pastries and walked to Mr. Mangs. He poured me tea. He looked at the pastries and frowned slightly. He wrote, "I did it for myself, too." If he'd only done it for himself, he could have dealt with them the first night. But then everyone would have said the Lu family just couldn't stand Jang Shu, and my big sister's name would have been Mud. He'd spent all that time doing it my way for my sister. I owed him more than a box of pastries. I leaned over the table. Jeang Shu and Zhao Jan. Somebody beat them half to death last night. That wasn't you, was it? He looked wideeyed and innocent, he wrote. Someone hurt them. How terrible. I had no idea. It 2:25:19 certainly wasn't me. All right, I said. If you say it wasn't you, it wasn't you. I believe you. I did not believe him one bit. Good thing you got there first, I added. I was going to do it myself in a couple of days. He stared at me. A respectable gentleman had just been caught out by a girl who wasn't even slightly scared of him. He gave up and changed the subject, he wrote. They won't trouble anyone now. Don't dirty your hands. When does your shop open? 3 days. And speaking of which, I smiled at him. You've got such beautiful handwriting. Could you write me some flyers? Flyers? He looked at me like I'd asked him to paint a fence. little notices, a few lines each, like, "Want to be beautiful? Want a whole new you? Want to outshine every girl in the room? Come to number 78, Ningshu Street. You won't regret it." Three question marks appeared over his head. You could almost see them. Too plain. How about come to 2:26:22 number 78 and meet a you've never seen. Discover a beauty that's yours alone. Your beauty cannot be buried. He decided the first version was shorter and picked up the brush with his left hand. You're left-handed, he wrote. I can use both. Then why switch? So nobody would know his handwriting. Interesting. Not my business. I filed it. Four flyers to a sheet, then tear. Paper's expensive. I'm thrifty now. He'd thought I meant a few flyers. I meant 40. When he finished, I tilted my head. Something's missing. It's a bit plain. Can you draw? Could you put a pretty lady on each one? That's what you call taking a mile, he sighed. Then in about four strokes, he drew a beautiful woman with a branch of blossom curling around the words on every single one. People are going to keep these, I said. Frame them probably. I gave him one tail for your trouble. I 2:27:23 know it's not much. When I'm rich, I'll make it up. He hesitated. Then he took it because I was being so serious about it. On my way out, the mad doctor was squatting in the yard watching ants. I waved. He waved back. The moment the gate shut, he walked inside perfectly sane and sighed. Somebody's paintings sell for a fortune, and he just did 40 of them for one tale. When did Mr. Mang become a charity? Do 40 me. Mr. Mang threw his brush at him. It hit him in the face. Ink first. I didn't know any of that yet. I was off to Dr. Seuss. Where's your little sister? He demanded the moment I walked in. You said you'd bring her so I could check that cream. Busy week day after tomorrow. I put the flyers on his counter. I'd like you to share your customers. Share my what? Your patients are rich. Mine will be too. We don't compete. When a nice family comes in, you hand them one of these. I am a physician. I heal the 2:28:25 sick. I won't have your shopkeepers stink on me. This from a man whose fees could make a landlord weep. Pity. Then I suppose the shop won't work. I'll find another trade. Maybe I'll sell scarc myself. I hear lots of people want it. You promised me that recipe. I'm a merchant. I stink of the shop. For money, I'd break a promise. Rob a bank probably. Goodbye, doctor. Stop. I stopped. Fine. I'll hand them out. And the day after tomorrow, I want your sister and the recipe both. Dr. Sue, you're a saint. What I found out later. As soon as I was gone, he told his clerk. Don't hand them to everybody. The Ding family's old lady is coming this afternoon about her knee. Slip one to her maid. The clerk grinned. You're soft on that girl. Dr. Shu fanned himself. She's sharp. She's good to her family. Girls like that are easy to like. and he looked at the box of pastries I'd left 2:29:25 on his counter and smiled. Then I picked up my cat from the animal doctor. 6 months old, he said. All the old injuries from the street were healing and they'd got rid of her fleas. She remembered me. She mowed at me in a tiny voice. 6 months. I suddenly felt terrible about the sleeping powder. The doctor said she was fine. I paid him anyway. Guilt is expensive. Walking back past the yammen, I found a crowd. Soldiers on the steps withdrawn swords. What's happened? The magistrate whispered a man next to me. Troops came an hour ago and arrested him right in his own hall. The county magistrate already. That meant the shoe family were next. The little fish first so they'd talk, then the big fish. My three months were running out faster than I'd planned. And somebody escaped from inside, said someone else. They've shut the city gates. Nobody in, nobody out, so I couldn't go home tonight. Lucky I'd 2:30:26 told the family I might sleep at the shop. Back at the shop, Carpenter Zang laughed at the cat. You'll keep a kitten. That thing can't catch a mouse. She's lucky. Ever since I found her, good things keep happening. I'm calling her Jagai. Fortunebrer. She's the shop's guardian cat. Boss, this is a clothing shop. That guardian cat is going to put her claws in every dress you own. I had not thought of that. The cat looked up at me with big wet eyes like she knew she was about to be dumped again. I'll think of something, I said. She wasn't going back on the street. Not a chance. Jen went home happy. While he'd been working, people kept stopping to watch, and he'd picked up two new jobs off my front window. I went out for dinner. When I got back, two people were standing outside my shop, staring up at it. A young lady dressed as a young man and her maid. Miss, it hasn't even opened. There isn't a sign. We've got it wrong. Ningshu Street, number 78. It's 2:31:30 right, but the shop next door says it's a clothing shop still being fixed up. Nothing like that paper says. It's a fraud. Who says it's a fraud? They spun round. I unlocked the door. I'm the owner. Were you looking for me? The young lady peered in at the empty shop and her face fell. We open in 2 days, I said. But you're here now. Come in. It's just me and a cat. I promise I won't murder you. She laughed in spite of herself. We weren't worried about that. In the little back courtyard, I poured them water. I'm Lou Shaou. Call me Miss Lou or boss Lou. My mistress, said the maid very proudly, is the second young lady of the Ding family, Westside, the Dings, pawn brokers, in this world that's banking. You don't run a pawn shop that big without serious money and serious sense. My first customer, and it was a ding, strong start. Did Dr. Sue send you? She nodded. We haven't stocked 2:32:32 the clothes yet, I said, but I can still open early for you. With no clothes, said the maid. How? Who said a clothing shop only sells clothes? Then what else? Me. They both took a step back. You You're selling yourself? No, no, no. I coughed. My skill? I mean, my skill. I sat them back down. I sell a look. Say you're going to an important banquet. You need to look right for that room. Say you're going on an outing. You want something fresh and light. Say there's someone you really don't want to see. I can make you look awful. Miss Ding burst out laughing. Who wants to look awful? You'd be surprised. Look at you. You're a beauty. Why are you hiding in men's clothes? Her smile went out like a candle. What beauty? Do you not own a mirror? If you're not a beauty, who is? I frowned. Though honestly, those clothes are burying you. Shame I don't 2:33:33 have the dresses yet. I could see her losing interest. She'd heard compliments before, shopkeeper talk, a clothing shop with no clothes. She'd wasted an evening. But never mind. Men's clothes have their own look. If you don't mind, let me do you up as you are. See what you think. She hesitated. In men's clothes? In men's clothes? She nodded. I brought out my bag. rouge powder, brow pencils, lip color, and a dozen things she'd never seen in her life. I lit candles. I had her maid wash her face. I smoothed on face cream. "I bought this next door. If you don't like it, I'll change it." "Use it," she said, suddenly nervous. "Relax, we're both girls here. Nothing to be shy about." Then I sat and looked at her face for a long time. The way an architect looks at a lot. And then I went to work. The maid tried to memorize the steps. She gave up in about a minute. She couldn't watch the jars 2:34:33 and the hands and the order all at once, so she just watched her mistress's face, and her mouth fell slowly open. It was the same face, but it wasn't. Something had changed in it. It had stopped apologizing. "More candles," I said. The maid didn't move. Miss Ding had to tug her sleeve. "Shia!" "Oh, yes." I took her hair down. Your hair's gorgeous. Thick black shining. Her pride and joy. I could tell. A gift like this should be used. One high, sleek tail and a jade pin. Then I folded back the extra fabric on her two big robe and pinned it inside with clips I brought so it sat clean and sharp. Stand up. She stood stiff as a post and looked at her maid for a verdict. Her maid was staring like she'd seen a god. Miss, said Shia Yian finally. You're you're handsomemer than the eldest young master. Don't tease me. I'm not. Look, no mirror in the shop 2:35:36 yet. Shia Yan grabbed the basin of washing water and held it up. In the candle light, Miss Ding could only see a shape. You'll see properly at home, I said. Don't just trust Shiaan. Ask everyone. Go home. Show everyone. Advertise me fast, please. What do I owe you? Nothing. You're my first customer and it's night and you'll wash it off before bed anyway. If you like it, come back in daylight and see it properly. Then I'll charge. One tail and up. One tail was nothing to the dings. Their pawn shops weren't only in this town, and pawn shops weren't even their biggest business. What I found out later, Miss Ding didn't get in her carriage. She walked down Ningshui Street at dusk and people turned to look at her. Two girls whispered, "So handsome." As they passed, she touched her own face. Then she ran to the carriage and went home. The gatekeeper didn't recognize her. She went straight to the fulllength mirror in her room. 2:36:37 "That's me?" The plain one, the one whose little sister took her fianceé because she wasn't pretty enough. That night, every person in the ding house got a surprise visit from the second young lady. Even her eldest brother walked all the way around her twice frowning. She didn't come back the next day. I waited half the morning. Nothing. Carpenter Jang finished and I paid him. Three tails, about 10 days work, plus the bits he'd covered from his own pocket. His two helpers got 350 coppers each. When town work usually paid 30 a day. They held those coins like they were warm. Then I stood in the middle of my brand new shop and just looked at it. Clean, bright, mine. Then I went house hunting. The family needed somewhere to live in town. And the best street, in my opinion, was the one the mute gentleman lived on. Tomorrow I'd sell the scar cream recipe and be rich. When we're rich, I told the cat, "You'll have your own room like a little land lady. Are 2:37:38 you excited?" Meow. Very excited. Good. At the yammen, I heard why Miss Ding hadn't come. Every rich family in town had been called in for questioning about the old magistrate. The Dings, too. The Jangs, too. Their women weren't allowed out of the house, and the fugitive still hadn't been caught. I knocked on Mr. Mang's gate. It swung open. I stepped in. Mr. Mang, are you? The mad doctor was lying in the corner of the yard with a stranger holding a knife over him, and something cold pressed against the side of my neck. My hands wanted to move. I stopped them. Not with the doctor lying there. Kai jumped out of my arms and vanished. The man behind me didn't care about a cat. He walked me forward and kicked the gate shut. I made my lip wobble. Who are you? What do you want? I don't know you. Please don't kill me. I was crying. Big reall looking tears. Meanwhile, I counted two men that I 2:38:40 could see. The doctor was out cold and there was blood under him. How bad and where was Mr. Mang? Who are you? Why are you here? I live nearby. I just came to thank Mr. Mang. My mother always says you should thank people properly. My cat got lost and he brought her home and mom gave him a gift. But I wanted to come with the cat myself and say thank you. They looked at each other. I had come in holding a cat over there. He pushed me toward the house, away from the doctor. I needed them apart. If I took this one down while the other one still had a knife over the doctor, the doctor was dead. Please, sir, don't kill me. My mother's waiting for me to come home for dinner. Shut up and behave, and you'll live. Inside the house, I couldn't see the yard anymore. Bad. I pretended to stumble forward a big step, and he stuck to me. No tricks. I'm not outside. A man screamed. My captor jerked me in front 2:39:40 of him like a shield. Knife at my throat, eyes on the door. Mr. Mang walked in, dragging the other man by the collar. Out cold. The doctor was safe. My silent friend looked at me once, then at the man behind me. His eyes went flat and very cold. Don't move, Mang Yunjang, snarled my captor. Or the girl dies. Get us a carriage. Get us out of the city. Mr. Mang didn't move. The knife pressed harder. Excuse me, I said. Do you think I'm a helpless little woman? What? Shut your mouth. Then his knife hand went white with pain because I had his thumb and was bending it backwards. The knife hit the floor. I stamped on his instep, ducked under his arm, and threw him over my shoulder. He hit the floor so hard the cups rattled. The mute gentleman stepped up and knocked him out with the side of his hand. Then he turned to me and gave me a thumbs up. He picked the wrong hostage, I said, fixing my hair. 2:40:41 Is the doctor all right? He nodded. We tied the men up and carried the doctor inside. They'd cut him on the arms and legs so he couldn't run. The bleeding had stopped, but it was ugly. Mr. Mang got out the medicine without even looking. I fetched water. We dressed the wounds together. Then he wrote, "These are the fugitives the Yemen is hunting. The one who held you is the old magistrate's eldest son. So the whole county was searching for him and he'd been in this little yard. Why come here? He knew you. He nodded, didn't explain. I'm sorry you were caught up in it. They thought I could get them out. Honestly, I thought he probably could have. They need to go to the Yammen. I stood. I'll leave you to it. I need to find my cat. Kai crept back in, mewing, half brave, half not. He wrote two words. Come along with you. To the yammen. He nodded. I wanted to. Catching an escaped prisoner, 2:41:43 a favor from the new officials. For a shopkeeper, that's gold. But a yammen has records. And somewhere in some record, there was a third daughter of the shoe family who was supposed to be at the bottom of a pond. Better not. He looked at me. Then he wrote, "Are you afraid someone will recognize you as the Shu family third young lady?" I went cold. He was smiling, shaking his head. Then he wrote a long passage fast. Before I came to Djang Yun, I went to the Shu house with an elder of my family. I met Prefect Shu and his children, including the third young lady. At first, they said she was ill. When I offered our doctor, they brought her out. The Shu family didn't know I'd met you and spoken with you at the temple. I knew she wasn't you. I wanted to find out why, but the house was suddenly guarded like a fortress. I went to the temple to ask your teacher, but she'd gone. Then my friend and I had our own trouble. And then I found you here. I don't know how the Shu family third young lady became the Lou family second 2:42:45 daughter. You don't want to say, so I won't ask. I walked across the room. I had to. The Shoe family hadn't announced my death. They hadn't found a body, so they knew I might be alive. And then a visitor demanded to see the third miss, so they'd grabbed a girl, any girl, and put her in my clothes. Then the investigation hit them, and they couldn't make the standin die without looking suspicious. To them, I was nothing. A timid girl with no papers, no friends, no money. If I'd crawled out of that pond, I'd starve on the road. And in the book, the one who goes into exile is the third young lady of the Shu family. But that girl wasn't me anymore. I was Lu Shuyu. So maybe, just maybe, the girl they exiled would be the standin. No, don't count on it. Plan for the worst. If it came, I'd survive it and get back fast. But I couldn't stop smiling. The ending I'd been told was carved in stone, had just grown a crack. 2:43:48 He wrote, "Your papers are clean. You have nothing to fear at the Ymen." They were. My teacher had seen to that. Come along, he wrote again. Yes. I fetched the soldiers myself and went in as witness and captor. The official sitting in for the magistrate was young, 20some, with a very serious face. "Mr. Mang, Miss Lu, you've done me a great service. What reward would you like?" Acting magistrate Shang. He'd sit in this chair until the court sent a new man, which would take longer than 3 months. Sir, could I save it for later? He blinked. Then, of course, he asked Mr. Mang the same question. My silent friend would save it, too. And the way the magistrate talked to Mr. Mang, "Too easy, too familiar." Those two knew each other. Back at the shop, Da and my big cousin were standing on the step, looking frantic. They'd heard the gates were shut. Some uncles from the village had been turned back. They'd waited at the 2:44:48 gate all afternoon. I'm fine. The magistrate's been arrested. His son escaped. They caught him. Gates will open. Then they saw the finished shop and forgot everything else. Daniel headed back before the gates closed with a bag of pork buns from me so he wouldn't miss dinner. My sister and I ate on the street and walked home slowly through the lamplight. "A you" she said, looking up at the sky. Ever since you came home, everything's been good. She was smiling easy, like somebody had taken a stone off her chest. Au, I'm so happy. Me, too. I'd fixed their rice jar. They'd filled something in me I didn't know was empty. Next morning, the mute gentleman took me straight to a house for rent, 10 doors from his, three rooms, a little study, a yard for vegetables and chickens, 260 coppers a month. quiet street close to the shop. I signed on the spot. I never once set foot inside his house, so I didn't know 2:45:50 who was sitting in it. What I found out later, acting magistrate Shang was in Mr. Mung's front room. So that's the girl who got 40 paintings out of you for one tale. My silent friend ignored him and went to check on the doctor, whose name, it turned out, was Xiaoi. Ziai was sitting up in bed eating a chicken leg. Do you know why she went from a shoe daughter to a farm girl? Mr. Mang nodded. I told him the night before. The sail, the pond, all of it. Shang waited. The mute gentleman said nothing else. Jang Yun<unk>'s under our control now, said Shang. The Shoe family are next. Do you think we could get something useful on the Shoe family out of Miss Louu? Mr. Mang shook his head. No. Fine. Keep playing mute then, said Shang and swept out. Xiaoi wiped his greasy fingers. Miss Lou, so clever. How long until she figures out we're both faking? My silent friend gave him a look and walked out. 2:46:51 That day, the family came to town. Dad finally put his wooden mannequins together, and Mom and Grandma dressed them. 12 outfits. That's all they'd had time for, working day and night. On the racks, the shop still looked bare. Let's buy a few from another shop, said my cousin. fill the racks. No, our clothes are different. If the other shop finds out, they'll tell the whole town we buy our stock from them. 12 is enough. We're not selling to the masses. We're selling made to measure. Then we listened to Aou, said Grandma, and that was that. The mirrors came, two clear bronze ones. Sonia ran to the first one and touched her cheek. Then she ran to me. Second sister, the scar is almost gone. Nobody can call me ugly anymore. Told you you're the best second sister in the world. Then she spotted Zhaokai hiding under the counter and lit up. A kitty. She's shy. Don't chase her. So the twins sat very still on the far side of the 2:47:52 room, pretending not to look, sneaking glances every 3 seconds. Three babies playing hideand seek. Within half an hour, the cat came out on her own and meowed at them. My little sister stroked her once, very gently, and announced, "She loves me." The little man tried. The cat hissed. Dahu stood up very straight. "Boys shouldn't play with girl cats anyway. I'm going to have a big, fierce dog." "Hiao is a boy. I didn't have the heart. That one's always been stubborn," Grandma whispered to me. Never complained, never cried, never asked for anything. Just carried firewood and looked after his sister. Then I saw a face peering in at the door. And a moment later, it was Xiao Yun in the fitting room, gripping my hands, eyes swollen. Boss Lou, please help my mistress. Her face. She's been cut. Cut where? Her forehead. The doctor says it'll scar. She's locked herself in. She won't see anyone. Not even 2:48:54 madam. You hid the mole on her face last time. Can you hide this? I took big sister. Watch what I do. I took the makeup bag and the scar cream. On the way out, my eyes landed on a sky blue dress on one of the mannequins. That color, that cut. I stripped it off the mannequin right there. Mom, the long box. Soldiers stood at the ding front gate. A crowd was muttering about a broken engagement. Shiaun went pink and took us round to the back. Inside, she apologized. She'd been afraid I wouldn't come if I knew there were soldiers. I don't like people hiding things from me, I said nicely. So, how did Miss Ding get hurt? The magistrate's fall, she said. Every rich family had been questioned and sent home. All except Master Ding. He was still in the Yammen. And this morning, the Jang family had marched in and broken off their son's engagement to the Ding third daughter, a concubine's girl. The Jangs, I said. The wine Jangs. 2:49:56 That was the family. the one Madame Deng had married into the door I'd been looking for. They said horrible things to third miss. She grabbed a broken teacup and threatened to end it all. Second Miss grabbed for it and in the struggle the edge caught her forehead. On the veranda outside Miss Ding's rooms, a girl was kneeling, very pretty, much prettier than her sister in the obvious way. The third daughter, she watched us pass. Madame Ding saw Shia Yun and went for her. Where have you been? Your mistress won't come out and you go wandering. 20 strokes. Dia gripped my hand. I stepped in front of Shiaun. Madame Ding. I'm the boss Lou. She went to fetch. Your daughter and I are friends. Let me try. You. I've never heard of any shopkeeper friend. Then it doesn't hurt to try. She let me with a matron trailing behind. I knocked. Miss Ding, it's L Shuyu. We met the other night. Nothing. Madame Ding opened her 2:50:58 mouth. Then the door flew open and Miss Ding grabbed my hands. Miss Lou, can you hide it? The scar. I'd been the first person in her life to tell her she was beautiful and then prove it. I don't know how deep it is, so I can't promise to hide it. Her face fell, but I can make it go away. She made a sound halfway between laughing and crying. Really? I peeled back the bandage, not deep, caught in a struggle, not cut on purpose. Once it closed, the cream would take it. I put a jar on the table. My own scar cream. It's only been used on my sister. She's had her scar more than a year. In 2 weeks, it's nearly gone. Yours is new. It'll work faster. Homemade? Madame Ding stood in the doorway, horrified. On my daughter's face. What if it makes it worse? Who's responsible then? You're very young, boss Lou. Maybe you shouldn't. Mom, I trust Boss Lou. Miss Ding pushed her own 2:51:59 mother gently out of her own room. Go, please. Madame Ding went and sat down right outside. How much is the cream? I'll take two. It's a gift. I've promised the recipe to Dr. Shu. I won't sell it behind his back. When you need more, buy it from him. She looked at me like I was some kind of saint. Really, I just didn't want Dr. Shu to strangle me. Also, he'd sent her. She reached for the bandage. Leave it. I said the ointment's working. We'll use it. I'm going to make you look fragile, delicate, like a willow in the wind. What? She'd pictured herself dashing and fierce again. A scar on a handsome young man might even look good. I started, and while I worked, I talked. You haven't slept, have you? Look at those shadows. I haven't Your father. You know, the whole town knows, but I don't think you need to worry. When I came in, the soldiers at your 2:52:59 back gate didn't stop me. Didn't even ask my name. You can tell a lot about the top from how the bottom behaves. She stared at me in the mirror. You see more than the whole Jang family put together. They're not shortsighted. They're stupid. Good. That was exactly where I wanted the conversation. I'd hoped you'd spread the word for me, I said. Every woman in town, but after this, maybe I'd better stay away from the Jang women. Oh, not all of them. The second son's wife is lovely. They're the outcasts of the family. She hesitated. At first, the Jangs were supposed to marry their third son to me. He took one look and wanted my sister instead. The second branch was against it, so the elders split them off. They got one wine shop. They work dawn to dusk and barely clear 30 tales a month. 30 tales barely. Behind me, my big sister made a small strangled noise. I've been to their shop a few times. Madame Dengs lovely. I'll introduce you. 2:54:00 I didn't need to chase that door. It had just opened by itself. Done. Have a look. She looked in the mirror and went still. brows like willow leaves, eyes a little pink at the rims, skin pale, the white bandage on her brow. She looked like a girl who'd just been very ill and very brave, and you wanted to wrap her in a blanket and fight anyone who made her sad. That's me. It's wonderful, said my sister. Not Miss Ding. Da. She was staring at my hands like they were made of gold. Then I put her in the sky blue dress. Miss Ding was narrow shouldered and flat, and dresses always drooped on her. So, I'd had mom build a little false cape with puffed shoulders into this one. It held her up, made her stand straight. She spun round in front of the mirror. I love it. I love it. She went to her dressing table and came back with a bank note. I'm buying it. Big sister looked at the number and forgot to breathe. 50 tales. The dress, the 2:55:03 makeup, and the scar cream. I'd refused to sell her. She'd folded it all into the dress. Smart girl. A you whispered my big sister. Is this all right? It's fine. Some things you can't put a price on. She loves it. I love it so much. The door crashed open. Madame Ding came in with half the household behind her. Uh, what on earth are you? She stopped dead. Uh, is that you? It's me, Mom. It's all boss Lou now. Do you believe me? Madame Ding turned to me with a completely different face. Boss Lou, you're a miracle worker. She pressed another bank note on me. 10 tales for your trouble and for these lovely flyers. I took it. Bankers. They really don't think of money as money. The eldest daughter-in-law sidled up and whispered. Do you have this dress in another color? I looked her over, curvy, generous in the chest. in a puffed shoulder. She'd look like a wardrobe. Not this one. Not 2:56:06 for you. I have something better. Come by the shop and I'll pick you a dress that'll make your husband walk into a door. She went bright pink and pleased. Then someone shouted, "The master's home. The master's home." And the house rushed out like a tide. Madame Ding paused at the door to tell the kneeling third daughter she could go to her room. Big houses, never quiet. The back gate had no soldier on it now. The dings were fine. In the cart, Da clutched the banknotes in her fist and finally exploded. "A you are you the money." She'd done the sums for the shop in her head. Two dresses a day. A couple of hundred coppers profit each. Maybe five tales saved a month. 60 a year. She thought that was a dream. I'd made 60 tales before lunch. Calm down. There's going to be a lot more. She shook her head. 30 tales a month. And she called it hard. Rich people spend a 100 tales on one dinner. What do they eat? Dragon. 2:57:09 Then I asked her. While I was doing her face, what did you see? She thought. You only changed her brows and her eyes, and she looked like a different person. Her nose was flat, but you made it look higher. And her cheeks, you gave them shape. I looked at her. She'd seen all of it. Exactly. That's why I'd brought her. I had maybe 2 months before the plot came for me. Someone had to be able to run this shop when I was gone. Big sister, from tonight, I'm teaching you makeup. Her eyes went wide. I'll learn. I'll learn really hard. At the shop, she marched Grandma behind the counter and opened her fist. Two banknotes, 50 and 10. Grandma, mom, and dad all made the same sound like a kettle. My sister told them the whole story twice with hand movements. You didn't see IU's hands. The Ding family just stood there with their mouths open. 50 from the young lady, 10 from the mother in no time at 2:58:10 all. They all turned and looked at my hands like they wanted to build a little shrine for them. "What?" I said. "Nothing," said everyone. Daniel came back with a basket of firecrackers for the opening. Two strings. Grandma looked at the strings, then at the 60 tales. Are you? Should we hire a lion dance? No. Firecrackers and a bowl of nuts and sweets for anyone who stops to watch. We've only got 12 dresses. A lion dance for 12 dresses would just be embarrassing. We locked up and walked to the rented house on Luong Lane. On the way, we passed Mr. Mangs gate locked. I looked. I kept walking. Grandma took one look at the three rooms and grabbed a broom. With money in hand, three rooms didn't feel like a waste anymore. They felt like home. Grandma, I'm going out again. It's nearly dinner. The god of wealth visited us today. He's not finished. I'm not missing the second 2:59:10 half. I took SA and Dad to Dr. Shoes. Dad needed his leg checked anyway. Dr. Shu had been pacing his clinic all afternoon. When the cart stopped, he shot out the door and stared at the little one's face. 10 days ago, she'd been a yellow little scrap of a thing with a scar across her cheek. Now there was color in her face, a bit of flesh on her bones, and the scar was so pale you had to stand close to find it. Come in. Come in. Let me look at you. Dr. Sue, you sound like a kidnapper. Sa hid in my neck. I picked her up. My father's the patient. Leg first. He did the leg, grumbling, healing well. Then he examined my little sister's cheek while she sat on my lap. With me holding her, she wasn't scared at all. She told him very seriously. Uncle Shu, my scars nearly gone. My second sister did it. I've never met anyone as amazing as her. Yes, yes, he said without looking at me. 3:00:11 She's very amazing. Sa was satisfied. So, you're really selling it? I am with one condition. I knew it. There's always something. I'll sell it cheap. But every jar you sell, I get 120th. He did the sums. His prices were skyhigh. A jar would go for 10 20 tales. 12th was nothing to him. And for me, it was a second income the family could fall back on if the shop failed. I wasn't going to be around forever. Fine. And the price, 150 tales. Cheap, right? Dad, who'd been listening very quietly, turned and looked at me like I just set fire to the table. Dr. Sue had been expecting 300. He went to get the money without a single word of haggling. He's very decisive, isn't he? Dad said faintly. I wrote out the recipe in front of Dr. Shu. He handed over the banknotes. Good luck with the opening tomorrow. May customers come like clouds, and may you 3:01:14 sell a thousand jars. On the way home, I walked beside the mule. I bought seven candied haws on sticks, one for each of us. The little one got hers right away. She held it in both hands and stared at it. Second sister, I've never had one. Every time third aunt went to town, she brought one back for Dao, and Dao would walk right up to the twins and eat it slowly in front of them. Sonia always ran away. Then when nobody was looking, she'd lick her lips and pretend. Today, she didn't have to pretend. Dad watched her, and I saw his throat move. He held out his own. SA likes them. Here, you and Dahoo share Dads. She shook her head so hard her hair flew. I have mine. Too many haws upset your stomach, I said. Dad, eat yours. At home, SA jumped off the cart and ran. Brother, brother, look. Doo was sweeping the yard. A red 3:02:14 candied haw appeared under his nose. He looked at it. He looked at her. She bit into her own. He bit into his. They stood there face to face, chewing and grinning, a stick of candied fruit, and they looked like they owned the world. That night, after my big cousin went to sleep at the shop, I put the 150 tales on the table with the 60. Grandma and mom stared at it. Then I showed them what we'd already spent getting the shop open. Over a hundred tails, the mule, the building work, and the cloth. I'd bought the best silk in town because the ladies I wanted wouldn't look at anything less. So from now on, I said, the big cost is people. I need to teach big sister makeup. That leaves only mom sewing. We need more hands. Mom looked at Grandma. Grandma glared at her. If you've got something to say, say it. Why look at me? There's a woman. Mom whispered. A shang. She sews faster and 3:03:14 finer than anyone. When I was little and couldn't sew, and my family yelled at me, she used to secretly show me how. She swallowed. She's from Ruan village. That's why she was scared to say it. Ajangs had a hard life. married young, husband died. His family threw her out for having a girl. Her own family wouldn't take her back. She rents a broken little house in Ruan village and embroers handkerchiefs to keep her daughter fed. Ruan village, said Grandma. As soon as that lot here, we've got a shop. They'll come begging. Mom shrank under the table. I squeezed her hand. We<unk>ll see her work first and her character. If both are good, we hire her. As for Ruin Village, they'll find out sooner or later. So will everybody. So here's the rule. Whoever's good to us, we help as much as we can. Whoever isn't, we throw out. No discussion. Yes, said Grandma. That's the rule. Then I looked at the doorway. The twins were sitting on the step outside, licking 3:04:15 their candied paws very slowly. They'd each eaten two and saved the rest. Sister, my little brother whispered. Do you feel like someone's staring at us? No, I feel happy. My little sister counted. I have three left. You have five. If you give me one, we'll have the same. That's fair. I really think someone's staring at us. Sya's eyes went wide. Is somebody trying to sell you again? Hide. Give me your haws. I'll hold them for you. Little genius. Da. Sa come here. I pulled the little man in front of me. Da's going to school. The whole room went quiet. "No," said my little brother at once. "I don't need school." "You're going. You don't have to become a top scholar, but you're going to read and write and know how the world works. When our shop gets bigger, can the boss not read? Can't do his sums? Signs a contract he can't read? Then the shop will be gone in a month." He didn't hate books. Apart from his 3:05:17 family, the person he admired most in the world was scholar Tang. He just never imagined it. But school costs so much money. We've opened a shop. We can afford school. Dad's hands had made fists. Yes. To who's going. That's final. The little man looked round at everyone. Then he lit up like a lamp. Then I'll go. I'll be the top scholar in the empire. That's my boy, said Grandma. Sa was looking at her brother with pure longing. There were no schools for girls. To who? Whatever you learn at school, you come home and teach your sister every day. He nodded so hard I worried about his neck. The next morning, the whole family put on new clothes and walked to Ningshu Street together. Then the relatives arrived to see the opening. Eldest aunt Lee looked around, sniffed, and offered to sew for us for pay. Third aunt jumped in behind her. Me too. I can sew. They could sew. 3:06:17 Clothes you could wear. Not clothes you could sell for 50 tales. Mom tried to say no politely. Grandma did not. With those dog paws, you touch the shop's clothes and I'll chop them off. Hiring is Au's business. And you to Mom, if you take on anyone behind Au's back, you can go, too. It's time, Dad called. He stood by the door, leaning on his crutch, holding one end of a red silk cloth. Over the doorway, under the cloth, was our sign. He looked at all of us, then at me. A you light it. I lit the firecrackers. Bang, bang, bang, bang. Big sister herded the twins inside with their hands over their ears. Dad pulled. The red cloth fell away. Yarin Pavilion, the lady across the water. Simple, a little poetic, easy to read. A crowd gathered for the noise. Kids mostly. They looked through our big open front, saw a clothing shop with hardly any 3:07:18 clothes in it, and drifted off. Nobody came in. Aunt Lee muttered to third aunt, "Not one customer on opening day. Big shop, big talk, and look, they'll lose their shirts." Then, "Boss Lou, congratulations." Dr. Sue with a gift box and a grin. He walked in, looked around at our 12 dresses, and his grin froze. Is this actually a shop? I have more clothes than this in my wardrobe. He didn't say it. He sat down for tea. Then a man arrived with a gift box and didn't say a word. Just smiled and held it out to Dad. Dad didn't know him. Nobody did. Do you take a box from a silent stranger? My little brother fetched me. I came out and stopped. Mr. Mang, he mouthed. Congratulations, Dad. This is Mr. Mang. A year ago, it was his friend, Dr. Xiao, who saved your leg on his orders. Dad nearly dropped his crutch. Our benefactor. Come in. 3:08:20 Come in. Dad, I said quietly. He can't speak anymore. Something happened to him. Dad looked at him with such worry. Then look after him. Don't let him feel awkward. The twins hid behind the counter and stared at him. He was even betterl looking than Scholar Tang. Dahu leaned over to his sister. That's what second sister meant, the handsome man. Shiao Yun brought a gift from Miss Ding with apologies. Her father had just come home. She couldn't get away. Dr. Shu went back to his patients. The mute gentleman sat for a while and then he went too. A man alone in a dress shop sticks out, and then there were three gift boxes on the counter and nobody else. Third uncle sidled over. Au, give me a little money. I'll hire some people to carry empty gift boxes in and pretend to be customers. Make it look busy. It's a good idea, said eldest uncle. An empty opening day is bad luck. I always said this was a mistake, said Aunt Lee. 3:09:22 Common people like us should sell snacks. A little shop selling odds and ends, a clothing shop on Ningshu Street. Not one customer. Money down the drain. You lot just don't think. Third uncle and eldest uncle meant well. Aunt Lee had been croaking all morning like a crow on a roof. Eldest aunt, I said. If you don't like it, go home. You're not helping. How dare you? I'm your elder and I'm your mother-in-law. Grandma had been watching that empty doorway all morning, too. Would you like me to treat you like an elder? Dang. If you can't control your wife, don't bring her. On a happy day, she brings bad luck. Then a voice boomed from the door. Congratulations, boss Lou. Grand opening. May customers come like clouds. Haha. A big man in good clothes with a big laugh. Lose the name. I'm in the clothing trade, too. My shops at the head of the street. Colleagues, here's a little something. It took me a lot of 3:10:22 trouble. Dad took the box. It was enormous and heavy, and the man let go of it all at once. Dad's bad leg buckled. He tipped sideways on his crutch and boss Lou couldn't quite keep the smile off his face. A hand caught Dad's back. Mine. I held Dad up with one hand and took the giant box off him with the other and passed it to Danu without looking. Boss Lou's eyes narrowed. Strong girl. Boss Lou. I said Lou's clothing. Now everyone understood. The only other clothing shop in the county. Every other one that had tried had gone under. LSE had owned this town for years. And here we were. He'd done his homework. He knew the whole shop was the second daughter's idea. Some 18-year-old country girl who didn't know anything. Running a clothing shop with 12 dresses. You must be Miss Lou. He raised his voice so the whole street could hear. I heard there was a new clothing shop and 3:11:23 I came to see a colleague. I thought the only two in Jang Yuan. We could help each other. But this, he waved at our racks. You call this a shop? This is playing house. Shoddy. I'm truly disappointed. People were gathering. Neighboring shopkeepers, passers by. Dad opened his mouth and nothing came out. He wasn't an arguer. I stepped forward. Boss Lou stepped back off the doorstep and nearly turned his ankle. What business is it of yours how many dresses we have? Are you so bored you have to come and stand on our step to feel important? You talk like your clothes are made of gold. I've seen them. A pile of rags, and you've sat in this one little town for decades without moving an inch. If you're so brilliant, open in the prefecture. Open in the capital. Go on. Oh, you can't? Because the only reason you're the biggest fish in this pond is that nobody else bothered to swim in it. His face went red, then purple. And you talk about proper staff. 3:12:25 Your shop boys walk around with their noses so high they get rained in. I always wondered how a little clerk on a little wage in a little shop learned to look down on people so well. Now I've met his boss. It all makes sense. You Thank you so much for worrying about our business with what little brain you have. Now would you kindly turn around and roll away? He clutched his chest. He swayed. His clerk caught him. How dare you, my master. Out. The clerk flinched and dragged him back down the steps. If he ever comes back, I told the family. Throw him out. The street was silent. Business is about keeping the peace. Everybody knows that. Nobody tears arrival to pieces on their own doorstep on opening day. I flicked my hair. If I don't speak up, people think any stray cat can come and lecture us. In the corner, Aunt Lee suddenly found something very interesting to look at. That last line might have been for her. Then the clerk wailed, "Master, master, 3:13:28 wake up." Boss Lou had collapsed in his arms in the middle of the street. Urine pavilions murdered him. He came to wish them well, and they made him cough blood. Mom went white. What do we do? I rolled up my sleeves. Easy. I'll go and save him. The constables. The constables are coming. Who called them? Two officers were walking down the street, very straight backs, and the second one was carrying a little gift box. Officers shouted some helpful soul. Over here, boss Lou's been insulted till he fainted. The officers stopped. They looked at boss Lou on the ground. Dad pushed me behind him. He could barely stand on that leg. He still stood in front of me. In that moment, he looked very tall. What happened here? said the lead officer. 10 people started talking at once. Stop, said the officer, holding up a hand. Too much noise. You, the clerk, you tell it. The clerk took a deep breath. Actually, wait. I have an 3:14:30 errand first. I'll hear it after. The officer looked around. Is the owner of Urine Pavilion here? Here, said Dad. I'm here. The second officer stepped forward and smiled. Boss Lu, Magistrate Shang heard today was your opening. He's been too busy to come himself, so he sent us with a gift. Dad didn't move. Nobody moved. The new acting magistrate, sending a gift to the Lou family. I kept my face perfectly still. Inside, I was doing a small dance on Boss Lou's head. Boss Lou, take it. Oh, yes. Dad took the little box. It was small and light and it weighed more than Lou's whole giant parcel. Come in for tea, officers. No, no, you go on. We've got this matter to settle. The officers turned to the clerk. Now, where were we? The clerk was sweating through his shirt. He looked at his master, who was still very busy being unconscious. I I don't know. You 3:15:33 don't know? You've got a man fainted in your arms, and you don't know what happened. Bosslu had owned this town because he'd owned its old magistrate and its old constables. The old magistrate was in a cell. The old constables were in the cells next to him. Bosslu had never met this magistrate Shang. And these officers were Shang<unk>s own men. Boss Lu moaned, fluttered his eyelids. What? Where am I? Did I faint? Truly terrible acting. My eyes hurt. Master, you're awake. Must have been the heat," he mumbled. "I'll go home and lie down." "Is that so?" said the officer. "It is not," yelled someone in the crowd. 10 minutes ago, the street had been ready to blame the Lou family. Now they'd seen whose gift the magistrate sent. Suddenly, everyone remembered exactly what had happened. He'd come to mock. He'd lost the argument. He'd faked a faint to smear the Lou family. "So," said the officer, "boss Lou came to pick 3:16:34 a fight. lost and pretended to faint to extort the Louu family. That's about it, agreed the street. The Lou family shop is registered with the Yammen. Magistrate Shang wants every trade in this county to grow. And you want to stamp out a new shop so you can keep the whole market. Come along. You can explain it at the Yammen. It's a misunderstanding. Boss Lou, I brought you a gift. Tell them. Dad said nothing at all. He'd nearly broken his leg for that gift. They marched boss Louu and his clerk off down the street. And then every shopkeeper on Ningshui Street was suddenly at our door, congratulating Dad, asking very casually how the Lou family knew Magistrate Shang. Nobody had managed to get near the new magistrate. His men wouldn't even smile, and he'd sent a gift to the poor family from the village. Our empty shop was suddenly the busiest shop on the street, just not with customers. What I found out later, Mr. Mang hadn't gone home. He'd been 3:17:34 standing in an alley across the street watching the whole thing. As soon as the officers left, he walked to the Yammen. He didn't go in. He sent in a note. The note said, "Find the evidence against the Shu family yourself. If you can't, you're useless. Leave the Lu family alone. Stay away from Lu Shuyu. Magistrate Shang tore it into pieces, stamped on them, then picked them up, and burned them." Fine," he said to the fire. "I won't go near her, but if she comes to me, that's not my fault, is it?" And he called in his man and gave him some quiet instructions. That evening, when the neighbors finally left, the whole family turned and looked at me. "Au," said Grandma. "How do you know Mr. Mang?" Everyone looked at her. "That's your question?" They all wanted to know, too. "Mr. Mang saved my leg," said Dad before I could answer. He and Dr. Xiao a year ago. And the magistrate, said third uncle, vibrating. If his 3:18:34 niece knew the magistrate, he could walk sideways across the whole county. I've met him once. I happened to help him with something small. I think it's a thank you. Third uncle deflated like a pig's bladder, back to only walking sideways in Shangshi Village. Then we opened the boxes. Dr. Sue, nuts, dried fruit, candied plums, fruit you hardly ever saw in this county. Third uncle and third aunt hovered. I put the lid back on. Miss Ding, a little embroidered tablec screen. Mom gasped. The needle work alone was worth a fortune. I put it on the counter. Instant class. Boss lose. Not a box. A huge bundle tied with a red ribbon. third uncle tore it open before anyone could stop him. It exploded. Rags, every scrap of offcut his shop had collected for years, packed in so tight it weighed like a sack of stones. Not even useful scraps. Strips, 3:19:36 ribbons, leftovers of leftovers. I knew it, said Grandma. Rubbish. Throw it out. Dia was already scooping it up, furious. I'll dump it back in his shop. No, keep it. I need scraps. You can't sew these. They're too small. Not sewing. Stuffing. Cotton was expensive. Little dolls, cats, and dogs stuffed with rags. Seven or eight of them from this pile. Easy. Boss Lou had sent us a whole business. Magistrate Shang's box held a folded length of silk. I'd bought silk all over this town. I'd never seen this one. A magistrate knows how to give a gift, said third aunt very loudly to nobody since the officers had gone. Silk for a dress shop. You can make a showpiece out of that. My silent friend's box was heavy. I opened it and paused. Brushes and ink, said Aunt Lee. Nobody here reads. What a useless gift. That's a 3:20:36 scholar for you. No sense. Under the brushes was a beginner's copy book. A good ink stone, one fine brush, and one cheap, sturdy one. The kind you give a child who's going to press too hard. Dahoo. I was going to take you to buy school things tomorrow. Mr. Mang got there first. Do you like them? Dahoo held the cheap brush like it was a sword. That's no accident, said Dad. He knew we'd have a boy starting school. He chose it. Aunt Lee and third aunt turned on grandma at once. Dahoo's going to school. What's surprising about that? The boy's the right age. Then Dao. Third aunt edged closer. Dao should go too, Mom. And earn you. Grandma laughed. I'd love to send all my grandsons to school. Unfortunately, their parents are useless and can't pay. Got money? No. Or did you think I'd pay? Or did you want your niece to pay for your sons? You've been split from this house for years and you still want to squeeze me? Eldest uncle 3:21:39 went red to the ears. Third uncle actually wanted to say yes. He looked at me. He thought about the rich man. He thought about my brother-in-law. He said no. Then let me work in the shop. No wages, just meals and a bed. Third uncle. We need skilled seamstresses, not a mouth. Under the mute gentleman's brushes, there was one more thing, a scroll. I unrolled it. An eagle. Wings spread, eyes so sharp I felt them. Behind it, mountains in the clouds and a waterfall pouring off the nearest cliff so hard you could almost hear it. I loved it. I didn't say anything. I just loved it. It's beautiful, said Grandma uncertainly. But it's a bit sharp for a lady's shop. She was right. I rolled it up very carefully and put it away. We had no customers that first day. I didn't mind. The second day, still nothing. The shopkeepers along the street started saying it out loud. A 3:22:40 month, 2 weeks, maybe. I took Grandma back to Shang Xi to thank everyone who'd helped with my big sister's divorce. Grandma picked pork and candy over pastries. So, the girls in those houses get a taste. Pastries. The boys eat them all. We gave scholar Tang a lift and asked him about schools for Dahoo. His mother told him later to stay away from that fierce Lou girl. He defended us politely, firmly. Interesting young man. In Shangshi, word of the magistrate's gift had already arrived. Suddenly, every family loved us. Did we need help at the shop? Their boy was very strong. Grandma shut every one of them down. Then I went to Ron village to see a shang. Grandma told me to stay away from the Ron house. I didn't. I pulled my straw hat low and stood across the lane. Third uncle hadn't exaggerated. Half the wall was gone. Half the kitchen. Two stoves were now one. The cow was gone. The pig was gone. The dried meat under 3:23:42 the eaves was gone. The rubble from the wall was still lying where it fell, and a dog was peeing on it. The old woman came out shouting, "Get out, you mangy curr. Do that again, and I'll stew you." Half a month ago, she'd strutdded around this village like the queen of it. Now she was bent over, thin as a stick, and her face had gone even meaner. From inside the house, her sons roared at her. "Mom, shut up. Some of us are trying to sleep." "Yes, give it a rest. It's your meddling that wrecked this family." She ducked her head and crept back inside. Her own sons, the ones she'd sold her daughter's baby to feed. I didn't have to lift a finger. Her own sons were doing it for me. I turned round and walked away. A Jang lived on the edge of the village in a house that leaned worse than ours used to. As I came up the path, two village women were screaming at a skinny girl of 13. Their sons had been bullying her and the village heads little daughter, and she'd 3:24:43 fought back. Shameless girl. No man will ever want you. You in that Lou area, two of a kind. Then they turned round and walked straight into me. I smiled at them. They remembered exactly who Lu area was and what had happened to the Ruan kitchen. They left very fast. The girl was Shangd Aangs daughter. I heard her tell her mother, "I want to be like Sister Lu. She doesn't let anyone push her around. I tested a Shang with a little dress cut to the little one's size. She made it in an afternoon and it was perfect. Better than perfect. I hired her and her daughter on the spot. A base wage plus a cut of every dress sold plus a room in town. A Shang cried. When I got back to Shangshi, somebody was bent over at our gate with her bottom in the air, peering through the crack like a burglar. Third ant. I tapped her on the shoulder. She shrieked and nearly went through the gate. It's you. Don't sneak up on people. I'm 3:25:44 sneaking. Are you sure about that? She looked at her own position and coughed. I was worried about your grandma. That's all. My stomach went cold. What's wrong with grandma? She dragged me aside and whispered, "Your fourth aunt came right after you left, walked in, and burst into tears in front of your grandma. Cried and cried. Then she left, and your grandma's been sitting in there ever since. Not a sound. I don't know if she's all right." And you stood out here peeping instead of going in. She'd only yell at me. She loves yelling at me. Maybe because you give her reasons. I pushed past her into the house. Grandma was sitting at the table with her head in her hand. She looked up, saw me, and jumped to her feet. Is it that late, Ayou? I didn't notice. Come on, I'll make you some noodles. I caught her arm. Grandma, what happened? Nothing. What would happen? I just looked at her. She could bark at anybody else in the 3:26:44 family. She couldn't do it to me. She sat back down and sighed. Your fourth aunt came. Your fourth uncle's gone missing. Third aunt clapped her hands over her mouth in the doorway. Remember the day of the reunion feast. Fourth aunt and her husband were meant to come and they didn't. And they only sent eggs. He'd already gone. A friend found him a good job hauling goods somewhere. Good wages. He split from his family last year. He wanted to start a little business and he didn't have the money. So, of course, he jumped at it. He was meant to be back the day before the feast and he wasn't. Not that day, not the next. Your aunt was so worried she didn't come at all. And she never said a word. We didn't know. Grandma slapped the table. Then 2 days ago, the friend came home. He says they delivered the goods and split up in the county town weeks ago. The friend took another job. Your uncle was supposed to go straight home. And nobody's seen him since. The 3:27:45 UN have looked everywhere they can think of. Nothing. They reported it at the Yammen yesterday. She didn't say the rest. That they'd asked one too many questions and been shown the door. People like us didn't go to the Yammen unless we were desperate. And people like us didn't get listened to when we did. Third aunt said, "Grandma, tell your husband. He knows every layabout for 10 villages. Let him ask around him friends. He just sits at home all day. He doesn't. She caught my eye. I'll tell him right away, Mom. Fourth sister's his own sister. He's so warm-hearted. He<unk>ll be glad to help. Grandma and I looked at each other. Can you even say that with a straight face? She fled. Don't worry, Grandma. People don't vanish into thin air. We<unk>ll find him. I'll go to the Yammen tomorrow. To Magistrate Shang. Hey, you. You said you hardly know him. Don't go bothering a busy man. You'll make him think badly of you. Not magistrate Shang. I wasn't 3:28:46 spending the magistrate's favor on this. I was saving that favor for the one thing I knew was coming. The day the Shu family's exile came for me. Remember the two officers who brought his gift. We've met. We've talked. We don't need them to do much. Just keep an eye out and check the travel passes. Anyone going more than 100 Lee from home needs a pass. If there's no pass, fourth uncle's still within 100 Lee. Grandma's eyes brightened. A 100 Lee was still a lot of ground, but it wasn't the whole empire. I sat with her while she ate and stayed until she fell asleep. The next day, I went to buy wine. If I was going to ask the officers at the Yammen to look for fourth uncle, I'd need a gift. I chose the Jixyang wine shop on purpose. A young man behind the counter showed me the good bottles and disappeared. When I came back to pay, a woman was standing at the counter instead. Calm eyes, quick fingers on the abacus. I put down two strings of coins. You must be Madame 3:29:47 Deng, second son's wife of the Jang family. And you are Lu, a friend of Miss Ding Yuhawa. She speaks very highly of you. Her whole face warmed up. Then I must give you a discount. No, I didn't mention her to save money. She said, "You two run an honest shop, and I wanted to see for myself. If you're ever free, come and visit me with her. I have a shop on Ningshi Street." I picked up my wine and walked out before she could argue. "You don't knock on a door like that twice. You make sure it wants to open. At the door, a young man came barreling in without looking and slammed straight into me. Are you blind? Don't you know who I?" He looked up. He saw my face and his whole face changed. Oh, miss. Are you all right? Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry I wasn't looking. He reached for my arm. I stepped back. I didn't even bother to answer. I walked around him. Miss, wait. Madame Deng was 3:30:48 suddenly in his way. Third brother. Looking for your second brother? He's in the back. By the time he'd shaken her off, I was on the cart and gone. What I found out later, he was the Jang third son. The one who turned down plain Miss Ding for her prettier sister and then dumped the sister the moment her father was arrested. The darling of his parents who'd never once told him no. Second sister-in-law, that girl, who is she? Where does she live? Madame Deng knew that look. She'd seen it on him before. She drives a mule cart, he said. Some village girl. She walked right past me. Nobody walks past me. He smiled. Two days. I'll know her name and her house in two days, and then I'll teach her some manners. Third brother, don't. The county's in chaos, and we've already made enemies of the dings. He laughed and left. Madame Deng thought about it for a minute. Then she took off her apron and went to the Ding house. 3:31:49 Honestly, I couldn't believe it either. I'd gone out in my oldest clothes, two plain braids, looking like a sack of potatoes with a mule, and that boy still couldn't keep his eyes to himself. Some men aren't picky. They just can't stand not getting what they point at. I dropped the shopping at the house. Grandma insisted on coming with me to the Yammen. I'm not tired, are you? I'm coming. So, we walked to the Yammen together, carrying three bottles of wine. I had luck on my side. One of the guards on the gate was the officer who'd brought the magistrate's gift. Julie, his name was. He saw me and came down the steps at once. Miss Lou, are you here to see the magistrate? He thought I was the magistrate's special friend. As far as he knew, the magistrate had made a big public show of backing us. And boss Lou, it turned out, was still in a cell. Once they started looking into him, they'd found a lot of small, dirty things, enough to keep him there a while. No, I said I came to see you. He 3:32:51 pointed at himself. Me? You? I need a favor. Behind me. Grandma's jaw dropped. All her life. You crossed the road to avoid a yammen runner. And this one was smiling at us. My uncle Yuan Shanchuan went missing more than half a month ago. He was supposed to come home and he never did. His family reported it 2 days ago. Yuan Shanuan? He frowned. I remember. He remembered. He also knew that report was sitting at the bottom of a very tall pile. Right now, the whole Yammen was busy taking the old magistrate's people apart and building the case against the Shu family. A missing farmer with no clues would wait weeks, maybe forever. I gave him an easy way around that. When his family came, they were in such a panic they didn't tell you anything useful. That's not fair on you. But we've thought of something since travel passes. If you check the gate records, you'll know if he left the county at all. If he didn't, the search gets a lot smaller. He 3:33:53 blinked. That was the first thing any real investigator would do. Wait here. We sat at a tea stall across the street and drank cold tea. Grandma kept whispering. He's so helpful. Who knew officials could be so helpful? I told her to drink her tea. Half an hour later, he came back out. I met him halfway with a bowl of cold tea. He drank the whole thing before he spoke. Checked. No pass. He never left. He's somewhere within a hundred. Lee. Grandma let out a breath she'd been holding for weeks. Then she caught it again. If he was that close. Where was he? Thank you. Now we know where to look. If you hear anything, send word to Yurin Pavilion. The Lou family will be very grateful. Don't worry, Miss Louu. We<unk>ll do what we can. I held out two bottles. I can't take that. It's not for you. It's for your magistrate. He sent a gift for our opening. I have to send something back, don't I? He couldn't argue with 3:34:54 that. Then I held out the third bottle. And this one's for you and your partner for running about on our behalf. That's only fair, isn't it? He couldn't argue with that either. What I found out later, Magistrate Shang was coming out of his study when Hulie walked past with three bottles. Where'd you get those, Miss Lu? Sir, Lu Shaya, she was here to see me. No, sir. She said she came to see me. Magistrate Chang stood very still. He'd known about Yuan Shenuan for days. He'd been sitting there waiting for Miss Lu to come to him, the most powerful man in the county, so she'd owe him. Mr. Mang had told him to stay away from her. Fine. He'd wait for her to come to him. That was his whole plan. And she'd gone to the dorman with wine. He shoved Julie's bottle back at him. Keep it. Don't get drunk on duty. He walked off. Then he turned round and put two men on that UN case properly. Back 3:35:54 on Ninguay Street, our shop was still empty. Opening day, the day after, and today. Three days. Not one dress. The family had gone from flying high over 200 tales to sitting in cold water. The shopkeepers along the street didn't dare say it to our faces, not after the magistrate's gift. Behind our backs, they were having a wonderful time. Mom's needle had slowed right down. Her face had gone back to the old worried shape. Only I wasn't worried. My sister was practicing makeup on me and on mom every spare minute. She had a feel for it. After 2 days, her faces didn't just look decent. She'd started fixing things on her own, moving a line, trying a color I hadn't shown her. Soon, she'd be able to run this shop without me. That mattered more than anything. The seams dresses were hired. Madame Deng had been met. The little man's school was found. Every step was ticking along. At dinner, I said, "Don't worry. We expected this. If 3:36:57 nobody comes in two more days, we'll go out and knock on doors." But I didn't think we'd need to. The dings had settled their trouble. Miss Ding would come and Dr. Shu had his scar cream in jars by now. Every jar would come with one of my flyers. Two more days at most. The real problem wasn't customers. It was going to be dresses. The next morning, we opened early anyway, and waiting at the door already were a Shang and Shangdi with all their bundles. They'd left Ruan village before dawn so nobody would see. On the way down Ningshui Street, they'd asked a shop boy for directions. Urine pavilion. End of the street. You can't miss it. Biggest door, fewest clothes. You're not relatives. Come to sponge off them, are you? No, said Aang proudly. We're their seamstresses. The boys from two shops burst out laughing. Seamstresses? They haven't made a single copper in 4 days, and they're hiring. They'll last a month, half a month, if that. So when 3:37:59 they got to our door, Ah Jang was holding her bundle like she wanted to hide behind it. Mom ran out of the back and grabbed her. A Shang. They hadn't seen each other in years, two villages apart, both too busy surviving. But a Shang kept looking at the empty racks. She took Mom's hand and whispered, "How's the shop really doing?" Mom couldn't answer. 4 days, no sales. A Shang understood. She didn't want mom to have to say it, so she said it first kindly. If you're managing on your own, maybe we should go back to back to the village. She didn't get the word out. Outside, the street exploded into noise. Three carriages, four pulling up right outside our door, one after another. The first one opened and outstepped a girl with a white bandage around her forehead and a soft, fragile face. a girl who looked like she'd just risen from a sick bed. And then she opened her mouth and 3:38:59 her voice came out clear as a bell. This is it. This is the shop I told you about. My dress came from here. And that makeup, Boss Lou did it. Anything you want to know, ask Boss Lou. Out of the carriages behind her came girls, young wives, rich daughters, silk and jade, and hairpins worth a cow. Mom stood frozen. Shangi moved first. Customers, mom, grab the bags. Get them out back. Leave the stools for the ladies. I was already at the door. Miss Ding had come sooner than I'd expected and she hadn't come alone. One 2 3 seven of them. Shu. I'm here and I brought you customers. Am I a good friend or what? The best. I counted. The eldest ding daughter-in-law was there too. the curvy one who'd wanted a dress. The rest I didn't know. All of them from big houses. It's hot. Come in out of the sun. I'd built this 3:39:59 shop with doors open on both sides, so the breeze ran straight through. The girls came in and sighed with relief. Then they saw the mannequins. Look, it's like a real person standing there. A girl walked up to the pink dress on the first figure. I'm exactly this tall. It'll fit me. I'll look exactly like that. I'll take it. Boss Lou, how much? She hadn't even tried it on. Excuse me. I saw that first. That color suits me better. Before I could get between them, two more grabbed my sleeves. Boss Lou, do my face like you did Yuaz. You've seen her makeup, the sick one. Of course, said Miss Ding, delighted. Why else would they all come running? When the Jens had broken off her sister's engagement, they'd done it loudly on purpose. So the whole town would know they'd cut ties with the dings. Every family with ears had heard about it. Then they'd heard about the third daughter and the broken teacup and the second daughter's cut. Her friends had 3:40:59 wanted to visit. Their families hadn't let them until Master Ding was safely home. The moment he was, they'd gone over and found Miss Ding transformed, and she'd bragged about me until they couldn't stand it anymore. Everybody can have their face done, I said. But honestly, if there's no special occasion, I don't recommend it. You'll wash it off tonight. And your maids already do lovely work. We have a special occasion, said Miss Ding. Jiu has something important this afternoon. Do her. Let everybody see. So certain people stop thinking I'm exaggerating. The girls laughed. We never said that. You're the one bragging about Boss Lou like she's your little sister. They pushed forward a pretty quiet girl. Xiu. Wait, what about the dresses? Called the two, arguing over the pink one. There aren't enough for one each. What kind of shop is this? Brand new shop. Not much stock. Please forgive us. After the makeup, I'll pick a dress for every one of you. One that's right, not just one 3:42:01 you like. Miss Ding laughed and herded them all toward the back. The moment they were gone, a Shang and Shangd crept out from the back, eyes huge. Those are all customers. Mom didn't know what to say. She was thinking about the 12 dresses. Her heart actually hurt. Where's Dea? said Dad. Au's doing a face. Dea should be watching. She's been in there since before you opened your mouth, said Grandma. And she was grinning so wide her face was folding. real customers, lots of them, fighting over a dress. She'd waited 3 days for this. She was going to enjoy every second. A Shang, I'm sorry. You'll have to wait to see your room. We're about to be very busy. Wait. Seeing this, I want to start right now. Let's go out back and sew. Up and down Ningshu Street, the shopkeepers were coming out of their doors. Four carriages full of rich ladies. They hadn't stopped at the silk shop. They hadn't stopped at the 3:43:01 jewelers. They'd driven straight to the empty shop at the end of the street, and they weren't coming out. In the fitting room, I asked Ju some questions while I set out my things. Where was she going? Who would be there? My grandmother's been away visiting family for 3 months. She's back this afternoon. We all have to go and greet her. She's kind to all of us. She doesn't play favorites. She likes things quiet. So, an old lady after half a day on a hot road, tired, too warm, in no mood for anything loud. The face had to be clean, light, cool, nothing heavy, and this girl hadn't come here just to say hello. She wanted her grandmother to notice her. Big sister was already laying out my tools in the right order. The ladies crowded in. "Not too close," said Miss Ding, waving them back. "You'll put her off. I worked fast. small changes. A brow lifted, the eyes opened up. Her face hadn't needed much. I took out all the heavy gold 3:44:03 pins, everyone that shouted money, and left only two white jade pins with little blue stones and one dangling gold one. Then I stepped back. Nobody spoke. Same girl. But everything good about her had turned up loud. Your eye just went to her and stayed there. Well, I told you, cried Miss Ding. Magic hands. You didn't believe me. Her face looks smaller. Now the dress, I said. Have you got something in blue at Have you got one here that suits me? Of course. Big sister, the lake blue one, please. Da ran out and came back with it held in both arms like a baby. Xio changed behind the curtain and came out. The whole fitting room went, "Oh, the waist is a little loose." I said, "My mother will take it in. In the back courtyard, Mom and Oshang were already cutting. "Oh, you is it selling?" Mom whispered. "Mom, we'll be sold out today." She 3:45:04 nearly dropped the scissors. After that, it was a flood. The eldest Ding daughter-in-law demanded the dress I'd promised to save her. I'd saved it. I brought it out from under the counter in its box. "Try it," she went off with Miss Ding, glowing. I picked a dress for each of them. Not the one they grabbed. the one that was right. Too long, too wide. I ran it to the back and mom or Aang fixed it in minutes. Some of them bought two. By noon, there wasn't a single dress left in the shop, and they still wanted more. They'd all had dresses made at home by their own seamstresses. Lovely work, but somehow never quite like this. Right, that was the word. The color right, the cut right, like it had been made for you before you walked in the door. I promised to make more as fast as we could. They paid at the counter, laughing, arguing over who'd get the first new one. While they paid, Miss Ding pulled me into a corner. You bought wine at the jigsaw shop yesterday. How 3:46:05 do you know? Madame Deng came running to tell me. You picked a bad moment, my friend. Her husband's younger brother saw you. Who? The Jang third son. The one who was engaged to my sister. The one who broke it off. I'd never even heard his name. Just felt his shoulder. He saw your face. He asked Madame Deng who you were. She wouldn't tell him. So, he's finding out himself. With Jang money, he'll have your name and your house in 2 days. She watched my face, worried. Listen to me. The Jangs are rich and they're powerful in this town. But he's poison. He's never been told no in his life. And you walked past him like he wasn't there. He thinks you're some village girl nobody will stand up for. He wants to put you in your place, ruin the shop, drag you into the Jang house as a servant, and make you bow every morning just to show the whole town he can. You're worried I'll be tempted. No. She touched her bandage. 3:47:06 I'm warning you. You're too good to waste in that house. Don't worry. I know exactly what kind of man he is. I'm not tired of living. She laughed. Then she leaned in again. His parents give him anything. He won't let this go easily. What will you do? Nothing yet. But if a soldier comes, you block him. If a flood comes, you build a wall. I'll be fine. I heard Magistrate Jiang sent you a gift. I won't ask why, but if you can't get away, go to the Yammen, and if I can help, I will. The dings and the Jangs were evenly matched. She couldn't do much, but she'd already done so much. She'd opened the door to Madame Deng. She'd emptied my shop. She'd come here herself to warn me. "Thank you," I said, and I meant it. The carriages pulled away, the girls waving from the windows. "Boss Lou, don't forget my dress." I turned round to go back in. Three shopkeepers from up the street pushed past me through my own door. They stood 3:48:07 in the middle of the shop. They looked at the empty mannequins, the empty rails. Even the jars of cream on the shelves were half gone. "Gone," said the man from the cake shop. "All of it?" He turned to Dad. "They bought everything? Those ladies bought every dress you had?" Dad leaned on his crutch. He was trying very hard to look modest. He was failing. "Oh, yes. I think they felt sorry for us. Such a quiet little shop. They wanted to help," he sighed. Pity I didn't have more stock. They wanted to buy more. What can you do? The shopkeepers looked at his face, that humble, humble, deeply smug face. They wanted to spit. They didn't dare. They walked around our empty shop one more time, very sour, and left. Dad waved them off from the door, smiling like a man who'd just won the county fair. Grandma took Ashang and her daughter to see their new rooms. Three rooms near ours, clean with flowers in a jar. One 3:49:09 for sewing, one for sleeping, one for the cloth. Ashang touched the table, she touched the window frame. In Ron village, they'd lived in a house the landlord was ashamed to charge for. Tonight, we're having meat. Grandma announced, "Are you? You're buying the wine, and you two are eating with us." I walked behind them through the evening street. A month ago, I was standing in a lotus pond in my nightc clothes while a family I'd lived with for a year argued about the best story to tell when they fished out my body. Tonight, my father was showing off to the whole street. My grandmother was buying meat for guests. My mother had a friend back. My big sister had a skill in her hands and money of her own. My little sister had no scar. My little brother had a copy book and a brush. And I had a name. Two, actually. the one I was born with and the one this family gave me back. Somewhere in the prefecture, the Shu family were waiting for the axe to fall. The clock in that book was still ticking. The exile was still coming, and 3:50:11 I still didn't know who it would take. But that wasn't the thing on my mind as I walked home. Somewhere in this town, a spoiled boy with too much money was asking every shop on every street about a girl with a mule cart. He thought she was alone. He thought nobody would stand behind her. Two days, he'd said, "Fine.
