Chapter 8
Edward Quan ·
I hung up, changed, and took a taxi to the hospital.
Outside intensive care, Zhao Lei sat on a corridor bench.
Unshaven, eyes red.
He stood when he saw me.
“You came.”
“Thank you.”
I sat beside him.
“What did the doctor say?”
“Her blood pressure’s down. They still need to watch her.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
I took a bread roll from my bag and gave it to him.
He broke it in half and handed some back.
“You eat too.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You haven’t had dinner. Whenever something happens, you skip meals. I know.”
I paused.
In five years, he had never noticed that.
“How do you know?”
“Whenever we fought, you didn’t eat dinner. I thought you were sulking. Looking back, I was a bastard.”
He pressed the bread into my hand.
“Have some.”
I took a bite.
It was dry.
Swallowing hurt my throat a little.
At three in the morning, the doctor came out.
“She’s out of danger.”
Zhao Lei’s legs weakened. He nearly fell to his knees.
I held him up.
“Thank you,” he told me.
“Don’t thank me. Your mother’s fortunate.”
He looked at me, eyes reddening.
“I’ve kept thinking about something these past months.”
“How did you put up with me for five years?”
“I’ve only spent three months alone in the dorm, and I can barely stand it.”
He continued.
“No one to talk to, no one to cook, not even someone to argue with.”
“Isn’t that what you always wanted?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I wanted you.”
A nurse wheeled a trolley past.
Its wheels squeaked along the floor.
“Eight months of the year have passed,” he said. “Four left.”
“When the time comes—”
“We’ll talk then.”
I stood.
“I’ll buy you a coffee.”
I turned back.
“I’ll repay that eight hundred thousand.”
“The money in your term deposit,” he said. “I’ve calculated it again. Four hundred thousand you put into the household account over five years, another four hundred thousand in bonuses. Eight hundred thousand altogether. I’ll return it.”
“With what?”
“Slowly. Three thousand a month. Thirty-six thousand a year. Twenty-two years.”
“Twenty-two?”
“Yes. I’ll be fifty-eight. Just in time to retire.”
“So installments?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“Principal and interest.”
“What interest rate?”
“What do you want?”
“Five percent.”
“A little high.”
“Four, then.”
“Deal.”
He held out his hand.
I looked at it.
Distinct knuckles. Calluses on the pads.
Had he spent these months doing manual labor?
“Have you really been hauling cargo?”
“No. I repair the pipes and change bulbs myself to save money. That’s why.”
I didn’t shake his hand.
I turned and walked away.
After a few steps, I heard him behind me.
“The first installment’s paid. Three thousand. Seven hundred and ninety-seven thousand left.”
I paused.
Then kept walking.
My lips curved.
10
On the day my mother-in-law was discharged, I went to collect her.
She lay in bed. Her eyes reddened when she saw me.
“Jiang, you really came.”
“Don’t move.”
“I’m not.”
She held my hand.
“I want to say something.”
“I was wrong before.”
Tears spilled.
“I shouldn’t have treated you as an outsider, let Lei cause you trouble, shouldn’t have—”
I interrupted.
“It’s past. Don’t mention it anymore.”
“So you and Lei—”
“Let us handle our own relationship.”
She nodded.
“All right. I won’t interfere.”
Zhao Lei took her back to her hometown.
I returned to my flat.
That evening, he messaged on WeChat.
[Mum says I have to win you back.]
Then:
[I think she’s right.]
I didn’t reply.
A third message:
[Jiang Wan, I want to remarry you.]
I stared, then typed:
[What conditions?]
[First, after we remarry, I manage your salary card.]
[Second, two thousand a month for your mother. No more.]
[Third, your sister’s affairs have nothing to do with us.]
[Fourth—]
[Wait.]
He wrote:
[You haven’t agreed to remarry me, and you’re already setting terms?]
[Agree first. I’ll consider it.]
[I agree.]
[Fourth, you buy me flowers every year.]
[What flowers?]
[Baby’s breath.]
[Because I’m only fit for a supporting role.]
He sent a smiley.
Then another message:
[A supporting role is fine. As long as I’m beside you.]
I put the phone on the bedside table.
Turned out the light.
In the dark, I smiled.
Three months later.
Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Zhao Lei wore a suit and held baby’s breath.
“You’re here.”
“Thought it through?”
“Yes.”
“Shall we go in?”
“Wait.”
He took a small booklet from his pocket.
“Look at this.”
I took it.