Chapter 34: By the River

He had not imagined washing long hair could be so exhausting. His back felt ready to break before he was done. He had to fetch a stool and sit.

By the end, his waist and back ached. What was the point of all this hair?

He towelled it half dry, filled the wooden tub with hot water, added cold until it was right and set his clothes aside. Climbing in, he let his hair hang outside to keep it dry and finally enjoyed his soak.

After more than an hour, the water had cooled. He got out, his hair nearly dry now, and put on his jacket.

He carried the squirrel’s nest up the ladder and set it beside his pillow. The little creature slept soundly.

He lay down with a long, comfortable stretch. Between the bath and the extra quilt, he no longer felt cold. That night he slept wonderfully.

Early next morning, his nose tickled. He sneezed with his eyes still shut, then opened them.

The squirrel’s long, furry tail lay across his face.

Awakened by the sneeze, it stared at him with round eyes, showing no fear.

He scrambled up and cupped it in his hands.

“Hello! Your eyes are open!”

It squeaked twice.

“Hungry?”

He took a shelled pine nut from his pocket. Though it could see now, it still had no teeth and could not gnaw the kernel. It squeaked in frustration.

“Wait a little. I’ll do my chores first, then feed you.”

He returned it to the nest and took it downstairs, his hair loose about his shoulders. After putting the box behind the medicine counter, he found a wooden comb in the kitchen and combed his hair.

But how to make the topknot?

He twisted and struggled until he was sweating. Finally a crooked knot held together. He wrapped it in cloth, put on the futou and took the buckets to the river.

From the steps he heard the girl and the young married woman laughing by the well, though its great stone cover hid them.

His heart began thumping. Should he go down or wait?

The teasing woman shifted and saw him.

“There’s that fool, come to look at you again!”

She nudged her companion, who peered out and smiled.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“Nonsense? Look! He’s staring at your chest. His eyes will fall out!”

“What are you saying? I’ll tear that mouth of yours!”

The girl reached for her face. Laughing, the woman dodged.

“Stop it. He’s watching. He won’t like it if you’re too fierce.”

The girl immediately quietened, glanced up at him and lowered her head to draw water.

“Why stand there?” the woman called. “Come down! Xiaomei won’t eat you!”

He laughed awkwardly and descended. Spilled water had frozen on the steps. He had to be careful; a fall here would be mortifying.

When he reached the well, the woman nudged the girl.

“Didn’t you have something to ask him? Lost your voice?”

“Did I?”

“Your second sister! Last night you said you should ask a doctor. Here’s one. You can carry his water home as the fee.”

“Oh! I’d forgotten.”

The girl laughed, then reddened before she had spoken.

“I wanted to ask a favour. Could you help?”

Since she was not looking at him, he deliberately glanced about before pointing to himself.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Don’t play innocent!” her companion scolded. “Who else is here?”

“Don’t you count as a person?”

Once he began talking, he found conversation with Tang girls came smoothly enough after all.

“Impudent!”

She raised a hand as if to hit him, then pushed the girl.

“He’s insulting me. Aren’t you going to stop him?”

“Me? You two are flirting and… well, what’s it to do with me?”

“You little wretch!”

The woman tickled her waist, and they dissolved into another laughing tussle.

Their youthful high spirits eased the gloom of his recent days.

“Please, ask,” he said. “If I can help, I will.”

They stopped and straightened their clothes.

“My second sister has weaned her child,” the girl said, blushing, “but she still has a lot of milk. The swelling hurts terribly. Is there anything for it?”

“That’s simple. Have her decoct four liang of raw sprouted barley, mai ya. It can stop the milk and ease the swelling.”

“Really?”

She glanced up, then down again.

“Thank you. I’ll carry your water.”

She reached for his buckets.

How could he let a girl do that? He would never hear the end of it.

He held them down.

“No, no. I can manage. Thank you.”

“You really are a fool,” the married woman said. “Such a fine opportunity, and you won’t take it!”

“No. I’m a grown man. People would laugh if I let you carry my water.”

The two exchanged a look and giggled.

“She’ll be washing clothes here this afternoon,” the woman said. “Bring yours for her.”

“I can wash my own…”

The girl gave him a reproachful look.

“He’s afraid I won’t get them clean.”

“No, that isn’t what I meant.”

He felt awkward. Letting her wash some clothes need not mean anything.

“All right. I’ll bring them this afternoon. Thank you.”

“No thanks needed,” her companion giggled. “Cure her chest pain one day and you’ll be even.”

The girl hit her.

“Nonsense again!”

“Chest pain mustn’t be taken lightly,” Zuo Shaoyang said seriously. “I could examine you.”

Her neck turned crimson.

“Don’t listen to her! There’s nothing wrong with my chest. She’s teasing!”

She went to tickle the woman again. As they pushed and laughed, the woman deliberately shoved her hard into Zuo Shaoyang.

The steps were narrow and icy. He could not move aside, but caught the waist-high stone well cover and kept his balance.

The jolt knocked his futou crooked. His already insecure topknot came undone. Hair spilled like water over his face.

The women froze, then burst into laughter.

Scarlet, he swept his hair back and clumsily tried to coil it. That only made them laugh harder.

“Help him!” the married woman urged.

Covering her smile, the girl approached.

“I’ll do it. A grown man, and you can’t put your hair up!”

“Thank you,” he said sheepishly.

She raised an arm and deftly took a peachwood comb from her own hair.

“How can I reach if you stand like that?”

He bent his knees into a horse stance. They found that funnier still.

She stood before him to comb his hair, very close. Her faint fragrance reached him. With her full chest directly before his eyes, his composure faltered. Afraid his expression would betray him, he shut them.

Her hands were quick. In moments she had combed and coiled his hair, wrapped it in cloth and set his futou straight. She tucked the comb back into her own hair.

“There. Why have you got your eyes closed?”

“Can’t you see he’s enjoying it?” her companion laughed. “He must be delighted. Have you do that for him every day, and he’d call his life well spent!”

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