Chen Meixiang reached home. Seeing her daughter's beaming face, Madam Chen understood right away that she had gotten the job.
Old Chen, who was reading an old newspaper in the main room, also came out when he heard his daughter's voice. The day before yesterday, Meixiang had told him how she learned about a vacancy at the school and was planning to try for it. He had thought it over and found it a good chance. The next morning, he went to the village chief first thing to get the recommendation letter.
It's good that her daughter now has a job, he thought. Even if these old bones are not here one day, she can still support herself and her daughter.
Rui Rui also came out of her room. She was, as usual, playing and learning with the system she called "father."
Madam Chen quickly brought her daughter inside, and Chen Meixiang sat down with her parents to explain everything. She told them about the interview, the documents, the salary of 18 yuan a month, the ration tickets, and how Uncle He had helped her. She also told them about the room she would get after the New Year, where she and Rui Rui could live together.
Old Chen bobbed his head up and down, smiling from ear to ear.
Madam Chen was so happy that she wanted to run out and tell the whole village right away. But Meixiang stopped her.
"Mom, I am only a temporary worker right now. Let's wait until I become permanent. Then we can celebrate properly."
Madam Chen paused, then nodded. Her daughter was right. It was better to be careful. She sat back down, though her feet still tapped with excitement under the table .
The family was still talking happily when a loud crash came from the yard next door. It sounded like a metal basin falling on hard ground. Then came a shrill scream—a young girl's voice, full of fear.
Everyone in the Chen household froze.
Madam Chen was the first to stand up. "That came from the Li family's yard," she said.
Chen Meixiang stood up next, her heart already beating faster. Old Chen put down his newspaper and got to his feet. Even Rui Rui followed behind her mother, curious and a little scared.
They hurried out of their gate and into the neighbor's yard.
What they saw made them stop in their tracks.
Li Min, the youngest daughter of the Li family, was running out of the house. Her clothes were messy, and her face was pale with terror. Behind her, walking out of the same door, was a man in his late thirties.
When Li Min saw Madam Chen and Meixiang standing in the yard, she stopped running. For a moment, she looked ready to flee again. Then her eyes focused on the familiar faces of the women next door. Without a word, she ran straight to Madam Chen and hugged her tightly, burying her face in the old woman's shoulder.
The fifteen-year-old girl was shaking all over, like a leaf in the wind. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
The man who came out of the house stood in the yard with a bothered look on his face. But the moment he saw that people had gathered, his expression changed. He put on a kind, gentle face, as if nothing was wrong.
Old Chen did not step inside the yard. He stayed at the gate, watching carefully. He looked at the girl, then at the man, then back at the girl.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and serious. "What are you doing in that house?"
The man smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "It's nothing, Uncle. I am her maternal uncle. Today I came to bring some things to my sister. There was a snake in the house, that's all. The girl got scared. Please don't misunderstand."
Old Chen nodded slowly. He had seen this man before, bringing things to the Li family. But he did not believe a single word about a snake. The girl's condition told a different story.
Still, he knew how these things worked in the village. If he spoke out now, the girl's name would be ruined. People would talk. No one would believe a young girl over a grown man.
He made a quick decision.
"Take the girl inside," he said quietly to Madam Chen. "Help her change her clothes. Give her some water. I will go to the fields and find the Li family."
Madam Chen nodded and put her arm around Li Min, guiding her gently toward the Chen household. The girl went without a word, still trembling.
Old Chen turned and walked toward the fields, his steps heavy. Behind him, the man in the yard stood watching, his kind mask still in place. But his eyes were cold.
After the old man went out, he found Li Kai, Li Min's father, walking toward the house with his wife. He approached them. Seeing Old Chen coming, Li Kai immediately went toward him. He had known Old Chen since he was a child, and the man was like family to him.
Before he could ask about his health, Old Chen cut him off. He lowered his voice and told him about the situation at home, then told him to go quickly with his wife.
Upon hearing what happened, Li Kai's expression froze. He gulped, his eyes turning red at the thought of what might have happened to his daughter. Without saying anything else, he nodded, grabbed his wife's arm, and marched toward home.
His wife, Lu Mei, asked him what had happened, but Li Kai, as if mute, did not speak. He just clutched her hand tightly and increased his speed.
When they reached the house, the man was sitting on the stairs. Upon seeing his sister and brother-in-law returning, he stood up with his usual smile on his face.
But to Li Kai, that smile looked like poison. How could I have mistaken this man's character? he thought as he raised his hand and punched him in the face with full force.