’No matter how well her husband treats her, without kids, she’ll have no one to care for her in her old age. What’s she so proud of?!’
Qin Shanshan believed that in the near future, she too would be in a position to pity and ignore Aunt Chang.
That night, Mrs. Tang clutched the object under her pillow, not falling asleep until the dead of night.
The lights in Qin Shanshan’s home also stayed on until the middle of the night.
She was hand-sewing a red undergarment—a special one.
On her windowsill, a set of new lingerie she had bought was laid out to dry.
She had spent a pretty penny on it. The bright red was both festive and seductive. With her fair skin, even she blushed when she looked at herself wearing it.
Qin Shanshan had made all the necessary preparations.
At dawn the next day, Qin Shanshan got up on schedule and headed to the Tang Family’s home.
Tang Yuanxiao was already up and out for a run with his men. Just like always, Qin Shanshan helped Mrs. Tang get ready for the day.
Although Mrs. Tang didn’t show any obvious signs, Qin Shanshan immediately sensed that something was different.
Or perhaps, it was a sharp intuition. The event she had been anxiously anticipating was about to unfold.
Qin Shanshan pretended not to notice, doing her best to act as she normally would.
By the time Mrs. Tang was ready, Tang Yuanxiao had returned with buns and congee from the cafeteria.
"Mom, do you still have money?" Tang Yuanxiao asked, already pressing five yuan into Mrs. Tang’s hand.
Mrs. Tang accepted it without much fuss. "Do you have to work today?"
Tang Yuanxiao nodded. "Yeah, it’s a busy day."
"Isn’t it market day in town? I want to go out for a bit. After I’m done, I’m going to visit Shanshan’s place. Come pick me up after you get off work."
Mrs. Tang said.
Tang Yuanxiao frowned. "Alright. What’s the address?"
Qin Shanshan quickly chimed in, "Just turn left outside. It’s the residential building at the end of the street. Since she’s in a wheelchair, it’s on the ground floor, right by the entrance."
"Got it." Tang Yuanxiao wasted no more words, grabbed what he needed, and left.
With Qin Shanshan pushing her wheelchair, Mrs. Tang took the five yuan and did, in fact, buy a few things.
After a long day of work, Tang Yuanxiao didn’t get home until after sunset. Seeing that his mother wasn’t there, he remembered what she had said that morning.
He sighed and went out to pick her up.
He followed the address and found the door shut tight. When Tang Yuanxiao knocked, he heard Mrs. Tang and Qin Shanshan respond from inside.
"Mom, I’m here to pick you up."
Tang Yuanxiao said this as he took a few steps back, waiting for Qin Shanshan to push his mother out.
The door opened quickly. Qin Shanshan smiled when she saw Tang Yuanxiao. "Brother Tang, come on in."
"I’ll wait out here. Could you please push my mom out?"
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t budge.
"Auntie is just in the middle of a scallion pancake. There’s still half left. You should come in and have some too, Brother Tang."
"Tangyuan, Shanshan made some for you too! Come on in and eat," Mrs. Tang called from inside.
Tang Yuanxiao raised his voice. "You go ahead and eat, Mom. I’m not hungry. I’ll eat at the cafeteria when we get back."
Qin Shanshan forced a smile. "Brother Tang, I already made it, so you might as well eat it. It’s so hot out, if we don’t finish it today, it’ll just spoil by tomorrow and go to waste."
Tang Yuanxiao just shook his head without a word.
Qin Shanshan gritted her teeth. "Even if you’re not eating, you can at least come in and wait. Auntie will be done soon."
"You’re an unmarried woman. It wouldn’t be proper for me to go inside. I’ll just wait here." Tang Yuanxiao remained unmoved.
Qin Shanshan clenched her jaw. ’It’s happening again. It’s always like this.’ Tang Yuanxiao was constantly trying to distance himself from her, as if she were poisonous.
Mrs. Tang had seen the confrontation at the doorway. Without saying a word, she used her one good hand to wheel herself forward and offered a pancake to Tang Yuanxiao.
"This won’t be enough to fill you up, but have a bite to tide you over."
Tang Yuanxiao looked at his mother, finally took the pancake, and polished it off in a few bites.
"Why are you eating so fast? Aren’t you afraid you’ll choke?" Mrs. Tang said, then looked at Qin Shanshan. "Shanshan, quick, bring me the sodas I bought today."
When Shanshan brought them over, Mrs. Tang picked up a bottle and handed it to Tang Yuanxiao. "Here, drink this. This little bottle was ridiculously expensive."
Mrs. Tang gave the other bottle to Qin Shanshan. "This one’s for you. Go on, drink up."
Shanshan took it with a sweet "thank you." Her heart suddenly began to race as she watched Mrs. Tang’s intense gaze practically forcing Tang Yuanxiao to drink the soda.
She was nervous, and having just eaten the pancake, her mouth suddenly felt parched. She tried her best to remain calm as she drank the soda Mrs. Tang had given her.
Tang Yuanxiao had been busy all day and hadn’t had a chance to drink much water. Now, after eating the dry pancake, he was thirsty. Seeing his mother’s expectant gaze, he drank the soda.
"Mom, if you like this stuff, just buy it for yourself in the future. You don’t need to get it for me."
Mrs. Tang nodded. "I know. This soda is expensive, I can’t afford to buy it every day."
Mrs. Tang finished the last half of her pancake, and only then did Tang Yuanxiao start pushing her wheelchair to leave.
They had only gone a short distance when Mrs. Tang suddenly slapped her thigh. "Oh no, Tangyuan! Mom forgot something. We have to go back."
"I came across a cheap wooden table, so I bought it. It’ll be perfect for us."
The sky was already growing dark. Hearing that his mother wanted to go back, Tang Yuanxiao felt a surge of irritation. He also felt hot. He tugged at his collar, took a deep breath, and pushed her back the way they came.
Qin Shanshan was not at all surprised to see them return.
"Right after you left, I remembered you forgot the wooden table. I was just wondering if I should bring it over to you."
Qin Shanshan’s face was flushed, and her voice was even softer than usual.
"You’re just one girl, how could you move it? Tangyuan, hurry up and get it."
As Mrs. Tang spoke, Tang Yuanxiao felt agitated. A strange heat was spreading through his body, and all he wanted was to get home as soon as possible.
"Where’s the table?" he asked with a frown, heading into the house in the direction Qin Shanshan pointed.
Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t even lifted the table when he heard the door suddenly slam shut behind him.
Tang Yuanxiao whipped his head around to see Qin Shanshan following right behind him.
"Why’d you close the door—" Before Tang Yuanxiao could finish, Qin Shanshan let out a soft cry and suddenly fell into his arms.
...
Outside, Mrs. Tang pressed her ear to the door, listening to the commotion inside. When she was sure things were proceeding as planned—that it had definitely worked—a satisfied smile spread across her face.
The person who sold her the drug hadn’t lied. The effect was perfect, and the timing was impeccable.
Mrs. Tang stared at the closed door, as if she could already see a chubby grandson running into her arms.
In the darkness, her eyes shone with an unnerving light.