Chapter 8 — On the night of the wedding, he said we were just husband and wife in name, I quietly wrote a letter of separation

Two hundred taels of silver, payable in cash. The name written on the deed is To Chu Uan... Not Thi Chu, nor young lady. On the fifth day after moving into the new house, Uncle Han came for a visit. Now he is managing thirty acres of mulberry fields and a silkworm house. His skin has been exposed to the sun until it is dark, but his spirit is extremely good.

“Miss, this year the quality of the silkworm cocoons is especially good, the silk that comes out is even whiter and smoother than in previous years.”

He took out a bundle of scrap silver from his pocket.

“This is this month's revenue from the strawberry field, a total of sixty-two taels.”

"Uncle Han kept ten taels, the rest was deposited in the bank account."

I poured him a cup of tea.

“Is that judge's illness completely cured?”

"I'm cured, I'm cured, it's all thanks to the blessing of the eldest lady."

He rubbed his hands, wanting to say it again.

“Miss, there is something…”

"Someone is coming from the Chu family. Not from the Chu family, but the maid Thuy Kieu next to Concubine Lieu."

Uncle Han lowered his voice.

“She has walked around the estate several times, wanting to find out where you are.”

Thu Hoa just walked in carrying tea, and when she heard that, she frowned.

“Does she still have the face to come?”

“No rush.”

I took a sip of tea.

"Let her find it. What if she finds it?"

The day Thuy Kieu actually came to the door, I was in the Ton Tham school yard next door salting apricots. She became thinner, her eyes were blue and purple, she stood in front of the door with a timid and weak look, completely losing the spirit of sitting by the well gossiping that year. Thu Hoa spread her arms in front of the door, her arms crossed in front of her chest, her chin slightly raised.

“Come for what?”

“Young lady…”

Thuy Kieu looked inside, saw me rubbing the apricot, and immediately knelt down with a "thud" sound.

“Young lady, please take a trip back!”

I continued to rub the dream, never stopping.

"Auntie Liu... Concubine Liu's salary was cut in half by the lady, even the expenses at the heavenly courtyard have been reduced. The young master is drunk every day, no longer goes to the heavenly courtyard to listen to the piano, and doesn't even come to the study..."

Thuy Kieu's voice carried a choked cry.

“Young lady, please go back and take a look!”

The apricots roll around in a layer of coarse salt, the astringent taste gradually seeping out.

“What did I come back for?”

"Young master... he really has someone in his heart..."

“Thuy Kieu.”

We put the apricots in the jar.

“You go back and ask me a question.”

Her eyes immediately lit up.

“You ask!”

"Help me ask your Aunt Liu... the same Aunt Liu who said that the person who leaves the best man in the world without need is only worthy of being a living widow."

I lightly brushed the salt grains off my hands.

"Now that the tears are cut in half, the man is drunk every day, does she still feel like she has won?"

The last bit of blood on Thuy Kieu's face completely disappeared.

“Thu Hoa, see off the guests.”

When the carriage passed through the alley behind Chu residence, at the beginning of the street there were a few ladies gathering to gossip. Some people say that the young master of the Chu family has been so skinny in the past six months that his entire appearance has changed, some people say that the current member of the Heavenly Yard's expenses are not as good as the maid's, and some people say that the lady is planning to choose another successor for the young master.

“I heard that the young lady left at the beginning won't come back either."

“That is a person with real courage. If it were me, I would have lived like a widow for three years, I'm afraid I would have hanged myself a long time ago."

"I heard that she opened a shop in town, and her business is bigger than that of men."

“Tsk, the Chu family really lost a treasure.”

I let down the curtain and leaned against the window frame. The horse-drawn carriage jostled through the green stone road, the sounds of selling goods on the side of the road and the sounds of children playing mixed together. Three years ago on the wedding night, Chu Hoai Can stood in front of a red candle and declared that he and I could only be husband and wife in name for the rest of our lives. At that time, I sat on the edge of the bed, the towel still covering my head, and I couldn't even see his face clearly. Now that I think back, I feel grateful. I am grateful that he did not enter the main court for three years, so that I could have time to work in the mulberry fields and open a shop. Thank you for loving Lieu Nhu Hue so clearly and righteously, allowing me to completely cut off the last ray of hope. Grateful that he left me books, favors, inheritance, and real things, instead of talking about love with me every day. The carriage turned to the east of the town, and the pomegranate branch of the new trach extended out from the top of the wall. Thu Hoa stood waiting for me in front of the door, in her hand holding a newly purchased oil paper umbrella.

"Sister Uan, Ton Tham said this umbrella was shipped from Hangzhou, very sturdy!"

I took the umbrella and opened it. The bamboo slats are thick and tight, the surface of the umbrella is shiny, the midday sunlight passes through, creating a pale shadow on the ground. Thu Hoa followed behind and asked:

“Sister Uan, what should we eat tonight?”

“Braised pork ribs with apricots. Today's batch of freshly salted apricots is ready to use."

There was a smell of burning wood in the kitchen, and Ton Tham from next door also brought a plate of sugar cakes that had just come out of the oven. We take the apricots out of the jar, and the sour flesh is cut into small pieces on a cutting board. Outside the window is still the same sky, bright blue. It's just that before I stood inside that red gate and looked out, but now I stand in front of the small door of this small courtyard and look up.

“Sister Uan…”

Thu Hoa stood by the kitchen and called out.

"Uncle Han has brought the silkworm cocoons. Would you like to go to the silkworm room to take a look?"

“Tell him to wait a moment.”

I wipe my hands.

“Finish stir-frying this dish and then go.”

The fat in the pan splattered, the sour scent of apricots mixed with the charred aroma of spare ribs mixed together, filling the whole room with human warmth. (FULL TEXT)