Chapter Thirty-Four: All Trouble Caused by Women

The streets were alive with bright lights and revelry; the night in Guangzhou was beautiful beyond words. Sha Le’er led Sister-in-law Yinxiang to a congee shop, made sure she ate two bowls, and herself settled for the same. Guangdong’s congee is famously delicious, though some types Le’er didn’t care for. Her favorite was lean pork and preserved egg.

Sister-in-law Yinxiang didn’t utter a word, tears streaming down her face even as she drank her congee. Le’er didn’t press her. After the meal, she hailed a taxi back to the hotel. The driver, a talkative middle-aged man, noticed Sister-in-law Yinxiang’s tears and assumed the two women were quarreling.

“Brother, how could you treat your wife like that? Go on, comfort her properly,” he said.

Le’er’s face flushed bright red. Even through her sobs, Sister-in-law Yinxiang’s cheeks colored and she cast a tearful glance at Le’er.

“Driver, she’s not my wife,” Le’er protested.

“Not your wife… I get it, you’re not married yet, she’s your girlfriend, right? Then you really shouldn’t fight. Look at how sad you’ve made your girlfriend—poor thing.”

Le’er could only laugh at the misunderstanding.

“She’s my sister-in-law.”

“Tsk tsk… You’re a bold one, little brother, daring to bully your sister-in-law. Your brother ought to teach you a lesson.”

Le’er was at a loss for words. Thankfully, the car soon arrived.

“Sister-in-law, please stop crying, will you?” Le’er was growing impatient. “Otherwise, when we get to the hotel, people really will think I mistreated my wife. Honestly, it’s not like you’ve lost your husband; there’s no need to be so heartbroken.”

“It’d be better if he was dead!” Sister-in-law Yinxiang sat down hard on the flowerbed outside the hotel, her tears flowing even faster. “Go on in, leave me alone, I’d rather die.”

Le’er found this odd. Sister-in-law Yinxiang had always been gentle and kind to Sha Jinhai, never speaking a harsh word. Why was she cursing him now? Instead of growing annoyed, Le’er actually smiled. Soon, she coaxed the truth out of her. It turned out Sha Jinhai had taken up with another woman—a prostitute, no less. He visited her constantly, and eventually even dared to be affectionate with her in front of his wife.

In a fit of anger, Sister-in-law Yinxiang left Sha Jinhai, penniless. She had been wandering the streets of Guangzhou for three days, without food or drink, and eventually fainted by the banks of the Pearl River.

Le’er no longer tried to console her, letting her cry it out. But as she wept, she threw her arms around Le’er. All this trouble, caused by women, Le’er sighed inwardly, feeling indignant on her behalf.

“Damn Sha Jinhai, if you want other women, fine, but to be so cruel to your own wife? Kicking her out with nothing, and now I’m the one paying for her medicine and clothes… What a loss for me. Maybe I should get back at him—sleep with his wife and return the favor.”

This thought made Le’er chuckle to herself.

“Le’er, what are you laughing at?”

“Nothing much.” Le’er’s face carried a mischievous grin. “Sister-in-law, what’s the use of crying? If Brother Jinhai fools around, you should just find yourself a lover and teach him a lesson—don’t let him off so easily.”

“Le’er, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“If he’s that much of a scoundrel, you should cuckold him and make him furious.” Le’er stood up, laughing. “I’m just joking, don’t take it seriously, or Sha Jinhai will come after me. Let’s go inside—you smell like fish, it’s unbearable. Go get cleaned up.”

Sister-in-law Yinxiang blushed. She hadn’t bathed in days, and with Guangzhou’s heat, her body reeked. If Le’er hadn’t bought her a change of clothes, people would have thought she was a madwoman off the streets.

Embarrassed, she followed Le’er toward the hotel. But just as they were about to enter, she stopped.

“Le’er, you’re staying here?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“No… but this place is expensive… You must have money, staying somewhere so fancy.”

“Don’t worry about my finances, worry about Sha Jinhai. If I see him, I’ll give him a beating for you.”

He pulled Sister-in-law Yinxiang into the lobby. Her strange odor made people steer clear, and many eyed them curiously. Le’er ignored them and booked another room.

He brought Sister-in-law Yinxiang to the room booked under her name. As he was about to leave, she suddenly shut the door and barred his way, glaring at him.

“Sister-in-law, what’s the matter?”

“Didn’t you say I should find a lover? I choose you.”

There was a wild, frenzied light in her eyes that unsettled him.

“Sister-in-law Yinxiang, are you out of your mind?” Le’er recoiled in shock. This gentle woman really seemed to be losing her wits. “Are you feverish or something?”

She didn’t move, a cold sneer playing at her lips.

“Never thought you’d turn out to be a coward.”

Though she spoke softly, her words hit Le’er like a sledgehammer. It was a rural insult, implying not just cowardice, but other, deeper deficiencies. In the countryside, you could put up with being insulted in many ways, but being called this was intolerable. It meant you were a man who let others walk all over you—unfit to stand tall among your peers.

Intolerable! Le’er’s eyes flashed with anger.

“How dare you call me a coward?”

“I’m a woman, offering myself to you, and you don’t dare touch me—what else could you be but a coward?”

“Luo Yinxiang, go wash up. Just wait—I’ll show you what kind of man I am!”

“I know you’re bold—what do I have to fear?” Sister-in-law Yinxiang walked toward the bathroom, throwing a final taunt over her shoulder. “If you walk out of this room tonight, I’ll call you a coward every day from now on.”

Le’er was so infuriated he nearly exploded. Lately, living in the city with Li Ying, he’d picked up some urban mannerisms and lost some of his wildness. But he’d rather be a true country man than let anyone call him a coward. In the countryside, men who lacked spirit couldn’t hold their ground.

“Le’er, are you running the bath or not?”

“You silly woman, can’t even run a bath—no wonder your man strayed.”

Le’er stormed into the bathroom, but the sight that met him made him freeze in astonishment. Sister-in-law Yinxiang stood there completely naked, making no attempt to cover herself as he entered.

“Do you like what you see?”

He couldn’t help but swallow as he took in her nude form. She wasn’t as delicate or graceful as Li Ying, but her body was strong and voluptuous, full breasts standing proud, and below her flat stomach, a trail of dark hair covered her small mound.

“You foolish woman, if I don’t make you scream for mercy tonight, I’m not Sha!”

Le’er turned on the water and stripped quickly. She had seen him naked before, when he was fourteen, and had been startled then—now, she was even more so.

That night, driven by Le’er’s fury, Luo Yinxiang cried out for help countless times.