Yu and Jing - Chapter 5

For the first two days after Lu Jing left, I could not quite get used to it.

He was no longer in the kitchen when I rose, or watching me grind herbs in the courtyard. It was as though a bit of scenery had disappeared from my side.

The strange dreams, on the other hand, kept returning.

His dress was in disarray, baring a broad stretch of pale skin at his chest. The skirt had ridden up to his waist, revealing his long legs. I moved on top of him, our hands tangled together.

Had he given me that sachet to express his affection? Since when had I become so fond of ridiculous imaginings?

It must have been Second Aunt Chen’s fault, talking to me during the day.

She disliked making matches for other people, but she was devoted to finding one for me.

As she put it, she had watched me grow up. I had lost my mother as a child and my father when I was older. Running a clinic all alone was a hard life; I needed someone beside me to help.

“With your looks and temperament, what good girl couldn’t you find? Listen to your Second Aunt. I’m not asking you to marry her this instant. Just meet her and have a little talk. Will you?”

I felt helpless. “Second Aunt, if you haven’t come for treatment today, please let the next patient through. There’s a line behind you.”

She patted the table. “Who says I’m not ill? I only brought it up first so you wouldn’t forget.”

The people waiting were growing impatient. I gave in. “Fine, I’ll meet her in a few days. Now tell me what’s bothering you.”

“That’s settled, then.” Finally she relented and rubbed her temples. “It’s nothing serious. I can’t sleep at night. The calming medicine you gave me before doesn’t seem to work anymore.”

After taking her pulse, I sighed. “Have you been losing your temper again lately? You need to keep yourself calm. No amount of medicine will help otherwise.”

She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “How am I supposed to stay calm? You know Third Chen lives next door. There’s a commotion at all hours of the night.”

Nearly everyone in town knew what she meant.

Chen Family Town had a notorious scoundrel named Chen Cha, nicknamed Third Chen. His ancestors had made a fortune in trade and left this only son plenty of money. But Chen Cha was an idle wastrel who liked harassing young women. His mother was known as a shrew, too. No family in town wanted to marry a daughter into that household. Everyone could see the fortune would be squandered sooner or later.

Chen Cha remained unmarried until last year, when he went away and returned near year’s end with a young woman. Her face was covered and she was heavily pregnant. No one knew what she looked like.

Even their wedding was held quietly.

Many guessed a rogue like Chen Cha had bought himself a wife somewhere. No one knew the truth.

After the new year, she gave birth to a daughter, and the noises from their house grew worse.

Second Aunt Chen told me it was usually the woman’s cries, sometimes mixed with a man’s curses.

Some neighbors could not bear it and knocked on the door. No one answered. The crying inside only grew louder.

After a few tries, everyone became afraid to interfere.

I had seen his young wife once.

I had closed the clinic late that day and noticed her peering out from an alley nearby. I did not recognize her and thought only that her face was unfamiliar. As I watched, Chen Cha ran over and dragged her away.

Only then did I realize she was probably the wife hardly anyone had seen.

“I’m telling you, he’s no human being. I’m so angry I could go to his house with a knife,” Second Aunt Chen said, growing loud again.

I hurried to calm her. “See? I told you to take it easy.”

“How can I take it easy? People say you shouldn’t meddle in another family’s affairs, but how could anyone with a heart stand by?” Her face flushed with anger. She started to rise, then sat down again. “Oh, listen to me. Let’s leave it. Young Doctor Jiang, could you prescribe something else? I’ve slept so badly these past few days that I even miscounted the takings at my shop.”

“I’ll make you another prescription.” I bent to write it, then heard a commotion outside.

Chen Shi rushed into my clinic carrying someone in his arms.

“Please, make way. Young Doctor Jiang, I found this girl unconscious in the mountains. She’s lost a lot of blood. Take a look at her!”

The brush fell from my hand onto the table.

The pale-faced “girl” in his arms was Lu Jing, who had left my home only days before.