Jia Pingwa - Ruined City

The two women felt so close they were on the verge of tears, and parted ways only after holding hands for a moment.

Niu Yueqing continued to watch Tang as she walked out of the lane and disappeared from sight.

“Let’s go,” Liu Yue said.

“Yes,” Niu Yueqing said, then added, “What do you think of Tang Wan’er, Liu Yue?”

“What do you think?”

“She has a good heart.”

“As long as you think she’s a good person,” Liu Yue said.

When they reached the apartment, Zhuang, who had returned to take a bath, was dressed in his pajamas, turning the house upside looking for something. He had realized during his bath that the coin around his neck was gone. The string was made of nylon, not likely to break, and he wore it like a necklace, which could only mean that he had taken it off and put it somewhere before the bath. But he couldn’t find it in the bathroom or in the bedroom. He was drenched in sweat from the search, but stopped looking when Niu Yueqing and Liu Yue came in. Quietly he made himself a cup of tea to drink alone. Ignoring the cold shoulder, Niu Yueqing told Liu Yue to prepare some noodles, while she went inside to make the beds in each bedroom, wipe down the tables and chairs, spray some perfume, and light some sandalwood incense, making the place clean, bright, and cozy. Then she changed into a soft satin qipao and put on some makeup before sitting down beside him. She took out a pack of State Express cigarettes and handed it to him. “What a temper you have. You should have made some sort of noise when we came in, even if Liu Yue and I had been beggars.”

“What’s the matter with you?” Zhuang cast a puzzled look at his wife.

“Me? What’s the matter with you? Don’t look angry. Come with me to help Liu Yue cook.”

In the kitchen Liu Yue smiled at him, while Niu Yueqing returned to the living room.

“What’s wrong with her?” Zhuang whispered.

“The well has fallen into the bucket! You won. You’re a celebrity, so who could out-wait you?”

Zhuang pinched the girl’s mouth. “Don’t be so clever. You will realize how nice I was when your husband starts finding fault with you.”

“We’ll see who finds fault with whom.”

He studied her figure in the short, tight skirt and her impossibly pretty legs, highlighted by the nude-tone stockings. “You look nice in stockings.”

“Poor me. Dajie was angry with me for buying these.”

“You’re not poor. What happened to the money I gave you a few days ago?”

“It wasn’t very much, and I’m saving it to buy a down coat for the winter.”

He poked her in the waist. “You’re getting cleverer by the day.”

She shrieked. Niu Yueqing, who was clearing the dining table, asked from the living room, “What’s wrong?”

Liu Yue banged her knife on the chopping board and said, “I cut my fingernail.”

“Be careful. Don’t cook one of your nails into the noodles.”

Zhuang ate three bowls of noodles, after which his forehead resembled a steamer.

“Are you finished?” Niu Yueqing asked him. “I’m going to show you something. Liu Yue, bring his cigarettes so he can smoke while he reads.”

When he was finished, he sat motionless for a long time before sneering and wiping the tabletop with the document.

“Liu Yue, your dajie did a nice job with her makeup today. It would have been even nicer if she’d used less rouge.”

Niu Yueqing and Liu Yue were shocked. When it came to the serious matter that had kept them running around all day, he was treating it as if it were nothing.

“I’m glad you’re not angry,” Niu Yueqing said. “But don’t treat it as a lark, either. Now, since this doesn’t seem to bother you, I have two things to say to you. I’m your wife and I have to bring them up, even if they displease you. First, why did you have to write Jing Xueyin such a letter? It shows not only that you still have feelings for her, but that it was a foolish move. You should never have written something like that at a time like this, no matter how much you feel for her. Do you honestly believe she’s as tenderhearted a person as I am? You’re being nice to her, and see what she does in return? It’s all right for her to photocopy the letter as court evidence, but Zhong Weixian told me she’s made copies for the provincial and municipal leadership, the Women’s Federation, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress, and all the cultural and art organizations. How they must be laughing at you. From what I’ve heard, she’s going around telling people that you pursued her years ago, while she couldn’t have cared less about you. You deceived yourself into thinking that she liked you. Won’t the letter serve as further evidence of her claim once it goes public? I don’t want to say more about this, or you’ll think I’m jealous. I can ignore it when outsiders mock me, but have you given a single thought to your wife? Second, you’re a celebrity. As the saying goes, the tall trees catch the wind, but you know that tall trees can also block the wind. It’s different for Zhou Min, an ant that anyone could easily pinch to death. He was the one who caused all this, but you must remember that he didn’t mean to. If it weren’t for Jing Xueyin and for your tendency to brag for momentary gratification, this article would only serve to promote you and spread your fame. You helped Zhou Min find a job, and if you were to abandon him on account of her now, his anger would erase everything you’ve done for him. Besides, others won’t regard you favorably. You have to be aware of what kind of person he is. He was not a reputable character, and his old habits could return to betray him even though he tried to turn over a new leaf. He already bears grudges against you. Earlier today, when Zhong Weixian called, he said he asked Zhou Min to rush the document over. But he didn’t. It was Tang Wan’er who did, and who knows what he said to her. You need to figure out why he chose not to see you about this important matter.”

She was being clear and logical, but he remained motionless after hearing her out. “I was going to write a novel,” he said at last, “but I won’t if you say no.”

. . .

Zhuang called Meng Yunfang over that evening and had him ask Zhou Min, Hong Jiang, and Zhao Jingwu to come with him. After discussing various strategies, they reached the conclusion that they could no longer depend solely on the people at the magazine. They had to work on the Municipal Intermediate Court to reject the lawsuit. Zhao said he knew a judge named Bai Yuzhu, who might not be in charge of the case, but would help out if he could. Zhuang told Zhao and Zhou to go see Bai at his home right away and report back on the results, no matter how late it was. Niu Yueqing put together a large parcel of gifts for the two men to take along.

“I’ll pay for these,” Zhou Min offered.

“No need to worry about trivial matters like that,” Niu Yueqing said. “We may have to spend money in other areas, and you can pitch in then.”

After Zhao and Zhou left, Zhuang said, “Don’t look so sad, it’s no big deal. We’ll play some mahjong while we wait for them to return.”

Zhuang, Meng, Niu Yueqing, and Hong sat down to play, while Liu Yue served them cigarettes and tea. Her eyes were fixed on Hong, who said: “See my jacket over there, Liu Yue? Check the pocket and get me some change, will you?”

She went to the coat tree and searched his pocket for the deposit book. It had her name on it, with an entry of three hundred yuan. Putting it in her pocket, she said: “Is that all, Hong Jiang?”

“Not enough? It’s plenty.”

“How much?” Niu Yueqing asked.

“Twelve yuan.”

Hong winked at Liu and said with a laugh, “I’m good at grabbing a knife barehanded.”