Chapter 8

Having fought with Lin Xuqing, this Monday’s end of day was destined to be unpleasant.

Winter darkness fell too early, and the ring expressway was backed up into a long red serpent, taillights blinking, grating on the nerves.

Jiang Min put on music and told herself, over and over: work is work, life is life — don’t carry work’s frustrations into your life. It was off hours now, after all.

She’d only just calmed down when the thought circled back and lit her temper all over again. Bear the consequences herself. Put it in writing? Notarize it, even?

That Lin woman truly was something else!

…

After an entire crawl of traffic, it was past nine when Jiang Min finally got home.

Hearing the car, Pei Ruyi came out of the kitchen still in her apron. “Good thing I didn’t cook too early, or it would all have gone cold.”

Jiang Min had spent the whole two-hour drive settling her emotions. She parked and steered her mother toward the living room. “Traffic held me up. It’s freezing out — why are you in just a sweater? Inside, quickly, you’ll catch a chill.”

Pei Ruyi had come this time partly to transit through Mingchuan for a flight — she was leaving tomorrow morning, a seaside holiday with friends arranged before the New Year.

Over the weekend she had bustled nonstop: wrapped a mountain of dumplings, scrubbed the whole house spotless, the floor tiles polished to a mirror shine. She had a moderate case of cleanliness obsession, and Jiang Min could only let her have her way.

Pei Ruyi had always been careful about her health, and cooked light. After a simple dinner, she began packing.

Jiang Min knew her mother disliked others handling her things, so she simply watched from the side, keeping her company in conversation.

Pei Ruyi, head down over her packing, remarked as if in passing, “Your Auntie Song called me again.”

Jiang Min followed her lead. “About what?”

“The same old song.” Pei Ruyi didn’t look up, her hands never stopping. “Asking about you and Wen Jun.”

Jiang Min laughed a little. “I don’t feel that way about him.”

Only then did Pei Ruyi stop, looking at her quietly. “Your mother isn’t trying to force you together with him. A-Min, I only hope there’ll be someone at your side to look after you.”

Jiang Min said nothing.

Once, in her hot-blooded youth, she had fought a great battle with her mother and stormed out of the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year. But ever since Pei Ruyi’s breast cancer eight years ago, she could no longer — would never again — be that unyielding.

The New Year was closing in, and some things couldn’t be dodged.

In the end she would have to meet her mother’s eyes and give the answer that disappointed her.

She sighed softly. “It’s all right, Mom. I understand.”

Pei Ruyi smiled a little too. “Your mother isn’t forcing you. I only worry — what if…”

What if I’m gone — what will you do, alone?

Jiang Min turned her head away, breaking the eye contact.

Outside the window, night deepened.

“Auntie left that quickly?”

Ning Rou sounded genuinely disappointed. “I had things last weekend — I was planning to ask Auntie to dinner today after work.”

Jiang Min made an acknowledging sound. “She signed up for a group tour to the seaside. She’s landed already.”

Ning Rou nodded. “All right, I’ll go see her at New Year, then. And Wen Jun — did you see him?”

“Saw him. Had a meal.”

Ning Rou laughed. “He tattled to me, you know. Said the last time he saw you was two years ago — and that time we at least had dinner and a walk. This time, barely a few words in, you got angry and left.”

“If you hadn’t been the one inviting me last time, I might not have gone at all.” Jiang Min glanced at the time. “What brings you to this side of town today?”

“An interview nearby.” Ning Rou indicated the recording equipment in her tote. “Oh — the homeless project’s interviews. Any plans yet?”

“Not yet. We haven’t settled on how to shoot it, so your interviews needn’t rush.”

“New Year is a month away and there’s still no shooting plan?”

“There are a few proposals. All of them got shot down.”

The two were talking at the entrance when Jiang Xuezi and You Hui came out of the lobby. You Hui’s face was dark and wordless; Jiang Xuezi gave Ning Rou a smile and picked up the thread. “Why not mention Little Lin’s proposal?”

Ning Rou spoke up. “What did Little Lin propose?”

Jiang Min’s brow creased. “Something completely impractical.”

“She said she could sleep under the bridge arches — eat and live alongside them.”

Ning Rou gave a soft “ah.”

Gentle and perceptive as ever, she looked at the frown between Jiang Min’s brows and said soothingly, “Little Lin has always been steady in how she does things. She was probably just speaking in theory. Don’t worry too much.”

Jiang Min had no wish to keep discussing it. “We’ll talk later. We have things to do.”

“Then I’ll be off too. Bye-bye.”

Only after Ning Rou was well away did Jiang Min ask, “We just got the cold shoulder, didn’t we?”

You Hui said, exasperated, “Manager Su’s secretary said he’s swamped until the New Year and has no time to see us. Though if Team Leader Jian came in person, he might possibly squeeze out a little time.”

Meaning: unless Jian Ming showed up, don’t bother.

The project had been initiated by the relevant authorities, funded by corporate sponsorship. Their attitude had been enthusiastic enough at the start — but when it came time to actually pay out, they’d stopped returning calls.

Besides, this enterprise was an old contact of Jian Ming’s…

Given all that, the cold shoulder was entirely within expectations.

On the way back, Jiang Min comforted You Hui. “I know you’ve had it hard lately. Go home and rest properly first.”

“Hard or not, I don’t much care.” You Hui’s brow was knotted. “What I can’t stand is that Su creature and his posturing. And now we still have to look at Jian Ming’s face.”

Right on cue, Jian Ming came toward them.

He greeted them warmly. “President Jiang, back already? Past quitting time too — hard work, hard work. How did it go?”

Jiang Min’s lips curved. “As expected.”

Which could mean as-expected good, or as-expected bad.

“Well, you see, last Friday I had dinner with Manager Su, and he said he’d do everything possible to accommodate our needs. He said the same today, I take it?”

“That’s right.”

Seeing no reaction from Jiang Min, Jian Ming finally waved a hand, smile not reaching his eyes. “Best news yet. I’m off, then.”

You Hui’s temper boiled over at his retreating back. “So now he’s putting on the lordly act? And I’m supposed to kiss his boots for it? Absolute lunatic!”

Jiang Min patted her shoulder. “Enough, don’t be angry. You’ve stood in the cold wind all day — let’s get dinner now.”

Jiang Xuezi proposed, “It’s freezing — how about that lamb pot place by the park gate?”

You Hui’s attention snapped over at once. “Yes yes yes! Nothing suits this weather like lamb. Let’s see who’s still around — everyone come eat!”

Jiang Min agreed, smiling, and headed back first to tell Mi Wei to book a private room ahead, then returned to her office to gather her things briefly.

Coming downstairs, she walked in on Mi Wei asking Lin Xuqing: “Sister Little Lin, come eat with us?”

Lin Xuqing shook her head. “I’ll pass. You all go.”

As she spoke, she heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up. Their gazes met in midair.

Jiang Min looked away first. “Let’s go, Mi Wei.”

Mi Wei couldn’t tell whether that meant bring Lin Xuqing along or the opposite. Luckily Jiang Xuezi arrived just then, taking Lin Xuqing’s arm. “Come on, come on, dinner time.”

Jiang Min said nothing and walked out ahead.

The restaurant was doing roaring business, private rooms all full, so they pushed two wooden tables together in the main hall — just enough for eight.

Once everyone was seated: Lin Xuqing at the far outer seat on the right, Jiang Min on the right but further in. The space between them could have seated one more person.

The other table sat near the door, and with people coming and going, gusts of cold wind kept worming their way in. Lin Xuqing always dressed thin, and today was no different.

The kitchen was slow; everyone drank tea and chatted first.

You Hui, blunt as ever, brought up the afternoon. “Just thinking about Jian Ming’s smug face makes my blood boil. He’s clearly arranged this with the other side — deliberately setting us up for humiliation.”

Jiang Min poured her tea. “Cool your temper. We’ve known what kind of man he is for ages, haven’t we?”

“Knowing is knowing — that’s what makes it worse. Can’t we just get him removed?”

“Removed? You think President Jian would allow it?”

“I…”

Listening to them, Lin Xuqing asked Mi Wei in a low voice, “What happened?”

Mi Wei looked troubled. “Um… I’m not sure if I can say.”

Lin Xuqing didn’t press, and looked to Jiang Xuezi instead.

Jiang Xuezi smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”

Jiang Min caught the exchange, gave Lin Xuqing one glance, and looked away again.

The very picture of glacial indifference.

Mi Wei chewed her straw, sneaking looks at the two of them, the whole picture crystal clear in her mind: So those two fought this morning. Sister Little Lin is too blunt — a bit disrespectful to her boss. Senior Sister must be angry.

Lin Xuqing seemed to sense her anger too — they had clashed that very morning — and said nothing, only scooted herself another degree further out.

The north wind howled past.

Jiang Min pressed her lips together, and in the end couldn’t hold it in. “Why don’t you go sit outside, then?”