Shameless

Second Sister Li returned in a huff. Hearing what she said, she offered an apologetic smile. "This time it was my fault. I won't charge you or your husband for the trip back."

Most of Su Yuhe's anger faded, but she still asked crossly, "Where's the other passenger?"

"Oh, don't even mention it. Kept me dangling all this time, then backed out." Second Sister Li rubbed her belly and looked at her awkwardly. "Wait a little longer. I'll buy a couple of fried flatbreads to eat on the road."

With some difficulty, she fished twenty copper coins out of her clothes and handed them to Second Sister Li. "Bring me five pork and pickled cabbage buns."

"Will do. I'll be right back."

Lu Mingyi, meanwhile, was sleeping soundly. Her poor shoulder had gone numb beneath his weight.

After another short wait, Second Sister Li, the driver, still hadn't returned. Instead, two unwelcome faces appeared. Liu Xiaobo marched toward the ox cart, bristling with aggression, followed by a youth as frail as a willow swaying in the wind, who looked as though he had only a breath left in him.

"Why is it you again? Where's that second-born Li?"

Liu Xiaobo looked very displeased to see her, and she was no happier to see him. She snapped, "Why can't I be here?"

"I haven't got time to argue with you. Where's that second-born Li?"

"Which second-born Li? Isn't your family's surname Li too?"

She knew who he meant; she simply didn't want to speak civilly to this boor.

Liu Xiaobo sat down on the ox cart. "Why is talking to you such hard work? The second-born Li who drives the ox cart."

"Gone to buy flatbreads."

Lu Mingyi stirred, drawing her attention back. "Awake?"

He nuzzled against the arm he was hugging, found another comfortable position, and went back to sleep. Su Yuhe nudged him. "Stop sleeping. Any more and you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Liu Xiaobo clicked his tongue twice, glanced back at Ruan Puchuan, who was as thin as kindling, and curled his lip. "Have you no shame? With all these people around."

Su Yuhe rolled her eyes at him and continued trying to wake Lu Mingyi. Still half asleep, he answered now and then.

A pair of dark hands reached toward Lu Mingyi's fair cheek. She slapped them away. "What are you doing?"

Liu Xiaobo withdrew his hands sheepishly. "I'm just checking whether he has a fever."

She was doubtful, not believing he could be so kindhearted. His hand reached toward Lu Mingyi again, and this time she didn't stop him.

"His forehead's burning hot. Make him some ginger soup when you get back so he can sweat it out."

Liu Xiaobo pulled his hand away, and she immediately felt Lu Mingyi's forehead herself. It was indeed very hot.

Second Sister Li hurried over. "Oh dear, it's already dark. We'd better get back."

When she came closer and spotted Liu Xiaobo, her expression soured. "Didn't you say you weren't taking the cart?"

"It's already dark. How can you bear to make these old bones walk home?"

"You made me wait all that time for nothing, and now you want a free ride?" Second Sister Li handed Su Yuhe the oilpaper parcel she was holding. "Sorry for the wait. We're leaving right away."

Su Yuhe took it and tucked it against her chest. "Hurry up. My husband's already caught a chill from the wind."

Second Sister Li leaned in for a look, then waved a hand, utterly unconcerned. "It's nothing. Men are tough. Some ginger soup when he gets home will set him right."

She grew even more displeased. "How can a young gentleman raised in the city compare to someone from the countryside? Less nonsense. Just get us home."

Liu Xiaobo chimed in, "That's right, hurry home. Drag this out any longer and the fever will muddle his wits."

Second Sister Li glared at him and dragged him off the cart. "You don't get a say."

She climbed onto the ox cart and lightly flicked the ox's back with her whip. The ox slowly set off. It wasn't moving fast, and Liu Xiaobo and his son-in-law clung to the cart bed behind them.

"Stop sleeping. Time to eat."

Hearing the words "time to eat" was like a drop of water falling into a pan of hot oil. Lu Mingyi woke up at once.

He hadn't eaten his fill all day. A single pork and pickled cabbage bun that afternoon had done nothing to fill his stomach.

Lu Mingyi rubbed his eyes, his voice hoarse. "Wife."

Su Yuhe pulled some straw over him. "Does your head hurt?"

"No."

"Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Lu Mingyi shook his head again. "No."

"Really?"

With a thud, the hands gripping the edge of the cart bed suddenly dropped, and a whole person fell to the ground. Rather than helping him up, Liu Xiaobo's first response was to kick the person on the ground twice. "You money-losing wretch, get up already."

Liu Xiaobo kept gripping the cart bed, showing no sign of letting go.

The youth on the ground didn't move for a long time. The ox cart slowly drew away, leaving him lying on the path like a sack of discarded rubbish, with no one paying him any mind.

The sight made Su Yuhe's heart clench. She wanted to lend him a hand, but her position made it inappropriate.

She turned to look at Lu Mingyi. He had clearly seen the youth fall as well, but his expression was indifferent, his coldness identical to Liu Xiaobo's.

She felt as though she understood what the old people here said: men were all cold-blooded, without sympathy or empathy.

Or perhaps it was the difference in social standing. It was also possible that seeing so many pitiful people had given him this outward air of unruffled calm.

Su Yuhe couldn't help making excuses for him.

The ox cart slowly stopped. Second Sister Li got down and spat at Liu Xiaobo, who was clinging to the cart bed. "You're not human! Leaving your son-in-law lying on the ground without a care-aren't you afraid wolves will eat him, or a cart will run him over? You're vicious!"

Liu Xiaobo sat on the edge of the cart bed, glaring fiercely. "So what? If you want to feel him up, just say so. Let me ride, and I'll let you touch him."

"You! You're utterly shameless!"