Pearl Light

Part 2

3

That night, I was happy, lying in bed, planning how to live our future life.

It was wonderful that Shen Tong Guang could read; I wouldn't have to draw pictures for accounting anymore.

But what if he didn't want to help with the accounts?

Xie Wu Chen could keep accounts, but he was unwilling to help me.

Four years ago, Zhang Ma Zi, who collected eggs, cheated me and tricked me out of half a basket of eggs. When I cried my way home, Xie Wu Chen just glanced at me indifferently:

"You have only yourself to blame for being stupid.

"Why don't others get fooled?"

I told Xie Wu Chen I wasn't born stupid. When I was five, a high fever left me less intelligent.

I got cheated when selling things, and I got cheated when not selling things too.

Three years ago, I sold two chickens. On my way back, I saw a beggar covered in sores lying there, asking for food. Feeling sorry, I gave him half of my earnings.

When Xie Wu Chen saw this, he sneered, "That's a conman. The sores on his body are painted with dye, and they wash off as soon as it rain."

I sighed in relief, watching the beggar's limping figure:

"That's good then. As long as he's not sick, otherwise it would be very painful."

After a moment of silence, Xie Wu Chen mocked me:

"Fool."

Idiot, dimwit, imbecile, fool.

I had grown used to him calling me that.

Never mind, he was gone now. No need to fuss over it anymore.

I was just pondering how to persuade Shen Tong Guang next door to help with the accounts.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the door open. I got out of bed to close it.

A shadow slipped in as swiftly as a cat.

Before I could turn around, a burning body pressed against my back, and a satisfied sigh whispered in my ear:

"...Smells so good.

"...How can you smell this good."

It was Shen Tong Guang.

In the moonlight, his loose undergarment exposed a large area of skin, making him look like an alluring ghostly demon.

His hands looked thin and long, seemingly fragile, yet they clutched my belt as firmly as beastly claws.

He embraced me from behind, whispering enticingly:

"Zhen Zhu, Xie Gongzi [1] has ascended. Aren't you lonely?"

4

"Not at all. I have Da Huang and the chickens, ducks, and geese in the backyard. It's very lively."

I looked at him blankly,

"But what about you? Aren't you cold?"

He leaned against the door, watching me as I fixed his clothes.

I was focused, not noticing the enormous shadow of a beast reflected on the wall, trying to engulf me whole.

Shen Tong Guang tilted his head to examine me, smiling lightly.

His smile was captivating, and I started to feel light-headed again.

Thinking of how he came to my house all alone, without even a change of clothes.

"Tomorrow, I'll go to the market to sell some eggs and buy some cloth to make you a couple of good outfits." I pondered, "Since it's getting cold, you need a winter outfit first, and I'll get some red cloth for our wedding."

Once Shen Tong Guang was dressed, he became obedient again:

"Zhen Zhu, I'm hungry."

Fortunately, I had prepared some dough in the kitchen for making dumplings.

I kneaded the dough and started the stove, mixing soft sugar into the dough, which turned a light yellow and sizzled to a golden brown on both sides.

The autumn firewood had a greasy smell, burning with a fragrant aroma.

Shen Tong Guang propped up his hand, watching me intently.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead:

"The kitchen is dirty, go wait outside."

"I'll keep you company."

The candlelight reflected off Shen Tong Guang's eyes and brows. When he smelled the aroma, a dark gleam flickered in his eyes:

"The process of waiting for food to cook is more satisfying than the moment you eat it."

"Be careful, it's hot." I looked at him anxiously, "The outside of the flatbread is just burnt, not dirty."

I feared he would frown like Xie Wu Chen upon seeing the golden brown flatbread and my hands and say it was dirty.

"How could it be dirty?"

Shen Tong Guang took a bite of the sugary filling, his eyes narrowing with a smile.

I finally remembered what Shen Tong Guang reminded me of.

Like a scholar transformed from a fox.

After eating his fill, he curled up on the edge of my kang [2] and lay down.

I almost suspected he would lick an imaginary fox tail next.

"Zhen Zhu, why don't you tell me your story?" 

Footnote:

[1] 公子 (Gongzi) is a Chinese term historically used to refer to the son of a nobleman or aristocrat, often implying a young man of high status and privilege. While the closest English translation is probably "young master" or "young man," it doesn't quite fit the context of this story, so we will use "Gongzi" instead.
[2] A 炕 (kang) is a traditional heated brick bed commonly found in Chinese homes.