Tea Leaves and Opal Necklaces

Babies, Secrets, and Signs

Tea Leaves and Opal Necklaces

Match One: Babies, Secrets, and Signs:

My name is Ju Wang and Yao and I are trying to have a baby.

Yes, it's about time for that. Every clan needs an heir. And it's up to me to carry on that obligation. Oh, what about I saying?

Actually, the ladies of clan whom I love dearly, were the ones who pushed me into this plan. To be honest, I hadn't had the time to think that far into my future. (Okay, the clan is part of that future, but I've had other things on my mind.) It started with Bik hinting at me while we out shopping for Biao's graduation from med school.

"So when are we going to see little Yaos and Jus?" she asked at the marketplace. I froze over the ginger root.

"E-E-Excuse me?" I asked. I had an idea what she was implying, but my brain wouldn't let it sink in.

"You know," Bik said. "I would be nice to have a little girl to have around the property again. Plus, I wouldn't mind dressing her up." I turned around with big eyes and all of the color drained from my face.

"Wait, are you asking me when I'm going to have children?!" I asked.

"It would be nice," Bik said with a little shrug. I think I lost the ability to speak in that moment. My mouth fell open, but no sound came out. Bik's smile told me what she was thinking as she patted me on the head.

"It's okay," she said. "You'll have plenty of time to think about it. You're young after all. Young and health." I stood, watching her walk over to the fruit section of the market. What just happened?

It's not just her either.

"It's so good that everyone in this country can have two children now," Cai told me on the same day during lunch.

"Okay..." I said. She moved her arms behind her head.

"Yeah, it would be good to have an heir and a spare," Cai said while looking at the sky. I tilted my head with a weird look on my face.

"Heir and spare?" I asked.

"Yeah," Cai said. "In case the first-born dies. You've just to have a back-up to have an heir take over the clan when you and Yao die."

"Why are you trying to kill off Yao, this imaginary child, and I so much?" I asked. She laughed as she waved me off.

"I'm not," she insisted. "I'm just suggesting that you need to think ahead for your family. You are young and healthy enough for children, after all." I about choked on my tea when she said that.

"Are you okay?" Cai asked.

"No!" I choked out. She rubbed my back and headed me my cup.

"Here, drink this," she said. I downed the tea and took in heavy breaths.

"Better?" Cai asked.

"Yeah," I said. I turned to her. "Please don't do that to me again." She giggled as she put up her hands.

"I apologize," Cai said. She opened her mouth to say something else, but I put up my hand.

"Please don't," I said. "You're only going to make it worse."

"Yes, Ju," she said. Suddenly, I wasn't that hungry anymore.

It didn't take long for Wan, Hark, and Tse to join in on the "let's get Ju and Yao to make babies" plan. That same evening, I paid the Man house a little visit. No sooner had I walked into living room, I noticed something like a shrine sitting next to the TV.