Read Online Old Land, New Tales: Twenty Short Stories by Writers of the Shaanxi Region in China by Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa - Free Book Online
Authors: Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa
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frowned. The single man longs for a wife, she thought, while the married man leaves the wife alone at home for two months!
Her small husband added, “Since you have given him shoes, why not offer him something rarer?”
Darky spat out, “What rubbish!”
However, her small husband continued seriously, “No, it makes sense. Let’s not mind each other’s affairs.”
“Do you want me to loosen the halter for you?” Darky asked. “I know what you’re doing at the school. Those women don’t come there to play basketball.”
They began to quarrel. He raised his hand to strike. Not strong but nimble, he punched Darky in the stomach and went back to school.
After a severe tongue-lashing from her parents-in-law, Darky endured a sleepless night. When she rose at daybreak, she had pitch-black circles beneath her eyes.
Darky set out for the school, planning to make a scene. But as she neared the entrance, she had second thoughts. Her small husbandhad behaved badly, but he was now a teacher. What a disgrace for him if she made a scene at his workplace!
Lai Shun spotted her and greeted her warmly. When he asked about the dark circles under her eyes, Darky pulled him into a private corner and said tearfully, “Lai Shun, you’re an honest man. Tell me, does my husband behave himself here? Please tell me the truth!”
Her words startled Lai Shun; for a little while he was speechless. When she pressed him for an answer, he replied, “I don’t know for certain! I haven’t actually seen them. You’re a handsome woman; how could your husband behave disgracefully?”
“You stay at school day and night; please keep an eye on him,” Darky urged. “This is a secret between you and me. Don’t mention it to anyone—I don’t want to become a laughingstock.”
Lai Shun nodded and watched her leave, sighing sadly.
After supper one evening, as Darky was turning to carry water from the river, she met Lai Shun squatting on the bank, washing clothes. He seemed to have something to tell her but swallowed it.
“Are you keeping me in the dark about something?” she asked.
Lai Shun looked sheepish; he opened and then closed his mouth.
Darky said, “As the saying goes, you can see only skin, but not bone. I didn’t expect that you were that kind of guy, too!”
Finally, lowering his head, Lai Shun told her how her small husband had had a fling for a long time with a woman in the town. After that woman turned her back on him, he’d recently picked up the mayor’s youngest daughter. That very evening the girl had come to the school again and had not even tried to be discreet. Lai Shun had seen her enter the gym teacher’s well-lit office and soon after had seen the light go out.
Darky’s body recoiled. She felt dizzy.
“I shouldn’t have told you,” Lai Shun said. “But my conscience wouldn’t let me keep quiet. Never mind. After all, he is your husband—and that girl’s father is the mayor. They wouldn’t dare go too far.”
Darky silently carried her water home.
At the village gate, she drew the carrying pole off her shoulder and spilled the water into the buckets, then fell to the ground, sobbing.
Darky had always suspected it—but now that she knew for certain, she couldn’t contain her anger. She rushed to the school alone; Lai Shun was not back yet. The school appeared pitch dark.
Darky felt a little scared. True, her husband and the girl were acting most shamefully. But if she walked in on them together, the girl might be so disgraced that she’d hang or drown herself. I shouldn’t rush in, Darky thought. As long as I can split them up, that will be enough. My man is so timid, and the girl will be ashamed; we’d still be able to live together as a couple.
Standing in the school yard, she called to her small husband. He called back that he’d already gone to bed and she should talk to him the next day. So Darky made up a story: “Your dad sent me to tell you he needs you urgently. Get up
Her small husband added, “Since you have given him shoes, why not offer him something rarer?”
Darky spat out, “What rubbish!”
However, her small husband continued seriously, “No, it makes sense. Let’s not mind each other’s affairs.”
“Do you want me to loosen the halter for you?” Darky asked. “I know what you’re doing at the school. Those women don’t come there to play basketball.”
They began to quarrel. He raised his hand to strike. Not strong but nimble, he punched Darky in the stomach and went back to school.
After a severe tongue-lashing from her parents-in-law, Darky endured a sleepless night. When she rose at daybreak, she had pitch-black circles beneath her eyes.
Darky set out for the school, planning to make a scene. But as she neared the entrance, she had second thoughts. Her small husbandhad behaved badly, but he was now a teacher. What a disgrace for him if she made a scene at his workplace!
Lai Shun spotted her and greeted her warmly. When he asked about the dark circles under her eyes, Darky pulled him into a private corner and said tearfully, “Lai Shun, you’re an honest man. Tell me, does my husband behave himself here? Please tell me the truth!”
Her words startled Lai Shun; for a little while he was speechless. When she pressed him for an answer, he replied, “I don’t know for certain! I haven’t actually seen them. You’re a handsome woman; how could your husband behave disgracefully?”
“You stay at school day and night; please keep an eye on him,” Darky urged. “This is a secret between you and me. Don’t mention it to anyone—I don’t want to become a laughingstock.”
Lai Shun nodded and watched her leave, sighing sadly.
After supper one evening, as Darky was turning to carry water from the river, she met Lai Shun squatting on the bank, washing clothes. He seemed to have something to tell her but swallowed it.
“Are you keeping me in the dark about something?” she asked.
Lai Shun looked sheepish; he opened and then closed his mouth.
Darky said, “As the saying goes, you can see only skin, but not bone. I didn’t expect that you were that kind of guy, too!”
Finally, lowering his head, Lai Shun told her how her small husband had had a fling for a long time with a woman in the town. After that woman turned her back on him, he’d recently picked up the mayor’s youngest daughter. That very evening the girl had come to the school again and had not even tried to be discreet. Lai Shun had seen her enter the gym teacher’s well-lit office and soon after had seen the light go out.
Darky’s body recoiled. She felt dizzy.
“I shouldn’t have told you,” Lai Shun said. “But my conscience wouldn’t let me keep quiet. Never mind. After all, he is your husband—and that girl’s father is the mayor. They wouldn’t dare go too far.”
Darky silently carried her water home.
At the village gate, she drew the carrying pole off her shoulder and spilled the water into the buckets, then fell to the ground, sobbing.
Darky had always suspected it—but now that she knew for certain, she couldn’t contain her anger. She rushed to the school alone; Lai Shun was not back yet. The school appeared pitch dark.
Darky felt a little scared. True, her husband and the girl were acting most shamefully. But if she walked in on them together, the girl might be so disgraced that she’d hang or drown herself. I shouldn’t rush in, Darky thought. As long as I can split them up, that will be enough. My man is so timid, and the girl will be ashamed; we’d still be able to live together as a couple.
Standing in the school yard, she called to her small husband. He called back that he’d already gone to bed and she should talk to him the next day. So Darky made up a story: “Your dad sent me to tell you he needs you urgently. Get up
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