CITM - 27

When Bai Wenfu was at home, he would remind Ye Yun to rest and not overwork herself late into the night. But after his departure, Ye Yun devoted every spare moment to sewing, sometimes working until the early hours of the morning.

One morning, she brought the garments she had finished the previous night to the tailor shop. Zhang Caifeng inspected the fabric, then glanced at her disapprovingly. “You’re young now, so you don’t feel it, but if you keep burning the candle at both ends like this, you’ll be riddled with illnesses by middle age.”

Ye Yun remained silent, lowering her head as she took the clothes to iron them. Zhang Caifeng approached and handed her the wages for her work.

Opening a drawer, Ye Yun retrieved a long, brown cloth pouch. Carefully smoothing out the bills, she placed her earnings inside with meticulous precision.

________________________________________

A few days later, Ye Yun delivered some garments to Yongkou Alley. On her way back, she happened to run into Lü Ping, who had just finished work. Spotting her first, Lü Ping called out, and Ye Yun paused to wait.

Since they were heading in the same direction—Lü Ping toward home and Ye Yun back to the tailor shop—they walked together for a stretch.

Along the way, Lü Ping asked casually, “How’s the new sewing machine working out? I heard it’s electric. Maybe I’ll drop by sometime to take a look.”

Ye Yun hesitated, her expression faltering slightly. The sewing machine was in Bai Wenfu’s room, and she couldn’t possibly invite outsiders there. Moreover, if anyone visited and saw the setup, how could she explain? While she chose to ignore the gossip behind closed doors, it didn’t mean she wanted to bring their relationship into the open.

Lü Ping noticed her silence and teased, “What? Can’t show it off? Is it that precious?”

“I’ve been busy lately,” Ye Yun replied evasively. “Maybe another time.”

“Do you know what everyone’s saying?” Lü Ping pressed.

Ye Yun turned her gaze away.

“They’re saying you and Elder Brother Wen Bin were involved even before he passed,” Lü Ping continued.

“Of course not!” Ye Yun denied firmly, her brows furrowed.

Lü Ping’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “So it started after he left?”

Ye Yun’s gaze momentarily froze before returning to normal. Though she tried not to assume Lü Ping was fishing for information, she remained guarded. “I need to go this way now. Let’s talk later.”

Watching Ye Yun walk away, Lü Ping studied her closely. Months ago, when this topic came up, Ye Yun had been visibly shaken. Now, however, her face betrayed no hint of emotion. Meeting her again today, Lü Ping faintly detected traces of someone else in Ye Yun’s demeanor—someone who bore an uncanny resemblance to Bai Wenfu.

As Ye Yun crossed the street and prepared to turn into the alley, a whistle sounded from behind her. Annoyed, she turned to see Su Hong poking her head out of the hair salon, her hair adorned with numerous clips.

Ye Yun’s frown softened into a smile. “Red Sister.”

Pleased that Ye Yun finally addressed her correctly, Su Hong beckoned her closer. When Ye Yun approached, Su Hong leaned forward conspiratorially. “Why were you walking with her?”

“Who?” Ye Yun asked reflexively, glancing back at Lü Ping’s retreating figure.

“You mean Lü Ping? Doesn’t she live below you?”

Su Hong lowered her voice, leaning against the windowsill. “Of course I know where she lives. What I’m asking is why you’d associate with her. Do you know who she is?”

Ripples of unease spread across Ye Yun’s calm facade. “What do you mean?”

Seeing genuine ignorance in Ye Yun’s eyes, Su Hong raised an eyebrow. “That girl once had an engagement arranged with Bai Wenfu.”

Ye Yun’s pupils dilated, tears pooling in her eyes. Her lips parted silently, her pristine vulnerability stirring protective instincts in Su Hong, who reached out to pinch her cheek gently. “That one isn’t someone you should trust easily.”

________________________________________

On the way home, Ye Yun’s expression grew distant, weighed down by a mix of disappointment and shock.

When she first arrived in the city, others treated her with hostility due to her rural background. It was Lü Ping who stood up for her, befriending the timid and insecure newcomer. She never mocked Ye Yun for her lack of worldly knowledge or hesitated to share what little she had. In this narrow apartment building, Ye Yun had no true friends besides Lü Ping, who was close in age and seemingly well-intentioned.

She remembered using Lü Ping as an excuse to sneak out one day, only to be scolded by Tong Mingfang for associating with her. Yet no one ever explained why. Whenever Lü Ping visited, it was always during times when neither Tong Mingfang nor Bai Wenfu were home. Most conversations occurred in the corridor; Lü Ping rarely lingered near the Bai family door. These details hadn’t seemed significant until now, but with the truth revealed, everything fell into place.

She had believed Lü Ping to be straightforward and honest, sharing all her thoughts. Yet this crucial detail had been concealed for over a year. If their engagement with Bai Wenfu had ended, then knowing about Ye Yun and Wen Bin’s relationship, what ulterior motive drove Lü Ping to approach her initially?

Lately, interactions between Ye Yun and Lü Ping had become infrequent. Since starting work at the tailor shop, Lü Ping barely spoke to her anymore. Was it because Ye Yun was too busy, or because her bond with Bai Wenfu grew stronger?

A thick fog settled over Ye Yun’s chest, obscuring clarity. People gossiped openly, yet those closest might still harbor secrets. In this confined world of Erwei Alley, whom could she truly trust?

These thoughts haunted Ye Yun for days, until another revelation arrived.

That afternoon, Ma Jianliang hurried over. After packing up her things, Ye Yun stepped out of the tailor shop. They met at a small open-air pavilion on the corner of the street, where Ma Jianliang handed her a package.

Inside, Ye Yun found two large jars of pumpkin paste—a nostalgic treat from her childhood. Back home, when food was scarce, her mother would steam pumpkins, mash them, mix them with flour, steam the mixture again, and sun-dry it to create snacks for the children.

Tears welled in Ye Yun’s eyes at the sight of these familiar jars.

Her hands trembled as she opened the accompanying letter. Recognizing her younger sister’s handwriting immediately, her heart clenched. Her second-youngest sibling, three years her junior, had taught herself to write under Ye Yun’s guidance when schooling became unaffordable after their brother’s birth.

Skimming through the letter quickly, Ye Yun absorbed the detailed account of the family’s struggles over the past year. Last year, her youngest brother had suffered a high fever that resisted treatment from the village doctor. By the time they reached the township clinic, pneumonia had set in, leaving him nearly unconscious. The entire family abandoned farming temporarily to focus on his recovery, fortunately succeeding. However, torrential rains delayed the autumn harvest, making life difficult this year. Recently, their father’s health deteriorated, prompting the family to seek traditional Chinese medicine in the county town—a costly endeavor requiring favors to secure.

At the end of the letter, a few brief lines conveyed the family’s unspoken plea: They couldn’t repay the dowry money. If possible, they hoped Ye Yun would remain in the city and find her own path forward.

Closing the letter, Ye Yun’s vision blurred with tears.

The sensation of being adrift like a floating weed returned to Ye Yun—rootless, anchorless, and utterly alone.

She had always believed her family would be her safety net. But upon reading this letter, she realized that from the day she left home, she no longer had a fallback.

The wind picked up, and the summer sky shifted abruptly. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead, and a wave of dread washed over Ye Yun. Clutching the letter tightly, she felt chills ripple through her body.

If Bai Wenfu hadn’t intervened that day—if Feng Biao had violated her—what kind of life would she have faced afterward? With her family’s letter severing her last lifeline, would anyone feel entitled to mistreat her at will? Women would curse her as a harbinger of misfortune; men would treat her with casual disdain. Tong Mingfang, ashamed, might force her to return the dowry and cast her out. Where would she end up then?

Now, sitting here in relative peace, it was only because of Bai Wenfu’s protection. Her current stability rested entirely on his goodwill, granting her a small pocket of freedom within the narrow confines of their apartment building and household.

But if her own family could trade her away like a commodity after twenty years together, what guarantee did she have for the future? If one day Bai Wenfu grew tired of her or lost interest, how would she survive in this vast city?

These thoughts had never crossed Ye Yun’s mind when she first arrived in the city. Back then, she blindly followed her family’s arrangements, submitting to fate’s whims.

Parental decrees, matchmakers’ words, the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, adherence to traditional roles—all these had defined her existence for the first two decades of her life.

Her secluded upbringing shielded her from societal changes. Yet during this year and a half in the city, the winds of reform had seeped into every corner of her world, reshaping her understanding.

She glimpsed a new era awakening, yet still lacked the key to fully step into it.

All she knew now was that receiving this letter severed her final ties with home. From this point forward, she would have to make decisions for herself.

Ma Jianliang handed her another envelope, explaining, “Before my aunt left the village, your younger sister found her and asked her to pass this along to you.”

Ye Yun unfolded the thin sheet of paper inside. It contained just one sentence written by her second-youngest sibling: Sister, please take care of yourself.

Tucked within the letter was a twenty-yuan bill—not much, but Ye Yun understood its significance. This must have been everything her younger sister had saved up over time.

Clutching the money tightly, holding onto the last thread connecting her to her family, tears welled in Ye Yun’s eyes. She fought hard to suppress her emotions, unwilling to break down in front of Ma Jianliang.

Instead, she repeatedly thanked him, saying, “Thank you for going through all this trouble. Please thank your aunt for me…”

Ma Jianliang didn’t grasp the depth of Ye Yun’s fears while reading the letter. Seeing her sorrowful expression, he assumed her family refused to take her back, leaving her uncertain about her next steps.

Leaning down slightly, he offered comforting words. “Have you ever thought about starting fresh somewhere else? Maybe finding work in another place?”

Ye Yun snapped out of her reverie. Hearing Ma Jianliang mention moving elsewhere surprised her. “You have such a good job at the supply store. Why leave? People are lining up to propose to you.”

“My family disagrees,” Ma Jianliang admitted. “They scolded me harshly. But I feel like, while I’m young, I should go out and see more of the world. Look, everyone shops at department stores now. Even the supply store is undergoing reforms. No one knows what the future holds. Some say ration coupons will gradually disappear.”

“Without coupons, how will we buy things?”

“I don’t know yet, but…”

Ma Jianliang’s gaze lifted, meeting a pair of frosty, icy eyes. His voice trailed off instantly.

________________________________________

Bai Wenfu’s trip had taken longer than expected. Originally planning to visit Zhejiang, he altered his itinerary midway and returned early. For someone accustomed to traveling, staying away for a month or two wasn’t unusual. When asked why he detoured back, he merely smiled enigmatically, driven by concern for those waiting at home.

However, arriving at the tailor shop, Zhang Caifeng informed him that Ye Yun had already left. Not returning home, she was instead found sitting in a pavilion with a man, engrossed in conversation.

The sight of them whispering closely ignited a storm within Bai Wenfu. His frigid aura radiated outward, chilling those around him. This time, he showed no patience, striding directly toward them. Fixing Ma Jianliang with a steely glare, barely concealed anger simmered beneath his taut features. The ferocity in his eyes seemed ready to unleash a punch.

Startled by Bai Wenfu’s imposing presence, Ma Jianliang stood defensively. Ye Yun turned back, startled. “When did you get back?”

Bai Wenfu’s piercing gaze remained locked on Ma Jianliang, exuding an overwhelming pressure. Instinctively, Ma Jianliang retreated a step.

Clenching his jaw, Bai Wenfu issued a silent warning before reaching for Ye Yun’s hand. In a cold tone, he uttered two words: “Let’s go.”

With that, he pulled her away without hesitation. Ye Yun scrambled to keep up, calling out anxiously, “Wait, wait a moment…”

She grabbed the two jars of pumpkin paste. Bai Wenfu glanced at them, assuming they were gifts from Ma Jianliang, his expression darkening further.

On the way back, Ye Yun asked again when he had returned. Bai Wenfu ignored her, offering only the cold profile of his face. Sensing his mood, she fell silent, obediently following behind.

His long strides made it difficult for her to keep pace. Nearly jogging to match his speed, she struggled to hold both jars while keeping up. Normally, Bai Wenfu would offer assistance, but today, he refused to lighten her load, leaving her flustered and struggling.

Crossing the street, a young cyclist sped past recklessly, nearly colliding with Ye Yun. At the last moment, a strong arm yanked her back, pulling her into a solid chest before she could react.

Bai Wenfu shielded her with his body, glaring fiercely at the cyclist. “Riding so fast, are you trying to kill someone?”

The young man braked sharply, turning to retort. But catching sight of the menacing scar above Bai Wenfu’s eyebrow, his bravado crumbled. Muttering under his breath, he slunk away.

Concerned about potential conflict, Ye Yun tugged gently on Bai Wenfu’s sleeve. “Big Brother, let it go…”

Lowering his head, his tone icy, he corrected her. “Who is your big brother?”

Ye Yun froze, momentarily stunned. Before she could process his words, he resumed walking briskly, dragging her along once more.