Lin Yuchan laughed aloud, and though she was about to remove the ring, she changed her mind, pushing it back to the base of her finger and admiring it openly.
“Beautiful,” she smiled. “I’ll just treat it as decoration.”
Su Minguan grasped her finger with a smile: “I’ve never seen you wear rings before.”
She had no words. Wasn’t it just because she was reluctant to spend money?
She suddenly remembered: “Where did you get the money to make a ring?”
Even just paying the craftsman’s labor fee would certainly be considerable. Lin Yuchan estimated his current assets—they couldn’t exceed twenty dollars, right? All from the pocket money she’d given him.
Su Minguan’s mouth curved up as he leaned mysteriously against the carriage wall.
After she urged him a couple more times, he said: “You don’t know how many nouveau riche in America want to do business with China but can’t find reliable consultants.”
Lin Yuchan: “…”
This man was a money tree incarnate, never missing a chance to earn money anywhere.
Then she thought, if she weren’t pregnant and afraid to travel around, she could earn this money too!
Thinking deeper, she was now Schrödinger’s Mrs. Su—even if she earned money, one careless step into the wrong state, and it would all belong to him…
Not acceptable.
However, after so many years of knowing and being with each other, she fully trusted the bedfellow she’d chosen. He’d rather openly snatch money from her at the negotiating table than stoop to using such underhanded means to control her economic assets.
This was where his dignity as a person lay, and also her confidence in going to City Hall with him.
As they neared their lodging, the sky darkened again, looking like snow. The carriage quickened its pace. She leaned against him, bouncing with the motion.
Back home, they lit the fireplace and rested a moment. Su Minguan again knowingly broke the law by calling her “Mrs. Su.”
Then he observed her reaction.
Lin Yuchan thought this man was so childish! He wasn’t respecting sacred marriage at all—he just wanted to play house!
She pursed her lips without answering, pushing his chest, slowly pushing him to the wall. The wallpaper was heated by the fire, showing faint brick seam patterns.
“This young lady has never married,” she lowered her brow, imitating operatic tones, saying coquettishly, “Who are you, evil young master, breaking into my boudoir? What are your intentions?”
Su Minguan’s eyes flashed slightly, biting his lip to suppress a laugh, then suddenly lifted her into the air.
“Miss, your beauty rivals the moon’s, and this young scholar has long admired you, lovesick unto illness. Tonight being an auspicious evening, I’ve boldly come to speak my heart’s words.”
Lin Yuchan giggled. Getting addicted to playing house!
She pretended to struggle, calling out: “There are plenty of ‘young scholars’ who admire me—what number are you? Go queue outside for your turn!”
“Uh, sorry,” he laid her down on the sofa, his gaze like stars, looking down at her from above, “I’ve driven them all away. You have no choice.”
Lin Yuchan was about to retort when he leaned down and sealed her lips.
His newly trimmed hair brushed past her ear. She smiled and brushed it away, light flowing and overflowing from her hand.
Su Minguan grasped her ring-wearing hand, kissing her nose tip, chin, and neck extremely gently, like a youth first tasting love’s flavor, almost reverently touching every inch of skin.
“Miss does not disdain me. This scholar tonight gains intimate access to your fragrance—in the future, I’ll repay like a loyal dog or horse.”
Lin Yuchan’s ears burned hot, hazily feeling she was a young lady having an affair, bewitched by a libertine meeting her for the first time, forgetting to call the maids outside.
Before she knew it, he’d placed her on the bed. She remembered who she was, and more importantly, who he was, immediately wrapping herself in the quilt to hide.
No way—normally it was fine, but now she absolutely couldn’t handle it!
Su Minguan’s eyes gleamed as he looked at her pitifully.
“A’Mei.”
Heaven and earth as witnesses, he hadn’t dared touch her since coming to America. Only recently, observing her appetite had recovered, did he resolve to recommend himself for pillow service, reminding her there was still a man beside her.
“A’Mei. Let me see if you’ve gained or lost weight.”
“Last time was still on the ship.”
“If this continues, I’ll forget how to do it.”
Lin Yuchan: “…”
…Unbearable. And he had the nerve to mention the ship.
Hearing him sigh, her tightly pressed lips slowly relaxed, she opened her eyes, saw herself in his eyes, blood surging, her heart melting.
However, Lin Yuchan didn’t believe such passionate nonsense either. She pushed his shoulders, making him lie on the pillow, smiling with ulterior motives:
“Forgotten? I’ll teach you.”
He raised an eyebrow, smiling with closed eyes, assuming a posture of letting himself be manipulated.
…………………
However, less than ten minutes later, the supposedly “forgetful” poor student revealed his true colors, sweat beading on his forehead, not daring to move rashly, and beginning to give vocal guidance.
“A’Mei, hurry up.”
“I can endure it.”
“I’ll listen to you, won’t act rashly.”
He reached out to press her lower abdomen. Still so smooth, just a bit firmer than usual. Then sliding to both sides to caress her waist hollows, pressing downward pleadingly.
“Mm…”
He was indeed careful, controlling primitive instincts, like wind cherishing clouds in the sky, letting her cultivate meticulously above. Seeing her frown, he suddenly didn’t dare move rashly, gently pulling down her back, kissing away the trembling teardrops at the corners of her eyes.
Indeed, it had been too long since they’d been intimate. She was overwhelmed by this unfamiliar rhythm, her strength unconsciously draining away as he embraced her.
…
“I like it here, we could live here long-term,” Su Minguan said, kissing her, suddenly saying in her ear, “Many trading houses have branch offices in New York—we could also run a business.”
Lin Yuchan was slightly startled.
Wood burned in the fireplace, crackling softly, emitting the unique pine fragrance that lingered around the two embracing bodies.
“Mm… wouldn’t the legal issues be very troublesome?”
“Not necessarily. Do you know that decades ago, before foreigners invaded, my grandfather saw the decline of the Thirteen Factories, sensing the wind direction was wrong? He once asked his business partners to seek land in America, wanting to bring his wealth and fortune to move to this paradise.”
Lin Yuchan looked at him in surprise as he kissed her earlobe.
“But after all, it’s hard to leave one’s homeland, and he couldn’t bear to abandon his connections and business, so he never went through with it,” Su Minguan told her the ending. “The result was all for nothing.”
Lin Yuchan lay in his arms, and couldn’t help thinking, such a vision transcending the times was too rare.
Compared to China at this time, peaceful and prosperous America, far from the changing winds and clouds of Europe, which most people saw as an uncivilized wasteland where people ate raw meat and drank blood, wasn’t it also a paradise?
However, water can carry a boat but also overturn it. That red-topped merchant who spent his life stirring up storms, how could he willingly give up the ambition and greed he depended on for survival for a moment’s peace in his twilight years?
She smiled: “If it had been like that, you would have been born in America. I wouldn’t have met you either.”
“No,” Su Minguan gave her an inscrutable look, smiling, “When you came to America this year, you still would have met me. I would have driven away all the cats and dogs queuing outside your door, then lured you into bed.”
She bit her lip and smiled: “No trouble. I’d let you cut in line.”
What started as a joke suddenly ignited the fire in his eyes. He turned over like a whirlwind, covering her, sucking at her like a thirsty person. She cried out softly.
“No,” he changed his words, “that would also be too troublesome. When I’ve saved enough money, I’ll go to Guangzhou to find you. I’ll find that little servant girl sweeping floors and going hungry in the tea shop, beat up everyone around her, and buy her out.”
All of Massachusetts was buried under heavy snow for two months, then came the time of the Chinese New Year. Each host family delivered the students back to Springfield as agreed, carriages leaving deep ruts in the muddy, snow-melted ground.
The Qing legation and the Study Abroad Affairs Bureau held a New Year reception. Vases were filled with silk flowers, walls hung with calligraphy and paintings—all Mr. Chen’s emotional works from the past several months.
All supervisors, officials, and teachers dressed anew, wearing dark silk robes, donning caps of their respective ranks, stepping in official boots. They first paid distant respects to the emperor and empress dowager, then joyfully exchanged New Year greetings.
Chinese cooks specially invited from New York Chinatown showed their skills, preparing a table combining Chinese and Western dishes, serving “real tea” in delicate porcelain cups. The sight dazzled guests, who one by one raised their pinkies, imitating Chinese tea-drinking mannerisms.
Children boarding away from home were brought back one after another, chattering and gathering in joyful reunion. Lin Yuchan was gratified to see that in just a few months, these children’s temperament had completely transformed—genuinely confident and lively from the heart, their English speaking skills had also advanced by leaps and bounds, actually able to converse normally with guests and appropriately answer soul-searching questions like “Is America or China better?”
“America is more prosperous, everyone can eat their fill and dress warmly, have houses to live in and firewood to burn,” Zhan Tianyou answered shyly, “China has parents, warm homes, ancestral spirits, and… and a lovely fiancée.”
Guests laughed heartily: “Then China must be better.”
Lin Feilun rushed toward Lin Yuchan as soon as she got off the carriage, but was held back by several accompanying girls who kept giving her meaningful looks.
Lin Yuchan also wore Chinese formal dress, but unlike others who were thickly bundled in several layers of cotton clothing, she cleverly wore an American cashmere undergarment, then draped a fitted jacket, openly displaying her slightly protruding belly.
Being thin-framed, even at six or seven months, it wasn’t very obvious. Especially wearing a loose Chinese jacket and skirt, she felt that if she wanted to hide it, she could conceal it until the day of birth.
But it wasn’t anything shameful—why hide and conceal?
Better to announce it today. Taking advantage of the lunar New Year, she could collect a good wave of red envelopes.
The girls understood immediately and screamed ear-splittingly in unison.
“Sister Lin is going to give us a little sister!!”
If this had been a few months ago, everyone might have blushed and whispered, finally sending a representative to secretly ask. But after being liberated for months in American homes, the girls had long forgotten what restraint meant, learning that bold American spirit.
With a whoosh, this petite and delicate Chinese woman suddenly became the strongest presence in the entire venue.
Whether acquainted or not, congratulations in various languages and accents flew through the air. Chen Lanbin rushed over from another hall upon hearing the news, his beard trembling with flower-like laughter, pretending anger and scolding the girls: “How can you talk like that? How can you say giving birth to a little sister? It should be a little brother!—No, no, you call her sister, so it should be a little nephew! No respect for elders!”
Mr. Chen, after months of immersion in barbarous lands, was no longer as scholarly as before, actually beginning to joke with the children.
He also congratulated Lin Yuchan: “In a foreign land, giving birth to a descendant of Chinese blood—very good, very meaningful! You’re not young anymore, either. It’s time to continue the family line. It seems this American soil is not bad! Later, this official will ask Minister Rong…”
Lin Yuchan had already guessed what he was going to say and immediately stood up, saying seriously, “Regarding female student enrollment, please allow me to continue handling it. I’ve consulted Western doctors—my health has had no major problems for these months. Moreover…”
Chen Lanbin was startled. In his decades of life, he’d only dealt with women in inner quarters, never encountering such a situation in a work setting…
She wanted to work while pregnant? Not to mention her brazenness in discussing this publicly—he’d never faced this question before!
His first reaction was not—if something happened, who would be responsible? Someone else’s precious heir dying in his hands would damage his moral virtue!
Lin Yuchan had prepared her arguments, smiling very reasonably: “I hear Mr. Chen has a cough that flares up especially badly in wind and snow, yet you’ve never neglected a day’s official duties. Recently, with the cold weather, three or five children have fallen ill, yet they haven’t neglected their studies—their daily copying assignments haven’t missed a single sheet. With your example, naturally, I, a mere woman, cannot retreat from duty. Rest assured, my husband has agreed to let me continue working. If I truly become unable to cope, he’ll help.”
Since her husband had given permission, Chen Lanbin couldn’t say much, secretly sympathizing with her poor choice in men.
Rong Hong came over to smooth things, laughing: “These golden boudoir scholars of Mrs. Lin’s—I wouldn’t dare take over. Look at that English they speak, almost putting my boys to shame.”
Lin Yuchan wasn’t modest about this, looking pleased.
The girls had all suffered hardships, were highly adaptable, and suffered less from homesickness. Not to mention cultural subjects, their spoken English and foreign customs were absorbed quickly.
Moreover, there was even a disciple of Mark Twain among them! Lin Feilun had already learned to use triple negatives to argue with people.
Mr. Chen made a few more official congratulatory remarks, then went to attend to other guests.
Rong Hong lowered his voice, asking Lin Yuchan, “Are you married? When?”
She didn’t hide this, saying it was last Christmas. She even showed him the ring. However, she didn’t mention that the certificate was invalid outside Connecticut.
Rong Hong breathed a sigh of relief, smiling: “It should have been this way long ago. I was worried that someday evil people would incite the church to drive you out, and we Chinese would all be expelled along with you.”
Lin Yuchan expressed surprise: “Is it that serious?”
Rong Hong glanced at her sideways, his eyes clearly saying, “Do you understand America, or do I understand America?”
He asked again: “Where’s Minguan? I want to congratulate him.”
“San Francisco,” Lin Yuchan said casually, “handling some business.”
West Coast Hongshun Hall Chinese workers had sent an urgent letter saying A’Xian’s case for attacking whites was about to go to trial. Originally, Lin Yuchan had only bailed him out to spare him prison. But the white gentleman he’d beaten was still bedridden—the trial still had to proceed.
Chinese workers had no power or influence, were oppressed by social elites, with no connections to find lawyers. Without assistance, given California’s anti-Chinese atmosphere, A’Xian would likely face mortal danger.
Su Minguan naturally took on the major responsibility, bringing all the American dollars he’d swindled these past months, boarding the westbound train.
Yesterday’s telegram said he’d already contacted several prominent Chinatown businessmen, mobilizing donations and petitions from all sectors, jointly hiring a respected retired senator as lawyer, publishing articles in newspapers and arranging street speeches, preparing thoroughly for A’Xian’s court appearance.
These were all struggle methods he’d practiced thoroughly in Shanghai. American customs and laws differed from China’s, but contending with capitalists involved just those few fixed tactics.
After hearing the outline, Rong Hong looked at Lin Yuchan’s unconcerned expression and shook his head in disbelief.
“So you… You alone… in your current condition…”
“Someone’s taking care of me,” she smiled brightly, “Don’t worry.”
After discussing with Su Minguan, they unanimously agreed that the New Year ceremony could be postponed. A’Xian’s life was more important than pregnancy care.
Being winter agricultural off-season, Christina Freeman took leave from Kai Luoke’s farm to care for Lin Yuchan’s daily needs and handle heavy work. Su Minguan was very confident in this big black woman.
Coincidentally, farm owner Mr. Kai Luoke and his family were also there. Lin Yuchan smiled and greeted them: “Thank you so much! Freeman is worth three people—I might not be able to resist giving her a raise!”
Rong Hong suddenly realized he knew this family too, cheerfully going to toast: “Haha, Mr. Kai Luoke, last time we parted was at the football field—time makes people old… Is this your wife? A national beauty. Is this your daughter? Wow, she’s grown so big… Haha, I’m still single, embarrassing…”
…………………
When the buffet was nearly finished, Chen Lanbin gathered the Chinese students to go to the large classroom on the second floor for exams.
The students wailed in unison.