The Second Blood Orange

Mother Liao opened the door to take out the trash. As the heavy iron door swung open, a figure stood on the threshold. Before she could get a clear look, she was pulled into an embrace.

Mother Liao froze on the spot.

The person wore a dusty cloak, messy hair loose, with blades of grass still clinging to her clothes.

It was Liao Xue, who had left two months ago, standing right before her.

Just days ago, this same Liao Xue had declared she was severing their mother-daughter relationship, and now she stood here, alive and breathing.

Mother Liao thought she was dreaming, but the touch against her was real.

"Mom," came a voice filled with grievance and expectation, pulling Mother Liao back to reality. It was truly Liao Xue's voice, right here in her arms.

Mother Liao answered dazedly, "Oh."

God knows how she had endured these past half a month. Ever since Liao Xue left, every chore—big or small, from weeding and spraying pesticides in the fields to washing clothes and cooking—had fallen on her, nearly killing her.

When Liao Xue was still around, she never felt tired. Now all she wanted was for Liao Xue to come back quickly.

Liao Xue's return meant a huge labor force had come back; no more getting up early and working late.

Mother Liao was nearly weeping with joy, but...

Mother Liao suddenly released Liao Xue and studied her carefully.

Liao Xue actually came back?

And President Shen didn't follow?

Mother Liao pushed Liao Xue aside, turned, and craned her neck to look outside.

A stretch of green weeds lined the riverbank, not a single person in sight.

Liao Xue also stuck her head out, then took Mother Liao's hand and said, "She didn't come."

Caught in her thoughts, Mother Liao awkwardly handed the trash bin to Liao Xue. "Since you're back, take out the trash first."

Mother Liao knew a bit about President Shen's temper. She protected Liao Xue like a chick, and if Liao Xue so much as worked, President Shen would jump with anxiety. Now that she was making Liao Xue work, if President Shen were present, she'd surely not hold back.

Liao Xue took the trash bin with her head lowered, walked out the door, and headed straight for the bin not far away. Behind her, Mother Liao was ready for battle, hiding by the door, ready to slam it shut the instant President Shen appeared.

But the expected person never showed. Liao Xue carried the bin over, dumped the trash, and carried the bin back—never once did a third person appear.

Mother Liao's eyes spun, and she pulled Liao Xue into the yard. After shutting the door, she asked mysteriously, "She kicked you out? Why?"

Liao Xue seemed struck where it hurt, her fingers whitening as she gripped the trash bin, her face wearing an expression of immense grievance.

"She... she said," Liao Xue stammered, lost in her sorrow, "she said she was tired of me, that my cooking lacked variety, that I ruined her clothes in the wash, and... and she said she wouldn't deign to be friends with someone like me, that I'd only drag down her standards."

Mother Liao savored Liao Xue's negative, sorrowful emotions like a parasite, thrilled that Liao Xue had returned to her control.

A mask of sympathy on her face, Mother Liao placed her hand on Liao Xue's shoulder and said, sounding earnest, "Home is the best place. That daughter of a company president was just after a bit of novelty. Coming to the village, she had a fleeting interest in you—how could she really take you away?"

Liao Xue nodded pitifully, slowly leaning her head onto Mother Liao's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom's right. It was my fault for being blinded. I know now that Mom was only looking out for me. I just couldn't bring myself to marry that old bachelor or that disabled man."

Around and around, they finally got to the point.

Mother Liao hadn't even brought it up herself; Liao Xue spoke first, sending a thrill through Mother Liao's heart.

She hadn't heard any magpies this morning—why were good things coming one after another?

"Ah, those first two," Mother Liao said, delighted inside but feigning regret. "The old bachelor—well, unlucky, he drowned in the river. And the disabled one, he insisted he didn't want to hold the girl back and said he'd jump in the river if they married. So that fell through too."

Liao Xue let out a soft sigh and said weakly, "What a pity."

The melancholy in Liao Xue's words was caught by Mother Liao, who then turned the tide, "But I've found you another one. He's a bit slow, but the bride price is generous."

Liao Xue chimed in, "How much?"

Mother Liao said triumphantly, "Four hundred thousand!"

Not a single cent of that four hundred thousand would end up in Liao Xue's pocket.

Liao Xue's eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately. "Then him. That's fine."

In the bedroom, Liao Feiyu was waiting for Mother Liao to bring his meal so he could eat in bed. He waited a long time without seeing anyone and yelled out, "Mom—Mom—Mom—"

Mother Liao had just gotten Liao Xue's nod, as if the four hundred thousand was already in hand. When she heard Liao Feiyu's shouting, irritation welled up, and she asked Liao Xue, "You haven't had breakfast yet, right? I just made it. Have it while it's hot."

Mother Liao's cooking was, compared to the Village Chief's Wife, 'slightly inferior.'

While Mother Liao dressed Liao Feiyu, she directed Liao Xue to set the table and bring the chopsticks.

After the meal, Liao Xue habitually picked up the bowls and chopsticks to wash in the kitchen, but Mother Liao called her back and took them from her hands.

Liao Xue looked at Mother Liao, who smiled ingratiatingly. "Just let me do it. You've just come back—go rest."

Liao Xue showed no reaction—no surprise, no fear. She naturally returned to her room to rest. Standing nearby, Liao Feiyu was dumbfounded, eyes wide and mouth agape.

His mom seemed to have lost her mind.

After an afternoon nap, Liao Xue was woken by a commotion. When she opened her eyes, she found a ring of people around her bed: three old women and one adult-looking man.

The old women looked like they hadn't seen meat in three years and finally found it, while the man had clean features but wide, staring eyes, looking her up and down. When he noticed Liao Xue's gaze, he shyly lowered his head.

Startled, Liao Xue shrank back, her back hitting the wall, eyes full of timidity as she looked at the four strangers.

"She's awake, she's awake."

"What a beauty. And those hands..." One even reached out to touch Liao Xue's hand, but Liao Xue pulled it behind her back.

"Xiaohan, this is your new wife. Do you like her?" The woman with the big red flower pinned on her head tugged at the man, who was fiddling with his fingers, and pointed at Liao Xue's face as she asked him.

The man made a few humming sounds, then looked up quickly at Liao Xue and lowered his head as if shy, murmuring, "Xiaohan... Xiaohan likes. Xiaohan's wife... pretty!!!"

He said it, then raised both hands above his head, his voice rising, wildly gesturing in his excitement.

Liao Xue looked at the four with horrified, hollow eyes, teeth chattering. "Who are you? Why are you in my house!"

The red-flower woman looked as if she'd come not to the Liao household but to a zoo, as if she'd just heard a gorilla speak. She exclaimed excitedly, "The girl speaks so softly and sweetly, how lovely."

The other two old women looked her over and over, more than satisfied.

Forty thousand for a blossoming girl's life—it was worth it however you calculated it.

One old woman suddenly remembered something and frowned with concern. "I heard she might be a bit of a widow. They say a previous match drowned before they even married, and the second one refused to marry at all."

The other cut in, "We're in a law-abiding society now. None of that superstitious nonsense. I think she's perfect—the best match for my Xiaohan!"

Liao Xue sat trapped in the middle, a jumble of words rattling in her ears.

Everyone was appraising Liao Xue's worth, but no one asked Liao Xue for her opinion.

The red-flower woman was about to speak when Liao Xue suddenly screamed, "Get out! All of you get out! You, you, and you—everyone get out!"

The goods actually dared to scream. The old women's brows furrowed deeper with worry, shaking their heads as they left.

Only the simple-minded man stayed, pressing a bouquet of flowers into Liao Xue's hand.

Liao Xue was badly frightened, huddling under the blanket. Mother Liao's eyes flickered, then she stepped forward to embrace Liao Xue for comfort. Though the man was a simpleton, his family was wealthy—especially with the bride price.

"That President Shen is a bastard!" Liao Xue said out of nowhere. Mother Liao couldn't help but suspect that Shen Qiancheng had put some spell on Liao Xue, she was acting so strangely.

Mother Liao's face changed. She first shut the door, sat down beside Liao Xue, and covered Liao Xue's mouth with her hand, looking flustered. "Are you crazy? They don't want a crazy girl!"

Liao Xue seemed lost in her own world, continuing her venting, "She only wanted me to serve her. She never treated me like a person."

The mouth was covered, but the words couldn't be stopped.

Mother Liao stared at Liao Xue in disbelief. Her kind, gentle daughter had, in just over a month under President Shen, turned into this kind of person.

Just now the matchmaker had made it clear: they didn't want anyone insane or mentally deficient.

There was likely no hope left for Liao Xue.

Mother Liao hugged Liao Xue, a glint flashing in her eyes, and poured out comforting words like beans from a bamboo tube, "See, Mom's the only one who cares for you. Give me all the wages she paid you, and I'll save them for you."

At that, Liao Xue's tears streamed down. "She didn't pay me a single cent when she sent me away."

Mother Liao: ...

That evening, Mother Liao placed a chicken leg into Liao Xue's bowl. Liao Feiyu, quick of eye and hand, snatched it into his own bowl with a swift move.

He used to do this all the time, and at most, the partial Mother Liao would scold Liao Xue, "Your brother's still young. Can't you give in to him a little?"

But tonight was different. Mother Liao turned grim, took the chicken leg from his bowl, and put it back into Liao Xue's bowl.

She shot Liao Feiyu a glare, the meaning unmistakable.

You say one more word or make one more move, and I'll kill you!

Liao Feiyu burst into loud sobs, his voice piercing enough to move mountains.

Mother Liao slapped the table. "Shut it!"

Liao Feiyu, who was crying without a single tear, saw Mother Liao's face dark as a wok bottom and wisely closed his mouth.

Mother Liao smiled at Liao Xue. "I talked to the family, and we knocked off fifty thousand from the bride price. Mom will see you married off in style."

As she said this, Mother Liao herself was moved, the corners of her eyes reddening.

As for Liao Feiyu, he thought his mother had gone mad.

When Mother Liao went to the kitchen, Liao Xue said softly, "Your mother's not crazy. She just wants the bride price."

Having said that, Liao Xue stood up and went back to her room.

Only when all was quiet outside did Liao Xue turn off the light, bury her head under the blanket, and quietly take out her phone.

A barrage of messages flooded the screen one after another, filling it.

Shen Qiancheng: [So annoying. The Village Chief's Wife's cooking is still as bad as ever. First bite, and I already miss your cooking.]

Shen Qiancheng: [She didn't hit you, did she? If she dares, I'll come over tonight and show her my fists.]

[Cute skull sticker]

...

The last one was from five minutes ago.

Shen Qiancheng: [Liao Xue, tonight there's a moon, but no stars.]