Chapter 28: A Gift for You

On Saturday, Wang Jiexiang got up early.

To prepare for planting, the whole family headed out to work the fields.

Dad walked in front with a straw hat, and Wang Jiexiang followed behind carrying tools.

Their elderly neighbor called out, “The Wang family is out plowing the fields?”

“Yes,” Grandma replied with a smile. “Are all three of your sons home?”

“They are. Since they have time, I let them do the work so I can relax.”

“I’m really envious of you,” Grandma said, glancing at her own granddaughter. “Still, it’s better to have boys. Boys are good, they can work and have strength.”

The old neighbor beamed with pride. “That’s right. I’m lucky—my daughter-in-law has a good womb.”

Wang Jiexiang felt a dull tightness in her chest.

A wave of sour, burning anger surged up, pounding against her forehead. It was a familiar kind of rage, as if it had accompanied her for years. She instinctively tried to manage it—regulated her breathing, distracted herself, and let it fade away.

Bending over, Wang Jiexiang focused on the soil beneath her feet, though the gossiping continued in her ears.

“Your daughter-in-law is young and pretty. Just tell your son to put in more effort—they’ll have a few more, no problem.”

“I’d love her to have more, but she…” Grandma lowered her voice. “Pretty on the outside, useless on the inside.”

—Will they ever shut up?

The blazing sun hung overhead. Wang Jiexiang wiped her forehead and looked at the sky.

Something felt wrong.

Her head was spinning, and staring at the sun, she found it hard to breathe.

Something’s not right… with this world…

In a flash of clarity, Wang Jiexiang turned to the two older women.

Their conversation abruptly changed tone.

It was still their voices, but the pitch was off. The sharp and petty harshness had been smoothed out.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a boy or girl. Look how capable your granddaughter is.”

“Yes, my Jiexiang got into high school. She’s really smart. She studies and helps out at home. She’s my favorite granddaughter.”

Wang Jiexiang froze, a strange discomfort tugging at her from the inside out.

“Jiexiang…” someone called her gently.

“Jiexiang!” Her mom waved a hand in front of her face.

Wang Jiexiang blinked and focused, seeing her mother’s concerned expression.

“Mom?” She came to her senses and gave a small smile. “What is it?”

“You’re sweating a lot. Go rest under the tree.” Her mom handed her a handkerchief.

“I’m fine.” Wang Jiexiang took the handkerchief and bent back down to continue working.

What’s the point of thinking so much?

She told herself it must’ve just been fatigue making her hallucinate. Nothing’s really wrong.

Their field wasn’t big. After a few hours, the work was done.

Wang Jiexiang rubbed her aching waist, packed up the tools, and headed home.

After lunch, she and her mom were going to catch fish by the stream.

But before leaving, she had one thing to do.

She opened the letter filled with dialogue and wrote one last line at the bottom.

[I’m going to play by the stream. I hope the weather’s good where you are.]

She wanted to say more, thought about it for a while, then changed the final comma into a period.

Dragging her feet out the door, Wang Jiexiang kept glancing at her desk, hoping for a quick reply.

She got lucky—his reply came fast.

[It’s still raining today. Have fun.]

“Jiexiang, let’s go,” her mom called.

“Coming!” She folded the letter and grabbed the fishing net.

The stream nearest their house was so small it didn’t have an official name.

Wang Jiexiang bluntly called it “My Family’s Stream,” claiming it as her own territory.

The water was shallow and clear, surrounded by wild plants of every kind.

Her mom found a flat rock, and they sat there with their feet soaking in the water.

The weariness from the morning’s labor melted away in the cool stream. Birds called in the mountains, water babbled around them, and wind rustled the dense leaves overhead.

Wang Jiexiang leaned against her mother’s shoulder. The two of them closed their eyes to rest.

She could hear her mom breathing and matched her own breaths to the same rhythm.

—Is Mom asleep?

Wang Jiexiang opened one eye to study her mom’s sleeping face.

She had long eyelashes, eyebrows like willow leaves, and a soft, gentle face.

“Mom,” she whispered, “why are you so pretty?”

Her mom smiled. “Jiexiang is pretty too.”

She pouted in disagreement. “Jiexiang’s not pretty.”

“You are.”

Her mother looked at her seriously.

“Jiexiang has soft cheeks, big eyes, a cute little nose, and an adorable mouth. Jiexiang is kind, cheerful, hardworking, and brave. Who says you’re not pretty? You’re the prettiest.”

The little girl wrinkled her nose and threw herself into her mom’s arms.

“I want to stay with Mom forever.”

Her mom hugged her, running fingers through her hair. “Silly girl, not planning to get married someday?”

“Nope.”

“Not even if you meet someone you really like?”

Jiexiang shook her head, looking disdainful. “I wouldn’t like someone that much.”

Her mom sighed. “Feelings aren’t something you can control.”

They spent the whole afternoon catching fish at the stream.

Her mom caught two big ones, and Wang Jiexiang caught one small fish. It wasn’t enough to fill their bucket, but it was plenty for dinner.

On their way home, they saw a patch of white flowers blooming on the hillside.

Drawn by impulse, Wang Jiexiang ran over.

She picked the prettiest one and tucked it into her shirt pocket.

Back home, Wang Jiexiang ran straight to her room to write a letter.

[I had a lot of fun. The stream was cool, and little fish swam around my feet. Wild berries are ripe—I ate a bunch. Mom caught two fish. I caught a little crucian carp, but it was too small, so I let it go.

Oh, I told you yesterday the mountain flowers had bloomed.

I picked one on the way home and want to give it to you. Not sure if you’ll get it.]

She wrapped the little flower in the letter paper and carefully placed it in the envelope.

Soon after, the puffy envelope vanished—flower and all.

Wang Jiexiang cupped her cheeks and sat at her desk waiting.

This time, he took a while to reply. Dinner was ready, and she had to leave the desk.

After dinner, she rushed back to her room. His letter had arrived.

“Why is it puffy?” Wang Jiexiang opened it, slightly disappointed. “You can’t send flowers?”

But no—

Inside the letter was a small packet of QQ gummies, peach-flavored.

The note said: [I got your flower. Thank you.]

Wang Jiexiang had never eaten these before!

She tore it open and poured out a piece.

The candy was pink, fragrant, and springy.

Chewing it, she cupped her face in her hands and giggled.

She only ate one. She couldn’t bear to eat the rest.

“What does he like to eat?” Wang Jiexiang wondered.

Oh! Spicy food.

In the garden by the front door, she had planted chili peppers.

Bouncing with excitement, Wang Jiexiang ran to check on them.

The four pepper plants looked weak and weren’t even as tall as her knees.

“Doesn’t matter.”

Heartlessly, Wang Jiexiang plucked every last pepper.

She washed and dried them, packed them carefully in paper.

She wrote to him, each stroke deliberate: [These are chili peppers I grew myself.]

His letters were always so short—her few words already matched his length.

Wang Jiexiang held back her usual rambling and added just two more words.

[Pretty spicy!]

But what if he liked really spicy food? He might think they weren’t that hot.

She changed it: [I think they’re pretty spicy!]

Would he wonder about her spice tolerance?

Should she tell him she’s pretty good at eating spicy things?

Hesitantly, she added a small line:

[Be careful how much you use. I think they’re pretty spicy!]

“Ugh, that’s too wordy.”

Wang Jiexiang banged her head on the table.

Frustrated, she crossed out that last line.