Under the Hawthorn Tree by Ai Mi, Anna Holmwood Read Free Book Online Page B

reassured Jingqiu, ‘I don’t want you to marry this instant, I just wanted to say that as long as our Lin is in your heart, that’s all that matters.’
    Jingqiu didn’t know what to say to Auntie and so pleaded with Fang to explain. ‘Old Second and me, well it’s not possible. I . . . don’t know what else to say, just that it’s not possible.’
    Fang was highly amused by it all. ‘I know it’s not possible, but I’m not going to be the bearer of bad news, you’ll have to say it yourself.’
    The day before Jingqiu was to leave for Yichang Lin came to find her, his face flushed. ‘Mother has told me to accompany you tomorrow. The mountain road is empty and not safe, and it’s far . . . and the water levels could rise.’
    Jingqiu desperately tried to make excuses, repeating, ‘There’s no need, I can go myself.’ Then a thought occurred to her. ‘Are there tigers on the mountain?’
    Lin was honest in his reply. ‘No, this mountain’s not big, I’ve never heard of any wild animals. My mother just said she’s afraid there might be . . . villains.’
    Actually, the truth was that Jingqiu really did want someone to accompany her over the mountain as she didn’t feel brave enough to walk it alone, but she preferred to risk the dangers of the road alone rather than finding herself in Lin’s debt.
    That evening Old Third came round. Jingqiu wanted to tell him that she was leaving the next day and would be in Yichang for two days, but somehow couldn’t find the right moment. She hoped that someone else would mention it but no one did. Maybe there’s no need to tell him, she thought, he probably won’t even come over, and if he does, he probably won’t be upset at not seeing me. She got up from the living room and returned to her bedroom pretending that she needed to write a few reports. She kept her ears pricked for activity in the living room. I’ll just wait until he says goodbye and then sneak out to tell him, she promised herself.
    She waited in her room without writing a single word. When it was nearly ten she heard him saying goodbye and while she was panicking, thinking of a way to slip out and tell him, he suddenly entered her room, removed the pen from her hand and scrawled a few words on a piece of paper. Tomorrow go to the mountain road, I’ll be waiting for you. Eight o’clock.
    She raised her head to look at him, and watched as a smile inched across his face. He was waiting for her reply, but before she had a chance to answer him Auntie walked in.
    Old Third spoke loudly. ‘Thank you, I’ll be off,’ and left.
    â€˜What was he thanking you for?’ Auntie was suspicious.
    â€˜Oh, he asked me to buy some things for him in Yichang.’
    â€˜I also wanted to ask you to get me something.’ Auntie took out some money and said, ‘Could you buy some wool for Lin and knit him a new jumper? You can decide the colour and pattern. Yumin told me that you’re very good at it.’
    Jingqiu felt she couldn’t say no to this request, so she took the money. She consoled herself, I can’t be Auntie’s daughter-in-law, but knitting him a jumper can be my repayment.
    That evening, she couldn’t sleep. She kept taking out the piece of paper with his handwriting on it. How did he know she was leaving tomorrow? Doesn’t he have work? What will he say, what will he do? She was delighted that he was going to escort her, but then she became worried. Girls were supposed to be on their guard with men, and wasn’t he a man? Us two, alone on that road. If he wants to do something to me, can I defend myself? Isn’t a man a threat? She really had little idea, didn’t know what exactly that threat was. You’d often see posters plastered around with men’s names on them, crossed out in red. Some had committed crimes for which they had