Chapter 38: Meeting Again

“Can I come play with Elder Sister Jiang in the future?” Dong’er looked at Jiang Yang with innocent eyes, their clear purity making Jiang Yang lose focus, as the shadow of another person floated in her mind.

Jiang Yang said, “Doesn’t your father dislike you and Xia’er being too close to me?”

Dong’er smiled sweetly and said, “It’s okay, we can come play with you secretly. Father won’t know.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Yang pinched Dong’er’s little face, looked at the sky, and saw it was about four or five in the afternoon. In a little while, it would be dark, and she needed to hurry and build a simple shelter to avoid wind and rain.

She picked up a few branches from the beach to use as a frame, forming a long triangle shape. Then she layered leafy branches on top of the frame, one layer at a time. She also collected many dry leaves from the forest. By the time she finished all this, night had fallen.

The weather on a tropical island can change suddenly. Soon the wind picked up and torrential rain began to fall. Fortunately, Jiang Yang had chosen a good spot in advance, where rainwater wouldn’t pool around her simple little nest. She quickly crawled inside. The layers of stacked leaves acted like tiles to keep out the water. Jiang Yang lay inside listening to the sound of rain, watching water drip down along the edges of the frame.

As the downpour arrived, the temperature on the island dropped. Though the hastily built shelter kept her from being soaked to the skin, the damp cold air still made Jiang Yang feel chilly. She rubbed her arms and buried herself in the pile of collected leaves. Though crude and rough, in this situation it was the best way to stay warm.

Jiang Yang closed her eyes, listening to the continuous patter of heavy rain in her ears, smelling the damp earthy scent in her nose, and smiled wryly: “At least a beggar would have a broken-down temple to shelter from wind and rain. Alas…”

After enduring a night of heavy rain, Jiang Yang slept fitfully and woke naturally before 5 AM. Her waist and back ached, her joints uncomfortable. She rolled up her sleeve to see that her fair skin, pampered by the Jiang family of Lingnan, had broken out in many red spots. It looked like a rash, or maybe bites left by unknown small insects. Fortunately, it wasn’t anything serious.

Jiang Yang stretched and roused her spirits. She spent the morning chopping down a few trees, casually picking some wild berries from the forest to eat during her midday rest.

Dong’er and Xia’er came to play with her. Jiang Yang gave them the berries she couldn’t finish to eat. The two children ate happily and contentedly.

After a short midday rest, Jiang Yang prepared to continue chopping trees. She didn’t know much about building houses, but while she couldn’t construct a magnificent palace, she could build a simple shelter that wouldn’t collapse.

No sooner said than done, Jiang Yang continued working. She tied back all her long hair at the nape of her neck with a twig, and rolled up her sleeves to her arms. The scorching sunlight turned her face red, and sweat rolled down her cheeks, with fine beads of sweat appearing on her arms.

In the afternoon, Dong’er and Xia’er didn’t run around playing everywhere, but watched Jiang Yang work, occasionally praising her: “Elder Sister Jiang, you’re so amazing.”

“Yes, Elder Sister Jiang, you’re so strong. You’ve chopped down so many trees in such a short time. Father can only chop three or four in a day.”

Jiang Yang wiped the sweat from her brow and said, “Well, I’m a woman, so of course I’m stronger than your father.”

Working until three or four in the afternoon, Jiang Yang finally finished building the small shelter. It wasn’t very technical, just a simple cube-like outline, open on all four sides, but at least it wouldn’t collapse.

After finishing the basic framework, Jiang Yang sat on the ground and began weaving thatch to lay on top of the shelter for rain protection. But no matter how she wove the thatch, it kept falling apart. It was Dong’er and Xia’er who came to help. Though they were children, they had lived on this lonely island depending on each other since birth, and were very dexterous.

In no time, they had woven the thatch well. Jiang Yang lightly jumped up, her toes barely touching the ground, and secured the woven thatch to the top of the shelter. At last it could block wind and rain.

Jiang Yang jumped down from the shelter roof to see the two little ones staring in amazement.

Xia’er’s mouth gaped open: “Elder Sister Jiang, you really can fly.”

Dong’er said, “Of course, didn’t I tell you yesterday that Elder Sister Jiang held me and flew around?”

Xia’er said, “I thought you were lying to me…”

“Why would I lie to you?” The two little ones began to argue, trading words back and forth.

Jiang Yang rested her chin in her hand, watching the two children bicker, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

Dong’er and Xia’er finally finished arguing, only then remembering Jiang Yang was beside them. They had thought she would be very angry, after all, their father Chun Jian truly doted on them when he was affectionate, but was also truly terrifying when angry. His temper was unpredictable, and he would scold them harshly if he saw the brothers quarreling.

Dong’er and Xia’er had thought Jiang Yang would be like Chun Jian, showing a displeased expression.

But Jiang Yang just watched them argue and bicker so gently, that for a moment they didn’t know how to respond. Dong’er hurriedly said, “Elder Sister Jiang, it’s getting late. We need to go home for dinner, or Father will be angry.”

Jiang Yang nodded, resting her chin on her hand: “Alright, go on then.”

Dong’er pulled Xia’er along, running until they were near home before stopping. Wiping the sweat from his neck, Dong’er gave Xia’er a look: “See, I told you Elder Sister Jiang is very nice. Now that merman who was always clinging to her is gone, and Elder Sister Jiang can’t leave this island just like us. Why don’t we have her be our mother… You saw how strong she is, able to do in one day what takes Father three to five days. And her personality is so gentle, she doesn’t hit or scold people. If she became our mother, Father would have someone to care for him, and we would have a mother too.”

Jiang Yang, lying in her little shelter, sneezed. If she knew these two little rascals were harboring thoughts of making her their sudden mother, she would definitely grab them for a good thrashing.

What kind of person was Chun Jian? Cold as a venomous snake, full of resentment. Having been deceived by Lu San Niang, he thought all women in the world were bad, that all women owed him. For a man like that to be by Jiang Yang’s pillow, she would be frightened awake in the middle of the night.

But Jiang Yang didn’t know the thoughts Dong’er and Xia’er were harboring, nor did she have the chance to give them a good thrashing. However, this night was destined to proceed amidst the loud crying of Dong’er and Xia’er.

Chun Jian held a thick stick in his hand, the two little ones trembling like quail kneeling before him. Even before the stick fell on them, their wailing was piercingly miserable, each trying to outdo the other.

“Cry, cry, cry! Still crying! How dare you promise your own father to another woman, where did you learn such improper things!” Chun Jian raised the stick in his hand.

Dong’er cried and hugged Chun Jian’s legs: “Father has often been sick in bed lately. Brother and I want to take care of you, but we’re too small and weak. We can’t farm or hunt. We wanted to stew meat to nourish your body, but were chased by a wild boar. Elder Sister Jiang is so strong, she could definitely catch a big wild boar… Before, it was always Father caring for us, but no one cared for you. Elder Sister Jiang is very nice. If she became our mother, you would have someone to care for you too, Father.”

Thud—

The stick in his hand fell to the ground. Chun Jian tightly hugged the two children, tears silently flowing.

He didn’t know how to tell the two children that their father wasn’t sick… he was just dying. Being separated from his merman pearl for too long, lasting this long was already a miracle.

That night, Chun Jian supported his weak body to carry the two children to bed, holding one in each arm against his chest. He sang lullabies and children’s songs all night long. The children fell peacefully asleep in their father’s embrace.

But Chun Jian didn’t sleep all night. Smiling, he traced Dong’er and Xia’er’s brows and eyes over and over. With death approaching, every moment with the children was precious. How could he bear to sleep?

That night, he walked out of the house in the pouring rain. His frail body could barely support his will anymore. Each step left him gasping for breath, using up what little life he had left.

Finally, he reached Jiang Yang’s wooden shelter. The night made his skin look as pale as a ghost: “Jiang Yang, let’s make a deal.”

Jiang Yang sat up and looked at him.

“I suppose you already know I don’t have long to live.” Chun Jian got straight to the point.

Jiang Yang nodded. She had learned earlier from the merman elder that without a merman pearl, a merman could last at most seven years. Chun Jian had already pushed himself to the limit for his children.

“You’ve lost your merman pearl, so you’re destined to be trapped on this island for life, just like me. I’ll give you my house to use. I only ask that you take care of my two children.” Chun Jian bent down, his tone mournful as he entrusted his children to her.

“Do Dong’er and Xia’er know?” Jiang Yang asked.

Chun Jian lowered his eyes: “No.” Telling two seven-year-old children in advance that their father, who they depended on for survival, was about to die with no cure, would make every moment waiting for death more painful than being slowly sliced to death.

“I agree.”

A faint light flickered in Chun Jian’s dull eyes. He knelt down in front of her and kowtowed heavily.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Because of entrusting his children to her, Chun Jian no longer showed a rejecting attitude toward Jiang Yang. The two children naturally sensed their father’s change, thinking Chun Jian had come around and felt that way about Jiang Yang too. They began to cling to Jiang Yang even more, seeking the maternal love Lu San Niang had deprived them of.

But how could they know that the change in Chun Jian’s attitude wasn’t due to romantic feelings, but because of his reluctance to part with them and his concern for them.

Two months passed this way. Chun Jian could barely get out of bed anymore. He used the last of his remaining life to sew clothes for the two children from ages 8 to 18.

Jiang Yang was moved by this, and took even better care of the two children. She often took them to the seaside to pick coconuts, because picking one coconut was effortless for Jiang Yang, but very difficult for Chun Jian and the two children.

Jiang Yang skillfully climbed the coconut tree and threw down two coconuts.

Dong’er and Xia’er laughed as they picked up the coconuts: “Let’s take them back for Father to drink. They must be so sweet.”

“Elder Sister Jiang, I want that flower too.” Dong’er pointed at the ever-blooming flame tree in the distance.

Jiang Yang’s expression changed slightly. She smiled and said to him, “Such a beautiful flower, let’s leave it blooming on the branch.”

Dong’er nodded in confusion, then pointed at the flame tree petals floating on the sea: “Then can I go pick up the fallen flame tree flowers?”

Jiang Yang nodded with a smile: “You may.”

Dong’er ran happily towards the seaside. Suddenly he fell to the ground, pointing at the sea and screaming loudly.

Jiang Yang quickly ran over. On the sea surface covered with flame tree flowers, a pool of thick bloody gore spread out, dyeing the blue sea red. A merman tail, nearly half eaten away, was exposed before her. Schools of sea fish greedily gnawed and tore at it. Even the fish bones exposed to the air had been gnawed through. The merman was already unconscious, long hair covering his face, arms hanging limply in the water. His pale skin was like a cold, floating corpse.

Jiang Yang felt a chill all over. A strong sense of unease invaded her heart. Her limbs stiffened, not knowing how to run to his side. She scooped up the unconscious merman as if rescuing a dying seagull with wet wings from the sea. With trembling fingers, she brushed aside the hair covering his face. The last shred of hope in Jiang Yang’s heart was completely shattered—it was Chi Mei.

Author’s note:

The silly fish is half dead.

[This passage contained only author’s notes thanking readers and information about the novel’s publication platform. There is no story content to translate in this particular excerpt.]