Self-Perception - Chapter 58

Gu Wansheng remained silent, her eyes constantly darting away to avoid contact.

Wen Jinyan cupped her face, forcing her to look her in the eye, and asked softly, “Is that so?”

Gu Wansheng nodded.

“So this is where you two are,” Bai Jin said, walking over while leading little Mian by the hand.

Gu Wansheng scalded two more bowls for them with hot tea. Mian climbed onto a plastic stool, her short legs dangling and swinging back and forth.

“Auntie Bai, can we discuss something?”

Bai Jin sat beside her, pouring herself a cup of water to let it cool. Her tone was leisurely. “Let’s hear it.”

“If chicken drums are served later, could you give me your portion?”

“Grandma said that at a wedding feast, where the portions are set, everyone can only take one. She told me I can’t take from others.”

Bai Jin teased her, “If she told you not to take from others, why are you eyeing mine?”

“Auntie Bai isn’t ‘others.’ Besides, I’m asking if you can give it to me. It’s a… request.”

It’s called a request, right? She remembered seeing that word in her language textbook.

“Fine, fine, I’ll give it to you,” Bai Jin replied, amused by the girl, making a grand promise. Children loved those things, she didn’t care for them much herself.

Seeing Bai Jin give in, Mian went on to ask Gu Wansheng and Wen Jinyan. Both agreed.

Aside from the four of them, other villagers sat at the table. Seeing three such refined looking adults among them, the locals couldn’t help but stare. The three ignored the attention.

“Why didn’t Grandma come?” a woman sitting next to Wen Jinyan asked.

“Grandma said her legs weren’t up to it. Before we left, she insisted we make sure the wedding gift was delivered,” Gu Wansheng replied.

“Oh, I see.” The woman nodded, her eyes lingering on Wen Jinyan. “Wait, whose family does this beautiful girl belong to? I’ve never seen her before.”

“She’s mine,” Gu Wansheng replied. “Her name is Wen Jinyan. Wen as in lukewarm water, Jin as in hibiscus, and Yan as in speech. She’s my wife.”

“Little Wen is so pretty. I’ve never seen eyes like those, so lovely. Is she a foreigner? But she doesn’t quite look it,” the woman rattled on.

Wen Jinyan replied, “I’m mixed-race.”

“Mixed? No wonder you don’t look entirely like a foreigner.”

Before the feast began, firecrackers were set off. In the village, they used the large red variety, loud and long-lasting.

The moment the noise erupted, Gu Wansheng and Wen Jinyan instinctively covered their ears.

“It’s so loud!” Wen Jinyan shouted toward Gu Wansheng.

“What did you say?!” Gu Wansheng couldn’t hear a thing over the roar of the crackers.

“I said, it’s so loud!”

This time Gu Wansheng heard her and nodded.

As the noise faded, the food began to arrive. The two brides had changed out of their white wedding gowns into red qipaos with shawls draped over their shoulders, moving from table to table to offer toasts.

When they reached Gu Wansheng’s table, the three of them stood up first.

“Congratulations! May you have a long and happy union.”

Liu Min and Lu Qing, one holding wine and the other juice, clinked glasses with everyone at the table.

“Eat well, everyone. Please forgive any lack of hospitality,” Liu Min said politely.

“Of course, of course,” Bai Jin replied, clinking glasses with her.

After they left, Gu Wansheng sat back down. She noticed Wen Jinyan’s hands were bare. She realized that since they got married, she had never bought Wen Jinyan a ring. They had a “flash marriage,” and the only proof of their union was the little red book.

Does Jinyan feel insecure? Does she think I don’t love her?

Gu Wansheng squeezed Wen Jinyan’s hand.

Wen Jinyan looked at her, then at Liu Min’s receding back. Was Gu Wansheng just looking at Liu Min’s ring? Is she hinting at something?

Gu Wansheng wants a ring.

Wen Jinyan felt certain. They hadn’t had a ring or a proper ceremony since marrying. While she didn’t mind, did Gu Wansheng feel slighted? Did she feel like their relationship lacked status or security?

“Gu Wansheng, when we get back, let’s go buy rings.”

The rings first… as for the wedding, she needed to handle that matter as soon as possible.

Seeing the sincerity in those amber eyes, Gu Wansheng felt her theory confirmed. See? Jinyan must feel so neglected. Gu Wansheng, oh Gu Wansheng, how could you forget something as important as a ring?

After finishing the meal, they intended to leave, but Liu Min called out, “Folks! If you want to play Mahjong or cards, go ahead! There’s another feast tonight, so don’t forget to come back!”

“Is the game room open?” someone asked.

Liu Min nodded.

Mian sighed dramatically, “Sister Liu spent so much money.”

Bai Jin lightly flicked the girl’s forehead. It didn’t hurt, but it felt a bit numb. Mian rubbed her head, puzzled. “Auntie Bai, you flicked me.”

It wasn’t a complaint, just a statement of fact.

Bai Jin acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Yep. I did.”

“Since you’re giving me your chicken drum, I’ll let you flick me,” Mian muttered under her breath.

“Why do you say Liu Min spent a lot of money?” Wen Jinyan asked the child.

Mian immediately adopted a “know it all” expression. “There are ten Mahjong rooms and ten card rooms in the village. It costs 50 yuan to book one for a day! And that’s just for one table.” Mian started counting on her fingers. “One times one is one, one times two is two…”

The numbers seemed to escape her, so she just spread her hands. “Anyway, it’s a lot, a lot.”

1,000 yuan… considering this was a village, Wen Jinyan thought, That is indeed a lot.

“Is math your weak point?” Bai Jin asked Mian.

“No way, Auntie Bai! Haven’t you seen all the awards in my room?”

“Then show them to me later,” Bai Jin said, then turned to the others. “Want to play cards? Grandma is probably still wandering the fields. It’ll be boring at home.”

“Shall we?” Gu Wansheng looked at Wen Jinyan.

“Sure.”

“You two go ahead. I’ll drop Mian off at home and come back.”

“Ah, Auntie Bai, I want to go too!” Mian tugged at her hand, pouting.

“Weren’t you going to show me your awards?”

“I can show you at night!” Mian argued logically.

“But I want to see them now.”

“Auntie Bai, why are you acting like a child?” Mian said in a “little adult” tone.

“Kids can’t go to the game room.”

“Why?”

“You’ll get styes,” Bai Jin lied through her teeth, knowing Mian wouldn’t understand. Wen Jinyan couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s a stye?”

“It’s when your eyes get sick from looking too long, and then you’ll go blind and never be able to watch cartoons again,” Bai Jin babbled.

“Then why are you letting Sister Gu and Sister Wen go?”

“Can’t you see Sister Wen is wearing glasses?” Mian stared at Wen Jinyan’s glasses and seemed to believe the lie.

“Let’s go. I brought you a big present; do you still want it?”

“YES!!!” The child’s mind was simple. She followed Bai Jin away, completely unaware she had been played.

Once they were gone, Wen Jinyan remarked, “I didn’t realize Director Bai was so good at tricking kids.”

“Let’s go.”

The two entered the card room, which was nearly full. As they walked deeper in, they heard an argument.

“Why won’t you let me play?!”

“Because every time you play, you throw a tantrum! No one wants to play with you!” a middle-aged woman snapped. The man scratched his head and left. The woman’s eyes landed on Gu Wansheng, and she immediately beckoned her. “Xiao Gu! Want to play a round?”

Seeing the woman’s expectant gaze, Gu Wansheng didn’t refuse. She pulled out a chair and sat down. Wen Jinyan grabbed a chair to sit beside her.

“What are we playing, Auntie?”

“Fight the Landlord (Dou Dizhu). 50 cents a round. Sound good?”

“Sounds good.”

Gu Wansheng drew the first card, it happened to be her turn to deal. As they organized their hands, Wen Jinyan watched Gu Wansheng’s left hand deftly sort the cards.

“I’ll be the Landlord.”

“Rob!” (Counter-bid)

“Pass,” Gu Wansheng said.

But Wen Jinyan had clearly seen that Gu Wansheng held both the Big and Small Jokers. Even though she wasn’t a pro, she knew that having both Jokers meant having a “Nuke” (bomb).

She leaned in close to Gu Wansheng’s ear. Feeling the warmth, Gu Wansheng instinctively tilted her head toward her. Wen Jinyan whispered, “Why didn’t you bid for Landlord?”

“The hand is too good. If I were the Landlord, it would end too quickly.”

“You’re very confident.”

“Confidence makes one powerful.”

Ultimately, another auntie took the Landlord role.

“Pair of 3s.” “Pair of 5s.” It was Gu Wansheng’s turn: “Pair of Jacks.” “Pair of Kings.” “Pair of 2s.”

The other three tapped the table, signifying they passed. Wen Jinyan noticed that Gu Wansheng’s way of tapping the table was incredibly cool, her index and middle fingers together, hitting the wood with a lazy, nonchalant grace.

“Three Aces with a pair of 3s,” Gu Wansheng’s voice brought Wen Jinyan back to reality.

Wen Jinyan glanced at Gu Wansheng’s hand. Only the two Jokers and a straight remained. The Landlord tried to block her, but Gu Wansheng dropped the Joker Bomb. Then she finished with a straight. She won.

“Xiao Gu, you’re quite good!” The Landlord pulled out some change.

Gu Wansheng took the money and handed it to Wen Jinyan, saying humbly, “Just luck.” Then she whispered to Wen Jinyan, “Hold onto this. Let’s see how much we can make.”

Wen Jinyan held the 50 cent coins, smoothing out the edges of the bills. Well, I guess I’m part of the game now.

In the second round, Gu Wansheng took the Landlord position. Wen Jinyan noticed her hand wasn’t as good as the last, no Joker Bomb this time.

Gu Wansheng played: “Three of a kind with a solo.” “Three of a kind with a solo.” … “Three 2s with a 3.”

Everyone passed. Gu Wansheng played a straight and won again.

Every subsequent round was a victory for Gu Wansheng. Although the three aunties’ expressions didn’t change much, they became significantly quieter.

“Want to try a round?” Gu Wansheng asked Wen Jinyan.

“Oh, I don’t know how.”

“It’s fine, just for fun. I believe in you.” Gu Wansheng whispered in her ear, “Besides, we have the funds.”

She gestured to the money in Wen Jinyan’s hand. Gu Wansheng had already won 10 yuan.

“Come on, give me a break.” Gu Wansheng gently nudged Wen Jinyan into the seat.

“I really don’t know how…”

As the player changed, the three women’s faces brightened, and the chatter picked up again.

“Little Wen hasn’t played before?”

Gu Wansheng kept her hand on Wen Jinyan’s shoulder. “She hasn’t. It’s just for entertainment. Besides, she has me as her strategist.”

She spoke casually. One of the women asked, “So, who handles the money in your house?”

Just as Gu Wansheng was about to speak, Wen Jinyan said, “We manage it together. No one ‘rules’ over the other.”

“That’s nice. Very good.”

Gu Wansheng smiled as she leaned back. “If we win, it counts as my wife’s. If we lose, it’s on me.”