Silent Testimony - Chapter 8

At approximately 5:20 PM, Li Hewei exited the highway. The ETC toll was 9.8 yuan. She quickly checked her phone; the navigation showed 8.3 kilometers remaining, but why did it estimate twenty-five minutes?

“Turn right at the next intersection, then left after 200 meters. The road will be a bit narrow,” Tao Ling reminded her in a soft, gentle voice.

“Okay.” Li Hewei zoomed in on the navigation to check the road conditions. It turned out they were taking a rural road. Rural roads have many bends and are narrow, so after turning left, she slowed down and drove cautiously.

Tao Ling always felt carsick when returning to her hometown in a relative’s car or a shared ride—the drivers usually drove fast and never slowed down for turns. However, the person beside her, who was holding the steering wheel, cautiously tapping the brake, giving gas, and even instructing other drivers to tuck in their rearview mirrors when passing, gave her an immense sense of security. She turned her head, gazed at Li Hewei’s clear, beautiful profile, and a faint smile involuntarily curved her lips. “Sister Wei, your driving skills are much better than I imagined.”

Is that how you compliment someone? Li Hewei muttered internally, though a smile had already lifted the corners of her lips. Her tone, however, betrayed no emotion. “What did you imagine?”

Tao Ling quietly stated the facts. “Last year, you fractured your left arm because you followed the car in front too closely and rear-ended it.”

…

No wonder she found a not-so-obvious surgical scar on her left arm while showering. Nerve recovery was slow, which was why it occasionally throbbed faintly.

She had ten years of driving experience, drove to and from work every day, and went on off-road trips with friends during holidays. She had never been in an accident. Yet, she had to explain the actions of the original owner. Li Hewei was momentarily speechless. After a while, she said, “A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.”

“That’s good,” Tao Ling pointed the way. “Sister Wei, turn left up the slope, and we’ll be there after another 50 meters.”

Li Hewei indicated early and turned left. From a distance, she could see two self-built houses 50 meters away. Five large round tables were set up on the wide concrete yard outside, all fully occupied. Closer still, a woman dressed plainly in a watermelon-red short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers was standing at the intersection, waving to them.

“That’s my mother. She’ll guide you to park,” Tao Ling gave her a heads-up. “Mention of my brother is inevitable tonight. Please don’t take offense.”

Li Hewei was mentally prepared and indicated her understanding. She lowered her window and followed Liu Yun’s guidance forward.

“Come on, come on, a little further ahead.”

“Xiao Wei, you can stop here. Other cars can still pass by.”

Li Hewei noted the wide space between the parked cars on either side. She grabbed her handbag and quickly followed Tao Ling out of the car.

Liu Yun gave Li Hewei a cheerful smile and instructed Tao Ling, “Xiaoling, help your sister-in-law carry her bag. It’s hard enough for her to come all this way.”

“It’s not necessary; the bag is very light.” Li Hewei was reluctant to interact too much with Tao Father. Finding Liu Yun to be kind, she reluctantly addressed her as ‘Mom’ and handed her the prepared red envelope.

“Oh, how can I accept this? It’s enough that you came,” Liu Yun declined with a smile.

“Please accept it; it’s just a small token of my regard.”

After a period of polite exchange, Liu Yun finally accepted the red envelope and led the two women toward the concrete yard outside the building. Everyone present turned their gaze toward them.

“Oh, Xiaoling is back! You’re getting prettier and prettier.”

“Hello, Third Aunt.”

“Our Xiaoling is working for the government now—the first person in the Tao family.”

Tao Lukai forced a smile. “What’s the use of working for the government? Making money is the real priority. She doesn’t even make as much as Tao Zong working for a boss.”

“It’s stable. Stability is good for girls. She’ll definitely marry well later.”

Li Hewei had always disliked relatives and friends discussing a woman’s marriage. Her brow furrowed tighter and tighter. She turned sideways, took Tao Ling’s arm, and whispered, “Where is the restroom? Take me there.”

Her voice was low, and her slightly warm breath brushed past Tao Ling’s ear. Tao Ling was momentarily stunned, a fleeting sense of ticklishness arising in her heart. She belatedly realized the other woman was helping her escape the situation. She accepted the kindness and seized the opportunity. “Dad, I’m taking Sister-in-law inside.”

“Go on, go on.” Just now, Liu Yun had stuffed Li Hewei’s red envelope into his pocket, so he was feeling pleased.

Tao Ling’s eldest uncle suddenly spoke up. “Oh, isn’t this Xiao Yang’s wife? Driving all the way back from Puchen just for this. Lukai, you are a lucky man.”

Li Hewei ignored him and followed Tao Ling up the stairs. When the door closed, the person in front of her turned around and looked up at her. The bottom of her usually placid eyes shimmered faintly. “Thank you.”

Her attitude was sincere, and her words were earnest. Li Hewei, however, felt inexplicably embarrassed. This was the first time someone had stared into her eyes while speaking. Are all straight girls like this? It’s a bit unnerving. She shifted her gaze, focusing on the room’s decor behind her.

The tiles were shiny. Although the quality didn’t look great, it was considered a grand expense in a rural town: a 1.8 meter large bed, a ceiling-high wardrobe, and even a vanity table.

“This was originally your and Big Brother’s wedding room.”

The sentence caught her by surprise. Li Hewei was at a loss for words, stuck in place and unsure how to proceed.

“Mom wanted you to stay in the hometown tonight and leave after lunch tomorrow.”

Li Hewei abruptly turned her head, her eyes wide with astonishment.

“I refused her, saying you were busy with work.”

Why does she like to speak in halves? Li Hewei felt a little relieved, then shifted to the offense: “Tao Ling, if you don’t like chatting with them, you can find a place to hide. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“They’ll think I’m impolite,” Tao Ling swallowed. “So, luckily, you are here.”

This was clearly moral coercion, self-P.U.A. Li Hewei wanted to argue with her, but then wondered if she would be overstepping. Besides, personal experiences and family environments differ, so perspectives would also vary greatly. It couldn’t be simply labeled as right or wrong.

For instance, although Li Hewei’s mother passed away early, her stepmother was kind and cheerful, and her father was a middle manager at a gas company with a respectable salary. As a result, she had never suffered or struggled much since childhood.

In contrast, what about Tao Ling? Cheng Yingqiu had mentioned that she grew up in the countryside. Her parents went to the city to work when she was seven. Tao Yang was in junior high, and she stayed behind, walking three kilometers every day to and from the central elementary school in town. She was admitted to the County Experimental Middle School. While studying, she had to juggle her academics with cooking for the four people in her family and even helping with deliveries.

“Xiaoling, come downstairs with your sister-in-law to eat.”

“Oh, okay.”

Li Hewei’s thoughts were pulled back to reality by Tao Ling’s voice. She followed her to the restroom to wash her hands, then went downstairs.

They sat at the main table in the living room on the first floor. The two round tables were filled with close relatives from the Tao and Liu families. Li Hewei forced herself to respond to the polite conversation of those around her, finding the meal utterly bland. After three rounds of drinks and five rounds of dishes, the eldest uncle, who had been put in his place earlier, began chattering again. “Aiya, Xiao Yang has been missing for two years, and we haven’t had a wedding celebration. What about Xiaoling? Does she have a boyfriend? Get it done soon.”

Tao Lukai said, “I haven’t heard her mention one.”

Liu Yun agreed. “Yes, Xiaoling has a heavy study load, and she just graduated.”

The eldest uncle, tipsy from the alcohol, spoke bluntly. “Isn’t she turning twenty-five in November? She’s not young anymore. When your mom was twenty-five, she already had two children.”

Third Aunt also opened up the conversation. “Have your Tao Zong introduce someone to her. There are plenty of single young men at his factory.” Tao Lukai was the second eldest. Their houses were built right next to the eldest uncle’s, and the two families often helped each other out.

Tao Lukai’s face beamed. “That’s right, Big Brother. Ask Tao Zong to introduce someone to her. Try to find a young, promising match. Our Tao Ling is quite good herself.”

Tao Ling felt suffocated. Her fists clenched under the round table, and she spoke with difficulty. “Dad, I don’t want to date yet.”

Tao Lukai hadn’t expected Tao Ling to suddenly talk back, and his expression changed abruptly. “What are you talking about?”

Tao Ling’s lips trembled. “I’m still young…”

“Xiaoling, everyone here is doing this for your own good.”

Li Hewei originally didn’t want to interject, but she truly couldn’t stand listening anymore. She cut in with a cold voice. “Let me say a few words. What do you mean ‘for her own good’? If marriage was so great, would you need to rush her? If money was lying on the ground, wouldn’t Tao Ling know to pick it up?”

“What can marriage bring? Gossip? Don’t think I’m deaf and can’t hear. Who was saying before dinner that I cursed Tao Yang?” Li Hewei knew she wouldn’t have contact with the Tao family in the future and decided to go all out. “Is there something wrong with you people?”

The eldest uncle knew that Li Hewei worked at the Puchen Public Security Bureau, was Tao Ling’s supervisor, and that her parents were well-known merchants in the local food industry, with at least tens of millions in liquid assets. He couldn’t afford to offend her, so he lowered his head and kept silent.

“I’m busy with work. I’m heading back first.” Li Hewei put down her chopsticks, pushed her high stool away, and stood up. She glanced at Tao Ling, who was frozen in place, and ordered in an undeniable tone, “Tao Ling, come back to work overtime with me.”

“Mm.” Tao Ling’s heart pounded. She looked back at Liu Yun, who waved her hand, signaling for her to go.

The night was deep. Cicadas and frogs chirped along the country road, but the car was silent. Li Hewei was still angry, while Tao Ling looked out the window at the constantly receding scenery, calming her wildly beating heart.

The vivid personality of the person beside her was profoundly shocking to her.

A kind of indescribable craziness.

“Are you okay?” Li Hewei calmed down and began to worry about how to manage the aftermath. She could just walk away cleanly, but what about Tao Ling? She still had to face these terrible relatives later.

Tao Ling turned her head to look at her, the corners of her eyes involuntarily curving into crescents, but her words contained a hint of bitterness. “What could be wrong with me? I might get scolded by Old Tao a few times. As for being set up with dates, I probably can’t escape that.”

Li Hewei frowned. “Will you go?”

“I don’t want to go.”

The failure to answer “No, I won’t go” caused a flicker of disappointment in Li Hewei’s heart.

She convinced herself that given Tao Ling’s current predicament, she could only take things one step at a time. So, she said casually, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

Tao Ling took a deep breath. “Okay.”

Li Hewei couldn’t grasp her intentions. “Hmm?”

“I might move out and apply for dormitory accommodation,” Tao Ling’s tone grew more resolute. “I originally planned to save enough money to buy an apartment, but now I urgently want to escape.”

“At least the dormitory has air conditioning.”

She rarely smiled with such a wide grin, but Li Hewei found it oddly piercing, a sour, difficult feeling in her heart.

“Doesn’t your family have air conditioning?”

Tao Ling remained silent, her gaze returning to the window.

Lukai, the child got into the Public Security Bureau, and she gives us 2,000 yuan every month. Buying an air conditioner would make her stay more comfortable.

The weather has been hot recently, and the fish die quickly. We’ve lost a lot of money. Besides, she has air conditioning at work. She only comes home for a few hours every day. Wouldn’t it be a waste?

Then dismantle the air conditioner from Xiao Yang’s bedroom and move it to her room.

That’s too much trouble. It costs 50 yuan to dismantle it.

Recalling her parents’ conversation from that time, Tao Ling sniffled, and tears glistened in her eyes. “The air conditioning in the dormitory has better cooling efficiency.”