Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Threat
A vicious gleam flashed in Tang Ming Xiu’s eyes.

She looked around—river, reeds, empty path. No one nearby. No eyes on them.

She crept closer, footsteps careful on the damp earth, arm lifting.

Qin Hui Yin was still crouched by the water, intent on rinsing the dust from her face.

Tang Ming Xiu’s palm hovered a hand’s breadth away. One shove. That was all.

A clear voice cut through the hush behind her. “What are you doing?”

Tang Ming Xiu whipped around, panic smashing into her like a stone.

Tang Yi Chen stood a short distance away, two fish hanging from his hand, his gaze sharp and steady.

At his voice, Qin Hui Yin looked up, confused. When she saw Tang Ming Xiu’s outstretched arm, her eyes cooled.

She stood, grabbed her basket, and walked toward Tang Yi Chen without rushing, as if nothing had happened.

Tang Ming Xiu’s throat tightened. Guilt made her shift back. Her heel hit a slick patch of moss.

She slipped.

With a sharp splash, she fell straight into the river.

“Ah—help!” Tang Ming Xiu thrashed, water slapping her face. “Help! I can’t swim—help!”

Tang Yi Chen’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Qin Hui Yin. “Go nearby and see if there’s anyone around.”

“Brother,” Qin Hui Yin said quickly, “you’re not thinking of jumping in, are you? Men and women should keep their distance. If you jump in and save her, you’ll never be able to explain it.”

More than that—Tang Ming Xiu’s heart was crooked. Whether it was the mess in the mountains or what she’d just tried to do by the river, being tied to her would only bring trouble.

But if they let her drown while they stood here, the mess afterward would be worse.

Qin Hui Yin set her basket down. “Brother, go find people. Best if you find her family and let them handle this.”

Then she jumped into the river.

If one of them had to go in, it should be her. Tang Yi Chen’s injury hadn’t fully healed. In a world with poor medicine, an infection could be deadly. And if Tang Yi Chen touched Tang Ming Xiu in the water, gossip would chew them both to pieces.

Tang Ming Xiu had struggled long enough that her strength was nearly gone. She sank, choking, hearing the splash of someone else entering the water and clinging to hope.

When an arm hooked her shoulder, she latched on instinctively, grabbing like a drowning person did—desperate, mindless.

For a heartbeat, she thought it was Tang Yi Chen.

Then she opened her eyes and saw Qin Hui Yin.

Something ugly flared again inside her. She tightened her grip deliberately, trying to drain Qin Hui Yin’s strength, trying to drag her down.

Qin Hui Yin felt it immediately.

Her expression didn’t change. She grabbed Tang Ming Xiu by the head, forcing her face up for air—and then shoved her under again.

Tang Ming Xiu sputtered, bubbles bursting at the surface. “Ghk—help—”

“You’d better behave,” Qin Hui Yin said, voice low and cold. “My brother went to find people. Someone will come soon. They’ll see I tried to save you.”

She pushed Tang Ming Xiu’s face up just long enough for her to gasp.

“If you die in this water,” Qin Hui Yin continued, “at most it’ll be called bad luck—someone jumped in and still couldn’t save you. And I don’t care about your filthy little secrets. But if you come looking for trouble over that disgusting mess again, I’ll tell everyone about you fooling around with a man in the mountains.”

Tang Ming Xiu’s eyes went wild. “You… you’re lying. I didn’t—”

Qin Hui Yin’s grip tightened. “Whether I’m lying or not, you know.”

Tang Ming Xiu’s lips trembled. “Don’t say it… I won’t dare again…”

“If someone asks how you fell in,” Qin Hui Yin said, “what will you say?”

Tang Ming Xiu swallowed river water, coughed, and rasped, “I slipped. I fell in by accident. I was wrong. I won’t dare again.”

Qin Hui Yin’s mouth curved in something close to a sneer. “With courage like that, you still tried to play murderer.”

She hauled Tang Ming Xiu toward the bank and shoved her up onto the rocks, climbing out after her, clothes heavy and cold against her skin.

—

Tang Jiang had gone to work at the dam worksite, and Tang Ming Kui was apprenticing in town. At home, only Madam Wang and Tang Ming Xiu remained.

When Tang Yi Chen reached the village entrance, Madam Wang was standing beneath the big tree with a cluster of women, gossiping as they cracked pumpkin seeds. As he approached, he faintly caught his own name—then the group fell abruptly silent, eyes sliding over him.

Tang Yi Chen stopped in front of Madam Wang. “Auntie Wang. Tang Ming Xiu fell into the river.”

“What?” Madam Wang’s eyes bulged. The next instant, anger poured out. “If she fell in, why didn’t you save her first? What use is it telling me? You’re a grown man and you can’t even haul up a woman?”

She shoved past him and ran, voice rising as she went. “If anything happens to my daughter, it’s your fault! If you harmed my daughter, I won’t let you go!”

The women exchanged looks, stuffed seeds into their pockets, and hurried after her like a flock.

By the time they reached the river, they found Qin Hui Yin and Tang Ming Xiu sitting on a rock, both gasping. Tang Ming Xiu was a 15-year-old girl, soaked through; her clothes clung to her body in a way that made the older women’s eyes sharpen.

Madam Wang shrieked, fury and fear tangled together. “You filthy girl! How did you fall in for no reason? Did someone deliberately harm you?”

Tang Yi Chen stayed far back, keeping his distance. He could already hear the shape of Madam Wang’s words—how easily she could twist them into a smear.

He was about to step in anyway when Tang Ming Xiu spoke, voice weak and pitiful. “No… I slipped when I passed by. I fell in by accident.”

Madam Wang stared, thrown off. “You really fell in by accident?”

“Really.” Tang Ming Xiu’s lips shook as she forced the words out. “Qin Hui Yin happened to pass by and saved me.”

Tang Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He remembered what he’d seen: Tang Ming Xiu creeping up behind Qin Hui Yin, arm lifted. Whatever had happened between those two, it wasn’t as simple as a slip.

He scanned the crowd and spotted Chubby hovering on the edge, eyes wide with curiosity. Tang Yi Chen beckoned him over, pressed one wen into his hand, and spoke quickly. “Go fetch Li Tao Hua. Tell Auntie Li that Yin Yin fell into the river. She’s fine, but her clothes are soaked. Tell her to bring dry clothes.”

Chubby’s face lit up like he’d been given a treasure. He spun and ran.

Tang Yi Chen didn’t leave. He stayed at a distance, watching. If Madam Wang didn’t start trouble, he would keep guarding quietly. If she did, he wouldn’t stand there and let Qin Hui Yin be trampled.

Li Tao Hua arrived quickly, breathing hard from the run.

“Daughter—my precious Yin Yin…” Li Tao Hua didn’t waste a moment. She ripped off her own outer garment and wrapped Qin Hui Yin tightly, covering her from head to toe as if shielding her from every eye and tongue present.

She grabbed Qin Hui Yin’s hands and rubbed them hard, her face pinched with pain. “Why did you jump into the water? What does someone else falling in have to do with you?”

Madam Wang’s eyes flashed. She lunged forward with a glare. “Li Tao Hua, what do you mean? If my daughter fell in, was she supposed to just stand there and watch? If my daughter dies, she’s the murderer!”

Li Tao Hua rolled her eyes so hard it was almost theatrical. “Crazy.” She tightened the wrap around Qin Hui Yin’s shoulders. “It’s broad daylight. Half the village is out working. If you shout, someone will come help. Why should my daughter suffer for your family’s mess?”

She jabbed a finger toward Qin Hui Yin, voice sharp as a blade. “My daughter has a kind heart. She was afraid your daughter wouldn’t hold out until others arrived, so she risked her life and jumped in. You should be grateful and thank her properly.”

Then she gave Madam Wang a look full of pure contempt. “Forget gratitude. Just stay far away from my daughter. Every time we run into you, nothing good happens.”