Mother and Daughter

The tricycle rattled down the winding dirt path, bouncing slightly over the uneven road. Gu Ho had run ahead on foot, legs pumping hard as he rushed to deliver the message. Behind him, the motor sputtered, pulling along a small wooden cart attached to the back—where a women sat.

At the front, gripping the handlebars tightly, was Gu Suqing. She was in her early thirties, with clear skin tanned from years of outdoor work. Her long black hair was tied in a thick braid that swung behind her, and her sharp cheekbones gave her face a natural elegance, even when her expression twisted in irritation.

"Mom, you really should've hurried up," she muttered, eyes fixed on the road. "We could've been there ages ago."

Sitting comfortably on a short wooden bench in the back, Yue Meixue gave a lazy puff from her cigarette. She wore a long black blouse with wide sleeves and old-fashioned embroidered cuffs. Her wide straw hat shaded a face lined with age, but her eyes were sharp. Her graying hair was tied into a low bun, and silver earrings swung gently with the tricycle's movements.

"Why are you in such a rush?" Yue Meixue replied, exhaling another stream of smoke. "It's not like you'll get a single copper from that family."

Gu Suqing glanced over her shoulder with a slight frown. "Would you even have the nerve to take it, if they offered?"

"If they offer, I'll take it. Who turns down money?"

Gu Suqing scoffed. "Back when I was little, Uncle Liang helped us a lot."

Yue Meixue's lips curled slightly. "And he had four sons. Did he offer even one of them to you? Hmm? Not even when I said I didn't need a dowry. I would've given you away for free."

Gu Suqing sighed. "That's not his fault. Maybe it's just… our bad luck."

Yue Meixue's tone softened, though her gaze remained firm. "Su. If others want to talk bad about us, let them. But don't speak that way about yourself."

Gu Suqing stayed quiet, her knuckles whitening on the handlebars.

Her mother flicked the ash from her cigarette, her voice calm "My granddaughter's still child. And me? I may still look strong and young, still have some spirit in these bones—but I won't be around forever. One day, it'll just be you and her."

The wind rustled the loose strands of Gu Suqing's braid as she drove.

"You hear me, Su? Even without a man, we'll eat better than half the families in this village. Let them say we're cursed, unlucky, whatever. I'll prove them wrong. We've lived through worse."

A beat of silence passed. Then Gu Suqing murmured, "We're here, Mom."

The tricycle rolled up the dam road, and the familiar outline of the Liang family's house came into view. The tiled roof, once red but now faded, looked worn under the sun, but the wooden beams still stood firm.

Mo Ring came out to greet them.

"Oh, Sister Meixue, let me help you down," she said, reaching for her arm.

Yue Meixue smiled and patted her hand gently. "I'm not that old yet. Your family's done more for me than I could repay, but I've still got my legs under me."

"Yes, yes," Mo Ring nodded, casting a worried glance toward the house. "Please, come see the child. He hasn't woken up."

Meixue's expression changed instantly, her eyes narrowing.

"I heard from Ho… something in the water touched the child?" she asked as they walked inside.

Mo Ring hesitated. "Yes. My husband has gone to get Suzhong."

Yue Meixue froze mid-step. Her hand tightened around Mo Ring's arm. "He went to get that old guy Suzhong?" she asked, voice low, serious.

Mo Ring nodded once.

A chill ran through Meixue's chest.

She had dismissed Ho's words earlier, thinking the boy was exaggerating. But if Gu Liang had left to call him, this was no small matter. Gu Liang was not a man to panic. If he had gone that far, it meant he believed something unnatural had taken hold.

Her cigarette fell to the dirt path, the ember snuffing out.

"Take me to the child," she said.