EIP 9

Before marrying his elder brother, Zhou Jun’s sister-in-law often wore stylish men’s suits and kept a gun at her waist. She could ride horses, and occasionally, when the mood struck her, she would pick up a pen and compose poetry on the spot.

She used to say that Zhou Yan was a dream of hers. Whenever she said it, her face would light up with youthful joy. That dream had arrived without warning, and before she realized it, she had already been swept away. When they first met, Zhou Yan had been dressed in a white robe and speaking with someone. She had no idea what the conversation was about. Then he laughed, and by the time she came back to her senses, the smoke curling from her lips had been carried away by that smile.

Back then, she was wild. She smoked, got into fights, and was so unruly that even her family could not manage her. Everyone believed that whoever married her would have to be an exceptionally capable man. No one expected that person to be Zhou Yan.

He seemed delicate and bookish. It took her three years of persistence before she finally won him over. Now, every so often, she still cooked, though the results were far from pleasant. The first time Zhou Jun tasted her cooking, he nearly spat it out on the spot. He glanced at his elder brother and saw him swallowing bite after bite with a steady expression. Only when he noticed his sister-in-law’s expectant gaze did Zhou Yan say, “It’s good.”

Thinking of the dinner he had to stay for that night, Zhou Jun felt that this was his elder brother’s way of quietly punishing him. But when the soup was served, it actually tasted quite good.

Love could change a person. It could even improve someone’s cooking. After the meal, Zhou Jun took out a box of perfume and brought it to his sister-in-law. She was seated and reading, wearing a pale pink cheongsam embroidered with golden thread. A green jade bangle rested against her wrist as she turned the pages, flipping through them one by one.

A servant nearby was clearing away the incense. Zhou Jun had always seen her as an older sister. He never thought of her as a woman, especially since she was usually so tough whenever his elder brother was not around.

She reached out and pinched his ear, making Zhou Jun yelp. Her voice was gentle as she said, “You’ve made your brother worry again, haven’t you? I told you to keep a low profile, but you still caused trouble. He didn’t sleep well last night.”

Zhou Jun clutched his ear and decided to save himself by tattling. “But don’t scold me yet. Brother is using opium, you know.”

She let go. Her eyebrows, beautifully shaped, furrowed slightly. The paper in her hand crumpled, its surface stained with fresh ink. She sighed and said, “Your brother wants to do business with the British. He says smoking opium is just like eating or drinking, so it’s nothing serious. He won’t let me interfere.”

Zhou Jun asked, “The British?” Then, after a moment, he added, “Does brother have any contact with General Yong?”

She looked at him in surprise. “General Yong?” Then her expression shifted. “Ah, that General Yong.”

Before he could say anything more, she chuckled. “Isn’t he quite handsome?” Zhou Jun immediately felt uneasy. As expected, her face took on the familiar look of someone eager to gossip. “Just a few days ago, when I was playing mahjong, Miss Du was making a scene about wanting to marry him.” Once she started gossiping, Zhou Jun found it impossible to escape.

In the end, not only did he fail to learn anything about his brother’s connection to Yong Jin, he also walked away with a head full of gossip. The very same man who had teased him over pastries that afternoon was now the center of every rumor. And his accomplishments made Zhou Jun feel insignificant by comparison.

The Zhou family home was not far from his apartment. After showering, Zhou Jun left his hair damp and went downstairs to fetch his bicycle from the storage room. It was a German-made model, a gift from his father when he came of age. The tires were firm, the chain well-oiled, as if it had just been ridden yesterday.

He changed into a comfortable shirt and trousers, got on the bike, crossed the streetcar tracks, and maneuvered around the rickshaws. Following the glow of streetlights through the old city, he enjoyed the breeze as he rode.

The nightlife was still vibrant. Music spilled out from the dance halls and bars. The beat of footsteps from inside seemed ready to burst through the doors. Occasionally, sweet melodies slipped past the heavy double doors guarded by two well-dressed doormen in stiff black uniforms. Their jackets were buttoned all the way to the chin with silver studs that gleamed in the light.

The guests of these upscale clubs, including the dancers, were all high-society women and daughters of prominent families. People like that…

Before Zhou Jun could finish the thought, a car rolled past him. Through the small window, he caught a glimpse of a side profile, pale and familiar. It was Yong Jin, sitting inside the car as it slipped through the night like a fish cutting through water.

When Zhou Jun came back to himself, he realized he had been following the car for some time. He pedaled harder, chasing it with a strange excitement he could not explain. He felt like a fool in love. Once he realized what he was doing, he suddenly stopped. Embarrassment rushed through him. His heart pounded, and he wiped the sweat from his brow, cursing himself under his breath.

Yong Jin had not noticed. He had not even looked back. He stepped out of the car and walked away. Zhou Jun, sweaty from the chase, felt like the shower he had taken earlier was completely wasted. As he passed the entertainment hall again, he had the sudden urge to go in for a drink.

But he did not look presentable, so he dropped the idea. Pushing his bike, he stopped at a small shop to buy a bottle of soda and a pack of cigarettes. As the sweat cooled, he finally felt the chill of night air. At this time of night, he was usually drunk and overheated, never noticing how cold it could get. He had always thought the temperature outside never matched the heat inside his body.

He pedaled slowly back to his apartment, stopping a few times along the way. As he passed a quiet street, he noticed a sleek black car parked ahead. The car gleamed in the dark, its polished surface smooth like a fish’s skin.

Zhou Jun stared for a moment. He told himself it could not be. Yong Jin could not possibly be that free.

Even as he repeated that to himself, he picked up speed. The tires spun fast, leaving faint lines on the road. As he drew closer, the car door opened, and Deputy Chen stepped out.

He handed Zhou Jun a movie ticket for a show in five days. Zhou Jun leaned against his bicycle, glanced into the back seat, and saw that it was empty. The moment felt strange and unreal, as though the car might vanish if he blinked. His gaze fell to the ticket in Deputy Chen’s hand.

Zhou Jun smiled. “I’m really sorry, but I have to go to the dentist that day. I ate too many sweets and now my tooth hurts.” As he spoke, he let the ticket slip from his fingers, and it floated back toward Deputy Chen.

He pushed his bicycle toward the elevator, ignoring the deputy officer behind him.

He pulled the metal gate closed. It clanged as the elevator rose. He remembered Miss Wen had mentioned wanting to see that film, so maybe he would ask her. But thinking of Miss Wen brought thoughts of Miss Du and of Shirley Chen. Shirley was beautiful, yet it seemed Yong Jin had little interest in her.

What kind of woman did he like? Probably anyone close to him was someone Zhou Jun would end up admiring. The elevator stopped with a jolt. Zhou Jun wheeled his bike to the end of the corridor and, still holding his keys absently, walked home.

He was so lost in thought that he did not notice someone following him. A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped, swinging his fist in alarm. He threw a few punches and kicks, but the person behind him only laughed.

“Your skills aren’t very good,” the man said. “If you were my soldier…”

Zhou Jun grabbed the man’s wrist and pulled him out of the shadows. As he stepped into the light, Zhou Jun finally saw his face, and the grin that came with it. It was the kind of smile that immediately got on his nerves.

He smiled back, this time without restraint. “What would happen if I were your soldier?”

Yong Jin did not answer right away. Instead, he raised his hand and began buttoning Zhou Jun’s shirt, which had come undone from the heat, fastening it all the way up to his chest. Then he said, “Let me in.” It was not a request. It was an order.