Cheng Su was awakened by a clear bird call. Opening her eyes, she saw a green-blue long-tailed bird perched on the window, chirping crisply.
"Oh." Cheng Su carefully got up, widened her eyes to look, and said, "You’re a magpie, why have you come to my house?"
Cheng Su sat up and reached out her hand, but startled the bird, which flapped and flew out of the window. Even so, her heart was filled with joy and delight.
The magpie’s visit promised good fortune—could it be that something good was about to happen?
Cheng Su happily got up to wash and hum a tune as she walked to the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Morning!" Cheng Su placed the pot under the tap and called out to Hualing, who was standing there in a daze.
"Morning!" Hualing replied woodenly, turning her head to look at her, and seeing her in high spirits, she couldn’t help but ask, "So happy, is something good happening?"
"No, it’s just that a magpie flew into my room just now. According to the ancestors, the arrival of a magpie heralds good news, right? I’m looking forward to it too!" Cheng Su said with a light laugh.
Hualing snorted softly: "And you were the one saying you wanted to go to college, yet you believe in this superstition, it’s just a bird!"
Cheng Su shrugged and said, "It’s not superstition, just a good thought for oneself!"
Hualing said nothing.
Cheng Su glanced at her, noting the low mood on her face, and then asked, "What’s wrong? You don’t seem very happy!"
"Nothing, just didn’t sleep well," Hualing said softly.
Could it be another fight with Platoon Leader Chen?
"Did you quarrel with Platoon Leader Chen?" Cheng Su cautiously asked.
Hualing glared over angrily, suddenly yelling at her, "I said it’s nothing, why do you like to pry into others’ privacy? Are you happy if we argue?"
Cheng Su was startled by her sudden outburst, staring at her in confusion—being scolded first thing in the morning, what had she done to deserve this?
Hualing seemed to realize she was too harsh, muttered an apology, and hurried back to her room, bumping into Guiying, who was coming to wash up.
Guiying yelped, staggered, and nearly fell over.
Cheng Su quickly went to support her, "Are you okay?"
"I’m fine. What’s gotten into her this early in the morning? Ate gunpowder, did she? I just heard her yelling at you or something?" Guiying said with a face still shocked, lightly rubbing her big belly.
"No idea why she got angry all of a sudden, as long as you’re okay!" Cheng Su frowned.
"What else could it be? Women, it’s always about men and in-laws. Probably having a spat," Guiying said in a lowered voice.
"Still not reconciled?" Cheng Su had been busy lately, often out during the day, unaware of what was happening next door.
"Made up, then quarreled again. Once, I even overheard Platoon Leader Chen mentioning divorce!" Guiying’s voice lowered even more.
Cheng Su then said, "Well, let’s not get involved in other people’s business."
"Mm!"
Hualing returned to her room, slammed the door, placed the basin on the ground, and her gaze fell on the bivouac in the living room, a trace of anger and resentment flashing in her eyes.
She walked over, yanked the thin bed sheet off the bed and threw it on the floor, then overturned the bivouac and sat on a small stool, tears welling in her eyes.
The relationship with Chen Shouwang was up and down. Last time, he even mentioned the word divorce, and then they started sleeping separately. It had been almost a month now, and still no reconciliation, the two remained in a stalemate.
This life was going on without any hope or meaning. When would it finally come to an end?