Quick, Hubby, All Aboard

Old Zhang hmphed. “It’s just endless greed, what’s so strange about that? Song Yuming, I think that Dongting girl of yours is really nice, you mustn’t abandon her. If you ever do, I might not go find you and kill you, but we certainly won’t be friends anymore.”

Song Yuming smiled wryly. “You and your wife are really a lot a like… I, Song Yuming, married her, I won’t abandon her. I don’t need you to tell me.”

The old man sighed. “Let’s go, they’ve been waiting on the other shore and are in a hurry.”

“Squire Zhang’s family from town?”

“Yeah, probably that girl Dongting’s big sister is among them too. The madame is there so they are probably going to her family’s place to spend the new year.”

They sculled to the other side and the steward grumbled to Old Zhang, “What took you so long? It’s so cold out here even our hair is shivering!”

Old Zhang smiled by way of apology. “Forgive me for making you wait so long!”

Song Yuming saw there were about a dozen people among them, mostly servants and retainers, as well as a young woman among them who was well-dressed, likely Squire Zhang’s concubine. The young woman waved the steward on. “It’s getting late, let’s get on board.”

The steward assented and the woman, with the help of her maid, boarded Song Yuming’s boat, followed by two plainclothed servants. The others boarded Old Zhang’s boat.

Song Yuming had never seen Dongting’s elder sister before. He assumed this was her, but she looked aloof and frosty and he did not want to be impetuous, so he just sculled the boat and didn’t say much.

When they reached the middle of the river, the maid suddenly raised the curtain of the cabin and called out, “Second Madame is getting woozy, please slow down.”

Song Yuming nodded. He knew many women could not handle all the jostling. Seasickness was common, so he slowed his scull oar and said, “If the lady stuffy in there she can come out for some fresh air.”

The maid was about to speak when there was a noise from inside the cabin and Second Madame was already clinging to the bulkhead, coming out. She looked at Song Yuming and smiled. “You must be Dongting’s husband?”

“That’s right… Madame, are you my wife’s elder sister?”

Wanqing nodded, smiling. “Dongting’s been married for more than a month and I have yet to come visit her. Now going back for the new year, we won’t be far away. Brother-in-law, please tell her that if she has time she can come to the west end of the village to the Zhang Manor and chat with me.”

“Alright, Dongting is anxious for someone to talk to. Now that she knows you’re coming, she will be delighted.”

Wanqing smiled. “Too bad when us sisters were together we could hardly say two words without bickering. It’s been so long now since we’ve seen each other, I miss them.”

“That’s the way it is with siblings.”

“Dongting may have a temper, but she’s a wonderful person, Brother-in-law, please look after her.”

“Elder Sister, you worry too much. Of course I will take good care of her.”

Wanqing nodded and was about to turn and go back inside when Song Yuming said, “Elder Sister, you don’t look so well, are you ill?”

“Nothing more than a cold. Don’t tell Dongting.”

“Dongting is good with medicine. Likely she will be able to tell that your condition is not so simple as a common cold.”

Wanqing hesitated. “Good with medicine? Dongting never liked that stuff before.”

Song Yuming was taken aback. His big hand gripped the scull oar. “Never liked it?”

Wanqing nodded. “She’s always disliked the smell of medicinal herbs. Where does this good with medicine come from? You must be mistaken.”

Song Yuming was stricken. How could this be?