Chapter Twenty-One: Begonia in the Flames of War
The glow of the kerosene lamp cast fine, icy patterns on the lattice window. Lin Tang sat on the edge of the bed, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the tassels of her moon-white nightgown.
The dark red stain on the bedding resembled a poppy in full bloom, gleaming dazzlingly in the morning light.
The blood on Qiao Yuan's back proved that last night's dream was not hers.
When Ah Xiu entered carrying a copper basin, steam veiled her dark hair: "Madam, the hot water is ready."
The soapberry bubbles in the copper basin swirled, reflecting Lin Tang's pale face.
Her cheeks suddenly flushed red, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly, the tassels at the corner digging into her palm: "Ah Xiu, last night..." She stammered, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Last night was so embarrassing!
She's a well-read young lady, and she's already divorced from Qiao Yuan, so what does all that she did last night count for?
Ah Xiu saw all of this!
Before Lin Tang could finish speaking, Ah Xiu hurriedly waved her hand, water droplets from the rim of the copper basin dripping onto the bluestone slab, leaving dark stains: "I...I didn't see anything, I just saw a stray cat knock over the soy sauce jar in the corner of the yard."
Ah Xiu ran away in a panic.
Lin Tang sat there for a while, then couldn't help but chuckle.
Her eyes were red and swollen, still bearing traces of tears.
Qiao Yuan wiped away her tears with his rough thumb. She was so uneasy and ashamed as she chased after him apologizing: "I couldn't control myself last night... I hurt you for a moment, don't cry."
She blushed with embarrassment and whispered, "It's not because of that... I just..."
He saw her blush and stroked her hair. "I know, Tang'er, we're married now. This will be your home from now on."
Now the house is no longer a home, and even the crabapple tree he gave me lost all its flowers in last night's wind and rain.
Lin Tang suddenly felt lost again, covered her eyes with a handkerchief, and shed tears.
...
At the warehouse entrance, there were empty wooden crates piled up to half a person's height, with the "British Lancashire Cotton Yarn" labels completely scribbled over in red paint.
Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, squatted on the ground, smoking his pipe, the embers flickering in and out. "Madam," he said, "the dockworkers said this morning that Japanese ships will no longer unload our cargo."
The enchanting moments of last night vanished in an instant. Lin Tang looked at the bleak reality and was at a loss for words. She stepped into the workshop through wood chips and looked at the blank faces staring at her. She saw half-finished pieces of indigo fabric still hanging on the looms and suddenly felt lost and helpless.
Was it a mistake to open this factory? Should she continue?
Qiao Yuan's words came to mind, and at that moment, Lin Tang also had the thought of deserting.
"Sister Jintang, we just came from home... Are we leaving again?" The newly hired female worker timidly tugged at her hem.
When the young girls gathered around her and grabbed her with their young, tender hands, she suddenly felt the responsibility on her shoulders.
"No, I'll figure something out."
Lin Tang turned and stepped onto the office building's terrace. The river breeze lifted the hem of her cheongsam, and the Japanese military police flag was faintly visible in the morning mist in the distance.
"Pass the word down," her voice trembled in the wind, yet carried an undeniable firmness, "All female workers will stay at the factory tonight, and the male workers will form a factory security team. I'm going to the French Concession."
...
Qiao Yuan's warning still echoed in her ears. She knew who was behind all this, but ironically, as a Chinese, she could only seek the protection of another power.
In a café on Avenue Joffre in the French Concession, Chen Kan stirred the absinthe in his glass, the clinking of ice cubes particularly jarring in the quiet private room.
"Jintang, you should know this is a trap set by the Japanese," he sighed. "Now that the court has delivered its verdict, after you and Qiao Yuan have settled everything, why not move the factory to the Chen family's name? That way, you'll avoid all this embarrassment."
Lin Tang smiled and shook her head: "When I wanted this factory, it was to start my own business and give those female workers a place to make a living. I appreciate Mr. Chen's kindness, but I cannot accept it."
A cold glint flashed in Chen Kan's eyes, but he didn't say anything more, only saying, "You're still as stubborn as before. Fine, I'll try my best to help you."
...
Lin Tang rushed back to the factory.
In the factory warehouse late at night, Lin Tang was checking the list of cotton yarn smuggled from Vietnam when she suddenly heard a soft sound of loose roof tiles.
Moonlight streamed in through the skylight, illuminating a familiar figure from behind.
"Ah Chen?" Lin Tang put down her gun in surprise.
Ah Chen was prying open several wooden crates labeled "medical equipment," revealing snow-white Lancashire cotton yarn inside.
"Master Qiao said..." Ah Chen slowly turned around, "Madam, these were unloaded from the British merchant ship 'Elizabeth.' Master Qiao said... said you might need them."
Lin Tang's fingers trembled violently, the butt of the gun struck the wooden box with a dull thud, and cotton yarn spilled out, still carrying a faint salty smell of seawater.
"This is……"
Ah Chen held Lin Tang's hand and said, "Madam, that day at the warehouse, when I accompanied Master Qiao to the scene, we truly only saw Old Zhou's body. Don't you understand Master Qiao's heart? He only wanted you to leave and be safe!"
Lin Tang bit her lip, "He..."
Lin Tang was stunned!
Recently, memories of Chen Kan spending time with her have flooded back.
Yes, she knew he was Bai Mu, but he wasn't Bai Mu!
The boy she loved was Bai Mu, who drew crabapple blossoms all over the title page of her textbook with chalk under the locust tree in the middle school.
But what about Chen Kan now? He wears a sharp light gray suit, his bow tie is perfectly tied, and all he thinks about is cold calculation.
She thought that five years had simply eroded their familiarity with each other, but it wasn't until Ah Chen brought it up that she realized that some things, once changed, can never be brought back.
Ah Chen stood to the side, his voice soft: "What happened back then, Master Qiao truly regrets, so this time he really wants you and Mr. Chen to leave... But Mr. Chen, he..."
Ah Chen remained silent and did not continue.
But Lin Tang knew what he meant, and she just smiled bitterly and said, "I can't blame him. Money and power are too tempting, who would be willing to give them up?"
Ah Chen was secretly pleased that the lady did not refute him.
“Madam, Mr. Qiao said that he is always available whenever you need him.”
Lin Tang looked at the morning light outside the window and suddenly smiled.
She turned to Ah Chen and said, "Go tell Master Qiao that I've accepted the raw materials. And..."
She paused, her fingertips tracing the "Elizabeth" tag on the wooden crate, "I will come to thank you in person the next day..."
Ah Chen's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement: "I'll go right away!"
...
As soon as Chen Kan returned to the Chamber of Commerce, he smashed the glass in his hand onto the French windowsill!
"Lin Jintang!" He clenched his fist and slammed it against the wall, his knuckles sending dust flying from the bricks. "He's still thinking about that gangster boss!"
When Uncle Zhong brought in the freshly brewed Longjing tea, he saw Chen Kan sweep the brass lamp to the floor, the silver strands at his temples trembling slightly: "Young Master, the consulate is calling..."
"Let them wait!" Chen Kan whirled around, his eyes bloodshot behind his gold-rimmed glasses. "That bastard Qiao Yuan dared to touch my men!"
Uncle Zhong placed the teacup on the rosewood desk. "News from the docks: last night, the 'Elizabeth' unloaded three shipments of British cotton yarn, which was delivered directly to the Huimin Textile Factory's warehouse."
Chen Kan's fingers dug deeply into his palms: "I knew it! Lin Tang said she was cutting ties with him, but they were still secretly having an affair!"
Uncle Zhong pulled a yellowed telegram from his sleeve: "Telegram from Beiping. The old master wants you to deal with Qiao Yuan as soon as possible."
Chen Kan grabbed the telegram, his knuckles turning white from the force: "Solve it? How? Lin Tang is protecting him, the Japanese want to win him over, and he's even recruited that bunch of trash from the Axe Gang!"
Uncle Zhong's voice suddenly lowered, like a viper flicking its tongue: "Young Master, have you forgotten? The Patriotic Party is issuing a warrant for the arrest of traitors." Uncle Zhong took out a photograph from his briefcase, an enlarged image of Qiao Yuan shaking hands with Sato. "Just send this to the editorial department of the *Shenbao* newspaper..."
"Not enough!" Chen Kan suddenly laughed, his laughter laced with icy coldness. "The cotton yarn from Huimin Textile Factory was stolen, the factory lost power—all these blames should be placed on him!"
Uncle Zhong frowned slightly: "But young master, those things were clearly..."
"What is it?" Chen Kan suddenly grabbed his collar, his gold-rimmed glasses perched askew on his nose. "It's Qiao Yuan colluding with the Japanese! He wants to take over Lin Tang's factory! Once the Patriotic Party labels him a traitor, Lin Tang will never think of him again!"
The sycamore leaves outside the window rustled, like someone sobbing softly. Uncle Zhong looked at the crazed light in Chen Kan's eyes and suddenly felt that he had become somewhat unfamiliar.
"I'll arrange it right away." Uncle Zhong's voice was a little hoarse, "But... what about Miss Lin..."
After hanging up the phone, he walked to the window and gazed in the direction of Huimin Textile Factory. The setting sun dyed the factory's chimneys blood-red, like an arrow about to be released.
"Qiao Yuan, don't blame me," he said softly, his fingertips tracing the character "Tang" on the pen. "Blame yourself for blocking my path, and blame Lin Tang's heart for still being on your side."
As Uncle Zhong walked out of the office with the encrypted telegram, he heard the sound of a glass shattering behind him. He turned around and saw Chen Kan with his head pressed against the wall, his shoulders heaving violently, like a wounded, trapped animal.
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