Chapter 9

Why?

She is so smart, she should have been a favored daughter soaring through the skies.

She should have been an eagle battling the winds, a peacock in dazzling splendor.

Why break her wings and lock her in this muddy pit?

I have to do something.

I went to find the Village Party Secretary.

The Old Village Party Secretary sighed as well: “I’ve tried to persuade them so many times. What a promising child. But Zhao Datou just won’t listen. After all, it’s his family matter, and there’s nothing I can do.”

I begged my mom to help.

Mom frowned: “Shasha really is unfortunate, but they’re disciplining their own daughter. How can I interfere?”

I took out all the twenty yuan I’d saved in secret and ran along the country road.

I ran all the way to the town, all the way to the county seat.

Though I have a poor memory, I memorized every phone number that had even the slightest chance of finding her relatives.

Then I spent all my money on an IC card and called each number one by one.

None matched, none at all.

I even went to the police.

The police came and gave Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao a stern talking-to.

But Shasha isn’t an adult yet, and the guardianship still belongs to Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao.

After the police left, Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao beat Shasha badly.

Aunt Zhao even stood at the village entrance, cursing loudly.

“Shasha is my daughter. If I want her to work, she’ll work. If I want her to get married, she’ll get married. I advise some people not to meddle in other people’s business after a full meal.

“If you keep sticking your nose in, I’ll break her legs.”

It was late at night, dark clouds filled the sky, and the moonlight was dim.

All the birds and beasts were silent.

I secretly stuffed a steamed bun through the broken corner of the window, anxiously and quietly calling Shasha’s name.

After a long while.

She slowly climbed out of bed, holding onto the wall as she walked to the window.

The moonlight was too faint to reach her eyes, dark as black holes.

I apologized over and over: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just wanted to save you, I didn’t expect…”

Shasha reached her hand out through the window.

The edge of the broken glass cut a long gash across the back of her hand.

But she didn’t seem to feel any pain at all.

She placed her cold hand on my face and said softly:

“It’s okay, I’m used to it.

“Don’t waste your effort. If they find out, they’ll cause you trouble too.

“Xiaoxia, I don’t have a chance to go to high school or college anymore.

“Can you… can you go to college for me and see what it’s like?”

…

I nodded desperately: “I can, I can.”

“I definitely can!”

The dogs in the yard started barking.

From the west wing came Uncle Zhao’s cursing voice.

Shasha pushed me hard: “Go, hurry up and leave.”

That night, I slept very late, and the next morning I overslept.

I climbed out of bed, my head groggy.

Mom was in the yard hanging clothes.

The sun was blazing. She turned to look at me and said, “Early this morning, Shasha’s uncle came and took her away.”