Unconsciously, she stopped walking and stared bnkly at those female workers, dazed.

  What if... what if she hadn′t fainted at the tea-drying ground back then? What would have happened? Would she still be one of them, a tea worker? She caressed her cheek with her hand and, all of a sudden, wished she were still one of those workers. How carefree they seemed! In their lives, there must be no humiliation, contempt, or harm, right? Or was there? She pondered deeply. Perhaps there was. Who knew?

  Humans, you are cruel creatures! The cruelest of all! Other animals only hurt each other when fighting for survival, but you—you kill each other for all kinds of reasons! Humans! How cruel you are!

  A person ran down the hillside, smiling broadly as they stopped in front of Han Yan and shouted, "You still came! Do you want to join us? But you′re te; we′re about to finish."

  Han Yan gnced at Gao Lide anxiously, shaking her head rapidly, and said, "No! No! I′m not here to pick tea; I′m... I′m here to wait for Pei Wen at Songzhu Bridge."

  Gao Lide looked her over, then stopped ughing and said seriously, "Did Old Madam Bai make things uncomfortable for you?"

  She jumped, quickly raised her head, and repeatedly said, "No, no, not at all! She′s a good mother; how could she make things difficult for me? Not at all! Don′t say such things! Not at all!"

  Gao Lide nodded. "Then, go ahead!" He smiled again. "Pei Wen is really lucky! None of the women workers under me have fainted!"

  A wave of embarrassed redness spread across Han Yan′s face. Gao Lide immediately realized he had said the wrong thing. This joke was a bit too much; he clearly made her uneasy. He quickly bent down. "Sorry, I didn′t mean to..."

  She smiled faintly and shook her head, as if to say it didn′t matter. Her thoughts were still in a distant pce, in a deep, faraway valley. Her calm face gave off a feeling of sorrow and desotion. Gao Lide couldn′t help but freeze. Where was the joy of a bride? Where was the glow of happiness? This small woman carried so many burdens! What had happened to her?

  Han Yan turned her body and continued walking down that road. The setting sun cast its light upon her, and her solitary shadow, thin, small, and feeble, looked like a drifting, weightless ghost. Gao Lide shuddered as an ominous feeling engulfed him. He stood there completely stunned.

  When she reached Songzhu Bridge, Han Yan sat down on the railing at the bridgehead, bathing in the snting autumn sunlight. She sat quietly, listening to the murmuring flow of the water beneath the bridge. The setting sun cast a soft red glow on the water's surface, and the reeds swayed in the evening breeze. She gazed bnkly at the river and then at the setting sun on the horizon and the sky full of brilliant clouds. She murmured to herself, repeatedly asking, Was I wrong? Did I make a mistake?”

  She didn′t know how long she had been sitting there when a familiar car horn startled her. She jumped up as Pei Wen stopped the car just in time. She ran over, and Pei Wen opened the car door, smiling. “Why are you sitting here?”

  “I was waiting for you!” she said, climbing into the car.

  “Ha! You can′t be without me anymore, I think,” Pei Wen said with a hint of pride. But the smile quickly disappeared from his lips as he examined her closely. “What′s wrong? Han Yan, have you been crying?”

  “No, no,” she shook her head desperately, but tears disobeyed her, welling up quickly and drowning her dark eyes. Pei Wen′s face changed. He pulled the car to the side of the mountain road and turned off the engine. Pulling Han Yan into his arms, he cupped her chin and looked deeply, searchingly, at her pale little face. With solemn concern, he asked, “What′s the matter? Tell me!”

  She shook her head again as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “I just missed you; I missed you so much,” she said, burying her face into his chest and holding his waist tightly.

  “Oh, is that so?” He let out a sigh of relief and gently stroked her hair with tender affection. “You silly girl! You gave me such a scare! I′ve only been away for a few hours; you shouldn′t look so pale! Come on, lift your head, let me look at you again!”

  "No!" She buried her head even deeper, her body trembling slightly. "Can I go with you to the factory from now on? I′ll help you like I did before!"

  "Don′t be foolish, Han Yan! You′re my wife now, not my secretary!" He ughed. "Tell me, what have you been doing all day?"

  "I′ve been thinking about you. I miss you so much."

  He lifted her head and looked at her.

  "I miss you too," he said softly. "I miss you so much!"

  Her eyes fluttered. "Do you love me, Pei Wen?" she asked softly.

  "Love you?" He let out a deep sigh from the depths of his heart. "I love you so madly, so crazily; I love you to the bone. Han Yan!"

  She sighed, leaning back against the cushion and closing her eyes. A smile slowly appeared on her lips—so sweet, so tender, so peaceful. Softly, as if speaking to herself, she said, “It′s enough. For these few words, I would pay any price! What more could I ask for? What else is there to compin about?”

  Resting her head on his shoulder, she sighed and said, “I love you too, Pei Wen! I love you so much! I′m willing to endure any hardship, suffer any pain for you; even if I have to climb a mountain of bdes or plunge into a boiling cauldron, I wouldn′t be afraid.”

  “Fool!” he said with a smile. “Who would make you climb a mountain of bdes or jump into boiling oil? What nonsense are you thinking?” He held her, kneading and teasing her, tickling her pyfully. “Tell me! Aren′t you a silly girl? Aren′t you? Aren′t you?”

  “Yes!” she ughed, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Yes, yes! I′m a silly girl! A silly girl!” She bent over with ughter, gasping for breath, tears rolling down as she ughed uncontrolbly.