The Moon Festival Cousin Switch novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Her Mother's Table

Fang Shuhua lived above her fabric shop on a lane behind the old canal.

The flat smelled of braised pork, ginger and cloth dye, and bolts of silk leaned in the corridor.

She had set the table for three.

Anqi saw the placing at once: Mengyao's mother at the head, Mengyao on her right, and one chair across from them, facing both.

"Sit, Miss Zhou."

"Thank you, Auntie Fang."

Anqi sat.

On the wall behind the head chair hung a framed photograph.

It showed a broad, smiling man in a work jacket, holding a baby in a red hat.

Mengyao's father, Anqi guessed, and the baby with a round face and dimples was unmistakable.

Her mother served the pork herself, three pieces each, and for a few minutes nobody spoke.

"Chenyu was very upset," Fang Shuhua said at last.

"I know," Mengyao said. "I'm sorry."

"He said you refused him in front of strangers."

"Two strangers and a bird."

"This isn't a joke."

"I know, Mom. I'm not joking. I'm just very scared."

Her mother put down her chopsticks and looked at Anqi.

"He also told me what he saw under the tree."

Mengyao's hand went tight on her bowl.

Anqi set down her own chopsticks and folded her hands, and answered before Mengyao could.

"Yes," she said. "It was a kiss. Several."

The older woman's face did not change, and Anqi respected her for it.

"I'm not going to pretend it's something else," Anqi said. "I care for your daughter. I think she cares for me. Neither of us is playing."

"I never said you were."

"Then what is it, Auntie?"

For the first time, Fang Shuhua's composure slipped.

"It is that she is my only one," she said. "You are the sister of Anning, and Anning is married to Haoran, and Haoran is my husband's brother's son. You are all one table. Do you understand?"

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