Page 104 - updated on July

Yu Jihui: “A Stinking Old Ninth – A Tale of the Coal Capital” (updated on July 2020)

the rumours spread to your husband’s ears, what

should we do?”

“It’s impossible,” she responded. “He’s

thousands of kilometers away. Don’t worry about it.”

Black Peony continued to be good to me,

regardless of the rumours. She enjoyed chatting with

me. When we had no classes in the late afternoon,

before going back home she would move a chair next

to my seat and would talk to me. She seemed to be

concerned about me. We often stayed together. I

warned her repeatedly of the rumour. But she said,

“A clean hand wants no washing!” She persisted in

her old ways, no matter what other people said. I was

a coward and persuaded her to be away. I told her we

might get in trouble, but she wouldn’t listen.

One day she bought one kilogram of eggs (eggs

are rationed as meat. They were very precious). The

eggs were in a basket, which she brought into our

101