“Don’t worry, old man,” the driver said, “my friends don’t expect you to feed them. Just bring me what you have.”

“We have our own food,” Sparrow said. “But may we have some hot water?”

He spat again and stomped inside.

The room had a hard dirt floor, and the thin coat of whitewash on its walls was streaked here and there with mildew. Part of the floor was paved with brick, obviously an area where guests could roll out their blankets and mats for sleeping.

The driver sat down immediately at the one table. The old man threw more wood into the brick stove and barked at the woman who stood stirring a pot. She ladled its contents into a basin and set it down on the table in front of the driver. Boiled millet with a stew of chopped salt pork and vegetables.

Sparrow spoke to the woman, who banged a kettle onto the stove. Lian handed out steamed buns stuffed with pickled vegetables, gave one to the driver, who ate his in two gulping bites. All Shao wanted was a bowl of hot water. The old innkeeper hovered beside the table, and the driver pulled out some coins. Sparrow gave the old man money as well as a small packet of tea leaves, which brought a broken-toothed smile to his face.

“I’ll sleep in my truck,” the driver said. “You young folks sleep inside where it’s warmer.”

“Lie down and rest, Shao,” Lian said. “There’s no telling how much walking we’ll need to do once this truck driver drops us off.”

Shao squeezed her hand and smiled, although he’d rarely felt more miserable. He’d come with Lian so she’d be safe. Instead, he’d become a burden. His senses felt battered and the mere thought of the road ahead exhausted him. As soon as he pulled the blanket over his shoulders, he fell asleep.

Chapter 29

The inn and the forest around it were so quiet Lian could hear the faintest of breezes rustling through bamboo. It was no use, she couldn’t get back to sleep. And Sparrow was gone. Wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, Lian went outside to the yard. Sparrow sat at one of the tables, her face turned up to the sky. When she saw Lian, she pulled out one of the stools. Lian sat down with a sigh.

“My mind is so restless,” she said in reply to Sparrow’s inquiring look. “Beyond getting to Shanghai and asking Shao’s father to help Meirong, I don’t have a plan. I don’t know where to begin looking for my mother. I don’t even have a place to live.”

“There’s more than enough room at the Liu estate,” Sparrow said. “They’d be happy to have you as a guest.”