Even at half the price, they could never afford this beautiful, luxurious flat. They had another two months. Two months to find an affordable place to live, in a city where a single room might house a family of nine. Two months for her to find work, in a city where businesses had their pick of desperate workers. She would have to tell her mother about this in the morning. And also the news that they had lost the cot at the Southern Baptist Mission office.

Chapter 38

Shao’s mother died at the end of June. The family had been planning her funeral for months.

Shao didn’t feel like talking to anyone but Sparrow, but she was not her usual self. She’d never been talkative, but she was even quieter than usual lately, more withdrawn. Distracted. She lingered about doing pointless housework, wiping dust off an already spotless side table, sweeping floors that had just been cleaned. Most incomprehensibly, she had taken to chatting with the gatekeeper, then bringing in the mail. This had been going on for days. Weeks.

“What’s the matter, Sparrow? Are you worried about Second Aunt?” he asked, picking up the gold and onyx cuff links he would wear that evening. “You know she takes her matchmaking very seriously. She’s always made good choices.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she said, giving his suit a final pass with the clothes brush. “It’s your choices I worry about.”

“No need,” he said, trying to quell his irritation. “When I’m back at university, I won’t have time for Sammy Chung.”

Shao and his father had discussed whether he should attend classes for the next few weeks while the family observed mourning. After his father spoke to the chancellor of Jiao Tong University, they decided he would stay home but do the assignments. Shao’s professors would send them to the house.

But Sparrow didn’t respond, just gazed out the window at the gate. He’d finally grown accustomed to seeing her in a qipao instead of a maidservant’s tunic and trousers. Today she wore a qipao of deep blue, blue as the night sky. Second Aunt had given Sparrow a new wardrobe in anticipation of meetings with prospective in-laws. To the best of Shao’s knowledge, Sparrow had only met one family so far.

“What’s wrong, Sparrow?” he said. “You can tell me anything.”

She shook her head. “I’m just waiting for news.”

“I was right. The matchmaking,” he said. At this, she made a scoffing noise and left the room. A moment later, her slight figure appeared below his window, walking toward the front gate. She greeted the gatekeeper, who gave her a bundle of mail.

Then the old man rushed to open the gates. The relatives were arriving. Shao quickly finished dressing. His father and brothers were already downstairs, ready to greet guests.