The Double

"Let’s go for a walk," he said as he reached the door, pausing for a moment before asking Jiang Li, "Together?"

Jiang Li stood up: "Okay."

The sunlight was as splendid as ever, the sky after the rain seemed even more bright. The city streets were everywhere littered with stones and wooden beams that had fallen from houses. Some had been repaired with people still living in them. Others, too damaged to be fixed, had people cobbling together thatch huts beside them. On the ground, there were coffins of those not yet buried, with monks sitting beside them performing rituals for the deceased.

The children did not understand what had happened and were unaware of the cruelties of war. Taking advantage of their parents’ inattention, they played games with their friends, laughing joyfully. But the parents knew that peace was not to come anytime soon, and their faces were etched with worry.

Most of the shops along the street had closed down. Very few remained open, including a tea shop that was still in business despite its charred doorframe. Inside, the number of tables and chairs had decreased significantly, yet an elderly couple bustled about busily.

But these days, who had the heart to sit there and enjoy pastries and tea? Hence, the tent set up outside was devoid of customers. If there were any, it was just hurried women, who would fish out a few copper coins from their sleeves, buy a pack, and rush off again.

At such a time, the streets were particularly unsafe, and although staying at home wasn’t much better, it was still preferable to wandering the streets aimlessly. Who knew when a brutal assassin might leap out to claim one’s life.

Jiang Li stopped outside the tea shop and said, "I’m going to buy something."

The maid who had been temporarily hired left as their situation with Jih Heng wasn’t suitable for outsiders to witness. Therefore, no one was serving Jiang Li, but that didn’t bother her; not being the typical pampered young lady meant she also helped tidy the house. As for food, Wen Ji would buy it from outside – given the city’s situation, it certainly wasn’t delicious but merely enough to fill the stomach.

Jiang Li wanted to buy some pastries but not for herself, but for Lin Yao. The little boy, though accompanied by someone every day, often had nightmares at night, dreaming of his family’s tragic deaths, and would cry incessantly. Even Wen Renyao was at a loss. Knowing children liked sweeter foods, she thought Lin Yao would enjoy them.

Seeing Jiang Li approach, the elderly couple asked her what she needed. She picked out a few items and, while waiting for the old man to wrap them up, casually asked the woman, "Ma’am, the city is in such a state, why keep your shop open?"