Chapter 23 A Grave Outside
I saw Zhang Ming's body without trouble. He wore clean clothes, and his hair had been neatly arranged.
I deliberately did not look at the red marks below his neck.
Fugeer did not dare look at me when he spoke. "The body has been left for a long time. Sister should bury him soon."
I buried Zhang Ming outside the city. Every month I would bring wine to visit him.
When I returned to the shop, Sister Mudan had already closed early. The women workers lived in the back courtyard. We ate hotpot under the scholar tree.
Steam rose. Warmth filled my chest.
Yezi, the prettiest among the workers, came to resign. She said shyly, "In a few days I will marry Zhang. Both owners and the sisters must come to the wedding feast."
Sister Mudan and I gave her a big red envelope.
I knew it was impossible, but I still told Yezi, "You are welcome here anytime."
Once a woman married, she took root at home. Coming out again was extremely hard.
Yezi shook her head lightly. "Zhang works at the yamen. He is busy every day. I have to manage the household well for him. I dare not hope for more."
Her eyes reddened. "Thank you for looking after me all this time, Owner."
Staying long at the Cosmetics Shop refined a woman's taste. The workers gradually all found husbands they liked.
Of course some became old maids and still refused to marry.
Yuanyuan, the liveliest and best at socializing, said, "I will open shops all over the city for the owners."