That afternoon, Meng Wei had lost a heap of money gambling. In a fit of rage, he flipped the table and chased everyone out. The shop was a shambles—tables and chairs toppled everywhere. I sat in the kitchen, ignoring it all, a fire burning in my chest.
By the time the others left, Meng Wei was alone in the shop, still shooing people away. But no one had come in for over a month anyway, so there weren't any customers to speak of.
Maybe he got bored. He yelled into the kitchen: "That your mother-in-law I saw the other day?"
I said nothing.
"I see you've got a kid now. Where's your wife? Haven't seen her around. Is she… the one from that night?"
Still, I stayed silent.
Meng Wei snapped, raising his voice: "You not talking? I know anyway. Your wife's dead. Saw her portrait at your place. Short life, huh? Bet it's your fault—you're a jinx, killed her good and proper. If she'd been with me instead…"
I couldn't listen anymore. I grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at him. "Say that again, you bastard!"
Maybe he was shocked—after over a month of me taking his crap, why'd I suddenly snap? He shouted back: "What? Gonna stab me? C'mon then! Do it, or you're a coward!"
I was blind with rage, lost to it. I charged out of the kitchen and slashed at him. He took the blow, then realized I meant it, and bolted.
I chased him, blood spattering the ground as we ran.
"Help! Murder! Someone help!" he screamed.
"Fuck you, Meng Wei! I'll kill you today!"
A month's worth of pent-up fury erupted in that moment.
He ran until he flagged down a taxi, diving in as it sped off. I stood there, watching the car go. Meng Wei rolled down the window and yelled: "Coward! Real tough! I'm gonna report you—this time you'll rot in jail! We'll see how many years you get!"
That sentence jolted me calm.
I dropped to my knees, listening to the murmurs and stares of onlookers, my mind reeling. If I went back to prison this time, it'd be ten years, easy. Ten years without seeing my son, without taking care of the old folks. How… how would I ever face Li Fang?