ateofliveshrimp,someoftheshrimpjumpedacrossthetable,inandoutofthesaucedish,andlandedonMissFan,tailingsoyasaucedownthefrontofherblouse.MissChousquealed.InthedingyyellowelectriclightMissFanlookedflushedandhappyanddidnotseemtomindatall.
LodidnotgohomeuntiltheSaturdayafterthat.Thejourneytooktwohoursbytrainandwheelbarrow.Hiswifelookedsheepishashermother-in-lawloudlyandostentatiouslyexcusedherfromvariousdutiesbecauseherhusbandwashome.Shewaswearingashortblueoverallwiththeredsatinbindingofasilktunicshowingunderneathit.Shehadnotbeensurethathewouldbecoming.
Hespoketoherthatnightaboutdivorce.Shecriedallnight.Itwasterrible,almostasifajudgeweretosleepinthesamebedwithacondemnedman.Saywhathemight,heknewhewasconsigninghertodishonorablewidowhoodfortherestofherlife.
Hismotherflewintoarageonbeingtold.Shewouldnothearofit.LowentbacktoHangchowandstoppedcominghomealtogether.HismothergothisuncletogouptoHangchowandtalkhimoutofhisfoolishness.Heinturnmanagedtopersuadeacousintogoandtalktohisfamily.Ittookinfernallylongtonegotiatethroughrelativeswhowere,furthermore,unreliabletransmittersofharshwords,beingpeacemakersatheart,especiallywherematrimonywasconcerned.Tobreakupamarriageisacardinalsinthatautomaticallytakestenyearsoffaman&rsquosgivenlifespan.
Logotalawyertowritehiswifeanalarminglywordedrequestfordivorce.Hiswife&rsquosfamily,theChangs,boiledoverwithrage.Didhethinkhiswifewasanorphan?NotalltheChangsweredead.True,theycouldnotrevengethemselvesonthefaithlessmanunlesshiswifeweretohangherselfonhislintel.Thatwouldplacehislifeandpropertyentirelyattheirmercy.Butitwasnotforthemtorecommendsuchasteptoher.
TheheadoftheLoclanwasmovedtospeak.TheoldmanthreatenedtoinvitetheFamilyLawoutofitsnicheandbeattheyoungrascalintheancestraltemple.&ldquoFamilyLaw&rdquowasaeuphemismfortheplankusedforflogging.
MissFanandLocontinuedtoseeeachotherinthecompanyofWenandMissChou.Theirfriendsweredel