“Welcome back,” said Sai Ma. “I trust Big Sister had a pleasant trip to Macau.”
“Enough with the small talk, Seet Ling.” Gu Ma set down her teacup with a clatter. She gestured at the cushion she’d thrown to the floor. “How much did you spend on this monstrosity? You should know we’re not supposed to sit on dragons, it’s bad luck.”
A flush came upon Sai Ma’s cheeks. “Dragons are fashionable these days.”
“Fashionable among who? Your gweilo friends?”
“Now, now,” said Baba, taking the cigarette from his sister’s hand. He smothered it into the ash tray and lit her a new one. “Don’t be so hard on Grace, the cushions she bought aren’t so bad. The silk is high quality.”
“A washrag to you is high quality,” Gu Ma retorted.
“Big Sister, I apologize.” Sai Ma refilled my aunt’s tea, something I’d never seen her do for anyone, even herself. “The merchants at Bastion’s talked me into buying this pattern. Theysaid it was a favorite of the British king himself. But if it’s not to your taste, I can see if they will take it back.”
“Forget it, it’s not worth the trouble.” Gu Ma took a long drag from her cigarette, its ashes falling into her tea. “Honestly I can’t believe you, Seet Ling, gadding about Central in pearls and high heels in your condition. Who’s that little mouse behind you?”
Sai Ma nudged me forward, and my aunt took my chin between her fingers.
“So,” she said, “you’re Yuk Fong’s girl. You’re quite fair for having grown up in Tunglam.” She squeezed my jaw until my lips parted. “No missing teeth. Forehead is a bit low, but maybe it will stretch out once you finish growing.”
She let go of me and took a noisy sip of tea. “It’s to your fortune you don’t take after the Lei family. The last time I saw you, my mother was smearing chili powder on your thumb so you wouldn’t suck it so much. Surprising that she should write us to take you in. What’s special about you, neh?”
I wasn’t meant to answer.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Baba grinned, bestowing me with an expression that was unexpectedly tender. “She’s my bengyun.”
For him it was a brief throwaway look. For me it was momentous. I’d spent my childhood pining for Baba, and in that moment hearing him call me his mooncake mold again, my young brain filtered out the seven years of neglect and suffering he’d caused us. I smiled at him, buoyantly hoping to earn more attention. But his gaze was already back on Gu Ma.
“At least you have one good-looking child,” she was saying. “Take note, Seet Ling, if there was one clever thing my first sister-in-law did, it was to shut herself off when she was pregnant. You wouldn’t have caught her shopping at Bastion’s or taking supper with her friends.”
A flicker of annoyance crossed Sai Ma’s features, so brief I was left wondering if I’d imagined it.
“Big Sister is ever wise,” she said, rising to keep Gu Ma’s teacup three quarters full. “I see why you are so successful in business.”
Though Gu Ma harrumphed, she was not impervious to flattery. She lifted her shoulders, puffing up with pride. “Have you found a new cook yet?”
“The candidates weren’t suitable. Good helpers are hard to find these days. I hear even your factory is short-handed.” A pause. “However, I did find someone to cook instead of Susu while I continue searching.”
“Who?”
“Yut Ying.” Sai Ma touched my shoulder. “Turns out, she’s quite the chef.”
“Oh?” My aunt passed her cigarette to her brother. “Pok Mun, finish this for me. Don’t waste it. Susu, turn off the music—this song is miserable, I feel doomed just listening to it.”
“I don’t have enough fine things to say about Yut Ying,” Sai Ma continued. “She’s been a blessing in the kitchen and a comfort to me in my condition. I only feel bad I haven’t been well enough to give her the singing lessons I promised.”
I stiffened, but Sai Ma sent me a look.Trust me,it read.
“Singing lessons?” Gu Ma echoed. “What use does she have for singing lessons? We Chans are respectable—I won’t have you raising her to be a showgirl.”
“Yut Ying’s expressed an interest in music,” Baba interrupted. “That’s why Grace thought to teach her.”
“Is that so?” My aunt turned to Sai Ma. “You’re oddly fond of the girl.”
“She’s eager to please and more capable than most her age,” Sai Ma replied. “I didn’t want her to be idle.”
“If that was your concern, I surely can find something for her to do.” Gu Ma angled forward, grabbing my wrist and massagingmy bones with her thumb. The pressure hurt, but she wouldn’t let go.
“Do you know what we make in my factory?”
