Threshing Beans

The sun was bright and warm, throwing strange shadows from the small mountain of bean husks. The villagers had harvested a bumper crop of beans this year, and now that they had dried everyone's help was needed to get them all husked before winter came. It was hard work, but it was an almost festive atmosphere. The men took turns threshing the beans, deftly handling the threshing rods, which hissed in the air and came thwacking down powerfully on the heaps of bean pods with a crackling sound. Nearby, the women huddled together with large flat woven baskets on their laps, chatting as they picked out the milky white beans that lay glowing among the dust and husks like pearls. Every now and then they would throw away the refuse behind them, and scoop up a new load from the floor. One of two stray chickens pecked frenziedly at the husks, hoping to find something to eat.

Xuxian paused from threshing to glance at where Susu's dark head was bowed over a basket of beans among the other women's. He leaned on his threshing rods to catch his breath--after his near drowning experience he had caught a bit of a cough, perhaps from the water in his lungs, and the hard work was aggravating it.

He felt a heavy hand slap him on the back as Madame Liang's husband, Liang Guo, came up behind him. "Sit down and get a breather, Physician Xu. You're not a farmer, you're not used to this kind of work, anyone can see," he said cheerfully but not unkindly. "I'll finish this lot for you."

Xuxian smiled a little ruefully, feeling spindly besides the farmer's broad shoulders and thick arms. He glanced at the ruddy cheeks and good-natured smile--lacking a tooth in front where a bad-tempered cow had kicked Liang Guo in his youth, breaking his jaw--and handed the threshing rods over with a shrug. "Thank you, Brother Liang," he said apologetically. "I can't keep up with the rest of you, I'm afraid."

"No matter. We just need you to be good at making medicines." Liang Guo chuckled. He patted Xuxian's shoulder playfully. "If anyone gives you crap about it, just give them the wrong medicine next time; that should teach them the difference between a physician and a farmer."

He winked. Xuxian was scandalized but he laughed despite himself. Giving way to the big farmer, he retreated to the sides, safely out of the way of the swinging, whistling rods, and sat down, wiping the sweat from his face.

He watched Susu's hands, working deftly as she listened to a story Madame Liang was relating. Her fingers flashed, picking out the white beans that glinted like pearls among the dried brown husks, and she had her hair bound back, like many of the women, with a handkerchief.

She wore a plain blue tunic now, and with the handkerchief around her head, and her sleeves rolled up, she looked almost like any of the other women.

She raised her head briefly to laugh as Madame Liang delivered the punchline, and Xuxian smiled as well as he saw the relaxed expression on her face. Perhaps, Susu had finally won her place here in the village among everyone else, and he need not worry so much about her anymore…

He looked up as he sensed someone besides him. It was Madame Zheng, carrying a pitcher of water and some drinking bowls. She held the stack out to him wordlessly and he took one with a bow of thanks. Setting the rest down, Madame Zheng poured some water for him, and watched silently as he drank.

Unexpectedly she leaned against the wall, balancing the pitcher on her hip, and followed his gaze to watch the rest of the women where they sat.

"Madame Xu seems so at home," she said casually, as if she could read his thoughts. "Isn't it good to see her working together with the rest, almost as if she belonged here?"

Xuxian looked sharply at her, but she was not looking at him. He swallowed his water more slowly.

Madame Zheng sighed. "Ah, she had such a tough time at first. There are so many things she didn't understand, and didn't know how to do. Why, I heard about that time she didn't scale the fish before she served it. You are a very patient husband, Physician Xu, not to mind such amusing things happening all the time. Poor child. But then, of course, she is so pretty." she added dismissively.

Xuxian put down his cup. "That is just one of Susu's virtues." he said levelly. "She is much more than just a beautiful woman."

"Ah, of course; she is graceful too. And the two of you are so in love."

Was he just being overly sensitive, or was there a mocking note in her voice?

Madame Zheng traced a chip on the water pitcher with her finger. Her voice was light, playful even. "Of course, one can't help wondering when such a beauty like her would grow tired of playing at being a commoner here in our little village. After some time, even the most beautiful hands will grow red and chapped from washing clothes, and even the most loving husband will seem dull after a hard's day work."

She casually took up the stack of bowls. "Do you know, I heard that Song Gongzi was here last week?" she said as if changing the subject.

Though she seemed to be watching the threshers, her eyes were keenly observing him, and she noticed when he stiffened slightly in the middle of drinking.

"Ah, don't let me spoil your mood! I just thought I should let you know, since you have the honour of being the husband of the most beautiful woman in the village." Madame Zheng laughed and nudged him as if she were teasing, but it did not feel like she was.

Xuxian said nothing and stared steadily ahead. He lowered his cup and wiped his mouth thoughtfully.

Madame Zheng adjusted the water pitcher on her hip and he silently willed her not to speak anymore. Just as she opened her lips, however, there was a rough shout.

"What are you doing daydreaming there? Are you flirting with Physician Xu?"

She started sharply. Xuxian turned to see one of the threshers looking at them. It was Zheng Haoran, Madame Zheng's husband. A tall, well-built man who might have been good-looking, but for a bad complexion and a surly mouth. He was watching them suspiciously as he rested on his threshing rods.

"Get over here, you stupid woman. We're dying of thirst. Can't you do your work properly?"

Madame Zheng left without a word, folding her lips tightly together. Xuxian looked away, feeling awkward for her. He glanced up to see her retreating back, feeling a twinge of guilt even as he felt relief.