It was universally agreed that Xixi Wetland Park of Hangzhou was one of the most beautiful places to visit in all of China, if not the world. Provided, of course, that you remembered the mosquito repellant.  It is not really possible to appreciate beauty properly when slapping, scratching and suffering.

The Xixi Wetlands embodied one thousand eight hundred years of cultural heritage set in breathtaking scenery, teeming with wildlife, dotted with rustic and picturesque villages, and, of course, water everywhere.  If many of the sights looked familiar somehow, it was because they were—artists had been immortalizing the wetlands for centuries, and many of the works wound up in museums and art textbooks. 

The Qiuxue Hut, where Mo Mufan wanted to meet, was an ancient dwelling, one story high, accessible only by taking a boat.   However, it definitely gave the best, most panoramic view of the wetlands, especially if you climbed the small tower.  On a weekday, at midday, there were only a handful of people around, mostly foreign tourists. 

Looking around the sandy courtyard in front of the hut, Lin Jiaying could not see her friend, so she called his name.  “Bro Mufan?” 

“Over here,” a voice called from the seating area by the riverbank.  It was not Mo Mufan’s voice.  It was a woman’s.

Lin Jiaying recognized her immediately.  It was Qiu Chenxi, Mo Mufan’s mother.    Her back stiffened a little but her face did not change as she went over.   “Hello, Aunt Qiu,” she said respectfully.  “Are you here with Mo Mufan today?”

“No, he’s not here.  I was the one who wanted to talk to you.  Sit down, dear.”  Qiu Chenxi smiled and patted the seat next to her.  The older woman was elegantly dressed in a dark teal cheongsam with silver brocade chrysanthemums dotting the fabric.   “It’s been so long since I saw you last.  How is your grandmother?”

Lin Jiaying sat, feeling like a mouse in front of a cat.  Qiu Chenxi had never been very warm toward her.  Over the years, she had made it clear she found Lin Jiaying barely acceptable as a little friend for her son.  That was before their family went to America.  Since they came back, their paths had only crossed once.   This sudden friendliness was suspect.

“Her condition is stable and we’re taking care of her at home, with some outside help.”

“Oh,” Qiu Chenxi’s brow furrowed momentarily.  “That’s right—I had heard—I am so sorry.”

In other words, she had forgotten completely and was being superficially polite.  “Thank you for thinking of her.” Lin Jiaying replied.

“Well! First of all, I have something here for you,”  Qiu Chenxi changed the topic and took a box out of her purse. 

Lin Jiaying took it and opened it.  Inside was a glass-type jade bangle, pale green and almost clear enough to read through. The color was very even and there was no visible flaw in it.  She knew enough about jade to know it was expensive.  “I don’t think that Aunt Qiu can mean to give this to me,” she said.  “This is something you should keep for your future daughter-in-law.”    Which was completely the wrong thing to say, given the circumstances.

“That is what I want to talk to you about. You see, I understood what my husband did not catch, when Mufan spoke of his ‘friend’ last night.  Mufan and I had a nice long talk about it, in private.  Indeed, the revelation was not…unexpected.  That doesn’t mean that he can’t have a normal life, and the future he always wanted, with a home and a family.”

“Of course not,” Lin Jiaying said, forcing a smile to her lips and a cheerful tone to her voice.  “When he told me, I said it would be all right, that times are changing.  Worst comes to worst, he could go back to America, where he can be with whoever he wants.  He can take a job in your family’s company office there and prove his worth, then no one could say he doesn’t have the right—.”

“That won’t do,” Qiu Chenxi cut her off.  “You see, I know him.  He has some ability, true, but not enough to overcome the obstacle of being openly gay. He’d have to work so much harder.  I did not spend twenty-nine hours in labor without anesthesia and all these years of my life raising my son,  to have his life ruined like this.  I will not have some cousin or filthy bastard child come in and take the company away from him.

“He doesn’t have to be open about who and what he is.  That is where you come in.  I know you have always been very fond of Mufan, that you said you wanted to marry him when you grew up. Well, you still can. Not until you’re through with college, of course, as long as there’s an understanding.  When you turn twenty, we’ll announce your engagement.”

“Th—that was when we were in kindergarten!”  Lin Jiaying protested.

“But you’re still friends now, even now that you know.  That sort of affection is rare!”

“That doesn’t mean I want to marry him.  Especially since he doesn’t love me or, or, or want me!”

Qiu Chenxi looked at her with a mixture of pity and exasperation.  “I know you’re still a little girl and don’t know anything about the world, but what do you suppose marriage is about?  Desires, you see, are transitory.   Marry Mufan, and you will enter into a working partnership with a friend, one which will last a lifetime.  In fact, you’ll be in a much better position than most wives.  You will be wealthy, you’ll have a position in society, and of course, you’ll be a member of our family.   He will respect you, he will never bring any of his…friends home, and there will never be another woman in his life, no illegitimate children to muddy up the question of inheritance.”

“No children at all, since he doesn’t want to touch me,” Lin Jiaying retorted. 

“Don’t be ridiculous.  Artificial insemination is the simplest thing in the world.  Get a baster, and you can even do it at home.  Do you think you’ll ever get a better offer than this?”

“I can’t believe—No. I will not marry Mo Mufan.  I don’t want to spend my whole life covering up for my husband’s real sexuality.  And I especially don’t want you for a mother-in-law!” Lin Jiaying snapped the bracelet box shut,  shoved it back into Qiu Chenxi’s hand, and stormed off in the direction of the boat dock.

“You wretched little hussy! You had better keep your mouth shut, because you do not want to have to deal with the consequences of angering me if this gets out!”  Qiu Chenxi called after her.