While waiting for his wedding, Wang He led the head of the wounded soldiers, company commander Zhao Dasheng to press-gang able-bodied men from both sides of Flower River into their troop. After the wedding, Zhao Dasheng and his remaining men were due to leave Flower River. Wang He changed into his shabby uniform, as he was leaving too.
Wang Tu asked him, "Can't you quit being a soldier?"
Wang He replied, "Being a soldier isn't like going to a village fair where you can leave whenever you want."
Red Apricot said, "I'll be alone if you leave."
Wang He said, "If I can't come back, you can get remarried."
After that, Wang He left. Red Apricot didn't feel upset at the moment, but that night when she lay on her bed alone, she felt that Wang He's departure was very cruel. She didn't sleep that night. The next morning, Wang Tu stared into her eyes.
"I said that Wang He was not your Mr. Right," he said.
"He said he was a soldier, not a farmer," Red Apricot replied.
"You should pour a bowl of mung beans over your bed at night and then pick them up and count them one by one. I've heard this can make you feel better."
That night, Red Apricot poured a bowl of mung beans over her bed. She fell asleep before she picked up half of them. It did seem to work. After that, she always picked up and counted mung beans at nights. However, one night she was suddenly unwilling to pick them up. She realized that she was doing something stupid. Wang He was so irresponsible. He had opened the door of her desire and then just left. He left without closing the door. She resented this so much that she couldn't sleep, so she counted the mung beans on the bed. With the door of her desire open, she wanted to call Wang He back at night because it was he who had opened that door with his loud voice, then disappeared. She missed him deeply and longed for his return. She stood at the gate and shouted for Wang He, and she sometimes even cried aloud. Red Apricot was troubled and wore a black scowl.
Wang Tu saw Red Apricot's pain. In his domain, he could see what he wanted to see. He was an experienced general and he knew when he could see what he wanted to see.
Wang Tu said, "Have you stopped picking up mung beans? I told you Wang He is unreliable. He's irresponsible. He didn't need to be press-ganged. He was willing to leave this time."
Red Apricot said, "It sounds like you're blaming him."
"I could slap him. I'm his uncle."
"Because he was irresponsible towards me?" Red Apricot asked curiously.
"Sure."
"Why do you care?"
"Remember when I saved you from the river?"
"I do." She not only remembered his kindness, but also indicated clearly that she would save Wang Tu if he ever fell into the river.
Wang Tu came back late from the street that night. Aunt Pear Flower opened the door for him and he walked directly to the door of Red Apricot's room. Aunt Pear Flower gazed at his back. He turned around and said to her, "Go back to sleep." Aunt Pear Flower turned around and left.
Wang Tu knocked on Red Apricot's door and said he wanted to give her something.
Red Apricot said, "I'm sleeping. Give it to me tomorrow."
Wang Tu said, "It's important. You can fall asleep comfortably after you get it."
Red Apricot opened the door and leaned against the frame lazily, reaching out her hand to receive something.
Wang Tu moved into the room beside her and sat on a stool near the bed. Red Apricot had to turn around to ask him what he wanted to give her. Wang He refused to speak about anything but the mung beans on the bed. "Have you started picking up mung beans again?" he asked while knowing the answer.
Red Apricot said, "You told me to do that."
"It's self-deceiving. You believed it?"
"So what can I do? I can't fall asleep."
Wang Tu sighed deeply and cursed Wang He as a jerk. He thought Wang He did not deserve to be called a man since he left his beautiful young wife at home alone.
Red Apricot didn't want to hear his cursing, as what he had to say only made her feel worse. However, he continued his endless curses until she became annoyed and said, "Please hut up. I don't want to hear it."
After a moment, she said, "You wanted to give me something?"
"Do you really want it?"
"Of course."
"Do you know what it is?"
"How could I?"
Wang Tu pointed at his crotch and said, "That."
Red Apricot was astonished.
Wang Tu said, "It's what you need most now. It'll help you sleep well and eat more."
"You're Wang He's uncle!" Suddenly burning with anger, Wang Tu shouted, "Stop saying that!" and stormed out of Red Apricot's room in a rage.
