A Test, a Bargain, and a Feast
Yiling's pulse pounded in her ears. "How do I test him?"
Chief Wang sighed, glancing around before leaning in. "The Echoes… they remember, but they don't understand."
Yiling frowned. "What do you mean?"
Chief Wang tapped his temple. "They have your husband's memories. His voice. Even his habits. But an Echo only repeats—like a bird mimicking words. It doesn't grasp the why behind them."
Yiling inhaled sharply.
"So if I ask him something—"
"That requires understanding, real emotion, something deeper than memory…" Chief Wang nodded. "That's how you'll know."
A lump formed in Yiling's throat.
"And if he fails?"
Chief Wang's face hardened. "Then you'll have to decide what to do next."
Yiling clenched her fists, her mind already running through possibilities. A question he should know how to answer. Something real. Something that would make the truth undeniable.
—
She rehearsed it over and over on her way to the market, muttering under her breath like a woman possessed.
"If you were truly my husband, then tell me—" No, too formal.
"Remember that time when—" Too vague.
"What do you regret the most?" Hm. That one had potential.
She was so deep in thought that she nearly walked straight into a vegetable stall.
"Oi, Yiling!" The seller, Old Madam Li, waved a gnarled hand. "You're scaring away customers with that scary look!"
Yiling blinked, realizing she had been scowling. "Ah. Sorry."
Madam Li squinted. "Thinking about beating someone up?"
Yiling sighed. "Something like that."
The old woman cackled. "Good! Men need a smack every now and then."
Yiling snorted despite herself.
Madam Li motioned to the vegetables. "What are you buying today?"
Yiling focused. Right—seeds. She scanned the selection and picked up a few:
Bok choy—fast-growing, easy to cook.
Daikon radish—good for stews and pickling.
Chinese chives—because nothing beats fresh chive pancakes.
Yard-long beans—because Zhi liked snapping them in half before.