Quay was throwing things around as Fei walked into their room. A blue and white imitation Ming vase came crashing onto the floor near Fei's feet. "Okay that's enough! What are you going crazy about?" Fei said grabbing Quay's shoulders. She lightly threw his hands off her. "I know you went to see her, you went to see her and that bastard child of yours!" Quay screamed pounding his chest.
He pushed her away, "What are you talking about? Hitting and punching me like a mad woman."
"I know it, you have always loved Suet! I remember how you used to go to the charity house just to bring her water and a towel because you thought she worked so hard!" she screamed pulling another vase from the shelf. "And you would walk around in old ripped up clothing stinking like garbage as you run errands for her through the streets of Shanghai. I know you haven?t forgotten her!" Quay screamed again.
The screams have gone all over the house. Quay threw the other vase at Fei's feet as soon as Madam Kwok came running into their room with Fuo by her side. "What's going on around her?" Madam Kwok asked angrily. Servants were now walking around the household. Madam Kwok turned to look at them and ordered the resident manager to send all the servants to their rooms. She walked into Fei and Quay's room followed by Fuo.
Quay's expression changed. She was always fearful of upsetting Madam Kwok because she held so much power and status in the family. Since she still thought Lan-Yee was Fei's daughter she was afraid that Madam Kwok would accept Suet into the household as a second wife. She always like Suet more anyways.
"If I need to ask again you two are going to have serious consequences." Madam Kwok said in a stern voice. She did not look at them instead her eyes circled around the room. Fei finally spoke up, "Nothing mother. My wife and I were just having a debate about which vase was more durable." He said noticing that his mother was looking at the two broken vases on the floor.
Madam Kwok cleared her throat, "Son I'm no a fool. I wasn't born yesterday. What is the reason for this argument?" she asked again more sternly this time. Fei looked at Quay who now stood in fear. He knew she was afraid of the consequences that she would have to bear if his mother was upset at her. "Honestly nothing mother." He said walking over to Quay. "My wife and I were just having some fun and talking loudly, that's all." he siad protecting her.
Madam Kwok rolled her eyes at them then looked over at Fuo who realized his mother's anger, "Brother, please tell mother the truth, I'm sure she's not pleased with your answer." Fuo pleaded his brother. Fei didn't say anything. Finally Quay spoke, "I was mad at him for coming home late so I threw the vases on the floor. I'm sorry I would never do it again." She said so Madam Kwok wouldn't be mad at Fei then kneeled with her face down for forgiveness.
Madam Kwok walked over to Quay and lifted up her chin, "Honestly is always the best policy my dear." She said suspecting that Quay was mad at Fei for going to a brothel or something. "Many men go to brothels but as long as they know the way home then you're fine." She said patiently. "Do you understand?" she asked.
Quay nodded enthusiastically relieved that she was not going to be punished any further. Immediately after nodding Madam Kwok's hands slapped across Quay's face. So fast she could not react. Even Fei and Fuo did not expect it. They were all shocked. "MOTHER!" Fei shouted kneeling to his wife.
"Now pick up these pieces of porcelain and you shall get no help from servants. Tomorrow you will wake earlier and help all day in the kitchen. Is that understood?" she asked in a firm voice. Quay nodded holding her face. She was never hit by anyone in her life. Her own parents never laid hands on her, whereas her mother in law had now attacked her at least fifteen times already since her marriage to Fei in the last few years.
She still remembered the first time Madam Kwok had tied her to the tree outside and refused to let her have anything to eat all day because she had eaten all of the dumplings Madam Kwok saved for her guest that morning. She tried to explain that she was hungry and they were the only things she found but Madam Kwok refused to accept any explanation. Fei and Fuo were away on business and didn't know what Madam Kwok had done but even if they did they couldn't help her. Madam Kwok was too powerful in this family. She needed the wealth of the Kwok's to survive the harsh world but never suspected that her mother in law would be just as terrible.
Madam Kwok turned to leave the room. Fuo followed his mother feeling pity for what happened to Quay. Fei immediately went to see if Quay was okay. She pushed him away, "If it was your sweet Suet you wouldn't have let your mother hit her, I know it," She said pushing him away.
"Let me see your face." He said ignoring her comments. Her face was flush red. The mark of his mother's slap was still on her face. He felt very sad and at fault. She shoved him away and went to pick up the pieces of porcelain. Her gentle fingers were not used to this kind of hard work, but Madam Kwok had not made it easier for her and Fei knew it. She cried as she picked up the pieces and put them in an empty shoe box she had under the bed so she could throw it away in the morning.
Fei now filled with compassion for his wife bent down to help her. She shoved him away again. He remained on the floor helping her pick up the shattered pieces. She refused his help and shoved him once more with tears in her eyes. He tried again but she shoved him away. Tehy ended up shoving each other for a while.
Finally he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. She resisted him but soon found the temptation irresistible. Soon she dropped the broken porcelain on the floor and was putty in his arms as he embraced her and laid her on the bed. Together they made love and it was an incredible night, a night they have never shared.
For as long as they've been married, they never experienced a passionate night as this, filled with rage, anger, compassion, and love. That night Fei finally loved his wife wholly and completely and she finally realized her intense love for him. Quay realized that power, wealth, and privilege were not the only reason she married Fei.
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THE NEXT DAY... Suet stood outside the gates of the Kwok Estate, she didn't know what to say or how to explain to Fuo what had happened. She paced back and forth thinking of how she could explain to him. Suddenly there was a tap on her shoulders. She jumped afraid it was Fuo.
It was Quay who was going out to buy some vegetables. "Did you think I was Fuo?" Quay said teasingly. Suet noticed a glimmer of happiness in her cousin's eyes. "You seem happy this morning! Why is that?" Suet asked with a grin on her face. Quay smirked, "Fei and I are okay now." She said giggling like a school girl.
"That's good because I don't want to be the misunderstanding between you two." Suet said. Quay shook her head. "It probably couldn't last anyways. Fei explained everything to me this morning. Now I understand, I'm so sorry I miss understood you." she said apologetically.
"He what? I thought he was going to keep it a secret for me? Dam him! Where is he?" Suet asked angrily as she ran pass the gates and stormed into the Kwok household.
Quay followed her wondering what was wrong. She assumed that Suet would be happy to hear that Quay had forgiven her and understanding the situation between her and a Japanese soldier. But now Suet was upset and running into her home. Madam Kwok was eating breakfast with Fuo. When they saw her their eyes widened. Fuo stopped eating and immediately ran to her, "Are you here to see me?" he asked.
"I'm her to see your bother, where is her?" she asked I a stern voice. He looked intently at her. "Is something wrong? Maybe I can help you with something," He asked holding her shoulders firmly.
Suet rolled her eyes and without saying another word ran up the stairs. Quay apologized to Fuo and Madam Kwok for her cousin's behavior and immediately followed her up the stairs. Madam Kwok seemed annoyed by her actions. "No Manners, that's the kind of girls that run out on weddings." She remarked. Fuo acknowledged his mother's remark but chose to ignore it as he followed them.
Fei was putting on his trousers when Suet barged in. "How could you tell her everything! Don't you know what this will mean? Do you know what can happen if she knows?" She screamed. Fei immediately jumped and quickly adjusted his pants. "Calm down, what happened?" he asked.
"Why did you tell Quay?" She asked again this time in a very serious tone of voice. She did not turn away from Fei even though he was somewhat indecently exposed.
"I didn't tell her anything" he replied. "I just told her that Lan-Yee was your daughter with a Japanese soldier. That way she wouldn't have to think about anything." He said reassuring her that he had kept her secret. He finished dressing and picked up his hat. Quay was standing at the doorway as she heard this and became furious believing Fei and Suet had betrayed her. Now she was even more convinced that Lan-Yee was Fei's child.
"Oh... I'm sorry for not trusting you. I just... I..." Suet was saying. Fei cut her off knowing she was already feeling awkward, "It's okay, a common misunderstanding." He said and then changed the subject to tease her. "Ordinary girls I know wouldn't barge into a man's room when he's changing." he joked. At this moment Seut was only a friend. His heart belonged to Quay.
Suet blushed. She was furious earlier but now felt embarrassed for walking in on Fei. After all that was rude. "I'm sorry." She said politely. "I didn't mean to." Fei laughed, "It's okay. I know you were just so upset." He walked closer to her. "You ate breakfast yet?" he asked motioning her out of his room. She shook her head. "Let's go get some." He said with a warm smile on his face. She nodded.
Quay turned around to run off so they wouldn?t know she was eavesdropping but immediately saw Fuo standing behind her looking very puzzled and quickly pulled Fuo to another room before Fei and Suet could see them. "What's going on?" Fuo asked her.
"Fei and Suet are talking." Quay informed him. He nodded. "I know I just want to see what's going on." He said trying to leave the room they were now in to reunite with Suet and Fei. Quay pulled on his sleeve, "They're having an affair. They're in love!" Quay cried worriedly.
Fuo looked at his sister-in-law disbelievingly. "You're lying to me. It can't be!" he said. Quay nodded her head. "It's true! Suet wouldn't marry you because she wanted to keep Lan-Yee because Fei was Lan-Yee's father." She cried.
Fuo fell back a few steps. "It can't be!" he said not wanting to believe his own brother could do such a thing to him. How could his brother betray him? But then he remembered seeing Fei kiss Suet once seven years ago. Could it be? he wondered to himself.
"It's true!" Quay cried. "All these years my cousin has loved my husband. No wonder she didn't want me marrying him, she even tried to stop my wedding six years ago." Fuo shook his head as he started to believe everything that Quay told him. Quay's imagination was going wild. "The only reason Suet wanted to marry you was probably to get closer to Fei." She said thinking it was true.
He was devastated thinking this was all true. The love of his life and the brother he loves so dearly deceiving him. Fuo became confused, sad, hurt, and angry all at the same time. What must he do? What could he do?
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Suet and Fei walked downstairs where Suet apologized to Madam Kwok for her rash action earlier. Madam Kwok did not look at Suet. So she looked around for Fuo. "Where's Fuo?" she asked. Once again Madam Kwok did not answer her. Different from Quay, Suet was more persistent. So she looked at Fei who shook his head, "I just got down her myself." he reminded her
Fuo came down the stairs followed by Quay. Suet walked up to Fuo, "How have you been?" she asked. He looked ather then looked away. "Good. How about you?" He asked in response. His behavior was a little different now. He seemed distant unlike earlier.
"I'm sorry for about earlier, it's just that I was in a rush to look for Fei. I had something I needed to question him." Suet responded. He looked at his brother then back at her. "It's okay." He replied "I'm going to work now." He said as he left. He usually informed his brother he was leaving also but didnt this time. Fei thought that was strange.
"I'll go with you." Suet said following Fuo. She turned to Fei, Quay, and Madam Kwok and said, "Bye everyone!" Fei turned to Quay, "Did you eat honey?" Quay nodded her head. "Ok then just come sit with me and I'll take you shopping later today." he said motioning her to come over.
Quay looked at Madam Kwok and shook her head. Fei noticed Quay couldn't because she had to go to the market as her punishment for last night. He knew his mother wouldn?t let him starve so he said, "If you don't sit with me I can't eat. Then I'll starve." he whinned so his mother would give in.
Madam Kwok motioned Quay to go sit by Fei. She happily ran over to him. She loved her husband very much and was afraid of losing him to Suet. She always feared Suet would take away Fei. Actually he was not the only man she feared Suet would take away. She was once just as afraid that Suet would take away Phong. Unconsciously, Quay was very cautious and envious of Suet. Even though both men loved her, she suspected that they both loved Suet.
Fei quickly ate his meal and accompanied Quay on her chores that day. He rolled his sleeves up and was prepared for hard labor. Quay smiled at him. She was so happy that he was willing to spend the day helping her. Then she wondered if what she had suspected earlier was true.
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