The Scavenger's Daughters (Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters, Book One) (29 page)

“Baba, you have to meet them to understand how amazing they are. Her grandfather has taken in more than two dozen girls over the years. Girls that
no one else wanted. They’ve raised them and loved them as their own. Honestly, it beats all I’ve ever seen. And Linnea here—she has her own business. She’s a designer of the coolest T-shirts you’ve ever seen. She just started and is already bringing in enough income to support her family right now while her Ye Ye is sick!”

Linnea cringed as Jet babbled on. She hoped he wasn’t going to tell them that he gave her a loan. And he made it sound like she was making so much money!

“And she’s so competitive.… Let me tell you about the day I met her…,” he began.

Oh no! Don’t tell them I used to change bicycle tires!
Linnea thought frantically.

Lao Sur held his hand up for Jet to stop speaking. He began to nod his head.

“
Dui,
I’ve heard of Lao Zheng. I’ve never met the man, a miracle in itself, seeing how I am the director of social development. Nevertheless, word gets around. I know of his deeds and have a lot of respect for him and his wife.”

Jet’s mother sighed and clinked her spoon against her cup. “I’m sure they were only doing what they deemed appropriate as citizens of Wuxi. You know, it takes a village and all that.…”

Linnea ignored the obvious sarcasm from Jet’s mother and instead stared at Lao Sur, her eyes wide with surprise. She’d known Jet’s father worked in some official branch of government but she had no idea it was in a department that had a direct connection to girls like herself.
And he knew of her grandfather? How?
She was speechless, and also relieved that she hadn’t stretched the truth after all.

Lao Sur chuckled. “Don’t look so surprised, girl. Did you think I wouldn’t investigate who our son was spending so much time with? I was pleased when I discovered you were one of Lao Zheng’s girls. I’ve tried to tell my wife that he’s a legend around here. He’s been taking homeless children
in for over two decades! We’ve always planned to staff and open the orphanage, but over the years since it’s been finished, I’ve come to believe that institutional care is not the best option for orphans. They should be cared for by relatives, adoptive families, or foster care. That is where they’ll thrive—not cold institutions. So I’ve stonewalled opening the orphanage.”

“An orphanage is just what this town—”

Jet interrupted his mother, cutting her off in midsentence. “
Dui le,
Baba. That is so right. I can’t believe some of these cities that have the huge orphanages and children there are still hungry and neglected. The townspeople in those areas need to step up, like Lao Zheng has, and take care of the children of their community. Especially with the one-child policy restrictions in place, foster care would be a great option for some who want to add to their families but cannot.”

Linnea could only nod her head. She was speechless. Never had she thought that Jet’s father would not only know of her family, but respect them and from what it sounded like, be in total awe of her grandfather. And the way his father felt about abandoned children was puzzling. This man was unlike any official she’d ever known or heard of. Shocked was too mild to describe how she felt and she looked down to hide the confusion in her eyes.

When she looked up, Jet’s mother smiled brightly, but in the dim light of the balcony Linnea couldn’t tell if she was looking at her or Jet. She could only see that the woman looked uncomfortable, as if she wished the conversation would take a different turn.

Jet turned to Linnea. “My father is the one who originally implemented the program to give stipends for children living in foster care and adoptive families.”

Linnea shot Jet a scolding look. She couldn’t believe that he hadn’t mentioned this before.

“My next plan is to pilot a program that’ll give abandoned children ongoing benefits like adequate medical care and education. And later they’ll be eligible for employment and housing benefits. But we have a ways to go to get
that approved all the way up through the many tiers. I’ve been working on my proposal and budget ideas for at least two years.”

Linnea thought she should come out with something—anything—as a response to such a statement. She didn’t want to sound like an uneducated idiot but also didn’t want to push the subject along. Her status was usually something she tried to hide, not explore for dinner conversation.

“Well, um… I’m sure when my Ye Ye gets out of the hospital and I tell him all about this, he’ll be pleased.”

Sur Tai Tai leaned over and refilled Linnea’s teacup. She clicked her tongue, feigning sympathy. By now Linnea knew that she’d only successfully gained approval from one of Jet’s parents, not both.

Lao Sur shook his head. “It’s a shame that a man who has given so much to his community has had such bad luck. There must be some way we can show him our gratitude for his commitment to the children.”

Jet’s mother crossed her legs first one way, then the other. “Can’t we move on to a more pleasant subject, everyone?”

Linnea thought Jet’s mother looked a bit panicked at her husband’s words; then she thought about all their money and shook her head. The small stipend her Ye Ye received from the government barely met their needs for clothing and food, but she knew he’d never consider accepting money from anyone else. “No, we are fine, but thank you. Ye Ye is supposed to come home soon.”

Jet’s father shot her a stern look. “Don’t let one’s sense of pride steal another’s gift of generosity,” Lao Sur said.

She looked at Jet for guidance. What was she supposed to say to that? Beside her Jet cleared his throat and Linnea thought finally he sensed her unease.

“Baba, I was thinking. I have an idea of how we can show Lao Zheng our gratitude. As a matter of fact, I have already formed somewhat of a plan. I wanted you to meet Linnea first and see how amazing she is, because we need your help.”

Linnea looked from Jet to his parents, puzzled at his statement. She saw his mother shoot him a quick look of disapproval before setting her cup down with a clatter.

“Jet, can you help me for a moment in the kitchen?” she asked.

Jet sighed, wadded his napkin, and tossed it on the table. “Linnea, I’ll be right back.” He stood and followed his mother into the house.

Lao Sur cleared his throat. “So, Linnea, while they’re away, I’d like to thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“Yes. Since you and Jet have been friends, I’ve seen a total transformation in my son. No longer does he beg for the latest gadgets, or try to bribe me to increase his allowance. Lately he has matured—become more of the man I was hoping he would be. I can’t imagine that you haven’t had anything to do with it.”

Linnea smiled at him and once again marveled at how different he was than she’d thought he’d be. He was so much more—accepting.

“I’m sure it’s nothing to do with me, Lao Sur. Your son is just growing up.”

Lao Sur waved his hand in the air impatiently. “Well, whatever you say, but all of a sudden he’s showing concern for someone other than himself and I’m going to enjoy hearing about this grand idea of his—if his mother ever lets him tell it.”

Something told Linnea that Jet had been scheming for quite a while to come up with whatever had pasted the self-satisfied smile across his face before his mother’s interruption had wiped it clean. Whatever it was he had in mind, if he was able to get it past his mother, Linnea was going to have to be on board. Either that or it would steal his thunder—that she could see clearly. Linnea looked down at her watch and grimaced at the time just as Jet returned.

“Jet, I really need to get home.”

Jet pulled up in front of the lane that led to her house and switched the motor off.

Linnea was getting used to riding in the car now and it didn’t scare her so much. Even the queasy feeling had gone away. Now that he had let her know his secret—that he had a license and could drive his father’s car—he didn’t want her to take the local transportation if he was available to ride her around. He was so protective of her, but to be honest, it made her feel good. She’d never felt so spoiled before.

“Jet, thank you for saying all those nice things about me to your father.”

His cheeks reddened. “I meant everything I said. You
are
seriously awesome, Linnea.”

Linnea shook her head. “
Sui bian
—whatever. But you have to admit, your mother doesn’t like me. And that’s putting it mildly. At times I felt like she wanted to jump across the table and claw my eyes out for daring to be a part of your life.”

Jet chuckled, then paused. Linnea had to give him credit; he didn’t try to lie.

“I know she can be overly protective of me, but she doesn’t
not
like you, Lin. She just needs time to get to know you like I do. But my father is very impressed with your accomplishments.”

She looked out the dark window. She guessed it was too much to hope that both his parents would see past her modest background and just like her for who she was. She almost wished it was his mother who liked her instead of his father, as in China, the mother usually had the last word—or more accurately whispered it in her husband’s ear and let him speak it.

She turned to look at him. “I really need to go.”

“Not yet, you don’t.” He reached over the console and gathered her in his arms.

Linnea wanted to resist but she felt her protests melt away in her mouth when he pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her, so smoothly and effortlessly that her head spun. Just as smoothly, she felt his warm hand creep under her sweater and travel up until it was planted firmly where it shouldn’t be. She
couldn’t help but arch her back, her body ignoring all thoughts of retreating that fluttered through her mind and then back out again.

“Linnea, please,” he whispered.

She thought she knew what he was asking but couldn’t reply as he slowly moved away from her lips to run his tongue deliciously up her neck, somehow finding the one spot that made her pulse beat wildly.

Yes—yes—yes,
her body begged for more of his touch, even as she finally found a small piece of sanity and pushed him gently away. “Not here, Jet.”

She pulled her sweater down, checking the window to see if any of her neighbors were out even as she reached up to smooth her hair.

“No one’s out there,” Jet said, reading her thoughts like he always did.

She laughed nervously. “Good thing—or we’d be the talk of the
hutong
by tomorrow morning. That’s all Ye Ye needs to hear when he gets home.”

“Oh yeah, he’s coming home Friday, isn’t he? How is he doing?”

“A lot better now that they’ve started treating him. Nai Nai said he’s been doing less coughing and is resting more.”

Jet nodded. “You know, Lin, that your Ye Ye carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, right?”

“Yeah, he always has. He works much too hard for his age. I keep telling him that but he doesn’t listen. You don’t have to remind me, Jet. I know he’s under a lot of pressure to take care of all of us.”

“I’m just saying that there are ways for him to get help, if he’d just fight harder to get it. But anyway, have you told him about us, yet?”

Linnea released a long sigh. “No, not yet. I thought I’d wait until he’s out of the hospital.”

Jet tapped the steering wheel for a minute, then she looked back at Linnea.

“I’ve got an idea. Let me pick him up.”

“You?”

“Yes, it’ll be more convenient anyway; he won’t have to take a taxi. And it’ll give me a chance to talk to him.”

Linnea could just see Ye Ye’s face if Jet showed up to bring him home. She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jet.”

“Listen. Your Ye Ye is from the older generation when things were done differently. I should’ve realized it before, but we need to discuss things man-to-man. It’s the only way I’m going to convince him my intentions are good.”

“Are they?” Linnea teased.

“They are if my intention to get you into my bed and ravish you until you beg for mercy can be considered good.”

Linnea laughed at the mischievous tone he took on. “Just keep that part to yourself.”

“Seriously, Linnea. I want to start spending some time with you at my apartment, away from your sisters, or strangers in the park—just you and me and some privacy.”

Linnea gave him a slow smile. “But what about your parents?”

“I’ve got that covered. Friday nights. They’re out every week, same night and same friends. They won’t be home until at least midnight. Next week—that’s our night. Promise me.”

Linnea picked at an invisible piece of lint on her sweater.

“Maybe.”

Jet slammed his hand on the steering wheel and gave a joyful yell. “
Aiya!
That’s enough. I’ll take it. But beware, by Friday when I start working my magic on you, I’ll tell you now that you won’t even be able to utter the word no.”

She laughed again. “Okay, so you’re going to the hospital Friday morning?”

“Absolutely,” Jet answered, the cheesy grin still pasted on his face.

“Stop looking at me like that!” Linnea hoped her cheeks didn’t look as scarlet as they felt. She fiddled with the door.