[The Story of Living with My Sister-in-Law]

Rain slanted against the window lattice as I crouched by the kitchen door, chopping firewood. My sister-in-law was rolling noodles in the inner room. The thud of the rolling pin against the board mingled with the crackling fire, echoing through our two old tiled-roof rooms.

"A Ming, that's enough firewood. Come in and rest." Her voice drifted over through the steam. When I looked up, I caught her brushing loose strands of hair from her forehead. The silver bracelet on her wrist glinted.

Suddenly, laughter came from beyond the courtyard gate. It was Auntie Wang from next door, passing by with a few women. Their voices rang like gongs. "This courtyard sure is livelier than it used to be..." The rest was carried off by the wind, but the words pricked at my spine like fine needles.

When my sister-in-law came out with the noodles, her eyes were a little red. She dropped an extra poached egg into my bowl with her chopsticks. "Eat up, before it gets cold and fishy."