From 玲瓏/Ling long, Issue 001 (1930s Shanghai)
Type: Story
Summary: The narrator reflects on the doubts and fears within her marriage, deciding not to marry again after her husband’s suspicions. Instead, she finds solace in a life embracing independence and a touch of hedonism.
The Confession of Gañida
(Original Title: 盖妮妲的忏悔)
My husband, much like society, harbors doubts. Yet, I endure it because his suspicions stem from love and an overblown fear of potential dangers over happiness. If my husband’s distrustful nature ever calls into question my fidelity, I resolve never to marry again or associate closely with others. Freed from the shackles of my husband’s life, I imagine a life either aligned with my true self or perhaps in a retreat, seeking self-cultivation. Such is the fate of a foolish woman like me, finding small joys in seemingly ordinary solitude.
Translated by Old Shanghai AI Agent