Liao brought the packet to the workers’ clinic wrapped in a clean handkerchief. He waited until the waiting room had thinned before asking Mei whether he could speak to Ning privately.
“I saw the guild report,” he said when they sat down. “This has the Pale River mark.”
The packet was unopened. Its bright label promised relief from tremors after night shifts. A cloudy smear showed under the sealed edge.
“Who gave it to you?” Ning asked.
“A supervisor. He handed them out after the late shift and said they would settle the shaking in our hands.” Liao turned the packet over without breaking the seal. “I haven’t taken it. The notice made me think I should bring it here.”
“Do you want to name the supervisor?” Ning asked.
Liao’s thumb rubbed the folded cloth. “Not yet. I want to know what’s in this first. He could be wrong without knowing it.”
Ning wrote down the account but left the name field blank. “You can decide later. The packet can be tested without naming him.”
