WSMTATMC C146

Chapter 146

Wang Ying and Lin Sui looked up; a woman stood at the shop entrance, very obviously cursing at them.

Though he clearly had never met her, Wang Ying turned and asked Lin Sui, “Do you know her?”

Lin Sui shook his head. “Don’t.”

Wang Ying stood and walked forward. “Madam, perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding?” The woman pointed at Wang Ying. “Is your husband dead?”

Wang Ying flared at once, jabbing a finger at her nose. “Your husband is the one who’s dead! My husband is studying perfectly well at the prefectural academy—why curse him?”

The woman blinked. “Then I’ve mistaken the person—the little gē’er’s husband is the one who died, isn’t he!”

Lin Sui nodded once and instantly understood. “You’re Shopkeeper Wei’s wife?”

“Well now, you little hussy—you do know he has a wife!”

Wang Ying frowned and put himself in front of Lin Sui. “Mind your tongue. If you open your mouth to insult again, I won’t be polite!”

“You won’t be polite? I won’t be polite! Seducing another woman’s man—doing something so indecent and you won’t let people say it?”

Lin Sui burned with anger. “What indecency did I do? It was clearly your husband being foul-mouthed here; I drove him out. How did that become me ‘seducing’ him in your mouth?”

The foolish woman didn’t believe it. “How could my husband fancy you? Skinny as a stick—who knows if you’re even good for bearing children.”

That jabbed Lin Sui’s sore spot. Before he could speak, Wang Ying lifted a hand and shoved the woman out.

“Get out! If you’ve got ability, keep your husband in hand. Come make a scene here again and I’ll report you to the authorities!”

The woman stumbled and plopped onto the ground to start a tantrum. “Come look, everyone—this little widower is loose and shameless—seduces someone else’s husband and then beats people. What ‘ice shop’? Looks more like a brothel front!”

Quite a few people came at the noise to watch and pointed at Wang Ying and Lin Sui.

Wang Ying grabbed the broom and rushed over. “Say another nonsense word! If you’ve any ability, manage your husband—why bring your ruckus to someone else’s shop!”

“Hit me, go on—hit me! My nephew is the Marquis of Wuping. Lay a hand on me and see what happens to you!”

“I don’t care what ‘monkey’ he is—slander my younger brother again and even if I kill you, I’ll pay with my life!”

“Aiyaa—” The woman scrambled, covering her head, and the two maids and an old servant shielding her took several broom blows as well before they fled in a rout.

After they left, the gawkers also dispersed. Lin Sui fretted, “Sister-in-law, have I caused trouble?”

“Don’t mind her. Come inside.”

Once indoors, Wang Ying asked after the whole matter, and Lin Sui recounted every detail. When done, he lowered his head and picked at his fingers. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have driven him out that day. If I’d reasoned with him, this wouldn’t have happened today…”

“You did very well. Faced with such a lecher, you can’t reason. Speak gently and he’ll only think you’re playing coy. One stick was light—if I’d been here I’d have beaten him a head full of lumps!”

Lin Sui gave a brief laugh, then sagged again. “She said her nephew is the Marquis of Wuping—will we be in for trouble?”

Wang Ying also felt uncertain. “Let her be. If it turns serious, we’ll report it. I don’t believe black can be made white!”

Lin Sui bowed his head in guilt. The last time Cousin was taken by the authorities, they had been frightened enough. It hadn’t been long and now this—over time, the shop’s name would surely suffer.

“Don’t dwell on it. It’s slow these days anyway—close the shop and rest at home. When it cools, we’ll sell vegetables again.”

“Mm…”

The next day the shop stayed shut. Taking the chance, Wang Ying went to look in on the interior work at the house. Before leaving, he gave Lin Sui two strings of cash and told him to go out strolling with Qingyun and buy two sets of clothes for autumn—best not sit at home stewing.

Qingyun had also heard about the shop incident and comforted him. “Don’t heed that woman’s nonsense. If we act upright, let those sorts wag their tongues—treat it like a dog barking.”

Lin Sui pulled up a corner of his mouth, but his heart stayed heavy, fretting that the woman would call her cousin the Marquis of Wuping to make trouble. It hadn’t been easy for Cousin and Sister-in-law to gain their footing in the prefectural city; heaven forbid his fault cut off their path.

Qingyun shook his arm. “Enough—don’t think about it. Come with me to buy some rouge and powder for the betrothal.”

“Mm.”

After tidying up, they went out. The weather was fine—high, clear autumn; though still warm, the breeze was no longer sticky. There were plenty of women and young gē’er strolling the streets.

They wandered down Zhengyang Street. Passing a sweet-water stall, Qingyun bought two bowls. They sat on small street stools, drinking and watching the passersby.

“Just over two months to the betrothal. I get nervous just thinking about it. I don’t know what it will be like afterwards…”

“Aunt Qin and Uncle are good folk—and Young Master Liu is earnest about you. After betrothal, it’ll surely be harmonious.”

“What if it’s all an act? What if everything changes after I marry?”

“It won’t. If anyone dares bully you, even if cousin’s held back, Sister-in-law would absolutely grab a cleaver and charge in.”

Lin Sui chuckled and nodded, remembering how Sister-in-law helped him yesterday. With a Sister-in-law who treated him like a real younger brother, he couldn’t let this trouble weigh on them—he had to settle it himself.

After the sweet-water, they wandered on. At a cosmetics shop, Qingyun bought a box of rouge and one of powder paste—over two hundred cash in all. The rouge box was ceramic, painted with a beauty—delicate and lovely.

Ancient cosmetics were not so different from modern—used to cover blemishes. Powder paste tended more white; rouge more red. Ordinary people rarely used them except on formal occasions. Cosmetics weren’t just for women—men applied them as well; during state rites even the emperor wore makeup for full dress.

Leaving the shop, they went to the clothing store. In this half year in the city, Lin Sui had grown taller—the cuffs and hems had grown short—time to buy two new sets to rotate. He chose dark colors and coarse cloth—one set cost just over two hundred cash.

“Shopkeeper, may we try this set?”

Qingyun said, “Too stodgy for you—better the cyan one next to it.”

Lin Sui shook his head. “This one.” If he dressed plainer, perhaps he would draw less trouble.

The owner found a size to fit and handed it over. “Young masteri, try it in there.”

Lin Sui went in and, before long, came out in a clay-yellow tunic—making him look dull and even sallow compared to before.

“Oh dear—that color is awful—makes you look seven or eight years older.”

Lin Sui checked the bronze mirror and looked quite satisfied. “This one. And another in the same.”

After seeing Qingyun home from the clothing shop, he made an excuse to go check on the house—and slipped out alone.

He went to Wei’s candle-and-incense shop, intending to apologize and ask Shopkeeper Wei to explain to his wife and stop coming to slander their shop. But only a young clerk was there; yesterday, when Wei Changgui returned home, his wife had scratched his face to ribbons—he couldn’t leave the house.

Finding no one, Lin Sui bit his lip and decided to go straight to the Marquis of Wuping. He’d had a brief encounter with the man at Qingfeng Temple—perhaps he’d remember. If he explained the matter clearly and blame was to be had, let it fall on himself—just not on Cousin and Sister-in-law.

It was no small feat for a stranger to find his way—but he managed to ask around and find the marquis’s residence.

He stood at the gate staring up at the high plaque, took a deep breath, and, mustering courage, stepped up and knocked.

After a moment, a man peered from the wicket. “Who are you seeking?”

Lin Sui tensed at once, stammering. “I-I-I seek the Marquis of Wuping—urgent business!”

“Do you have a calling card?”

“N-no…”

“Then please go back.”

Lin Sui quickly put his foot in the door. “I truly have urgent business—please announce me.”

“Hey—don’t stick your foot in—what if I shut it and crush you!”

With no other way, Lin Sui dropped to his knees and kowtowed. “Please—I beg you!”

The porter was an honest sort; the kneeling startled him into stepping away. “Up, up. The marquis is not at the residence. If you must find him, go to the western barracks and ask—perhaps you’ll catch him.”

“Thank you!”

“No thanks needed.” He hurried to bolt the door and thought: wonder what this little gē’er’s relation to the marquis is—never had a gē’er come asking for him…

With a direction, Lin Sui headed west for the military camp. It wasn’t far from the city—on horseback, two quarter-hours; on foot, it took him an hour.

Hot and tired, cheeks flushed, he wiped his brow and, mustering courage, stepped forward. “I seek the Marquis of Wuping—please, sirs, carry a message.”

The gate guards, seeing a gē’er, didn’t drive him off and circled to tease him. “What for?”

“Very important business.”

“Heh—how important? Barbarians at the border or bandits in the city?”

Lin Sui could only mumble, begging that they report him. He had to see the marquis.

The small crowd soon drew the notice of Captain Tian. He came up, shooed the loafers, and asked Lin Sui where he was from. “Wait here. I’ll carry a word. If the marquis won’t see you, nothing can be done.”

“Thank you, sir!”

Old Tian, full of excitement, ran into the camp. Li Mu was discussing matters with his officers when the knock disrupted him; he frowned and had the man enter.

“Who’s at the gate?”

“A little gē’er.”

Ears pricked up all around among the old soldiers. “What gē’er? How old—what’s he look like?”

Li Mu was just as puzzled. “What gē’er?”

“Not very old—quite handsome,” said Captain Tian. “Asked by name to see you—says it’s ‘very important.’”

The room erupted. “Not fair, my lord—when did you find a sweetheart and keep it from us?”

“Let’s go see!”

“Don’t talk nonsense, damn you all. Stay here—I’ll go have a look.”