Explore Chapter 3 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Seeing Wu Bibo's alarmed expression, Wu Bibo asked what was wrong. Yang Xingyuan replied, "That sudden gust of wind just now-a ghostly miasma swept over me, and it gave me quite a start. Let's be off, then! This gentleman Zhang, I daresay, has no patience for our dallying here." Huang Bieshan, who had been waiting impatiently nearby, joined them as they proceeded to the public memorial site. Yang Xingyuan saw a cold offering of three meats laid out on the grass, along with three cups of wine and three cups of tea. A large pile of paper money was placed before them, and many paper spirit-summoning pennants were planted atop the grave mounds. Yang Xingyuan remarked to Huang Bieshan, "This is entirely our southern custom. Seeing these things stirs a longing for the landscapes of home." Wu Bibo said, "Only one thing is missing-the wailing of women." Yang Xingyuan agreed, "Indeed, the sound of such wild weeping during the Qingming Festival is utterly heart-wrenching. If there were women's laments here, I'd truly feel compelled to cut paper charms to summon the spirits of these dead." Wu Bibo announced, "My way is long. I must take my leave first." Yang Xingyuan inquired, "Did you come by donkey from the city gate?" Wu Bibo affirmed he had. Yang Xingyuan then suggested, "In that case, let the three of us go together." With that, the three departed the charity burial ground and rode their donkeys back into the city. The manager, preoccupied with entertaining Mr. Xu from the House of Representatives and Mr. Liu from the Ministry of Finance, did not come out to bid them farewell. Upon reaching Yongding Gate, Wu Bibo turned back toward his school, while Yang Xingyuan and Huang Bieshan made their way slowly back to the Guild Hall.
By the time they reached Xiangchang, the lights of ten thousand homes were already aglow. From the opposite direction, a brand-new hired carriage, its four clear moon-like electric lamps blazing, sped toward them as if on wings. Inside sat a lovely woman in an emerald-green Indian silk cheongsam, the color all the more vivid against the night. A closer look revealed it was none other than Li Yun. Catching sight of Yang Xingyuan, Li Yun offered a smile and a slight nod. Flustered, Yang Xingyuan wavered between acknowledgment and silence. In that moment of hesitation, before he could return the nod, the carriage had already whisked past and was far gone. Yang Xingyuan thought to himself, "I stood there dumb as a wooden chicken just now. When she greeted me, I didn't even respond. She'll surely think I'm giving myself airs." Preoccupied with these thoughts, he conversed with Huang Bieshan in a distracted, halting manner. The two walked along the roadside and soon arrived home. After dinner, it was time to head to the newspaper office. He took a rickshaw to the Shadow News Agency. Everyone in the editorial department had already begun work. He Jianchen, with a large pile of letters and News Agency dispatches before him, was lost in thought, tapping his foreign-made scissors on the large dining table. Looking up and seeing Yang Xingyuan, he said, "Why are you only coming now?" Yang Xingyuan replied, "I went to the outskirts today, and dinner ran unavoidably late. Just now, passing through Xiangchang, I even bumped into Li Yun." Noticing Yang Xingyuan's hesitant manner, He Jianchen sensed there was more to the story. He smiled and said, "Work comes first. We'll talk later." Then he lowered his head to trim the News Agency copy. Yang Xingyuan also sat down opposite He Jianchen. Suddenly, He Jianchen exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! Ling Songlu has been arrested!" Yang Xingyuan asked, "Is that the same Ling Songlu we dined with at Jiuhua Restaurant?" He Jianchen confirmed, "None other. We don't know what fate led to his arrest. But if you ask me, I find it hard to believe his newspaper could cause such trouble." Their colleague, a translator named Shi Chengran, sitting nearby, couldn't help but laugh. He said, "I know the details of this affair quite well. It's a fine piece of social fiction. Had this happened ten years earlier, it would have been a major scandal." Hearing this, He Jianchen took out a cigar, placed it between his lips, lit it, took a puff, leaned back in his chair, and, with the cigar still in his mouth, asked Shi Chengran, "I'd like to hear the details." Shi Chengran smiled and asked first, "Where is Ling Songlu from?" He Jianchen answered, "He's just an overseas Chinese from the South Seas." Shi Chengran shook his head. "Wrong." He Jianchen tried again, "His ancestral home is Fujian." Shi Chengran said, "Also wrong." He Jianchen asked, "Then, where is he from?" Shi Chengran revealed, "He's not from the mainland. He's from Taiwan. Having traveled to the South Seas a couple of times, he simply assumed the label of an overseas Chinese. His current case has a whiff of swindling, or rather, of 'pilfering a beauty from under another man's nose.' It fits that line from the ballad about stealing another's lover." He Jianchen crossed one leg over the other and swayed slightly. "This is getting interesting. Please, elaborate carefully." Yang Xingyuan remarked, "The way you're acting, it's like you're in a modern play." He was about to continue when an apprentice from the typesetting room came by twice in quick succession, urging them to submit their copy. Yang Xingyuan said, "Let's hurry and finish the copy. If we keep chatting and laughing like this, we might as well suspend publication tomorrow." Only then did everyone cease talking and attend to their tasks. After submitting the copy, they all went to the living room for congee. He Jianchen said to Shi Chengran, "There's nothing pressing now. Please, tell us this romantic history." Shi Chengran began, "In the Beijing-Tianjin area, there's a certain Zhang the Fourth, nicknamed the 'Imperial Son-in-Law.' You all know of him, I presume?" He Jianchen asked, "What does he have to do with Ling Songlu?" Shi Chengran replied, "The connection runs deep. They are precisely love rivals! It's a long story, so let me take it slowly. Zhang the Fourth's brother-in-law, Fang Zijian, has long had the nickname 'Star-Struck.' For the past few years, he's been lounging in the south, playing with antiques and smoking opium. The money he received from his father's estate has long been spent. Recently, because his clan elder brother has some connections with the highest authorities, he seized this opportunity and came to the capital hoping to land some position. Relying on his father's once-formidable reputation, he figured that coming to this old capital wouldn't leave him without a meal. Sure enough, the highest authorities, mindful of old ties, appointed him as a senior advisor. Although Fang Zijian was like a mountain spring that had lost its purity, the position was still worthwhile. When he first arrived, he stayed at his clan elder brother's house. Later, due to various inconveniences, he moved into the newspaper office of The Internal Affairs Daily. The building housing The Internal Affairs Daily was actually his clan elder brother's property, quite spacious, and he was happy to live there. Little did he know this would become the source of a storm. It turns out that the man running The Internal Affairs Daily, Ling Songlu, was also a fellow who loved to make friends far and wide. To mention just one thing, his handling of opium was unmatched. I heard he had several attendants who were experts at preparing the finest opium. His method of smoking was also unique. He would prepare a hundred pipes, loading the opium into each one beforehand. When smoking, there was no need to prepare the opium on the spot. After taking one puff, he would simply switch to another pipe. There was no ash residue, and the process was extremely convenient. Anyone who had smoked there praised the experience as supremely satisfying. As for the sweetness and purity of the opium itself, that was merely an added bonus. With this special treasure at his newspaper office, a host of high officials and noblemen flocked to his door, eager to sample this extraordinary pleasure. Ling Songlu naturally seized this chance to get to know many powerful figures. When this young master Fang Zijian moved into The Internal Affairs Daily newspaper office, they initially got along famously, sharing similar tastes. Ling Songlu even published large quantities of Fang Zijian's poems in the newspaper. But as fate would have it, Fang Zijian's sister, Fang Jinghua, came from Tianjin to Beijing one day to visit her second brother. The moment she entered, she saw Ling Songlu. On the man's part, seeing that the lady's brother was present, he naturally intended to be cautious. Who would have guessed the young lady would be utterly unconstrained? Beaming with a radiant smile, she immediately exclaimed, 'Oh! Lao Wu! You're here too?' Fang Zijian said, 'That's strange. I've only just met him. How do you know him?' Fang Jinghua replied, 'We've known each other since Shanghai. Didn't you know?' Seeing this, Fang Zijian understood half the situation but kept his thoughts to himself. As it happened, although Fang Zijian and his eldest brother were somewhat at odds due to political differences, he shared the same mother-a lady from the Ryukyus-with this sister. Fang Zijian, who prided himself on his poetic talent like Cao Zhi of the seven-step fame, was hardly one to stir conflict within the family. So he didn't reprimand his sister. Who could have foreseen that this young lady, feeling perfectly at ease, also decided to stay at The Internal Affairs Daily newspaper office? Then, on another day, Ling Songlu hosted a banquet. Besides inviting a large group of dignitaries, he also invited the Fang siblings. This young lady was determined to cause trouble for her brother. Under the influence of wine, she brazenly started negotiating with her brother right there in front of everyone. She declared, 'Second Brother! That faithless Zhang the Fourth already has his Wu Yuqiu. Our father is gone, and he has no hope from our family anymore. Why would he still want me? Dear brother, please make the decision and let me marry Ling Wu.' Then, turning to Ling Songlu, she asked, 'Lao Wu, what do you say? Isn't that good?' Hearing this, Fang Zijian turned pale with fury. At the banquet table, he couldn't very well say much, and this sister had been pampered since childhood, beyond his control. He could only fume and repeat, 'What kind of talk is this? What kind of talk is this?' The other guests, trying to spare Fang Zijian any embarrassment, quickly chimed in, 'Your sister is drunk. Just let her be.' Who knew Fang Jinghua would go all the way? She stood up and launched into a full-blown speech. 'Who's drunk?' she said. 'Let's speak plainly. This is an age of free love. Since Zhang the Fourth has taken Wu Yuqiu, I can marry someone else. As for my eldest brother, he's from a different mother and doesn't concern himself with my affairs. Second Brother, if you agree, then agree. If not, I can still divorce Zhang the Fourth. These days, even if our father were alive and the current emperor himself, he couldn't control me!' With that, she stormed angrily into another room. The loud clatter of her high-heeled shoes echoed all the way. Everyone parted on an unhappy note. After this scene, Fang Zijian was already seething. At that time, some of the opium-smoking guests had not yet left. Fang Jinghua, becoming even more unrestrained and with a touch of tipsiness, asked Ling Songlu, 'It's so hot. I want to take a bath. Is your bathroom here in working order?' Now, The Internal Affairs Daily newspaper office building was a superior residence built by Fang Zijian's clan elder brother, and it naturally had a bathroom. Jinghua's query was disingenuous, for she well knew the answer. Ling Songlu immediately responded eagerly, 'It's all prepared.' He then had someone escort the young lady to the bathroom. But once inside, she started shouting again, saying the faucet wouldn't work and demanding someone help her draw water. Ling Songlu said with a smile, 'I have no choice. Let me attend to you.' As soon as Ling Songlu entered, Fang Jinghua slammed the door shut with a bang. The door had a spring lock, and it clicked locked. Two or three hours passed before it opened again. The group of opium-smoking friends witnessed and heard everything, piece by piece. Though they said nothing, they were thoroughly disapproving. Even Fang Zijian, with his immense patience, could bear it no longer. He immediately rushed to his clan elder brother and recounted the whole story. His elder brother said, 'This isn't entirely Third Sister's fault. I have a plan.' He then explained his scheme to Zijian. And so, yesterday afternoon, Ling Songlu was arrested." Having finished his tale, Shi Chengran also finished his congee. Yang Xingyuan and He Jianchen sighed in unison, feeling that the ancient saying, "In life after life, I would not wish to be born into an imperial household," was well worth pondering. Chatting and talking, they didn't realize it was already two o'clock. Everyone then left the newspaper office for home. As Yang Xingyuan reached the doorway, He Jianchen smiled and said, "I have something important to tell you. I almost forgot because of all the talking." Yang Xingyuan stopped and asked what it was. He Jianchen thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk tomorrow. It can't be said in just a sentence or two." Yang Xingyuan asked no more and left.
The following evening, after they met again in the editorial room, He Jianchen didn't mention a word about it. He simply kept his head down, editing copy. Yang Xingyuan couldn't resist asking, "Didn't you say you had something to tell me?" He Jianchen replied, "Don't ask now. Hurry and finish editing. We'll talk later." Having said this, he gave Yang Xingyuan a meaningful look. Understanding there was an intent behind it, Yang Xingyuan asked no more. Soon, when the editing was done, He Jianchen said, "This routine evening congee is getting tiresome. Xingyuan, how about we go get something to eat?" Yang Xingyuan asked, "Where can we find food at this hour?" He Jianchen said, "There are plenty of places. Northern and southern cuisines, Cantonese late-night snacks-every kind is available. I just wonder which one you'd prefer." Yang Xingyuan laughed, "From what you say, it must be that Shanghai-style, street-lit Hanjia Tan and Shaanxi Lane. But walking around those places in the dead of night would invite suspicion, like being in a melon field or under a plum tree." He Jianchen retorted, "We're not aspiring to be like those austere scholars enshrined in the temple wings, bound by rigid propriety. Come on, let's go." So saying, he pulled Yang Xingyuan along. They left the newspaper office, with He Jianchen's rickshaw in front and Yang Xingyuan's behind. After a couple of turns, they entered Hanjia Tan. Here, people in small groups of three or five strolled along the hutong lanes, laughing and chatting merrily. Yang Xingyuan thought to himself, "Every night, many people walk to and fro here. It would be an interesting question to ask each one what they are really here for. In life, there are many situations that force one to tear off one's own mask. Aren't all these people walking the streets displaying some form of degradation?" Lost in these thoughts as he rode in the rickshaw, he suddenly realized they had stopped in front of an establishment. Looking up, he saw it was the Pine and Bamboo House. Before Yang Xingyuan could say anything, He Jianchen grinned and said, "I've brought you here to revisit your old haunt. This is precisely what I meant to talk to you about last night." Realizing there was no escape now, Yang Xingyuan had no choice but to follow him inside. Fortunately, Hua Jun's room was free of other guests, so they went straight in to sit. Yang Xingyuan, having been here once before, could manage to exchange a few words this time. Hua Jun stood before the dressing mirror, combing her bangs with a small ivory comb. She looked at He Jianchen's reflection in the mirror, her autumn-wave eyes sending a subtle message, her delicate brows slightly raised in a smile. He Jianchen smiled back at the reflection. Witnessing this, Yang Xingyuan couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy. He said to He Jianchen, "You two are like lovebirds in the mirror. Have you forgotten there's someone else here?" He Jianchen replied, "Judging by your look, you little imp, your fancy is stirred too. Come, Lao Wu, please ask Li Yun to join us." Hua Jun said, "Why call her again? Aren't you afraid people will call you the boss of the 'Freeloading Company'?" He Jianchen gave Hua Jun a meaningful glance and then gestured subtly with his lips toward Yang Xingyuan. Hua Jun assumed a serious expression and said, "Well then, we all have our pride to maintain. Let's not create a scandal." He Jianchen laughed, "Silly! Just go and invite her. No need for extra words." Hua Jun left with a smile. Observing this, Yang Xingyuan had guessed half the story. Out of consideration for Hua Jun's feelings, he couldn't say much. Once Hua Jun was gone, Yang Xingyuan asked He Jianchen, "What are you two up to, all sneaky like this?" He Jianchen grinned, "How about I play matchmaker for you?" Yang Xingyuan said, "Don't be absurd. I don't engage in such things." He Jianchen put on a stern face and said, "When she comes, you cannot refuse. You'd rather not come again next time than make a joke of Hua Jun and Li Yun." Yang Xingyuan could only reply with a helpless smile, "You certainly know how to apply both soft and hard tactics. I have no way with you." As he spoke, Hua Jun ushered Li Yun in. Li Yun was dressed in a light-gray serge outfit. The hair at her forehead was curled and waved. She wore flat satin shoes, enhancing her air of elegant, understated charm. Li Yun entered and first addressed Master He. Then, turning to Yang Xingyuan, she called out Master Yang. He Jianchen clapped his hands and said to Yang Xingyuan, "Excellent! So when did Meng Guang accept Liang Hong's tray? No introduction needed then." Yang Xingyuan protested, "We didn't actually know each other. Don't talk nonsense." He Jianchen pressed, "Then how does Li Yun know your surname is Yang?" Li Yun explained with a smile, "Weren't you here with Master Yang a couple of days ago? That's how I know." He Jianchen declared, "Well, that shows you paid attention. Very good. Now I shall formally introduce Master Yang to be your patron." Li Yun smiled and said, "Thank you! Is that alright?" At this point, Li Yun's maid, Amao, brought over two extra plates of melon seeds and fruit. This was the customary gesture indicating the courtesan had formally accepted the guest. Dazed and confused, Yang Xingyuan naturally had nothing to say. From then on, he became a regular visitor to this abode behind the loquat gate. Starting that day, Yang Xingyuan often invited friends to the Pine and Bamboo House. Sometimes, when no suitable friend was available, he went alone once or twice. It felt as if not going would leave a task unfinished for the day.
One afternoon, he went to meet friends for dinner at Apricot Flower Pavilion. After the meal, it was only a little past six. He thought to himself, "Going to the newspaper office now is too early. Where can I kill some time?" With this in mind, he walked out. As he was about to get into a rickshaw, he hesitated indecisively. Coincidentally, the rickshaw puller seemed to read his mind and directly pulled up to the entrance of the Pine and Bamboo House. Yang Xingyuan thought, "Good heavens! My daily visit to the Pine and Bamboo House has become such a habit that even the rickshaw puller knows." Though his mind was conflicted, his feet had already carried him inside. Walking through the entrance hall, he saw a tall man speaking in Fujian-accented Mandarin on the telephone. They glanced at each other and seemed vaguely familiar but exchanged no greetings. Li Yun, seeing Yang Xingyuan, came out to welcome him. "Why are you so early today?" she asked. Yang Xingyuan replied, "Getting it done early means one less errand to run late at night. Isn't that good?" Li Yun smiled and said, "It's good you came early. I have a favor to ask of you." Yang Xingyuan thought to himself, "Here it comes. This is probably the start of the 'flower arrangement' requests." He asked what it was. Li Yun said, "It's very easy for you." She then took a book from the glass cabinet. Yang Xingyuan saw it was a copy of the "Commoner's Thousand-Character Primer." He asked, "Why are you taking this out?" Li Yun explained, "I see among my sisters those who are literate. They read books and newspapers and can even write their own letters. I admire that immensely. But learning to read isn't a matter of a day or two. I often think this is something I can only hope for in my next life. Yesterday, I went to Dasenli to visit an elder sister of mine. She couldn't read before. But just over a month since I last saw her, she can now keep accounts! I asked her how she learned. She said a university lecturer who is quite fond of her encouraged her to study. At first, she also said it wasn't easy. The lecturer insisted that if she was willing to learn, he guaranteed she could write letters within three months. Without waiting for her definite consent, he bought her a whole batch of books, pens, and ink boxes. She thought, since he meant well, she'd be embarrassed not to try. So she started learning for fun. Seeing her willingness, the lecturer was overjoyed. Every day after his four o'clock class, he would go to her place to teach her, even paying two dollars for the 'tray fee' each time. After all, the heart is flesh and blood, and can be moved. My sister, seeing his dedication, felt it would be ungrateful not to study hard. So she started studying in earnest and even prepared snacks for her teacher. Who would have thought the lecturer would then truly act the stern teacher, demanding she read a certain amount and write a certain number of characters each day? My sister, who loves fun the most, has now been transformed by this teacher into a different person. When she saw me, she urged me to study too. This book is a gift from her. Please, could you also come and teach me once a day? If you come a bit earlier, it's very quiet here." Yang Xingyuan smiled and said, "It certainly sounds like a nice assignment. But my friends, seeing me come here every day, have already spread many rumors. If I start teaching formally, wouldn't that give them more to laugh about?" Li Yun gave a cold laugh. "I knew you'd refuse. It was just a thought. But how come others go to teach every day? Aren't they afraid of being laughed at?" Yang Xingyuan countered, "Others get benefits from teaching. What about me?" Li Yun blushed. Gently nudging Yang Xingyuan's foot with her shoe, she whispered with a smile, "You're talking nonsense again."
As they were engaged in this tender, lingering talk, a loud crash was heard, as if many things had been overturned. This was followed by a wave of shouting and cursing, creating a commotion both inside and outside the courtyard. Li Yun's face turned pale with fright. She tightly grasped Yang Xingyuan's hands, and in her anxiety, a phrase of Suzhou dialect escaped her lips: "'Tis terrifying!" Yang Xingyuan, fearing some fateful incident, also stared dumbfounded. However, Amao came in and said, "It's nothing serious. Just a guest causing trouble in a room. It'll settle down soon. Master Yang, why not go out and take a look? It's quite a show." Hearing this, Yang Xingyuan indeed stood in the courtyard to watch. He saw in the opposite room that the door curtain had been torn down and the window lattice smashed. Three or four military attendants in uniform were holding down the Fujianese man he had seen earlier, trying to strip off his trousers. Standing beside them was a young man in his twenties, dressed in splendid attire, with a fair, clean face. He was cursing wildly in Tianjin dialect: "You damned son of a bitch! I took you for a decent fellow, you treacherous bastard, and you dare to cut in on Ninth Master's turf? Didn't you bother to find out who Ninth Master is? Do you think you can bully me? I'll show you what I've got, so you know Ninth Master's power!" Turning to the brothel staff, he said, "After I deal with him, I'll deal with you bunch of turtle lackeys. First, go buy me a stick of sealing wax. I'll let this rabbit taste some foreign wax." At this moment, the Fujianese, pinned down by three or four attendants, was crying and screaming. Hearing about the foreign wax, he thought, whether it was to be eaten or used otherwise, it wouldn't be a pleasant experience. This prospect alarmed him greatly, and he desperately began crying out for help. Just as the situation seemed irreconcilable, a woman in her twenties rushed in from outside. She wore a garment that was neither Chinese nor Western in style. Her hair was permed into a hedgehog-like, frizzy mass. Hearing the Fujianese man's cries for help, she charged forward without a second thought, grabbed the splendidly dressed young man, and shouted, "I don't care about my life anymore! I'll fight you to the death!" Although the young man was male, his body had been weakened by dissipation. Confronted with this woman fighting for her life, how could he withstand it? Caught off guard, he was pushed to the ground by the woman. She tried to press him down, but the young man, using a carp-leaping maneuver, grabbed her clothes and sprang up halfway. However, the woman's hands were already on his shoulders, pushing him forward. The two became entangled again. The attendants had no choice but to release the Fujianese man to intervene and separate them. The Fujianese man then joined the fray to assist the woman. These six or seven people fought like a revolving lantern, turning the room into a scene of utter chaos. The brothel's male servants and madam didn't dare step in to mediate. After about ten minutes, the sound of leather boots echoed, and seven or eight guards, along with a man in his thirties, barged in. The man ordered the guards to pull them apart and launched into a severe dressing-down. Meanwhile, the woman, her hair disheveled, sat on the floor, crying and cursing alternately. She insisted, "My face is completely lost! I don't care about my life anymore! I'll take this to the Marshal and fight it out with him!" The Fujianese man, panting heavily, sat on a sofa. He said to the woman, "It's alright now. Eighth Master is here. We, husband and wife, leave it entirely to Eighth Master to decide." Turning to the man, he said, "I've done nothing wrong to your younger brother. Today, in such a place, he has humiliated us like this. How are we supposed to carry on?" With that, he began to sob. The man said, "Don't cry. It's all our Lao Jiu's fault. We are good friends. I certainly won't let you suffer a loss. I'll find a way to get you an official position. That should make up for the injustice." Hearing about getting a position, the Fujianese man's heart leaped with joy. He bowed respectfully to the man. Wiping his tears, he smiled and said, "Then, I must ask Eighth Master to announce the appointment soon." Seeing that the situation had calmed, Yang Xingyuan returned to Li Yun's room. He asked Amao what had actually happened. Amao explained, "This is also Yufeng's fault. That young man is called Ninth Master Qin by everyone. He is Eighth Master Qin's younger brother. He has spent no small amount of money on Yufeng." Yang Xingyuan asked, "Which Eighth Master?" Amao replied, "The one you often talk about, Qin Yanli." Yang Xingyuan exclaimed, "Ah! So Ninth Master is his younger brother. What caused the fight today?" Amao said, "That tall Fujianese is Cheng Wugui. He used to be an old associate, always accompanying Ninth Master Qin here. But lately, this Fujianese suddenly developed a relationship with Yufeng and stopped coming with Qin Jiu. Coincidentally, things came to a head. Today, when Cheng Wugui arrived, Young Qin called his home looking for him. His wife answered the phone herself and said he had come here. Young Qin then called to speak with Yufeng. If Yufeng had admitted he was here, given his status as an old associate, his visiting alone wouldn't have been a big deal. But she specifically said he wasn't here. Young Qin, growing suspicious, later had an attendant call again, pretending to be someone else. By chance, Cheng Wugui answered the phone himself. Seeing this, Young Qin thought Yufeng and the Fujianese were in cahoots, taking him for a fool. A young man's jealousy is hard to suppress. So he rushed over to fight. That woman is Cheng Wugui's wife. They say she even has a nickname, 'One Dollar.' The one who came later with all the guards was Ninth Master's elder brother, the number one favorite, Eighth Master Qin." Yang Xingyuan asked, "How did he know about the fight here?" Amao replied, "The brothel secretly called for reinforcements. If they hadn't arrived quickly, that Fujianese would have suffered even more!" Yang Xingyuan said, "I thought that Fujianese looked familiar. So it was him. This drama kept me watching for a full hour. It's getting late. I should go."
Hearing he wanted to leave, Li Yun went to the coat rack, snatched Yang Xingyuan's hat, held it behind her back with both hands, and said with a smile, "On your very first day of duty, you're asking for leave already!" Yang Xingyuan, attempting his half-baked Suzhou dialect, said, "Go easy there!" He couldn't manage a second phrase. Li Yun laughed, "Your Suzhou dialect, no thank you! I've seen many northerners who, after less than three days in the hutong, try to speak Suzhou dialect. Their stiff tongues make it sound terribly awkward. Why must you imitate that strange manner?" Yang Xingyuan smiled and said, "Alright then, I'll stop. But it's time for me to go to work. I must leave. I hope you'll grant me a day's leave." Li Yun took Yang Xingyuan's hand and said, "I'll let you go today, but you must not break your promise tomorrow." Yang Xingyuan replied with several 'yes's and reached out for his hat. Li Yun said, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let me put it on for you. Sit down first." Yang Xingyuan had to sit down. Li Yun stood close beside him, took the small ivory comb from her hair, and began smoothing his parted hair. The tip of Yang Xingyuan's nose brushed against the fabric of Li Yun's dress. He felt a tide of tenderness unsettle his spirit, mingled with a subtle, intimate fragrance that seemed to dissolve the air around them. His mind began to wander into distant thoughts. After Li Yun finished arranging his hair, he remained sitting there dazed. Li Yun chuckled, "What are you thinking about? You were in such a hurry to leave, but now you seem unhurried." Yang Xingyuan came to his senses and smiled. He then started looking around. Li Yun asked what he was looking for. He said, "My hat." Li Yun laughed and said to her maid, "Look at this man. Is he crazy? He's wearing his hat but searching everywhere for it." Yang Xingyuan touched his head-sure enough, the hat was there. He couldn't help but laugh heartily. Having no time for further entanglement with Li Yun, he hurried off to the newspaper office.