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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="326" data-orig-width="490"></figure>I got a little excited when I realized the Liu Shao was coming back into the picture soon so you get an extra chapter today. There’s more exposition and love-dovey scenes between Jing Wan and Jian Zhang in this chapter. I really enjoyed the cute interactions between Jing Wan’s parents.
I don’t know if you’ve realized how much that one meeting with Liu Shao has affected Jing Wan. Not only does she like the scent of peppermint and tobacco now, she also thinks of their kiss when… well, you’ll just have to find out. :P
Encountering Love, Chapter 6
The next day, when Xu Jian Zhang heard about the matter, he said to her: “You were acting too unreasonably. If this matter had been investigated, this would not be a joking matter.” Smiling, Jing Wan said: “Why would they investigate me? Doesn’t everything go very smoothly every time you ship the merchandise?” Xu Jian Zhang replied: “How can you compare the two? You are girl.” Jing Wan pouted and said: “Deep in your heart, you still look down upon women. You of all people have complimented me, saying that I am a match for any man. So everything you said was lies.” Xu Jian Zhang saw that she was thinly veiling her anger and knowing that she is usually open to persuasion rather than coercion, he could only reason with her. Then, he slowly said: “You know that’s not what I meant. When I usually ship merchandise, I use the connections of old acquaintances who I’ve know for many years and the permit of the army’s quartermaster. I usually have people coordinating for me during the entire journey, so that I am never investigated. When you behave recklessly like this, it is very dangerous.”
When Jing Wan heard him say this and saw his worried expression, as he was always worried for her, she said: “I didn’t know that you used these connections. I was wrong.” She was naturally competitive, and is usually not willing to admit when she’s wrong. With these few words, it was almost as if she had apologized, so Xu Jian Zhang said with a smile: “You did it with good intentions, for me.” She also smiled and said: “As long as you know that.”
The two of them continued to sit the in small reception hall to talk, the sound of their voices lowered. Madam Yin originally came to bring them a plate Western-styled peach shortbread, but when she saw the affectionate young couple, she held back a smile and walked back out without being noticed. She continued to the study behind the garden, where Yin Chu Fan was wearing his reading glasses, studying his account book. When he saw his wife come in with the snacks, he, imitating the voice that opera performers used, said: “I have troubled you, wife. This lowly official thanks you.” Madam Yin frowned and replied: “Look at how you are acting. We have a guest right now, what if he saw you acting like this?” Yin Chu Fan said: “Are you talking about Jian Zhang? I will go and greet him.” Madam Yin said: “The children are talking amongst themselves. Don’t go and bother them. Anyways, he come to visit often, and is of the younger generation. If you don’t go out, you aren’t breaching any etiquette.” She called a servant to serve tea and ate a few snacks with her husband in his study. Yin Chu Fan ate two pieces of shortbread and then lit his tobacco pipe again. Madam Yin said: “Jing Wan doesn’t have a good temper, it is hard on Jian Zhang to always forgive her. We watched him as he grew up and our families know each other well. Ay, it’s a pity the Jian Zhang’s father passed away so early. He has taken care of all the Xu family’s businesses. This child, it’s hard to come upon one who is as experienced as he is. Last time Madam Xu came to visit, she hemmed and hawed, trying to bring up the topic of their marriage. I only gave her a vague answer.” Yin Chu Fan tapped his tobacco pipe against the ashtray and said: “Jing Wan is still too young, even though the two children are on very good terms, we should wait until next year, when Jing Wan turns eighteen, to formalize the engagement.”
After a few days, Madam Yin visited the Xu Estate to play cards with Madam Xu and asked for some time to talk alone to slowly explain their reasoning. Madam Xu had brought up the matter of their marriage a long time ago and having received such a straightforward reply, she was beside herself with joy. Jing Wan and Xu Jian Zhang also understood their parents’ intentions and even though both were from traditional families, there was still a few Western customs that they used. Since their parent supported them like this, the couple was obviously happy.
Time, the thing is comes and goes most easily, passed gradually. Spring passed and autumn arrived, and in the blink of an eye, Chinese New Years came upon them. After the first month of the new year, the weather gradually became warmer, the spring flowers bloomed while the grass grew green, and spring was upon them again. The Xu family and Yin family had already discussed the matter, and after hearing the thoughts of the young couple, they decided to hold the engagement ceremony in May. Since the Xu and Yin families came from large clans, there family members were numerous, the preparations were also numerous, so during April, they began to stock up on the things they needed. They drafted an invitation list and the Xu family began to repaint each and every room.
The Xu family was in the business of selling medicine, and April was the beginning of the epidemics season, the season where medicine was scarce. Around this time every year, Xu Jian Zhang would go up north to personally ship the merchandise but because of the personal matters at home, he was going to ask his old employees to go for him this year. The Cheng and Ying armies had just come to a ceasefire, the situation was precarious, and Xu Jian Zhang was worried that something would go wrong, so in the end, he decided to go personally.
When Jing Wan heard that he wanted to take such a long journey at that moment, even though she did not want to agree, she did not have any other choice. Besides, she had always thought he was a capable young man as he was able to expand his large family business by himself. Even though she could not bear for him to leave, in the end, she did not object. The day before Xu Jian Zhang left, Madam Yin held a farewell dinner party for him at their estate. Jing Wan usually enjoyed lively events but that day, she was depressed and did not say a word; she only bowed her head and ate. Madam Yin kept filling Jian Zhang’s bowl with food, and said: “Jing Wan is always like this, she likes to throw tantrums like a little child. She will recover soon.” Xu Jian Zhang gazed at Jing Wan, watching her as she prodded at her rice, as if she were in a trance, but he could not bear seeing her this way. After dinner, when the servants were serving tea, Madam Yin intentionally dragged Yin Chu Fan away.
Xu Jian Zhang saw Jing Wan holding the glass teacup, but she was not drinking; she was just looking at the tealeaves in the cup, sighing heavily. He coughed lightly and said: “Jing Wan, do you blame me?” Jing Wan replied: “How could I blame you? You will come back in two weeks.” He reached out his hand to hold Jing Wan’s and said: “Don’t worry. Even if they had just stopped fighting, the Cheng and Ying armies have been fighting for many years. We have been able to keep our businesses running very well these past few years.”
Jing Wan said: “I know.” Only a wall lamp was lit in the living room so the light was faintly shining on her cinnabar-colored qipao decorated with silver thread. Her eyes are always bright but underneath the light, they were as beautiful as water, watching him with unshed tears. He felt his heart thumping loudly, and unable to restrain his emotions, he raised his hand. She was wearing heels and had a hard time standing still; her body tilted forward a bit and she allowed him to wrap her in his embrace. Understanding that he wanted to kiss her, her heart beat wildly. Even though they had been friends for a long time, Xu Jian Zhang’s old-style etiquette did not allow him to do anything besides hold her hand. That day, the kiss was intimate rather than wild. Her body felt weak and her only thought was that this feeling was extremely strange, yet the faint scent of peppermint and tobacco was very familiar. She felt as if she had dreamt about this before, perhaps centuries ago, but the memory was faint. He let go of her hand, as if he felt apologetic but more as if he enjoyed it. His eyes were filled unending affection as he gazed at her.