Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Wedding Banquet

Cheng Bo and Fang Nuo had very different reactions to Liu Qin’s private arrangement with Misty Rain Tower. Cheng Bo naturally disapproved; the young lady had gone far too far by personally visiting such a place. If anything were to happen, it would be hard to explain. Should they tell the old matriarch? He agonized over it for a long while, and in the end decided to wait until the eldest master came next time and mention it to him first. After all, the eldest master had specifically instructed that matters concerning the tavern should, as far as possible, not be brought before the old matriarch.

As for Fang Nuo, the moment he received the deposit, his eyes narrowed with delight. He even shouted that next time he wanted to go along too. Then he bowed his head and busied himself counting his silver and tallying his accounts. Liu Qin had not expected Fang Nuo to become so utterly money-minded, with the makings of a truly unscrupulous merchant.

At the same time, Liu Qin was also pondering another matter. Back then, she had set aside two rooms in the rear courtyard to serve as a workshop, but the place was simply too small, hardly suitable for any grand endeavor. If she wanted to brew wine of higher quality and in greater quantity, she would have to find a separate location.

Besides, the range of wines was still far too limited. When conditions were right, she would also need to consider experimenting with grape wine and rice wine, since those two were better suited to women. After all, in any age, women were the largest consumer group.

Before Liu Qin had time to carefully map out her plans, a day passed, and it was already the twenty-eighth day of the tenth month—the day of Fifth Uncle’s family wedding his fourth son.

In truth, such an occasion would not ordinarily have called for Liu Qin to join the festivities. But because many relatives had come from Jade City, and since Master Liu was the direct eldest branch of the Liu family and the foremost authority in Willow City, he had to show the breadth of spirit appropriate to his station. So on this day, the entire Liu household went in force. On the women’s side, the old matriarch led Madame Cai and Liu Qin; on the men’s side, naturally, there were Master Liu, the eldest master, and Hai’er and Chao’er. They were received separately into the front and rear courtyards of Fifth Uncle’s residence.

That day, Liu Qin naturally resumed her attire as a young lady. The vivid red of her jacket and skirt set off her fair little face, making her look as festive as could be.

Liu Qin had never cared much for such social obligations in the inner quarters, nor had she ever thought of making a close girlfriend at such gatherings. It was not that she looked down on others; rather, she had been poisoned by too many tales.

Thinking of the films, television dramas, and novels she had seen in her former life—the intrigues of palaces and inner chambers—was there a single one in which yesterday’s bosom friend did not turn into today’s sworn enemy? The smiling faces that stabbed you in the back, the hands that kicked you hard over the cliff edge, the ones that sprinkled salt over your wounds after you were injured—they all somehow bore the shadow of friendship. And those people, precisely because they were closest to you, knew your pain best, knew exactly how to make you wish for death.

Such scenes often frightened Liu Qin so badly that her heart would lurch and she would feel that if life had to be lived that way, it might as well be ended. After that, she never looked at such things again. She would rather be like a man, facing an enemy head-on with blades and spears, so that even defeat would be honorable and aboveboard.

Having been reborn into this world, and having the good fortune to be born into the clean, upright Liu household, Liu Qin had every confidence that she could continue to remain unsullied in the future. Naturally, she was unwilling to expend any thought on the roundabout, ever-shifting feelings of young girls. That was also why she liked to wear men’s clothing; she always felt that spending more time with men, not being confined to the inner chambers, would broaden her mind.

With that thought in mind, Liu Qin resolved that on this day at Fifth Uncle’s residence, she would simply be a well-behaved child: stay close to the old matriarch, eat and drink, watch more and speak less.

But ideals were full, while reality was thin.

The moment she entered the hall where guests were received, she found a room packed with old and young alike. The old matriarch led her first to pay respects to the elders of the grandmother’s generation, then to the aunts’ generation, and after that came the greetings among female cousins, sisters, and maternal relatives. By the time the round of formalities was over, her head was spinning, and she had not recognized many faces at all.

At last, after the uproar and bustle, everyone was seated.

The seat of honor was occupied by the paternal grandmother, Fifth Uncle’s mother, who had been brought to stay in the house for a while. As the old matriarch had a distinguished status, she was placed in the first seat below the honor place.

The conversation naturally revolved around children and grandchildren. Liu Qin, the only daughter of her generation, and a child of such jade-snow loveliness, immediately became a treasure to be admired like a rare precious beast. One aunt after another pulled her along, praising her from the top of her hair to the tips of her toes as though they could not possibly praise her enough. Liu Qin could only grumble inwardly while wearing a foolish smile on her face, treating herself as though she were merely a decorative object on display.

But even that was not the end of it. Next came Fifth Uncle’s colleagues. In deference to Master Liu and Magistrate Fang, nearly everyone of note from the prefectural office had come, though a good number had gone to the Fang residence instead.

The wives of those colleagues, bringing their daughters and granddaughters, naturally had to pay respects to the old matriarch in the seat of honor and to the old matriarch in the first seat below, and so yet another round of mutual courtesies and polite refusals unfolded. Once again Liu Qin was hauled out and showered with all manner of extravagant praise. She felt that if she did not go outside and breathe some air soon, she would probably suffocate.

At long last, after enduring it to the very end, she finally heard Fifth Aunt say, “The children have been cooped up here long enough to grow restless. Mei’er, Ru’er, take your little aunt and the girls outside to play.”

A voice from heaven—truly a voice from heaven.

Liu Qin endured herself long enough to present a proper farewell to her mother, then hurried out with Liu Mei and Liu Ru.

The moment she stepped outside, her breathing eased. The air outdoors was still better. Her spirits lifted at once.

Because Liu Mei and Liu Ru were the host’s daughters, they were still young and not yet entirely graceful in manner, but they must have been specially instructed beforehand; they made no mistakes in etiquette and led everyone to a pavilion in the garden to eat pastries and admire the scenery. Most of the girls knew one another already, so they gathered in little circles and chatted among themselves.

Some even came forward to curry favor with Liu Qin, but she could not be bothered to discuss with these girls—some only a few years old, at most twelve or thirteen—what clothes were pretty or what ornaments were fashionable. She also disliked the roundabout, winding way their thoughts turned with every sentence they uttered. So she simply pretended to be a glutton who understood nothing, focused single-mindedly on stuffing herself with food, and occasionally let out a silly little laugh.

She rarely attended such gatherings to begin with, and the others were not familiar with her. So while a few girls secretly thought it was a pity she had such a lovely face, no one dared show mockery openly because of her standing.

After everyone had chatted merrily for a while, someone suggested going to see the camellias. It was said that Fifth Uncle was especially fond of the camellia’s vibrant bloom, so the residence had a special area planted with many varieties. Though they were nearing the end of their season, it was still more amusing than this pavilion, surrounded only by bare expanses and a few scattered green trees.

When Liu Ru came to invite her, Liu Qin told her she was tired and did not want to go. She could not be bothered to go outside and brave the cold wind. This pavilion was warm, had food to eat, and was as pleasant a place as could be. Only a fool would run outside.

Liu Mei and Liu Ru had no choice but to take the crowd away, leaving two maids behind to attend her. Seeing the pavilion suddenly empty, Liu Qin was quite pleased.

Eating and drinking in comfort was delightful enough, but with the warm surroundings and a belly full to bursting, she was starting to feel drowsy. Liu Qin rubbed her eyes, then rubbed them again, yet her eyelids only grew heavier.

No, she could not fall asleep in this busy pavilion. If anyone saw her, they would laugh her to death. Liu Qin was not afraid of being laughed at; what she feared was the worried look in her mother’s eyes.

Then inspiration struck, and she thought of a fine place to rest.

Speaking of Fifth Uncle’s residence, she had been there twice before. The last time, by accident and good fortune, she had found a fine spot behind a rockery: a recessed nook sheltered from the wind and hidden from view. It was so secluded that on such a joyous day, no one would go there.

Cui Liu and Cui Yu had followed close at hand when Liu Qin came out. Hearing that she had eaten too much and wanted to walk it off, they were already used to it and simply trailed after her without surprise. Led by Liu Qin, they turned toward the rockery.