Mo Sang – CH 088

Chapter 88. Being a Man

Jin Mao was busy for five or six days.

First, he chose a school with an attached girls’ academy, had Master Lu Hepeng take a look, and then asked his sister and brother-in-law to check it out. He bought two new sets of clothes for his eldest niece, Canjie’er, and his nephew, Erzhuang, and also got them a complete set of new schoolbags, books, and writing implements. One was sent to the girls’ school, and the other to the academy.

With Canjie’er in school, there was no one to look after her younger brother, Gouzi. Old Madam Liu was very hard of hearing, and he needed someone to watch over her, too.

Jin Mao wanted to buy two people for his sister to use, but she and his brother-in-law absolutely refused, saying they were not the kind of family that could boss others around; it would shorten their lifespan, and they dared not!

Jin Mao had no choice but to go to a broker and pick out a woman in her forties. He hired her for two years, coming early and late to help his sister so that Canjie’er could go to school in peace.

Finished with his chores, Jin Mao felt relieved. He bought a large bag of braised meat from his brother-in-law and two bags of melon seeds, then carried them back to Chaomi Alley.

No one was home yet in Chaomi Alley; only Blind Mi was dozing on the steps.

“Uncle Blind, you are cold!” Jin Mao shouted sharply in Blind Mi’s ear.

Blind Mi nearly fell off the steps in fright. “You yellow-haired bastard! What are you yelling for? Damn it! That shout is going to make me deaf, both blind and deaf!”

Blind Mi stood up, cursing, and followed Jin Mao into the courtyard.

Just as Jin Mao carefully tied the melon seeds in a bag and hung them in the bamboo basket under the eaves, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a bang and then slammed shut. Hei Ma’s voice came from outside. “Who’s back?”

“It’s Uncle Blind and me,” Jin Mao quickly answered.

“Come and help us quickly!” Hei Ma called out upon hearing Jin Mao’s voice.

Jin Mao rushed out and took several large bags of food from Hei Ma’s arms.

“What’s all this for today’s food? I grabbed a big bag of braised meat; do not buy duplicates.” Jin Mao placed the bags of food on the table under the eaves.

With Da Chang not home, the food they cooked, according to their boss, was worse than pig swill—not a single thing was edible.

The boss was a good cook, but she only cooked when she felt like it, and they were lucky if she cooked once or twice a month.

This custom of buying food existed back in Jiangdu City. If Da Chang was not home, they would take turns buying ready-made meals. Whoever was on duty could buy whatever they wanted.

“Have not seen you for a few days, and you’ve become so stupid.

If we want braised meat, go to your brother-in-law’s. Why would we let someone else get the business?” said Hei Ma, placing the bags of food on the table while pouting at Jin Mao.

“These: stir-fried snails, sashimi of bluefish, salted duck eggs with runny yolks, sauerkraut buns, roast chicken, mixed vegetables… Where’s the braised meat?”

“This packet of braised meat is quite a lot, so we will not have to go buy it again.”

“Go get the big copper pot. I told him to just scoop out the mung beans, not take the broth. We need to add some water and boil it again, then put in a packet of rock sugar.”

Hei Ma said, busily carrying out a bag of charcoal and an iron rack, then lighting a fire in the courtyard to cook the mung bean soup.

Blind Mi found a bowl, poured himself a bowl of mung bean soup, took a few sips, and smacked his lips. It was not sweet enough; it definitely needed to be cooked more properly.

Hei Ma and Jin Mao cooked the mung bean soup, tidied up the dishes and rice, and squatted side by side on the steps, looking at the mung bean soup, talking, and waiting for everyone to come back for dinner.

“You told your sister I am dark-skinned?” Hei Ma spoke first, bringing up this matter directly. He’d been holding it in for days, finally finding an opportunity to ask properly.

“I said you’re dark? Just a little bit dark, only a little bit!” Jin Mao gestured with his finger, indicating a little bit.

“Your sister said I am as dark as a pot bottom!” Hei Ma slapped Jin Mao’s hand away.

“I did not say ‘as dark as a pot bottom.’ Uncle Blind said it, right? Uncle Blind? He said Hei Ma is as dark as a pot bottom.” Jin Mao dragged Blind Mi into the discussion.

“Did I not tell you? The only thing that truly signifies nobility about you is this darkness.

If you were not dark one day, you would not have any nobility or good fortune. Think it over, whether you are dark or not!” Blind Mi said seriously.

“That’s right! This darkness signifies nobility! Nobility! It has to be dark, the best darkness; it has to be as dark as a pot bottom!” Jin Mao clapped his hands and shouted.

“You said I was not black to my face!” Hei Ma was not easily fooled and would not let go of Jin Mao.

“That was to your face? You even said my hair was not blonde to my face, did you not? You said my hair was jet black and shiny, did you not?”

Jin Mao and Hei Ma had been arguing for over a decade, always evenly matched, and Jin Mao was never going to lose.

“This hair… is not black,” Hei Ma stammered.

“You said my hair was not blonde! Not at all, jet black and shiny!” Jin Mao grabbed a lock of hair and thrust it towards Hei Ma.

“Blonde hair also signifies nobility.” Blind Mi patted Jin Mao.

“That’s right, Uncle Blind said it too. Blonde hair signifies nobility!

Alright, for the sake of our shared nobility, I will give in this time.” Hei Ma took a step back.

“Yellow Hair, our boss said last time that we should pick out a house. If we find one, do not put down a deposit yet. Ask me to come and take a look at it first. The feng shui of the house is very important,” Blind Mi said, patting Jin Mao.

“What house? For my sister? My sister definitely will not want it. I wanted to buy her a maid, but she refused.

She said she and her husband are destined for hardship and toil. If they have money, they will have to earn it themselves.” Jin Mao shook his head and chuckled.

“It’s not for your sister; it’s for the boss. I was there when she said that.

The boss said it’s time to settle down. She said she’d have your sister help you find a good match. To get married, of course, you need your own house.” Hei Ma tapped the fire poker idly, sending sparks flying from the charcoal.

Jin Mao getting married and starting a family was a good thing, but the thought of it made him feel uneasy. “Why should I get married? We are about the same age, and neither of us is married. What makes me think I should get married? And Da Chang is not married either. Why should I?” Jin Mao protested.

“You found your sister,” Hei Ma said seriously, looking at Jin Mao.

“That’s true,” Blind Mi sighed. “Finding your sister means finding family, finding a home. Our Mao family only has one male left, and he’s not getting any younger. He should get married, settle down, have a bunch of kids, carry on the family line, and live a good life.”

“You said that three years ago. Back then, you said, ‘Now that we can eat our fill and live a stable life, we should get married, settle down, have a few kids, and live a good life.'”

Tian Ji and the others listened to that and got married.” Jin Mao rolled his eyes at Blind Mi.

“You cannot blame Uncle Blind for this. Even without his words, Tian Ji and the others would have gotten married, had children, and settled down.

When we were begging together, whenever we had a decent meal and were in the mood to chat, Tian Ji would always say, ‘When I am rich, I will buy a house first, then get married, and have a bunch of kids calling me Dad.’ Sigh.” Hei Ma sighed deeply at the end.

Tian Ji had all of that, but he was dead.

“My sister also told me that I am not getting any younger and should hurry up and find a wife. I told her not to interfere in my affairs; she cannot control them.

I do not want to get married or start a family right now. I just feel happiest and most joyful with my brothers Hei Ma, Da Chang, Xiao Lu, and Mazha.

Boss said that in this life, you should take care of yourself first.

I will only take care of myself in this life, living as happily as possible. I do not want a family, I do not want a wife, and I do not want children, at least not now. If I want them later, I will think about that,” Jin Mao said bluntly.

“I knew it! Your boss has corrupted us all! One by one, sigh. What have we become if we do not settle down and build a career?” Blind Mi looked heartbroken.

“Then how can you not settle down and build a career? Your eyes are perfectly fine; you are not blind,” Jin Mao retorted without hesitation.

“I told you! A fortune teller like me has five deficiencies and three shortcomings…” Blind Mi slapped Jin Mao on the head.

“In front of us, Uncle Blind should not spout nonsense. He cannot tell fortunes at all; he just pretends to be blind to fool us.

The boss said that someone like him does not even qualify for five deficiencies and three shortcomings.” Hei Ma chimed in quickly.

“You two bastards! Today you are ganging up on me; you are really a handful,” Blind Mi cursed. “Get me a bowl of soup!”

……………………

Li Sangrou readily agreed to Gu Xi’s request and, a day later, sent a message through Ru-Yi to Princess Ninghe, inviting her to the literary gathering.

The gathering was held at a teahouse in the street pavilion by Yingxiang Pond, a spacious place with excellent views.

Li Sangrou suggested that Princess Ninghe dress as a man.

Dressing as a man was the latest fashion trend among the daring young ladies and wives of Jianle City.

Princess Ninghe, wearing an apricot-colored long robe and a jade belt borrowed from her second brother, looked quite excited.

Upon seeing Li Sangrou, she could not help but turn halfway around, insisting that Li Sangrou comment on whether she looked like a refined gentleman in her long robe.

Li Sangrou only smiled and remained silent, leading Princess Ninghe through a side gate into the teahouse.

The teahouse was already quite crowded. Hei Ma was standing by the stairs, craning his neck to look towards the side gate. Upon seeing Li Sangrou and Princess Ninghe, he hurriedly dashed over to greet them.

“Everyone’s almost here. They’ve already finished one round of poetry, something about crabapple blossoms. There are lots of crabapple blossoms at the entrance, and they are quite beautiful, but their poems… well, not good!

Greetings to the Princess.

Boss, the manager asked if we would go upstairs or downstairs.” Hei Ma, standing at the literary gathering, waved his hands excitedly, his words tumbling out incoherently.

“Let’s go upstairs; we can see better,” Li Sangrou said to Princess Ninghe with a smile.

Princess Ninghe looked at Hei Ma, his dark face glowing with excitement, and at his half-length robe, and could not stop smiling. She nodded repeatedly at Li Sangrou’s words.

Li Sangrou simply had the tea and wine server set up a table next to the railing, and she and Princess Ninghe leaned against the railing on either side, watching the spectacle below.

Hei Ma squatted beside Li Sangrou, peering down through the gap in the railing with a face full of admiration.

“Can you compose poetry?” Princess Ninghe leaned forward slightly, speaking to Hei Ma over Li Sangrou.

“Yes! Of course! How could I not compose poetry!” Hei Ma practically patted his chest in agreement.

“Then compose one too.” Princess Ninghe pointed to several poems that had just been written downstairs.

“I can, but I am not a scholar. This is what our boss said.

Look at my clothes. Our boss will not even let me wear a long robe. Even if I could, I could not compose poetry.” Hei Ma moved back a little, leaning forward to speak to Princess Ninghe.

“You just will not wear it because your boss will not let you?” Princess Ninghe did not understand the connection between not being allowed to wear a long robe and composing poetry.

“Of course! How can I disobey my boss? Can you compose poetry?” Hei Ma moved back even further.

“I cannot. I can never find the right rhymes. My Third Brother cannot compose poetry either.” Princess Ninghe simply beckoned Hei Ma to move closer to her.

“The Shizi is a military general; military generals do not write poetry.” Seeing Li Sangrou nudge him with her finger, Hei Ma jumped a few times and squatted down next to Princess Ninghe.

“Why do military generals not write poetry?” Princess Ninghe asked curiously.

“That’s how it’s portrayed in plays. When a civil official appears, they recite a poem, while a military general just shouts ‘Wah!’ There’s no such thing as a military general reciting poetry,” Hei Ma said with absolute certainty.

“Plays are all fake. How can you believe plays so much?” Princess Ninghe laughed.

“How can plays be fake? I am telling you, as long as it’s in a play, it’s real.

I am telling you, once, Jin Mao and I were watching a play outside the city; we were still in Jiangdu City then. That night, they were performing a Zhong Kui play. You know Zhong Kui, right?”

Princess Ninghe nodded while smiling.

“Singing Zhong Kui in operas is incredibly meticulous! It could not be more so.

The actor playing Zhong Kui, once fully made up, is truly the deity Zhong Kui. He has to sit alone facing a large red curtain; no one can touch him, he cannot speak to anyone, not even himself, and he certainly cannot eat or drink.

That day, the young Zhong Kui, unaware of the gravity of the situation, sat for a while and then asked someone to bring him tea to soothe his throat.

This was a disaster!

Unexpectedly, everything was perfectly fine, a clear blue sky, when suddenly a thunderclap boomed, and the lightning struck the stage directly.

Luckily, the troupe leader was knowledgeable; he immediately knelt, kowtowed, offered incense, and apologized. Thankfully, nothing serious happened.”

Hei Ma described the scene vividly, and Princess Ninghe listened, blinking repeatedly. After a moment, she looked at Hei Ma and hesitantly asked, “You said it was terrifyingly dark that night, but then you said the sky was clear and blue.”

“That day, as soon as it got dark, there was thunder and heavy rain—a thunderstorm, not because Lord Zhong Kui spoke,” Li Sangrou added.

“Our boss did not go to the play that day; she…”

Hei Ma did not know this part and hesitated to finish the sentence, his tongue slipping away.

“When I said ‘clear and blue sky,’ I did not mean a truly clear sky. It was just a metaphor. It meant that the thunderclap was sudden! So sudden! Like a thunderclap in a clear sky,” Hei Ma explained earnestly.

Princess Ninghe could not stop laughing.

Li Sangrou focused intently on the literary gathering downstairs. Princess Ninghe spent far more time talking to Hei Ma than watching the gathering.

As noon approached, Li Sangrou stood up and went downstairs with Princess Ninghe.

Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs and were about to turn the corner and exit through the side door, a young scholar suddenly stepped forward from the other side, blocking their path.

Li Sangrou stepped forward, standing in front of Princess Ninghe, and smiled at the young scholar.

“This must be the princess.”

The young scholar did not even glance at Li Sangrou, staring directly at Princess Ninghe, his words and gestures equally impolite.

“I have a few words I must say.

I’ve heard that the princess is of marriageable age and is currently choosing a husband. Royal consorts are vain and noble, but utterly useless. We are all people determined to serve our country; please, Princess, do seek elsewhere.”

Princess Ninghe’s face turned pale at these words.

Li Sangrou squinted at the young scholar before her. “Judging from your words, you are certain the princess has already chosen, are you not?

Who is it?

Do you not have a mirror at home? Even if you do not, I remember there’s a mirror near the entrance of this teahouse. Have you never looked in one?

Have you never looked in a mirror even once in your life?

If you’d ever looked in a mirror even once, you should know that with looks like this, let alone a princess, you would not be able to stand in front of any human—no, not just any human, but any woman. You are just too ugly and repulsive.

Your parents, from the moment you were born, knew you could not stand in front of any woman, so they never let you look in a mirror, right?

Alas, the hearts of parents are truly pitiful.

Giving birth to such a wretch, your parents must have committed a grave sin!”

“!” The young scholar was stunned by Li Sangrou’s outburst.

“Even the most vain royal consort needs the capital to be vain. Someone like this, so vicious and ugly, does not have that capital.”

Li Sangrou tapped the scholar’s ​​shoulder with a finger, pushing him back two or three steps until he was back in the silent crowd staring at them.

“I am a dignified man, not judged by appearances…” The young scholar, pushed back four or five steps by Li Sangrou’s finger, finally reacted, his face instantly turning crimson.

“So, if not appearances, what are we judging? Who has the longest diao mao¹?” Li Sangrou tapped the scholar’s ​​chest, asking with a smile, each word distinct.

“!” The young scholar’s ​​face turned from crimson to pale.

“Before trying to take a risky path and advance through unorthodox means, did you not consider that this stupidity and wickedness would bring utter destruction to your family and blood relatives?” Li Sangrou took another step forward, grabbing the young scholar’s ​​collar, her voice sharp and stern. The young scholar’s face was ashen.

Li Sangrou abruptly pushed the scholar aside, turned around, clapped her hands, and gestured to Princess Ninghe. “Let’s go.”