You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale

Chapter 18 — City Folks are Really Different

Edited by DancingdolphinsYo

Returning Chenyuan Sword to its scabbard, Guan Shanjin wrapped an arm around Wu Xingzi, whose mind had drifted away, and set foot in the House of Taotie.

The interior was decorated tastefully, a few tables and chairs scattered across randomly. The beams had been specially adjusted to be higher, and the spaciousness of the room was especially pleasant.

A few antiques, several pots of plants, the place was not extravagantly ornamented. Looking at the room, it even looked a little simple, and only after careful observation would one then realise how exquisite everything was.

As Guan Shanjin walked, he quietly introduced the history of some of the antiques to Wu Xingzi. His voice was gentle and pleasant sounding, his breath hot against his face, and right next to his sensitive ear. As a result, Wu Xingzi was unable to focus on what Guan Shanjin was saying.

Su Yang led the way, occasionally turning back and narrowing his eyes at them. He seemed to disapprove of how considerate Guan Shanjin was being to Wu Xingzi, and was obviously very impatient.

“It’s only a waiting hall, do you plan on walking through it for the rest of your life?” These words were clearly resenting Guan Shanjin, but Su Yang glared at Wu Xingzi. It was evident who the words were actually directed to.

“Without anyone to appreciate them, these items are only junk.” Towards his childhood friend, Guan Shanjin naturally did not remain polite.

His eyes almost rolling to the back of his head, Su Yang grumbled sulkily, “I’ve never seen you be so considerate towards anyone normally. Even that whoever, you’ve never been so caring towards him before.”

This made Guan Shanjin’s brows crease, and his demeanour cooled greatly. “It’s Mr Lu. He’s my teacher, and it’s different from Adviser Wu.”

“I’d rather you bring Mr Lu here instead, at least he’ll be more pleasant to the eyes.” Su Yang smiled wickedly at the foolish looking Wu Xingzi, hastening them. “If you want to appreciate them, I’ll get people to bring them all in to the room for you to appreciate all you like. If we still don’t eat the food, it’ll lose its flavour.”

“There’s no need for that, I only had a sudden impulse to do so. Adviser Wu doesn’t like any extraneous distractions when he’s eating, don’t come and create any trouble.” Guan Shanjin waved him off and finally was willing to follow Su Yang up the stairs.

House of Taotie was not very big, it only had two storeys. It also had an extremely spacious courtyard in the back, but instead of building some pavilions, there was a huge pond. In it were lotus flowers, water caltrops, gorgon fruits and various other plants. Once it was summer, the staff would just harvest them and use them in the restaurant’s dishes.

Surrounding the pond was a dirt path, and no stone slabs were installed.

Squares of vegetable plots were on the left of the pond. The seasons did not disturb them, and there was a row of bamboo plants along the peripheral area, giving off a leisurely air of a southern farmstead.

House of Taotie only had private rooms, there was not a shared dining hall. All of the six rooms had windows facing the courtyard. Looking out, it was like an elegant painting, the outline vividly sketched out.

Entering the room, Su Yang pointed outside as he curled his lips. “You guys came at the wrong time. It’s both cold and late now, and the only barely presentable thing are the lights reflecting across the pond.”

“We only haven’t seen each other in a short while, yet you’ve learnt to be modest?” Guan Shanjin snorted, bringing Wu Xingzi to the windowside and pointing out the various highlights of the courtyard to him.

Lamps would be lit around the pond at night. With lotus shaped lanterns floating across the water, the glowing lights evoked a certain feeling.

Wu Xingzi looked at the view, but not only was he not amazed by it, he was even a little baffled.

“Why? You have some advice with regards to the courtyard that I’ve decorated meticulously?” Su Yang’s eyes were very sharp, and so of course, he noticed Wu Xingzi’s expression.

“Umm…” Wu Xingzi scratched his cheek, looking somewhat uneasy. He glanced at Guan Shanjin for a rescue, but Beauty Guan only smiled brightly and did not even lift a finger.

“Just say it. There’s this Guan fellow as your backer now, so I won’t be able to do anything to you.” His tone sour, Su Yang was unable to accept that such an ordinary, ugly old man had actually appeared in House of Taotie. Now, he was just waiting to hear Wu Xingzi say something wrong, so that he would be able to vent his anger.

“Umm….” With his plea for help getting ignored, Wu Xingzi bowed his head, taking in a deep breath. “I was only curious about why people in the city would like this sort of scenery.”

“What do you know? This is the flavour of the countryside! The view of an idyllic and peaceful scenery, accompanied by the scent of fresh air and earth, one would leisurely enjoy their food and drinks. This sort of relaxed, carefree feeling, I’m afraid, Adviser Wu wouldn’t understand a bit of it!” Su Yang laughed mockingly. How did Guan Shanjin become attracted to this sort of philistine?

Wu Xingzi truly did not understand.

Ponds and farm plots like these could be found all over Qingcheng County. As long as a household had an empty plot, they would usually clear it out to plant vegetables. They had no other choice; because if they did not use the land wisely, it was very easy to starve to death in winter or a drought.

Although Goose City recently had become prosperous, together with the calm in South Xinjiang, the well maintained water embankments, as well as not having a drought in the past ten years, everyone had suffered through hardships before and no one dared to rest easy.

Wu Xingzi really could not comprehend what Su Yang called the flavour of the countryside, as in his eyes, these were all only ways to survive.

City folks were truly different. Adviser Wu exclaimed silently and did not say anything, cupping his hands at Su Yang and smiling warmly.

Su Yang’s words seemed to have missed its mark. He had placed quite a punch behind it, but the other person did not take it to heart. He was choking on this vexation, and his chest started hurting.

Huffily, he sat by the table and asked the server to bring the food up.

“Turns out even Su Yang can only swallow his grievances in silence when in front of you.” Guan Shanjin laughed lowly as he stroked Wu Xingzi’s nose. However, his amusement did not reach his eyes and a coldness could vaguely be seen in them.

If Su Yang had not been rubbing his chest in irritation, he would not have missed this. How unfortunate.

“How did I let Master Su swallow his grievances?” Wu Xingzi blinked, his face blank. He had never liked arguing with others, also, Goose City was different from Qingcheng County, it was not his place to interfere in other people’s preferences.

Guan Shanjin smiled as he shook his head. Bringing him to a seat, he poured tea for both of them.

The refined scent of tea wafted over, refreshing their hearts and souls. Guan Shanjin sipped at it and praised, “It’s actually Monkey Picked tea.”

“How is it? I’ve spent a lot of effort trying to get this. Other than the 1.5kg that I’ve kept, I’ve offered all the rest of it to the emperor.” Su Yang looked proud, and he too sipped at the tea.

Yes, it definitely was a good tea. A little bitter when it was first tasted, then the sweetness came in at the back of the throat. A mouthful of the aromatic tea, the balance was perfect. If the temperature of the water had not been maintained perfectly, the tea would have turned a little more bitter. Its colour was a jade green, extremely clear, reminiscent of Khotan jade.

“Do you like it?” Guan Shanjin asked Wu Xingzi.

“Mn…” Wu Xingzi nodded awkwardly, sipping a couple of times at his cup. It was very delicious, even more flavourful than the one he had at the Peng Society. However, he felt it was a little difficult to drink. “How much is this tea?”

“Don’t talk about money, it’s vulgar,” Su Yang sneered. Having been born with a silver spoon, he had never met a guest who would ask about the price when he was the one entertaining them! How rude!

Wu Xingzi bit his lip, lowering his blushing face. He had really been somewhat too direct and impolite. Having interacted with Guan Shanjin for so long, he no longer experienced that initial shyness with him. This sort of awkwardness and embarrassment was something he had not felt in a while, and he did not know where to place his hands and feet.

How could he forget that Guan Shanjin too was a high official’s son, as well as a Bastion City general that no one could control…

Despite the fact that when they were in Qingcheng County, Guan Shanjin was so amiable and approachable, even cooking for him everyday, their lives were, after all, two separate entities, as different as they could be.

How did he… accidentally forget about it?

Looking at Wu Xingzi’s reddened face and uneasiness, Su Yang’s anger finally was relieved. After that, when the food came, he continued excluding Wu Xingzi, making him feel uncomfortable eating. Taking only a few bites, Wu Xingzi then said that he was full and quietly sat on his seat falling into a daze.

From start till end, Guan Shanjin had not said a word for him. It was as though that person who had pulled out the Chenyuan Sword before entering House of Taotie for Wu Xingzi was not him.

The meal took quite some time. Guan Shanjin and Su Yang rarely met, and had many things to talk about. Although Su Yang was usually the one speaking, Guan Shanjin seemed happy to listen to him. Such intimacy made Wu Xingzi feel even smaller, and that he should not have appeared in a place like this.

Only until it was 9pm did Guan Shanjin bade farewell.

“Bring Mr Lu here next time.” Walking them to the door, Su Yang added his final words.

He had already guessed that Wu Xingzi was only a substitute for Mr Lu, and so, he was unwilling to let him rest easy.

“Definitely.” Guan Shanjin cupped his hands at him.

Wu Xingzi still did not speak, obediently cupping his hands like Guan Shanjin, and silently followed the man half a footstep behind.

Su Yang looked at them again, then turned and headed back into House of Taotie.

With one hand leading the horse, Guan Shanjin held Wu Xingzi’s hand with his other one. The two of them walked along the quiet street. The Great Xia Dynasty did not have a curfew, but after 9pm, they would be hauled to the magistrate’s office for a night if they disturbed anyone.

“Su Yang’s words have always been harsh, don’t take it to heart.” Guan Shanjin shifted his hand, wrapping his arm around Wu Xingzi. It seemed as though he had just thought about comforting him.

“I didn’t take it to heart…” Wu Xingzi sighed lightly, rubbing his belly. “I just didn’t eat enough. The food in House of Taotie is exquisite and delicious, but I couldn’t tell what ingredients they were made of, and I didn’t really dare to eat much.”

“You don’t blame me for only reminiscing with Su Yang, and neglecting you?” This question sounded tender, but Wu Xingzi did not see the chill in Guan Shanjin’s eyes.

Instinctively, he shook his head. “What blame is there? He’s your friend, not mine, naturally there’s nothing we can talk about.” When they had gone to Ansheng’s stall to have beancurd, Guan Shanjin too had not spoken.

“You’re truly broad-minded.” Guan Shanjin could not explain, but he was gloomy. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have insisted on bringing you to House of Taotie for a meal.”

“It’s not like that…” Wu Xingzi gazed at him. “You’re after all a general, and even know our county magistrate. It’s expected that you’ll come to places like this. Next time, it’s better that you bring Mr Lu here.”

Guan Shanjin stopped abruptly and he looked at Wu Xingzi, his eyes sombre. “Don’t think too much, Mr Lu is my teacher.”

Huh? Wu Xingzi blinked, a blank look on his face. “I know that Mr Lu is your teacher, I didn’t think too much.” Didn’t Su Yang, Master Su, also just specially invite Mr Lu there?

“Didn’t think too much?” He knew that Wu Xingzi was not a deceitful person. Since he said that he did not think too much, then he definitely did not think about it at all. Guan Shanjin suppressed the annoyance within him, and did not understand why exactly he was so annoyed.

“Yes, since Mr Lu is your teacher, he would definitely like House of Taotie. As for me, it’s not suitable. I prefer food that is filling, like porridge, noodles, mantous. I’m not used to food that’s too exquisite.” The more he spoke, the hungrier he got. His dinner was early and he only had a small portion. The servings of the food in House of Taotiewere all small, there was no staple that could satiate his hunger, and Wu Xingzi was now hungry beyond belief.

“Then you didn’t eat some more in House of Taotie?”

“I saw that the dishes were only enough for Master Su and you to have them with wine. It’s not that I didn’t eat, it’s just…” Wu Xingzi smiled placatingly, rubbing his stomach. “Why don’t we look for a noodles or a porridge stall, and let me fill my stomach?”

“Are there any food stalls still open at this timing?” There was barely anyone on the streets. Guan Shanjin was unfamiliar with Goose City and found it troublesome.

“There are. There’s no curfew, so some food stalls will remain open at night over at the square.” Wu Xingzi perked up eagerly. This was something he had heard Ansheng mentioned to Constable Zhang. He did not know if those stalls were delicious, but it would not stop him from tasting them.

“Alright, no harm accompanying you.” Guan Shanjin walked towards the square leading the horse, with an arm around Wu Xingzi.