Chapter 18 #2
She sighed exasperatedly. “Skipping dinner to play your zither outside in the cold is not going to bring him back any faster.”
“Do you think he’ll be back soon?” Meilin asked. Despite her frustration with Ailin’s lack of empathy, she hoped to hear words of comfort. If her pessimistic older sister could say anything positive, it was as good as fact.
Ailin tucked her hands into her heavy silk sleeves. “I don’t presume to know Master Wei’s plans.”
“But if you had to guess, based on instinct?”
“I would look back at everything he told you to confirm whether he ever said he intended to return.” Ailin’s rationality was as cold as the air.
“So you think he doesn’t intend to come back for me at all.”
Ailin might as well have called Meilin a jilted fool.
Her sister had always told her to be more careful, to guard her feelings, to never say what she felt.
Now Ailin had the perfect opportunity to exult in her seeming rightness, and the only reason she was holding back was because she thought herself too noble to do so.
That aspect of Ailin’s personality drove Meilin mad.
Ailin was always gāo gāo zài shàng—so out of touch.
Meilin would not stand for it. She knew how she and Master Wei felt about each other, and she would prove to Ailin that she was right. “Don’t judge when you don’t know him as well as I do.”
Ming-ming appeared at that moment. “What’s taking you two so long? Lucky said there’s going to be fried dumplings at dinner.”
Meilin glanced at Ailin and saw her resigned expression. Neither of them could reject their youngest sister, regardless of how they were feeling about each other.
“Coming,” they said at the same time.
Dinner without Master Wei felt louder than usual, though there were only sixteen people at the table.
Perhaps the absence of an additional adult emboldened the children to be rowdy, or perhaps Uncle Meng and Grand-mother Jiang’s planned business trip to Hangzhou with the Pangs made everyone overexcited.
“It will be reassuring to have your help with the taxes, Meng--xiōng,” Master Pang said as he helped himself to some fried dumplings.
“And Mama will be so happy to see you, Mother,” Madame Pang added.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Cai-mèimei too,” Grand-mother Jiang said.
When the conversation moved to the topic of reaching out to the Fan household regarding Shen Lusi’s marriage, Meilin—who already didn’t want to be present—turned her attention elsewhere.
Curiously, on the other side of the table, Sandy tugged on Captain Bai’s sleeve as if she wanted something. The captain frowned and shook his head, but Sandy furrowed her brows and pushed his arm. Captain Bai sighed in resignation before clearing his throat.
“Excuse me, Grand-mother Jiang.”
Everyone turned to look at him, as they did whenever he spoke.
“I have concerns that the roads to Hangzhou may not be safe. Lately, there have been reports of pirate activity near Songjiang. The Wōkòu seem to be waiting for an opportunity to attack.”
Grand-mother Jiang blew on her bowl of hot rice porridge.
“I appreciate your warning, Captain Bai, but I’ve already talked the matter over with Jiehan and Chunwan.
We’ve decided that traveling is a risk we must take.
Tai and Xiatian have to go back, and we can’t let them go alone.
We’ll be safer as a larger group, especially since Jiehan is bringing his best guards. ”
At the mention of guards, Meilin suddenly remembered Begonia lamenting that Tian was leaving for Hangzhou soon.
At the time, Meilin had been so distracted that Begonia’s words washed over her without leaving an impression.
Hearing Grand-mother Jiang talk about the city where Meilin’s beloved Master Wei was, however, sent the worm of an idea crawling through her mind.
“Grand-mother Jiang, would it be possible for me to join in the journey to Hangzhou?” Meilin asked.
Everyone turned from Captain Bai to her. She gulped. They were probably curious why she was breaking her recent habit of silence during dinner.
“Since you said that traveling in a large group is safer, might I join the group to make it larger?” she added quickly to show that she was serious.
“And how would your presence increase everyone’s safety?” Captain Bai asked with more sharpness than necessary. The almost angry gleam in his eyes caught Meilin by surprise, reminding her of when she thought him the most contrary man in the world.
“I’m not useless,” Meilin said, indignant. “I have arms and legs that let me carry and fetch things. I can do anything Grand-mother Jiang or Uncle Meng asks me to do.”
“I like your eagerness to help, young lady,” Grand-mother Jiang said warmly. “Hangzhou is a beautiful city, the capital of many ancient dynasties. An adventurous girl like yourself ought to see it, as long as your mother gives permission for you to go, of course.”
Success! Meilin was nearly halfway to her goal of reuniting with Master Wei.
“Please?” Meilin looked at her mother, who frowned pensively. She hoped Mama didn’t want to hold her back like Ailin did.
“I assure you that it will be no inconvenience to Jiehan and me to bring her with us, Xiuyun,” Grand-mother Jiang said. For once, Meilin appreciated her pushiness.
Mama answered very deliberately. “If it is not an inconvenience, could I ask you to take Ailin as well? Then she and Meilin can both help.”
Grand-mother Jiang clapped her hands together. “Splendid! I actually have several art-loving friends in Hangzhou that I want Ailin to meet. Great business opportunities await her.”
Ailin turned pale, but Meilin’s excitement grew as she considered the new plan.
Not only was she one step closer to reuniting with Master Wei, but Enze was in Hangzhou as well.
Meilin mentally praised herself for keeping Enze’s umbrella without Ailin’s knowledge.
She would use it to make Ailin face her feelings for Enze and stand up to Shen Lusi.
Going to Hangzhou would change their fates for the better. Meilin just knew it.