1
It is late in the evening. Jin sits at the edge of her bed and slowly starts unraveling her braids, her fingers weaving through her dark hair in quick, mechanical motions. She keeps her eyes trained on the bedside lamp, watching as the flames flicker and glint, casting a warm glow on her already darkened room.
There is a knock on the living room door. She hears it, loud and clear, the sound carrying all the way to her room.
Jin pauses and frowns. Who could be up at this hour? It is already way past curfew. What could that person possibly want?
"Jin!"
The sharp, raspy voice of her grandfather comes off as a croak as he yells her name out loud. Jin sighs, knowing full well what he is about to say next.
"Go get the door!" he barks.
She scowls and hops off her bed, grabbing a hairband and twisting her newly unbraided hair into a ponytail. She grabs her bathrobe and wraps it around her before putting the lamp on a lamp holder and walking out the door.
The knocking continues as she hurries across the hallways, her bare feet padding against the wood-covered floor. The house is quiet, the servants and workers already in their rooms, preparing to sleep. Finally, she reaches the living room and after retying the sash of her robe into a tighter knot, she wrenches the door open.
"Good evening," Jin politely says as she peers down at the person knocking.
"Good evening." He is an old man, possibly only younger than her grandfather by a few years and he is short and round-bellied. His eyes are kind and his lips are curled into a pleasant smile. His clothes look shabby and well-worn and he really doesn't look like someone who is from the Upper Ring.
"Can I help you?" Jin says warily as her eyes narrow in suspicion. He looks harmless enough but no one at this time of the evening, way past curfew, dressed shabbily, knocking on their door could be up to anything good.
The man nods at her and seems unperturbed by her hostile demeanor. He says, "Yes. I actually want to talk to Luong Fu. This is his house, I believe."
"Yeah. He's my grandfather, actually," Jin says, tensing a little. She wonders what this scruffy-looking man wearing raggedy clothes could possibly want from her grandfather.
He smiles at her. "I never knew that he had a granddaughter. I am actually an old friend of his. I just need to talk to him for a few minutes. If you would be so kind to call him…"
Jin doesn't think that her grandfather will be happy if she wakes him or interrupts him when he is on his way to sleep. He already sounded annoyed enough when he called. Waking him up will probably result in a long scolding.
"I don't know. I think he's already asleep. Maybe you can come again tomorrow or—''
"Jin!? Did you get the door already!?" her grandfather screeches. She hears his loud, steady footsteps banging against the hallway floor.
She looks back and yells, "Yes, grandpa, I already answered it—''
Her grandfather emerges from the hallway and into the living room. He folds his arms and impatiently says, "Well? Who is it? Who's knocking at our door at this time of the hour?"
Before Jin can reply, the man speaks up, "One who has tasted the fruit and eaten its mysteries."
The response is cryptic and confusing at best and Jin is sure that whoever this man is, is a lunatic. She is about to think of an excuse to send him away before her grandfather loses his temper when her grandfather elbows her to the side. He grabs the lamp from her hands and holds it over his face, as he reverently says, "Ah…of course! Of course! They told me that you would be arriving today although I did not imagine that it would be at this hour!"
"I got a little tied up at our new jobs," the man genially says.
Jin stares at the two of them in bewilderment. She doesn't know who this man is but he seems to be important enough to warrant respect from her grandfather.
Her grandfather opens the door wide and says, "Come in! Come in! We can talk some more over a warm cup of tea and a good game of Pai Sho!"
The man happily nods, "I would love to."
Her grandfather turns to look at her and he quickly barks, "Go and wake Niang up and tell her to prepare some tea and something to eat! And when it's all done, bring it to my room!"
Jin blinks at him once, confused. "Um…what?"
Her grandfather stamps at his foot impatiently and snaps, "You heard me. Wake Niang up and tell her to prepare some tea and something to eat!"
Jin splutters, "But, it's way past curfew and—''
"Silly girl, stop talking so much! Just go on and do as I say!" He then turns to look at the man and says in an apologetic tone, "You must forgive my granddaughter. She is not yet an initiate and she doesn't have much interest in the cryptic arts."
Jin doesn't know what on earth the cryptic arts are or what being an initiate means. She wonders, for a second, if her grandfather had just insulted her.
The man laughs loudly and chuckles, "She is very much like my nephew, then. But really, your granddaughter is very lovely! And you don't need to trouble yourself so much. I am a man of simple needs."
Her grandfather shakes his head and says, "Nonsense! I insist!"
He then turns to Jin and with a shooing motion of his hands, he barks, "And what are you waiting for?! Go on! Wake Niang up! We'll be in my room. And I want you to serve the tea and food. Not Niang. Understood?"
"Yes, grandfather." Jin respectfully bows. Her grandfather gives her a satisfied nod.
Her grandfather leads the man by his shoulder towards his room and excitedly babbles, "I have a new Pai Sho set. Ivory. Each tile is handcrafted by the best of Ba Sing Se. Very fine…"
Jin turns around and runs to Niang's room, deciding to push aside her questions for the moment, lest she suffers her grandfather's rage.
Niang is their cook. She is about forty years old, though her gnarled hands, lined face and graying hair make her look older than she actually is. She is kind and sweet although her memory isn't the best and she never fails to blatantly express her disapproval in Jin's lack of skills in cooking and sewing—things she feels that every proper young lady should know.
When Jin wakes her up, she is less than pleased. She curses and mutters under her breath and after a great deal of protesting, she stomps over towards the kitchen and starts brewing the tea and preparing the rice cakes.
Jin sits on a chair and props her elbows up against the table as she watches Niang move about the kitchen.
"It is already past curfew! Who could it possibly be? Is he so important that I have to be woken up and subjected to all this cooking?!" Niang rages as she slams around the pots and trays.
Jin shrugs. "He must be really important. Gramps was practically falling all over himself for the guy."
Niang harrumphs as she starts popping the rice cakes into the oven. She suddenly pauses and turns around to give Jin a curious look. "And what are you still doing here? You should be getting back to sleep. You have work tomorrow. I can take care of this myself."
Niang then snorts. "And the Spirits know that you are absolutely useless in the kitchen."
Jin sheepishly smiles at her and says, "Gramps told me that I had to be the one to serve them."
Niang raises a brow. She then self-consciously tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Oh. What's wrong if I serve them?"
"Nothing." Jin gives a dismissive wave. "Gramps's just being gramps. You know how weird he can be sometimes. It's probably just one of those things."
Niang purses her lips and narrows her eyes at Jin, as if she can't quite believe her. Then, she turns her attention back to the stove when the tea pot squeals. After a few more minutes, the rice cakes are ready and Niang grabs a fancy-looking tray and piles the plate of rice cakes and teapot and teacups on it.
She hands it to Jin and says, "Here it is. If this all your grandfather wants, I'll be going back to sleep now."
Jin nods and says, "Of course, Niang. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She quickly pads towards her grandfather's room and knocks on his door.
"Come in!" her grandfather calls out. Jin slides the door open and steps in.
The lamps in her grandfather's room are all lit and the window curtains are drawn open. Her grandfather and the man are sitting at the center of the room, her grandfather's new Pai Sho set between them. Her grandfather beckons her to come closer and Jin hastily serves them the tea and rice cakes.
"Thank you very much," the man says as Jin hands him his cup.
"You're welcome," Jin replies with a smile.
"You'll have to forgive us if the tea isn't very good. Niang can't brew very well. They have told me that you are very critical of your tea," her grandfather says.
The man's grin widens and he courteously says, "The tea is delicious. And so are the rice cakes. My best compliments to the cook."
"I'm glad you like it," her grandfather says.
"You really shouldn't have gone to this much trouble."
"Don' be ridiculous. A Grand Lotus like yourself deserves it."
Jin makes a move towards the door but her grandfather stops her by grabbing her wrist. He says, "I almost forgot to introduce my granddaughter."
"We have already met, I believe. She is such a lovely young woman," the man says as he nods at Jin. Jin gives him a small smile.
"Her name is Jin. She just graduated. She passed the entrance exam and she'll be attending the University in the fall," her grandfather proudly says. Despite herself, Jin smiles a little at his compliment. It's rare for her grandfather to compliment her or anyone else for that matter.
Her grandfather roughly pokes her in the ribs and Jin quickly gives a bow. She says without looking up, "It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"As it is to make yours," the old man says.
Her grandfather continues, "She has a younger brother, Ro, but he is asleep right now. I will have to introduce you to him some other time."
"I look forward to it," the man laughs.
Her grandfather then waves his hand at her and says, "You can go on now. He and I will just finish our Pai Sho game. Don't go to sleep yet. I have to talk to you about something later."
Jin frowns at him but she leaves before he can reprimand her any further. She goes to the living room and sits on the couch, annoyed to have to stay awake for much longer. What does her grandfather need to talk to her about that it can't wait until morning?
She folds her arms and scowls. Questions about the mysterious man begin to flood her mind and she wonders, for the hundredth time, who he is. Despite his shabby appearance, he seems to be someone important. She has never seen her grandfather treat a man with such respect—most of the time; he addresses people in a perpetually impatient and irate manner.
Sighing, she gets up and grabs a book she's been meaning to finish since vacation started.
She settles back against the couch and attempts to read the small, tiny characters. If she's going to wait, she might as well do something useful.
Someone shakes her awake.
"Get up!"
"No," she automatically responds.
Jin groans and buries her head, deeper into the warmth of her pillows. She hears her grandfather sigh in annoyance and she gasps when he sharply pinches her in the shoulder. Her eyes snap open and she groggily stares up at him.
He is frowning at her in disapproval and his arms are folded. His foot is tapping against the floor in an annoying rhythm. "I told you to stay awake."
She pinches the bridge of her nose and mutters, "Sorry. I was trying to read this book I've been trying to finish. I must have fallen asleep."
"Humph."
Jin glares at him and waspishly says, "Staying awake at this time of the night is pretty hard."
"You think I enjoy staying up at this hour?" he demands. Jin grumbles and he pointedly asks, "And what I have to say to you is really important. It can't wait for tomorrow."
Jin scowls, stretches her arms and sits up. She looks around. "Where's your friend?"
"He already left," he replies.
Jin frowns in worry. "But it's so late. Way past curfew. He might run into the Dai Li and—''
Her grandfather rolls his eyes and interrupts her, "He can take care of himself. And don't worry. Someone else came to lead him back to the Lower Ring. Another friend of ours who's high up in the government. He'll have no trouble springing Mushi out if someone from the Dai Li stops them."
"Um…who's Mushi?"
Her grandfather clicks his tongue impatiently. He says, "Mushi. The man who came here tonight. That's his name."
"Oh. Okay." She raises a brow at him and smirks. "So is that the super important thing you needed to talk to me about?"
Her grandfather glares at her. "No."
He then snaps his fingers in front of her eyes and barks, "Now, sit up straighter and wake up! I want you to pay close attention to what I'm about to tell you. It's really important."
At the tone of his voice, Jin becomes more serious. She solemnly nods her head and sits up straighter. Her grandfather grabs a chair and takes a seat in front of her. He folds his arms and looks her in the eye as he says, "You don't have to work the afternoon shift tomorrow."
"Why?" Jin says, surprised. Her grandfather never lets her have a day off, not even on weekends.
"Because I need you to do something for me," he replies simply.
Jin sighs. Of course. She doesn't have to work tomorrow but she still has an errand to do. She slumps in her seat and says tiredly, "What is it?"
"You know how to use the monorail, right?" he says,
Jin scoffs. "Of course."
Her grandfather takes a slip of paper from his sleeves and holds it out for her. Jin takes it from his hand and reads it. It's an address.
Jin gives him a questioning look and he says, "That is the address of the teashop Mushi and his nephew are working in."
"And?" She isn't sure where her grandfather is going with this.
"I want you to go there, watch over them and make sure nothing bad happens to them." He says it as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"What?!" Jin splutters, completely confused.
"Do your ears need cleaning!? I thought I made it perfectly clear! I want you to go to the teashop and make sure nothing bad happens to them! I want you to protect them!"
The questions start pouring in again and this time, she can't stop herself. "But why? Who is he anyway? Why do I need to—''
"He is a very, very important man and we need to make sure that he and his nephew will be safe here in Ba Sing Se," her grandfather interrupts her as he holds a hand up.
"Safe from what? We're in Ba Sing Se. What could they possibly need protecting from?" Jin demands.
Her grandfather is acting strangely again. He's done this before; giving her a task to do without telling her all the details. She wants to ask him what this is all about, wants to demand the answers from him. But she knows, just like before, that she won't get anything if the old man doesn't want to tell her.
Her grandfather scowls at her and irately snaps, "Silly girl, stop asking so many questions! Just go on and do as you're told!"
He closes his eyes, rubs his head and schools his features before looking at her again. He says in a much kinder tone, "I don't expect you to understand yet but it's my job to protect them."
Jin scowls and folds her arms. She pointedly says, "If it's your job, then why don't you do it?"
"Because someone needs to be watching the shop and we can't very well leave it in the hands of the workers!" he snaps. He then sighs and gestures at the wrinkles on his hands and face. "And besides, look at me! I'm an old man! You can't expect me to take the monorail all the way to Lower Ring every day. You know how I hate how crowded the monorail is! And you also know how much I hate the Lower Ring! That place smells!"
"Wait—what? Every day?" Jin says, her eyes widening in horror.
"Well, yes. Didn't I already tell you this? You'll be going there every day to look after them," her grandfather snippily says.
"I thought that was only for tomorrow!"
"It's not. From here on out, I'm giving you the afternoon shift off so that you have time to go to the shop. It's not a terrible job. You can drink tea and relax and study or read at times if you want. If anything suspicious happens to them, tell me right away. Just be discreet about it. Wear simple clothes so you'll blend in with everyone else in the Lower Ring. Don't attract too much attention, especially the attention of the Dai Li," her grandfather says,
Jin protests, "But—''
Her grandfather growls, stands up and snaps, "You're going to the shop everyday and that's that. Deal with it."
He then marches off to his bedroom, leaving a very confused and annoyed Jin in his wake.
Author's Note: I actually started writing a fic about Jin being a Dai Li agent at the same time that I started writing this but for some reason, I finished this first. I will be updating every week . I would update faster but unfortunately, my internet service sucks and is extremely unreliable. If I finished everything, why don't I just post it in one go, you ask? Because most of the chapters are extremely raw; they still need some editing. I will most probably post the Dai Li story after this is finished or maybe simultaneously if I do get it done (Highly unlikely though since I have a shitload of papers to do.)
Please review if you have the time. If you're going to flame me, at least try to make it funny.
Thank you for your patience and happy reading!