Chapter Two: Talking
The rest of the train ride was spent talking about the tourist attractions in Hong Kong and how tourism ate away at traditional sites. Yin Tai didn't seem to mind much. She had admitted to wanting to travel, rather than finish college, like her father wanted.
"But since he indulged my first wish, asking for the second would be greedy of me. He has already spent so much on my education." Yin Tai said humbly.
"How long until you finish school?" Tintin asked.
"Two more years and then I'll be allowed to work in any business as a secretary." Yin Tai said, trying to sound proud. "It was the only thing I was allowed to declare as my major. I did study art, history, and several other subjects that I will receive degrees for."
"Is that what your father wanted?" Captain Haddock asked.
"No, he wanted me to get married and give him grandchildren when I turned twenty." Yin Tai said dryly. "I was lucky; most girls don't get a choice in that. But now that the war is over and China came out rather well, considering everything, we are able to loosen some traditional demands."
"What traditions were loosened?" asked Tintin, thinking he should call Chang at some point to get his opinion on the matter.
"Girls being considered less useful than boys. Some old fashioned people still believe that the only way a woman can bring her family honour, is to marry well and have sons instead of daughters." Yin Tai said. "Though nowadays, girls are able to do more than look pretty and have kids." she grinned at Tintin and Captain Haddock.
Something about her smile rang a bell in Tintins' head. That was a grin a criminal had, just before he got away with stealing something immensely valuable, like the Hope Diamond in the Louvre. Tintin willed that thought away. He always believed the best of people, or at least, gave them the benefit of the doubt. Haddock, however, didn't seem to notice Yin Tais' smile as almost predatory. He kept mooning like a struck fish. Tintin chuckled at that thought.
"What are you laughing at, Tintin?" Haddock asked, nothing about baroque art was funny.
"Ah, just thinking about something…Snowy had done to those criminals in Beijing. Nothing important, Captain." Tintin said. He wasn't truly lying. Snowy had wet on one of the men, in a way that seemed almost deliberate.
After an hour or more, the train reached Hong Kong.
"It was a right pleasure meeting you Miss Yin Tai. I hope we see you again." Haddock said, shaking Yin Tai's hand. "You know which hotel we'll be staying at. Don't be afraid to join us for dinner any night this week."
"I shall consider it Captain." Yin Tai said demurely, back in her honourable daughter mode. "I will speak to my father; perhaps he would acquiesce to having you and Tintin to our home here in the city for dinner. That way you'll get real Chinese delicacies and not those tasteless dishes all the hotels serve."
"That does sound better than hotel food." Tintin said. "Too bad Chang doesn't live here in Hong Kong. He'd be a great tour guide." Yin Tai looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I only have a couple classes to attend this week. If you would like, I can schedule a proper tour around the city when I am not in class." she offered.
"What would you get out of the bargain?" Tintin asked.
"You'll tell me about the places you've been and the things you've done?" Yin Tai suggested innocently. Captain Haddock laughed heartily.
"Can't blame the girl for wanting to hear of our adventures, eh Tintin?" Haddock asked, still laughing. Yin Tai smiled at Tintin hopefully.
"Very well. I can't exactly refuse. A trip around Hong Kong without any excitement in the form of defying death and what not, is just what I need for a new column." Tintin said agreeably. Yin Tai bowed and went to hail a rickshaw cab.
"I'll call your hotel tonight! It won't be too late. Good bye Tintin, Captain. Take care Snowy." Yin Tai shouted, waving as the rickshaw runner left.
"That girl had a lot of luggage for a trip to Shanghai and back." Haddock mused, and then dismissed the thought. "Women just don't know the meaning of travelling light."
"Captain, you don't know the meaning of that either." Tintin pointed out with a laugh.
An hour or two later saw Tintin and Captain Haddock sitting in the lobby of their hotel, talking about where Yin Tai was going to take them. At least they were, right up until Haddock brought up an uncomfortable topic of conversation. One that everyone Tintin knew would bring up every now and again.
"So, what do you think of Miss Yin Tai, Tintin?" Haddock asked, trying not to look sly as he peeked over his newspaper at Tintin, who was turning as red as the leaves in autumn.
"I uh…She seems quite nice." Tintin said noncommittally.
"She did seem quite interested in you, once you mentioned how you helped take down that crime ring." Haddock said pointedly.
"You heard her; she likes the thought of travel and adventure. Hearing our stories was her payment for showing us around Hong Kong." Tintin said immediately.
"Who did she address most of her questions to; once it was clear you were in the conversation?" Haddock asked. "Who was she talking to more, by the time we got off the train? Who did she say good bye to first? I'm telling you, lad. The young lady isn't interested in the stories as much as she's interested in you."
Tintin turned a lovely shade of red and didn't reply for a minute, he was trying to refute the logic Haddock had just shoved at him.
"Well, Tintin? Any arguments?" Haddock asked, hoping that he had won an argument, even if it was a little petty of him.
"Captain, she's young and yearning to see the world. She would, of course, prefer the younger adventurer to tell the stories. I wouldn't embellish them to make myself sound grand. Not that you would. I'm also young; therefore, she would see me as a kindred spirit of sorts." Tintin said, satisfied at having squashed The Conversation once again.
"I could tell you what she was yearning for, but it would be a blight on her honour." Haddock muttered into his beard.
"What, Captain?" Tintin asked blankly.
"At least having her around would be much better than having Castafiore along and singing in that horrible voice of hers." Haddock said quickly. Tintin only sighed. They had known Madam Bianca Castafiore for several years and still Haddock refused to believe that what she did was real singing.
As the evening progressed, Tintin and Captain Haddock went to the restaurant in the hotel to have dinner.
"She was right, Tintin" Haddock said, looking at his meal with no little distaste. "The food even looks tasteless."
"It can't be that bad." Tintin said, then ate a bite of what he assumed was fish. "The…chicken is a little dry however." he said.
"Perhaps Yin Tai's father would put us up for the rest of the week. At least until the cruise ship leaves." Haddock said, eating his meal and trying not to taste it. It wouldn't do to go to bed hungry. Tintin ate his dinner as well, thinking he'd rather be full than hungry all day tomorrow.
"Excuse me gentlemen. There is a telephone call for Mister Tintin." said a waiter, an English waiter. Probably hired on to train the Chinese waiters.
"I'll take it in my room. Thank you for dinner, it was…an experience." Tintin said politely. The waiter smiled and nodded his head.
"An experience I don't plan on repeating." Haddock muttered, sounding little out of sorts.
"It wasn't so bad Captain. It was better than noting, you know." Tintin said.
"Not by much, Tintin." Haddock said as they headed up to their rooms. " Maybe Yin Tai is the person calling you." he said far too brightly.