Next morning, Fu's
ZW woke up and noticed that EK was staring at her. "EK? How come you're still here? Doesn't HAM need you?"
EK: (fingering her long hari) "No, once a month, I receive a free day."
ZW: "Oh…"
EK: "What? Don't you want me home?"
ZW: "No! (when she saw he was teasing) How come you didn't tell me?"
EK: "I thought I'd surprise you."
ZW: "Oh, you surprised me alright. (then blushing as a new thought occurred to her) Is that why you…last night…?"
EK chuckled a bit at her embarrassment, "I don't need a reason to show I love you, do I?"
This only caused ZW to blush even more.
EK kissed her forehead, "So, my beautiful wife, what do you have planned today?"
Jin Yang Gong
XYZ woke up to what she thought was a normal morning. After she dressed and walked out of the bedroom, she noticed YQ in the study, his head buried in paperwork.
XYZ: "What are you doing here?"
YQ looked up, chuckling, "In case you forgot, I live here!"
XYZ; "I know, but how come you're not with HAM?"
YQ explained about the free day.
XYZ: "Oh! So you can keep me company! How come you didn't wake me up?"
YQ: "You sleepy head! You looked so peaceful, lying there, I couldn't bear to wak you. Besides (he couldn't resist teasing her) I had some work to finish and I knew I'd never have a moment's peace if you're up."
XYZ: "Hey! (then she too laughed) But you're right. Are you done with work now? Then keep me company! Play chess with me!"
YQ: "Yes, I'm done. But chess? Please, leave me out!"
XYZ said brightly, "Ok then. Fight with me!" She started to drag him towards the door.
YQ: "XYZ! Isn't it a bit cold to go outside?"
XYZ: "But I'm so bored!"
Just then: "Huang Shang dao!"
"HAM ji xiang!"
HS: "XYZ! Yesterday you asked zhen to give permission for XJ to come visit. Here's a medallion to give to him. He just has to show it to the guards at any gate and they will let him in. Here you go." He handed her a medal disk wit ha dragon carved on it. In the middle was a jade piece.
XYZ: "Xie HAM!"
HS: (to YQ) "Yong Qi! This is your day off. Zhen thought it would be nice for you to take XYZ and visit ZW. You can give XJ his medallion too! Don't work too hard."
YQ: "HAM, thank you for saving me! XYZ was bored and wated me to play chess wit hher!"
HS: "Oh? (laughing) Then zhen suggests you leave at once! Hahaha."
At Fu's
ZW and EK were playing a game of chess when XYZ and YQ burst in the door.
XYZ: "Zi Wei! Guess what HAM gave me!"
ZW quickly jumped up and hugged her sister, "XYZ! This is a surprise!"
EK (to YQ) "Wu A Ge! How come you didn't have a servant announce that you were here?"
YQ laughed, "XYZ wanted to surprise ZW in person. And I had to give in because I wouldn't play chess with her this morning."
XYZ saw the chess board and complained to YQ: "See! EK's playing with ZW!"
YQ: "But ZW actually knows how to play!"
As XYZ playfully punched YQ, EK remarked, "And I've been losing every game. XYZ, your sister is just too skilled!"
ZW: "So, XYZ, what's the big news?"
XYZ: "HAM's letting XJ come visit me whenever! He even gave him a special medallion to show the palace guards."
EK: "So now I suppose you want to go to Hui Bing Lo right away!"
XYZ: "Of course!"
YQ: "HAM pretty much forced us to leave!"
ZW: "Oh! And here I thought you were coming just to visit me! (pretending to be hurt)"
XYZ: "Zi Wei! Stop teasing! I get enough of it from YQ. You're my sister! 'Yo fu tong xiang, yon an tong dang' I thoguth you'd be happy for me! Fine, I'll just go by myself then!"
ZW laughed: "Alright! I'm sorry, ok?"
XYZ: "What's to forgive? (only she said it in cheng yu)"
EK: "XYZ! You've improved!"
YQ: "Of course! HAM said XYZ is making so much progress, she can graduate early from school!"
XYZ: "Really? Why didn't you tell me?"
YQ: "HAM was afraid it was a temporary improvement."
ZW: "Wow XYZ! You owe Qing-er big!"
XYZ: "I know! That's why I want to get the medallion to my brother, so I can repay Qing-er."
YQ was confused, "What does XJ have to do with Qing-er?"
EK: "You mean XYZ didn't tell you?"
YQ (to XYZ): "Tell me what?"
ZW: "That Qing-er and XJ…"
A look of comprehension dawned on YQ's face.
XYZ: "Oops! I knew there was something I forgot to tell you. I'm sorry YQ!"
YQ: "That's ok, at least I know now."
XYZ: "See! I want to help get them together. Zi Wei and I already know what Qing-er thinks. But we don't know about my brother. Will you two help?"
YQ and EK replied together, "Of course!"
EK: "It seems all the couples in the world come to us. Us and 'qin-shi' gen de 'you yuan'."
XYZ: "Yay!"
ZW: "Speaking of Qing-er, where is she?"
YQ: "Oh, LFY said that since Qing-er's teaching XYZ everyday, she hasn't had a chance to talk with her. So today Qing-er's keeping LFY company."
XYZ: "Come on! Our carriage is ready. So, let's go!"
Laughing at her excitement, the four friends left together.
At Ci Ning Gong
LFY: "Qing-er, you're away everyday teaching XYZ. I must say I've missed you. It gladdens my heart to see you two be such good friends. But I'm old and the old tends to get lonely easily."
Qing-er: "LFY, Qin-er is sorry not to have been here for you."
LFY: "Gui hai zi. Don't be sorry. You're young and ought to spend more time with young people. If I can't spare you now, what am I going to do when you're married?"
Qing-er: "LFY…"
LFY: "Don't look so embarrassed. I promised you that you could have anyone you want. So, tell me, who's the lucky guy?"
Qing-er blushed: "who na you?"
LFY: "Don't lie to me child. Your face is giving you away. (chuckles) Seeing as it makes you embarrassed, I won't push you. Perhaps yo udon't know what he thinks. But once you do, you have to tell me!"
Qing-er: "shi, LFY."
LFY: "You've been with me since you were a baby, I know you too well. Hao le, let's talk about something else. How's XYZ's school work coming along?"
As Qing-er entertained LFY with XYZ' ridiculous anecdotes, her mind couldn't help but drift to XJ.
Hui Bin Lou
Liu Hong: "How come you guys are here?"
XYZ: "What, are we not welcome?"
LH: "Of course you're welcome! I'm just surprised that's all."
XYZ: "Where's my brother?"
LH: "Oh, he's probably out looking for a house."
EK: "A house?"
LH nodded, "He said that if he was going to stay in BeiJing, he had a mind to open up a school."
ZW: "A school? That's a wonderful idea!"
YQ: "A school. Hmmm…I wonder what we can do to help."
LH: "Wu A Ge, I see XYZ has been rubbing off on you!"
As everyone laughed, she added, "Oh! ZW, I think my brother and Jin Suo has some news for you!"
ZW: "For me?"
LH: "Yes, why don't you go find a table and I'll ask Bao Ya To to get them. Bao Ya To!"
Once the two couples were seated, Liu Qing and Jin Suo came to join them.
ZW: "Jin Suo, what's the news? Are you ok?"
Jin Suo blushed and looked at Liu Qing, who was beaming at everyone.
JS: "Xiao Jie, I…" she trailed off.
ZW: "Is something wrong? Liu Qing?"
LQ: "Wrong? No, things can't be better! I'm going to be a father!"
ZW: "Oh! Congratulations!"
XYZ: "Wow! Jin Suo! Congrats!"
EK: "gong-xi, gong-xi!"
YQ chuckled, "I see you're ahead of both of us!"
As the girls blushed, XJ came in.
XJ repeated LH's earlier question, "How come you guys are here/"
XYZ "Ge! You're back! Boy have I got good news!"
XJ (seeing JS and LQ) : "I see they've told you the good news."
XYZ: "Yes, yes, but I have good news too! Huang A.."
YQ clamped his hand around her mouth, "XYZ! A littler quieter please. We don't want to give away our identities!"
EK: "He's right. XJ, why don't we go to your room?"
XJ: "Ok"
LQ: "Actually, why don't you wait a bit? The morning rush is almost over, then we will have the room to ourselves. I'll go help Liu Hong, see if I can't speed things up a bit."
JS: "I'll come help."
LQ: "No, you're staying right here. For the sake of our child, I want you to rest. Also, I know you and Zi Wei have a lot to catch up on." (he leaves to help LH)
ZW: "Jin Suo! When did you find out? Why didn't you send word?"
JS: "Xiao jie, it was last night ans wer were going to come tell you today. In fact, LQ and I were wondering if you and Er Kang shao ye would be godparents."
EK "We'd be honored!" (ZW nodded) "Is there anything you need? Just name it, we'll help!"
XYZ: "Me too! Anything you need, Jin Suo!"
YQ: "Yes. When we go back home, I'll go tell Ling Fei Niang Niang. I'm sure she'll be happy to –"
He was stopped as XYZ put her hand over his mouth.
XYZ: "Now who's the one giving us away?"
Everyone laughed at the couple.
JS: "Thank you everyone, I'm sure you don't have to tell Ling Fei."
EK: "No, we do. It's tradition. You lived in Hui Yi Cheng and took such good care of ZW and XYZ, you're due to something for your first child."
ZW: "Jin Suo, with us around, your child will never lack for anything. It's the least we godparents can do!"
XJ (to XYZ): "You haven't gotten in any trouble lately, have you?"
XYZ: "Of course not! I've been studying."
XJ was shocked, "Studying?"
YQ nodded, "Yes, she's been working really hard. Qing-er's been teaching her every morning."
XJ; "Qing-er?"
XYZ and YQ shared a knowing look.
XYZ: "Yes, Qing-er. Ge, is there something you want to tell me?"
Everyone suddenly grew silent, waiting for his response.
XJ: "I…"
He was saved from answering, however, when LQ and LH joined them. Having shown the last guest out, they closed the front door against the cold winter air outside.
LQ: "So, XYZ, what's your big news?"
A trifle disappointed that XJ didn't give an aswer, XYZ was nevertheless excited, "Oh! Just see! (she brought out the medallion and gave it to XJ) Lao Ye gave that to you so you can visit me whenever you want. I told him you were going to teach me wu gong! And he said that you're almost like a son now."
As everyone marveled at the medallion's beauty, XJ said to ZW, "ZW, you were right, he really is a good man."
To XYZ, he said, "Tell Lao Ye thank you!"
YQ: "Why don't you come and tell him yourself?"
XYZ: "Yes! I've been so bored. Learning's very well and Qing-er's a really good teacher, but still! I can't sit around like ZW, I need to do something! Please come?"
YQ: "Yes, please, I'm afraid she'll get in trouble somehow if she doesn't' find an outlet for her eergy."
XJ: "Ok, I'll come. But XYZ, I can't teach you wu gong. It's much too cold for that."
See the disappointed look on her face, he quickly added, "But I will teach you our dad's xiao."
XYZ broke into a big grin, "Yay!"
To ZW, she said: "Soon we can play a duet!"
ZW replied, "I look forward to it!"
EK (to XJ): "What's this I hear about you starting a school?"
XJ: "Wel,l ever since we got back, I've been just sitting around. LQ and LH told me about Da Za Yuan and how XYZ taught the children. It gave me the idea to start a school for all the children who want to learn in this city. I can't help much around Hui Bin Lou, so I thought I'd build a new life for myself."
ZW: "That's a wonderful idea! Have you found a place yet?"
XJ: "Not yet, but I'm optimistic."
ZW: "And when you find a place? What then? You'll need teachers and supplies. How are you going to afford all that?"
XJ: "I was going to borrow from some of my friends."
EK: "You don't need to do that! Wwe'll ehlp you. I've lived in this city all my life, I know some reliable people to teach."
XJ: "But…"
ZW: "But nothing. Er Kang's right. We're your friends too. It's the least we can do after all your help."
XYZ: "I want to help too!"
YQ: "Me too. Like ZW said, we're indebted to you. I'll speak to A Ma, he'll give you a license. You need on to teach, you know. And our family owns some land in BeiJing. If you can't find a house, we'll build one for you!"
XJ: "But…"
XYZ: "Don't' even try to discourage us! Lao e prizes education above anything else. You'd think I'd learned by now. He'll be so happy about this!"
LQ: "XJ, it seems you don't need to worry anymore."
JS: "When my child is born, I'll be sure to send him to your school!"
LH: "XJ, you can't refuse them. And see? You've already got your first customer."
XJ: "Thank you everyone. I don't know how to thank you."
EK: "Don't' thank us. Consider this a payment for all your help."
XJ grinned, "When we met, XYZ said once that anything's possible with you guys around. I'm seriously starting to believe her."
XYZ: "So it's settled! Ge! Now, when are you coming to teach me?"
XJ laughed, "How does tomorrow sound?"
XYZ: "Yay!"
YQ: "Since you're coming, you can tell your idea to A Ma yourself. I'll introduce the idea to him first, but you'll haveto explain it to him."
XJ: "I will. Thanks everyone. And when my school opens, I know I'll have your help."
XYZ: "You bet!"
ZW: "Now, you need a plan, how many classes will you have? What kind of children? What's the tuition?"
XJ: "I see that this is a huge undertaking…I'll have to think this through."
ZW: "Yes, we'll let you ponder it. But if you need any help, we'll be right here."
XJ nodded.
ZW smiled, "Alright, now if you will excuse us girls, we have some catching up to do!" She looked meaningfully at Er Kang, who gave the barest nod to show his understanding.
The girls left to JS's quarters, leaving the buys behind.
EK: "Now, XJ, we're like brothers here. So, I want an honest answer from you."
XJ: "What's the question?"
YQ (catching on): "Yes. XYZ and ZW had a talk the other day with Qing-er."
XJ: "Qing-er?"
EK: "Yes, Qing-er. I won't say what she said, but I want to know what you have to say."
LQ: "I see now! XJ, tell them now. Don't hide it."
XJ: "I…ok, fine, I like her, alright?"
EK: "Alright. Thank you for your honesty."
XJ: "Now what?"
YQ: "Now, we plan for you two to be together."
LQ: "XJ! Looks like they've got you cornered!"
XJ smiled ruefully, "Seems so. But she's LFY's favorite and a Ge Ge, and I'm just a regular commoner."
EK: "By rights you're not. Besides, your sister's Huan Zhu Ge Ge."
YQ: "Also, as you yourself said, nothing is impossible with us around!"
