June 28th (Day 3, Dusk)
Shang is stopped in front of the large, ornate gate. The young soldier smiles greatly, "Shang. Is that you? It's been such a long time."
Shang doesn't react to his little brother's excitement, but he steps off his horse anyway. "You're a guard now." His brother's expression contrasts the older soldier who remains emotionless.
"Yeah. Isn't it great? Elder Brother said that I learned enough literacy skills for now and that I should begin practicing soldier things more in case—" His expanded smile drops.
Shang comments, unaffected, "That's great. Here I thought you were going to just end up like those other guys you used to hang around: gambling, picking fights—" He sees his little brother quickly become anxious and awkward. "You haven't changed at all, have you Li Yong?" His brother only stays quiet in shame. "Okay, pipsqueak, open the gate so I can ask our brother why he hasn't been keeping you in line." There is only silence as the guards step aside and the gate is opened.
Shang walks the horse to the stable, before he makes his way to the family's dining room door. He hears his name mentioned and opens the door to see what's going on. The conversation stops, as his mother, sister, and older brother all look in his direction. They don't even react to his return, and the silence remains as they all continue to eat their rice-soup. Shang shuts the door behind him, but still nothing is said. "What's going on?" He sits down in his usual seat, relieved that it's still available after so much time has passed.
His mother and brother exchange glances as his sister, Li Li, looks briefly up from her tea. She stays quiet as she gracefully picks at her meal, but one hand remains free at all times. Shang's brother orders, "Li Li, pour our long lost brother some tea." She quickly and effortlessly puts down her chopsticks as her other hand has already reached the tea-pot, and she uses her newly freed hand to keep the lid on as she pours. "News travels fast. We expected you here days ago. Where have you been?"
Shang reaches for the warm, steamy tea and takes a sip, as Li Li continues with her own meal and stays quiet. "I was with one of my soldiers." He sees his mother face him with concern. "He got injured during the war, so I stayed with her—" He covers his mistake with a cough. "Excuse me. Sorry. I stayed with them for a few days to make sure they would be okay." He notices his sister's mild manner. "What's wrong with her?"
Shang's brother, Li Fu, takes a quick look at their calm sister, before returning to his dinner. "She's getting married soon. We have four proposals for her, and we don't want her to mess up when we finally choose one. Wives and stepdaughters are to be seen, not heard. She needs to learn and adapt to that concept, before her actions have a chance to ruin our futures."
"She's only thirteen." Shang looks over at his defenseless sister in shock and regret.
"Yes. I am aware that she could have gotten in more practice if we waited until she turned sixteen, but because of father's death she will have to secure her standings." He looks over at Shang in suspicion, "We all will."
Shang shakes his head, "There has to be more time. We need more time." He turns his head to his mother. "You can't possibly agree with this."
His mother doesn't lift her head and replies in a calm, respectful demeanor, "I actually think it's a great idea." She picks some vegetables from the soup and eats them. "I was married off at fifteen due to my father's untimely death. This is no different." She lifts her head and briefly looks in her son's fearful eyes. "I only want what's best for you." She lays her chopsticks down on the decorated bowl, before she stands and moves over to touch her confused son's shoulder for a short time.
He whispers, "What's that supposed to mean?" but his mother doesn't answer. She leaves the room, instructing Li Li to follow her down the long hallway, and so the brothers are left alone. There is silence as a maid comes in and takes away what's left behind, but soon enough she leaves as well. Shang reimagines those few moments in his head; his mother's concern, the brief eye contact, and the short touch. I only want what's best for you. Shang whispers, "What did she mean?"
Li Fu answers through the awkward silence, "She's just concerned, but I wouldn't worry about it." He shrugs a smile and stands, "Come on. We have a lot to discuss."
Shang stands and follows him down the candle-lit hallway and through the sitting room, until they reach the study and each find a place to sit. The silence continues as Shang observes the one room he's never been allowed in before. It's nicely decorated and includes fine paintings. Who am I to critique decorating? I've been at war for three years. Even a table seems like decoration to me now. He shakes his head to forget the stupid thoughts, and from then on he ignores the decorations. He looks over at his older brother, who clearly has something on his mind.
The elder brother holds his hand to his mouth in thought, "So, tell me. Who's the lucky guy?" Li Fu sees shock and fear on his brother's face.
"What do you mean?" Shang fidgets in his chair and hopes the reworded question will make sense in a non-incriminating way.
The brother questions, smile still intact, "The soldier you visited. What's his name?"
"Oh, him." Shang tries to remain calm and still, "His name was Ping."
Li Fu's smile gets bigger as he awkwardly laughs, "Are you on a first-name basis with all of your soldiers?"
"No, actually. If I know their full names I try to stay formal, assuming that we're not currently being attacked." Shang shifts in his seat but tries not to give anything away by rubbing his neck or arm. "He's just the exception."
Li Fu can't help but keep wearing the awkward smile, "I see." He notices Shang about to open his mouth. "Come on little brother. Let's be serious for a moment." He struggles to drop the smile, but eventually does when he realizes what implications this may really have. "I'm all ears. You can tell me anything." He shifts his head. "Is there something you would like to tell me?"
Shang shrugs while releasing a frustrated breath, "There's nothing to tell."
Li Fu repositions himself in the chair, "So, you don't like this soldier of yours just a little too much, if you get what I mean?"
"No. I don't get what you mean." Shang almost throws his hands up in frustration. "What's going on? Why is everyone acting so weird and saying such things?"
His brother closes his eyes only for a second as he releases a calming breath, "We were all just concerned that you may end up like... some other people who liked to serve the army.
Shang shakes his head, "What do you mean?"
It takes a second for Li Fu to respond, "Our father. Mother has mentioned that he liked his soldiers a little too much."
Shang's jaw drops, "Really?"
His older brother squirms, uncomfortably, "Well... yeah. You don't— No one likes going off to war like he did. I mean, come on, haven't you ever thought there had to have been a reason?"
Shang shakes his head, "No. I didn't."
"Okay, well—" His brother lets out a calming breath as he shakes his head. "That's really not the point here." He lifts his head up. "I'm asking you, are your feelings for this soldier of yours more than just professional?"
"Does it really matter?" They're not even really a guy anyway.
"Yes, it does." There's momentary silence as his brother takes another calming breath. "Look, if you're worried that I'll tell Mother, don't be. We don't have to mention anything to her."
"Okay, well then—" Shang clears his throat before taking a calming breath himself, "Are you talking about before or after I found out he was a girl?"
"What?" His brother seems taken aback by the information.
Shang smiles, "Yes. I like a girl. Is it really that surprising?" His brother doesn't speak. "It's getting late. I think I should get to sleep." He begins out the door. "My room is how I left it, isn't it?"
Li Fu can only reply with a single, "Yes." and is left alone with candle-lit shadows covering his work. He takes another breath. It's worse than I thought.
- Why is it worse if Ping's a girl? I don't know... Maybe because if Ping was a guy, then they'd be able to "work around" it, whereas if Ping is a girl that may mean Shang would have to marry some peasant who wouldn't be able to secure his standings? Little does the older brother know that Ping is a relatively safe choice, you know with that high class status and property and whatnot. Whatever. It's stupid, but since it's important to them it has to be in here. Shouldn't bother too many people, though, since their high class people back then are basically the equivalent to the low-middle class people that exist today. Not only that, but we're better because we have indoor plumbing... or at least most of us do. I'm just going to assume that if you're able to read this right now, then the area you live in is doing well enough to have indoor plumbing. No disrespect to anyone who doesn't have it. It's just that I would assume that in the 21st century everyone would have it, and if you don't then I'm just so sorry because that's so wrong. It's one thing to go camping in the woods for a weekend. It's another to have to live your whole life in potentially unsanitary conditions. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I know I mislead you a little in the last one when I said you'd meet Yong, but even though you still know almost nothing about him and even though it wasn't from his point of view, you still technically got to meet him. And now, you get to meet the ancestors! Yay?