Chapter 14 Unpredictable people

Mrs. Tan had not had much success arguing with her brother-in-law about whether he should accept Mr. Lu's dinner invitation, much less persuade him to accept one of Mr. Lu's daughters as a future daughter-in-law.She couldn't figure out why the old man had become so stubborn.She had succeeded in getting him to deposit all his cash in the bank and had tricked him into buying a suit he had always loathed, but it seemed impossible to lure him to Mr. Lou's dinner party. .Her failure in this mission distraught her.In addition to enduring the taste of her own failure, she will also lose face in front of Mr. Lu, and more importantly, if Mr. Lu's second daughter falls into the hands of the playboy son of the Sichuan warlord who has achieved nothing, it will be a big deal for her. It's a great shame.That girl and Wang Da are a perfect match.

Whenever she thought of this, she gritted her teeth at her brother-in-law's stubborn hatred.She was a little puzzled as to why Wang Qiyang became more and more stubborn.After analyzing the situation, she concluded that it might have something to do with the arrangement of the furniture in the central hall.It must be the sister's ghost who came back home, and it encouraged Wang Qiyang's courage and stubbornness.Mrs. Tan thought that if she wanted to influence this old guy, she might have to change her tactics from now on.She knew that although Wang Qiyang had various shortcomings, he was a straightforward old guy.He has never been stingy, and has always been indifferent to fame and fortune, but he worships people with academic achievements extremely.The only people he admired in his life were great scholars and great poets.

Then she remembered that Mr. Lu wrote some poems with the support of his three daughters in those days when he had no career.She knew he was now writing poetry now and then after his humble four-hour day as a cashier in a restaurant.She couldn't figure out how many poems the former Hangzhou mayor had written.If he wrote enough poems for a book of them, perhaps she could do something about them. She picked up the phone and called Mr. Lu's home. "Yes, I have written thousands of poems." Mr. Lu told her, "but my wife has been using my poems to wrap flower seeds and sometimes use them to light a stove."

"Please write some more, and rescue the manuscripts that your wife hasn't had time to burn." Mrs. Tan said, "I can help you find a publisher. I know a publisher in Chinatown who is very interested in publishing Chinese poetry anthologies." I am very interested. Please prepare your poems." After talking with Mr. Lu, Mrs. Tan immediately hailed a yellow taxi, and within twenty minutes she arrived in the central area of ​​Chinatown, where she had a talk with the publisher.The publisher is not interested in publishing poetry collections at all, he just does some printing business in the newspaper office.For three hundred dollars, he could print you a thousand pamphlets of anything.Mrs. Tan did not have time to study the business carefully, so she took out her checkbook and signed a check for five hundred dollars. "Please pay Mr. Lu two hundred dollars for the manuscript." Mrs. Tan said as she handed the check to the publisher. "Please tell him that it is your money, and send someone to fetch the manuscripts and send them within a week." Print it out. This is Mr. Lu's address."

The publisher accepted the check with a half-believing frown, but this was the company's business, and he didn't want to ask too many questions about this strange matter.He thought, maybe this is a birthday present for Mr. Lu or something. The taxi is waiting outside.Mrs. Tan returned to the taxi and told the driver the address of Wang Qiyang's home.She was fighting a war, and she couldn't afford to waste precious time.When she walked into the central hall, she met Mama Liu, who seemed very happy to see her, and she seemed to have something important to tell Mrs. Tan. "How are you, Mrs. Tan?"

"So-so." Mrs. Tan said, "Has Master got up?" "Not yet." Liu Ma said, "But I'll be up soon. I heard him cough just now." "Tell him I want to see him," said Mrs. Tan. "Okay, ma'am." Liu Ma said as she walked towards Wang Qiyang's bedroom, and stopped at the door.She must first tell Mrs. Tan what she saw.If she told the master first, and then repeated it from the master's mouth, the taste would be different.Because it was such an explosive story, she didn't want others to tell it to Mrs. Tan, she wanted to tell it to her herself.She hurried back to Mrs. Tan, and whispered to Mrs. Tan with an emphasis: "Madam, do you know what I saw this afternoon?"

"How would I know?" Mrs. Tan said, "What did I see?" "I saw them holding hands!" "Who is holding whose hand?" Mrs. Tan asked a little angrily. "Young master and that beggar girl." "yes?!" "Ma'am, if I lie, I will be hit by thunder. I saw the young master holding that girl's hand, and that girl was also holding his hand, in this room!" She turned to Mrs. Tan He moved closer, lowered his voice, and continued, "Madam, if you had come an hour earlier, you would have seen something else." "I'm busy," said Mrs. Tan. "What else did you see?"

"I saw them doing this." Mama Liu said.She found it difficult to describe what she saw behind the door, so she used her two fists to represent the two lovers.She put her two fists together and continued: "The young master told the girl to close her eyes and raise her head, then he held her in his arms and pressed his head on the girl's head, just like this! ’ She rubbed her two fists together.Exaggerated description of their kissing action. "What is this?" Mrs. Tan asked, frowning. "I don't know, ma'am." Liu Ma said, "The young master said that was only half done."

"It's only half done?" Mrs. Tan asked, "What half?" "I don't know. They were out an hour ago. But I'm sure they're hiding somewhere and doing the other half now!" "Unthinkable, unimaginable!" Mrs. Tan said, fanning herself with a handkerchief, "Quickly call the master out!" "Yes, ma'am." Liu Ma replied.She walked towards Wang Qiyang's room, suddenly stopped and said in a low voice: "Madam, I'm sure that beggar girl can cast a little magic. She must have made the young master bewitched." "Oh, don't talk nonsense. Go and fetch the master!"

"It's true, ma'am. The old man looked just as dangerous. Sometimes I suspect he's teasing me too, but I told him it was a toad trying to eat a swan..." "Go and tell the master to come here!" Mrs. Tan interrupted her nagging angrily, waving her handkerchief in disgust. Wang Qiyang has been resting on his big bed, enjoying his slight cough for a while with relish.When he heard the angry voice of his sister-in-law in the middle hall, he closed his eyes and waited for her to break into his peaceful and quiet world unstoppably.After a while, he heard Mama Liu walking in.

"Master, master." Standing beside his bed, Liu Ma called hesitantly. Master Wang opened his eyes and asked, "What's the matter?" "Mrs. Tan came to see you." Liu Ma said, "She has something important to tell you." She walked closer to the mosquito net and asked in a low voice: "Master, do you know what I saw? " "You can tell me when you beat my back at night." Wang Qiyang said, "Tell Mrs. Tan, I will meet her in the middle hall later." "Yes, sir." Wang Qiyang struggled to get out of the mosquito net, sat down on a wicker chair, rubbed his face with his hands, hummed and chattered for a while, then got up and went to the bathroom to wash his hands and mouth.He didn't know what news his sister-in-law had to tell him.He hoped she hadn't come to talk about Mr. Lu's dinner invitation again.He had never been so urged to eat someone else's dinner in his life.For him, going to Mr. Lu's dinner seemed like asking him to abandon his principles and accept a bride he had never met.No concessions, he thought, absolutely no concessions on this matter.If she brings up this topic again, he will tell her clearly again that he is not willing to accept Mr. Lu's invitation. He washed his hands and mouth at a leisurely pace, and then spent another ten minutes trimming his beard.When he walked into the middle hall, Mrs. Tan was fanning her handkerchief, impatiently waiting, as if she had been sitting on a stove for half an hour. "My brother-in-law," she said, jumping up, "something has happened!" Wang Qiyang coughed a few times, then sat on the kang and picked up the hookah. "What's the matter?" he asked quietly. "Brother-in-law," said Mrs. Tan, "don't say I didn't warn you. I did when you hired that old man and his daughter. I came here with good news, but now it's good." The news was also mixed up by the great misfortune that the old man and his daughter brought to your family!" "Hmm, eh." Master Wang replied while filling the hookah with shredded tobacco.He really likes old man Li and his daughter.He couldn't understand why his sister-in-law spoke of them so indignantly. "Well, I don't see anything wrong with old man Li and his daughter. What did they do?" "That girl messed with Wang Da." Mrs. Tan said, "It's in this room." "Nonsense, nonsense." "Really! Mama Liu saw it with her own eyes! They held hands, and... and... Mama Liu, come to demonstrate what they did in this room." "Yes, ma'am. Master, they're doing this!" Mama Liu gestured for their kissing scene with both hands, and Master Wang frowned as he watched. "Okay, you can quit now." Mrs. Tan said. "Yes, ma'am." After Mama Liu stepped back, Mrs. Tan said seriously to Wang Qiyang: "Brother-in-law, I think you should understand what Mama Liu's gesture means. Let me remind you again, if they Can't you imagine what they can do at night when they can do it in broad daylight? It's the worst thing!" "Unworthy son." Wang Qiyang grumbled.He tried his best to suppress his anger. "Think about your own son," said Mrs. Tam, "if such terrible rumors spread through Chinatown that he was messing around with a maid, what will Chinatown think of your family?" "I told you. Wang Da hasn't been influenced well since he dated those women with bad reputations. Now he has started to seduce innocent girls." "How do you know it wasn't that little bastard who was seducing Wang Da?" "That girl is a diligent rural girl." Wang Qiyang said, "If this is a seduction incident, there is no doubt that the culprit is Wang Da!" "Let's stop arguing about who is the culprit." Mrs. Tan said, "Now you are in danger of losing your children and grandchildren. If this family is stained with such a corrupt family style, who will marry their daughter here?" "I know, I know." Wang Qiyang said, showing anxiety. "I just told you that I have come with good news. Mr. Lu has just delivered his collection of poems to a major publisher in Chinatown. The publisher said that Mr. Lu is the most outstanding Chinese he has had the pleasure to know in recent years." One of the poets. Many scholars have the same feeling after reading his poems. And Mr. Lu very kindly promised to give me some collections of poems, and asked me to give you one too. Wang Da had a chance to marry such a great poet Daughter, everything is ruined by that now." "I mean wife and sister," said Wang Qiyang, whose stubbornness was like a deflated balloon, "I began to believe that under the influence of modern society, it is impossible for young people to keep clean like us. Their moral standards Not high. In order to avoid more serious damage to reputation, I admit that it is wise to get Wang Da married as soon as possible." "Didn't I tell you?" Mrs. Tan said triumphantly, "I'm busy looking for a partner for Wang Da? Your indifference is really frustrating, but I'm still worrying about Wang Da's future." Thinking about it, I have never been hindered by your attitude!" "Let's sit down and talk about business, shall we, sister-in-law?" Wang Qiyang said, "Do you think Mr. Lu will marry his second daughter first?" "Why not?" Mrs. Tan asked back, "If his eldest daughter can't find a husband, will his other daughters have to become old girls? Mr. Lu is a smart man, he is much more sensible than you!" "But," Wang Qiyang said thoughtfully, "daughters should be married in order. As a poet and scholar, Mr. Lu should not approve of this kind of marriage in reverse order." Suddenly, he looked eagerly at his sister-in-law and asked: "Wife and sister?" , if he insists on marrying his daughters out in the correct order, is the situation of his eldest daughter worth considering?" "I can't think about it!" Mrs. Tan said firmly. "His eldest daughter has been studying art in Paris and is already twenty-six years old. Who knows if she is still a virgin? His third daughter is too beautiful and full of charm. That kind of woman Will never be a good wife. She can lure her husband to her side against his own parents. Only his second daughter is ideal, as I told you before..." "Please go see Mr. Lu tomorrow and tell him that I want to see Wang Da have a happy marriage before he inherits my property. See if he can marry his second daughter into our family." "Tomorrow will be too late," said Mrs. Tan. "I'm going to talk to him today. But first, we need to find a matchmaker, a matchmaker with a high reputation in Chinatown. The chairman of Liuxianghui is an ideal matchmaker." ...or find Dr. Lin, a history professor at the University of California..." "I think we'll ask Dr. Lin to be a matchmaker." Wang Qiyang said hastily, "I've always wanted to meet him." "Well, I know him," said Mrs. Tan. "We'll have to buy two fat geese as an engagement present. After Dr. Lin formally proposes marriage, I'll take the geese to Mr. Lu's house. All these things must be done." Get it done in a week." "Well, well." Master Wang said while stroking his beard thoughtfully, "Don't you think, wife and sister. Don't you think this is a bit too anxious?" "Brother-in-law, I say, think about the dire consequences! If that maid publicizes her affair in Chinatown, the whole thing will be ruined. If Wang Da is not formally engaged to a decent girl from a good family, I will It's a restless day. The more I think about it, the more urgent I feel." She grabbed her handbag and got up from the kang, "Brother-in-law, let's go, let's see Dr. Lin." Master Wang also nodded and stood up and said, "Do as you want, do as you want." He went to the door and called Liu Long. "Don't call him Liu Long." Mrs. Tan said, "Did you forget that he is deaf?" "Old man Li!" Wang Qiyang shouted. "The old man is a loser." Mrs. Tan said, "Come on, brother-in-law, let's go to the street and call a taxi." "Okay, do it according to your idea." Wang Qiyang said while putting on the black satin hat hung on the nail behind the kang. When they were about to leave the room, Liu Long and old man Li hurried in. "Master Wang, are you calling us?" Old Man Li asked. "It's nothing." Wang Qiyang said, "We want to go out for a while." Mrs. Tan turned around and shouted to Liu Long: "Liu Long, when you see your wife, tell her not to talk, did you hear clearly?" "Ok--" "I say, tell your wife to shut her mouth!" she shouted. "what?" "Oh, brother-in-law, why is this man getting deaf every day! Oh, we are too busy. Let's go." After Mrs. Tan and Mr. Wang left home, Liu Long asked Mr. Li with a puzzled look, "What does she want to do?" "She wants your wife to shut her big mouth!" Old Man Li shouted into Liu Long's ear. "Oh, that's not bad, but it's difficult." Liu Long nodded. They both laughed.Old man Li said: "Hey, I don't understand what happened here today. Everyone seems very busy and excited. Liu Long, where is your wife?" "My wife? I don't know. Maybe she's taking a nap. She only keeps her mouth shut when she's taking a nap." "Haha, that's true, Liu Long." Old man Li said with a smile, "It's true! Hey, Liu Long, why don't you take a nap?" "Me? Sleeping next to my wife in broad daylight? Hmph! Don't you think the nights are not long enough?" "That's right, Liu Long." Old man Li said, laughing even louder, "I really sympathize with you. Oh, she is such a wife! Well, everyone is out, just a good place to enjoy a while Opportunity. We can sit here and have a drink together. What do you say, Liu Long?" "Ok--" Old man Li took out the jug from his pocket, patted it lovingly and shouted: "Our common hobby, right?" "Oh, oh." Liu Long said with a smile, "Yes, yes!" The two of them walked to the Kang and sat down.When Liu Long took off the flagon from his belt, old man Li was taking out a bag of peanuts from his pocket.He put peanuts on the kang table and invited Liu Long to eat together.They drank wine, ate peanuts, and looked very happy. "Liu Long, you have to know," Old Man Li said, "If a man wants to live a long life, he must have some hobbies." "Ok--" "I mean, if you want to be happy, you've got to find something you're passionate about. Like kids, like candy; like young guys, like women; like middle-aged people, like money; and old people, like, I like to be quiet and have a drink." He patted the jug again and said, "This is a hobby, understand?" "I understand, I understand." Liu Long said, nodding repeatedly, and then confided to Old Man Li with a grin, "Old Man Li, at my age, I don't know anything about the things you mentioned, except for candy." like!" "Haha, you are right." Old man Li said with a smile, "You are right, Liu Long. You are very frank." He moved closer to Liu Long, and confided his thoughts, "Let me tell you the truth, Liu Long, if I have a good appetite, even the candy will not make me feel unpalatable, understand?" They both laughed. "Come, come, take another sip." They persuaded each other to drink, and drank from their hip flasks in large gulps. Mama Liu broke into the middle hall suddenly panting heavily.She stood in front of the two dazed men, looked at them for a while, with her hands on her hips. "What are you two doing here?" she demanded. Frightened, they awkwardly tried to hide their flagons. "Oh, oh, let's talk and joke together." Old man Li said, "That's all, that's all." "You're lying!" Mama Liu said, "I smell cat urine. Liu Long, are you drinking again? To be honest, you shameless! Did you touch someone else's cat urine again?" Liu Long looked very painful. "Don't blame him, Mama Liu." Old Man Li said, "He drank his own wine." "What? You bought wine yourself? You drunkard!" Mama Liu questioned her husband, "Give me the wine. Did you hear me, give me the wine!" Liu Long tremblingly handed the jug to his wife, "Here." "Hmph!" Liu Ma snatched the jug out of Liu Long's hand, "You're still hiding it from me, huh? Where did you get the money for the wine?" "I'm going to sleep in the basement, um—" Liu Long said. "Okay, get out!" Mama Liu was furious, "Get out of here! Never come near me again!" Liu Long quickly got up from the kang and slipped out of the middle hall.Mama Liu turned around and asked Old Man Li, "Old man, where is your daughter?" "I've been looking for her myself," said old man Li, "I was wondering where she would go." "Where will she go?" Liu Ma said angrily. "She eloped with the young master. I searched for them everywhere, but I didn't even see their shadow. I warn you, if they don't come back by night, The master will sue you in the name of hijacking the young master!" "I kidnapped the master? Oh, God knows! What makes you talk like a madman?" "If it's not you, it's your daughter!" Mama Liu said, "They're gone, there's no doubt about it! She seduced him, she made him bewitched, there's no doubt about it!" "I'll go find them." Old man Li said, walking towards the door, "I want to show you who my daughter is. If she is a kidnapper, I will ask your master to send me to a foreigner." Go to prison. I will let my old bones rot in prison until the maggots are starved to death!" He rushed out the door angrily. Mama Liu sat on the kang by herself, and the anger in her heart became more and more intense, so she brought her husband's jug to her mouth, and took a deep gulp.Suddenly, an idea came to her mind.Her gaze flicked slowly to the gilded clock on the table...