Peach by Neighbor's House - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I must have fallen ill.

I could not eat, had no heart to embroider flowers, and spent all day sitting at the mouth of the alley, staring at the willows across the river.

I asked Douhuang, “Which Gu is his Gu? Which Lin is his Lin?” Douhuang did not know either. He lay by my feet and licked my hand.

At last, I gritted my teeth in secret and went to Third Brother to buy some meat, then to Taibai Fang for wine. I minced the meat, chopped the scallions, wrapped a batch of dumplings, and carried the dumplings and wine out the door, following the river.

I walked past peach blossoms all the way, past a riverbank of willows, until I reached the entrance of Qingyi Alley. There I stopped before his door, hesitating, not daring to raise my hand.

I paced back and forth outside his door, hating myself for being timid, hating myself for being useless. It was not as if I had come because I wanted a man. I had come to repay his kindness!

I lifted my hand again.

No. I could not.

I would count to one hundred, then knock.

I had only counted to ninety-nine when the door creaked open behind me, and there stood the bane of my dreams.

I said, “Master Gu, what a coincidence.”

Standing inside his own doorway, he nodded. “Mm. What a coincidence.”

I said, “The weather looked nice, so I thought I would go out for a casual stroll.”

He looked at the food box in my arms and nodded again. “Mm. Very casual.”

My face went scarlet at once. I bit my lip and struggled for a moment before saying, “In truth, this humble girl came especially to thank you for saving me last time.”

He folded his arms, raised a brow, and said, “How polite.”

I said, “I made dumplings and bought wine. I hope you will not find them unworthy.”

He said, “I will not.”

He invited me in, and I sat in his room. The whole room was full of books, full of his scent. Everywhere, inside and out, was spotless, without the slightest trace of a woman’s presence. I could not help pressing my lips together, my heart bursting with joy.

He ate the dumplings slowly and unhurriedly, drinking from the small flask of wine as he did.

I gathered my courage and asked him, “Where is your home, Master?”

He said, “Emei.”

I asked, “How far is Emei from here? How many days would a letter take to go there and back?”

The corners of his mouth curved. “I have never written home, so I do not know how many days it would take.”

I pretended to be surprised. “Do your parents at home and the women in your household not worry?”

Unable to hold back his smile, he said, “My parents passed away early. There is no one in my household. I am just eighteen and have yet to marry.”

Then he asked me, “Anything else you would like to find out?”

Who wanted to find anything out?

I was only repaying his kindness.

After that, he often escorted me when I went out, accompanying me to deliver purses, sashes, and handkerchiefs, making me owe him many more favors. Each time, I would carry a little basket over to repay him.

I sat in his small courtyard, watching him read, watching him write, watching him turn one slice of beef into five bites.

The days were lovely, and time drifted by. Often I watched until I lost myself, watched until he laughed aloud.

Chunxiang, the handkerchief seller, pulled me aside, jerked her chin toward him by the door, and asked, “When did you manage to latch on to Master Gu?”

I said, “He is my benefactor.”

Sister Chunxiang sneered. “Benefactor? And how do you plan to repay this debt?”

My face heated a little. I said, “Nothing more than serving him wine and food from time to time.”

Sister Chunxiang said, “Do not blame me for failing to warn you. This Master Gu is a famed talent known near and far, the dream man of every curtained boudoir for miles around. How could he ever take a fancy to an orphan girl who makes her living by embroidery? Wake up while you still can. Do not end up with a broken heart and your body lost as well.”

Her words gave me a fright. After the fright passed, my face turned even redder.

He had never broken my heart, nor had he ever asked for my body.

That day, I went to repay his kindness again. As I crossed Wanli Bridge, I saw him from afar, standing beneath a tree.

His hands were clasped behind his back, his spine straight, while a young lady tugged at his sleeve, weeping like rain on pear blossoms.

The young lady asked, “Gu Lang, why will you not marry me?”

He brushed away the hand clutching his sleeve and said, “You are the Prefect’s daughter. Gu Lin is merely a poor scholar. I dare not reach so high. I am unworthy.”

The Prefect’s daughter said, “I am willing to wait until you pass the imperial exam with honors. Will you marry me then?”

He said nothing more.

So I turned and left.

That night, I embroidered beneath the lamp, with Douhuang keeping me company at my side. I moved the needle too quickly and pricked my finger all at once. It hurt so much that tears streamed down my face.

He was a famed talent known near and far, the dream man of every curtained boudoir for miles around. I was only an orphan girl who made her living by embroidery. What did I have to compare with anyone?

I ran into him at the entrance of the academy.

He was with a group of people. Though they were all scholars, he alone insisted on shining, making it so no one else could be seen.

I turned and ran.

Behind me, he called, “Li Bitao!”

I heard the others jeering and ran even harder.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. He demanded fiercely, “Why are you running?”

I lowered my head and said nothing.

He asked again, “Why did you come to deliver goods today?” He lowered his head, trying to catch my gaze, his expression somewhat dangerous. “Why are you hiding from me?”

Softly, I said, “You are a famed talent known near and far, the dream man of every curtained boudoir for miles around.”

He nodded, a little amused. “Mm. That is no lie.” Then he lowered his voice and asked, “Am I also the man of your dreams?”

My eyes burned. I didn’t dare look up at him. I said, “I’m only an orphan girl who makes a living with embroidery. Even the Prefect’s daughter wants to marry you. What do I have to compare with her?”

He fell silent.

From afar, someone called, “Youlin, stop dawdling in the land of tender charms! Sir is still waiting for us!”

A burst of laughter rose at once.

A little flustered, he said, “I’ll come find you another day. Go home early!”

I went home and sat there from noon until sunset, then from sunset until the moon rose. Moonlight shone through my window, and all at once, my heart grew bright and clear.

If I couldn’t marry him, then I would borrow him to have a son. I would raise the son, and the son would support me in turn.

That was how I would live out this life.

I changed my clothes, smoothed my hair, and even put flowers in it. Like some demoness out to suck a man’s vitality dry, I stepped through the moonlight to his house.

His courtyard was pitch-black. To my surprise, he was not home.

I stood there blankly for a moment, then hardened my heart and sat down on the steps before his door.

Since I had come, I would not go home until I had waited for him.

The moon was high in the sky by the time he returned. When he saw me on the steps, his eyes shone brighter than the moonlight.

He came over and pulled me up. I smelled a little wine on him. Angrily, he asked, “Why are you sitting here so late at night?”

I said, “I was waiting for you.”

His voice softened at once. “Waiting for me for what?”

I lifted my eyes to look at him. “I want to borrow something from you.”

He laughed. “Borrow what?”

With a firm gaze, I said, “I want to borrow you to have a son.”

His eyes trembled, his expression stunned. “Borrow what?”

I said, “I want to borrow you to have a son.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed several times, and the way he looked at me turned fierce. He said viciously, “I won’t lend it!”

If he wouldn’t lend it, then he wouldn’t. Why did he have to be so fierce?

Holding back my disappointment and hurt, I lifted my foot to go home.

He grabbed me in one swift motion and asked coldly, “Where are you going? Who else are you going to borrow from?”

With tears in my eyes, I said, “I’m going home.”

But he tightened his grip on my hand and refused to let go. After looking at me with a complicated expression for a moment, he said, “Li Bitao, who else have you asked to borrow from?”

I said, “I haven’t asked anyone else. You’re the first.”

He grew angry again. “I’m the first?”

He was gripping my hand so tightly it hurt. I was a little frightened and nodded. “Mm. You’re the first.”

And he still refused to lend it to me.

I felt terribly wronged.

He laughed in sheer anger. “Very good, Li Bitao. Very good.”

He yanked me into his arms and lowered his head to devour my mouth. His breath closed over me like a cage, and I tasted the wine on his lips, making me so dizzy I felt drunk myself.

Pressed to my ear, he said, “You just wait, Li Bitao. You’re not allowed to go borrowing from anyone else!”

Fine. I would wait.

I waited for him for several days. He never came. Instead, I waited until a matchmaker arrived.

The matchmaker stood at the door and said, “Great joy to the lady of the Li family! Someone has entrusted me to come propose marriage-”

The moment I heard that, I moved to shut the door.

The matchmaker caught hold of it. “Hey, hey! My lady, at least hear which young master has come to propose.”

I said, “No matter whose family it is, I won’t agree. I’m waiting for someone.”

Douhuang crouched low and bared his teeth. The matchmaker was so frightened she let go, and I took the chance to shut the door.

I didn’t care for anyone else. I only wanted to wait for him.

Hmph.

The next day, someone knocked on the door again.

I asked, “Who is it?”

He said, “Me.”

I hurriedly straightened my clothes, smoothed my hair, and pulled the door open.

His expression did not look good. I was beaming with joy.

I asked, “Why are you here?”

Had he agreed to my request and come to let me borrow him to have a son?

Somewhat helplessly, he said, “I came to discuss something with you.”

I let him in. He stood in the courtyard, looking at the flowers I had planted, then at the fish I raised, then at Li Douhuang, then at the clothes I had hung out to dry.

Hanging on that pole was my belly band, pink and plump, embroidered with lotus flowers and carp.

His face flushed a little.

I thought, why stand around? What matter could not be discussed in bed?

I led him into the house. He sat down on a chair and coughed. “About what you said, I thought it over. It’s possible.”

Overjoyed, I glanced at the sun in the sky.

He coughed again. “Not now.”

True. With the sun so bright, it really was not quite proper.

I nodded. “Then come again at night.”

His face turned completely red, and he gritted out, “Li Bitao, you little demoness. Why did you drive the matchmaker out?”

I felt very wronged. I said, “You were clearly the one who told me to wait.”

He swallowed down his anger and finally calmed himself.

“If you want to borrow it, fine. Let the matchmaker in. Let her make the proposal. We’ll set the engagement, and the bridal sedan will carry you through my door. On our wedding night, you can borrow it all you like!”

After saying that, he swept up his robe, rose to his feet, and left with a flick of his sleeves.

My, what a temper.