Chapter 61: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 61: 

 

Hearing what He Quansheng said, the old men became furious, their faces reddening and veins bulging as they closed in on him, clearly intent on giving the impudent young man a beating.

In reality, the sharp words He Quansheng had spoken were taught to him by Mian Tang beforehand; otherwise, the straightforward young man wouldn’t have been able to deliver such incisive remarks.

Liu Mian Tang had anticipated that Master Cao might come looking for her, but she hadn’t expected him to be so shameless as to overturn the table and try to assault someone.

She dropped all pretense and addressed Master Cao coldly, “How dare you be so audacious! Do you want me to point out that Master Cao’s shipyard is behind the Cao family’s actions? You took advantage of my grandfather’s illness to embezzle from the Lu family’s shipyard! On one hand, you held the business, and on the other, you still took our Lu family’s monthly payments. You are nothing but a shameless scoundrel blinded by greed! My grandfather tolerated you, but I will not! Since you’ve taken so much from the Lu family, I will make sure you pay it all back, piece by piece! Try touching my people and see what happens!”

Despite Liu Mian Tang’s usual gentle demeanor in front of her elders, the old men had never taken her seriously. However, now, as she stood with a stern face and fierce words, she exuded an intimidating aura that made them hesitate.

Master Cao, his face tight with anger, lost his composure and continued to throw and smash things. 

Liu Mian Tang, despite provoking Master Cao with her words, had no intention of resorting to violence. She stopped her attendants from rushing to intervene.

At this moment, someone shouted with authority, “Stop it!”

Everyone turned to see Lu Wu storming into the shipyard with an angry expression.

Seeing Lu Wu, Master Cao seemed to have found a savior. He immediately fell to his knees before Lu Wu, crying and lamenting about Liu Mian Tang’s behavior.

But before Master Cao could finish his complaint, Lu Wu raised his cane and struck him hard across the face.

Although Lu Wu had been unwell in recent years and was not as nimble as he once was, his anger gave him the strength to deliver a powerful blow. 

Master Cao, who was used to acting like a big shot in front of others, was reduced to nothing more than a stumbling mess in front of Lu Wu, falling to the ground.

The other onlookers, who had been egging on the confrontation, fell silent and dared not make a sound upon seeing Lu Wu intervene.

Lu Wu was indeed known for his loyalty, but he was also fiercely protective of his family. Liu Mian Tang was his granddaughter and a touchy subject; no one was allowed to offend her.

Originally, Lu Wu had thought that Liu Mian Tang was merely running the shipping business for fun and as a way to earn some money for the family. 

Although he had scolded his two sons, he hadn't reproached Liu Mian Tang directly. He had been considering selling the estate and giving Liu Mian Tang the money once a suitable buyer came along.

He was taken aback when he heard from the servants that someone had caused a commotion at the shipping company, and Liu Mian Tang was struggling to handle the situation. 

This prompted Lu Wu to rush over with his old servants and family guards, only to witness the scene where a group of elderly veterans were bullying Liu Mian Tang.

He had also heard the arguments between He Quansheng and Liu Miantang. The information about Cao Wu undermining the shipping business and setting up his own operation had been brought to his attention before. However, Cao Wu had firmly claimed that the shipping business was run by his nephew.

At that time, due to his poor health and seeing his old acquaintances crying out in distress, Lu Wu had believed Cao Wu’s words.

Today, if his eldest son had relayed these accusations to him, Lu Wu would have been extremely displeased, thinking that his son was using the old men as an excuse to avoid responsibility. 

However, hearing these words from He Quansheng, the orphan of the He family, made them seem much more credible. 

Furthermore, Cao Wu, who had appeared loyal and righteous in his presence, was revealed to be arrogant and domineering when he was not around. 

Lu Wu finally began to see through the deceit that had long clouded his judgment. 

Enraged by Cao Wu’s actions, Lu Wu spoke with conviction: “If you, Cao Wu, have the ability, go and act like a big shot somewhere else. But in this hall, none of these tables belong to you! If my granddaughter can outdo you, and you are dissatisfied, show your real skills instead of making a fuss here. With your impressive attire and capable nephew, you shouldn’t have needed any support from the Lu family in the first place. From now on, let’s consider our obligations settled, and please do not use my name to intimidate others!”

Lu Wu had built an extensive network over decades in the business. The success of Cao Wu’s shipping business had been bolstered by the reputation of the loyal old employees from the Lu family and the favor of the old master of the escort company.

Today, with Lu Wu making his stance clear, it was evident that he was severing ties with Cao Wu. The many old employees present meant that word of this would soon spread.

Cao Wu was livid, his face alternating between shades of blue and red. He never expected the ailing Old Master Lu to appear today. With his business faltering and needing the Lu family's name to maintain connections, he couldn’t afford to fall out completely, so he continued to weep and claim he had acted out of anger and confusion.

Mian Tang, however, added fuel to the fire: “Master Cao , you’re not confused, you’re just adept at sabotage! The dock workers you bribed to switch a few boxes of our goods have been caught red-handed and handed over to the authorities. They’ve implicated your nephew as their paymaster. I imagine the authorities will be coming for you soon, so maybe you should go and handle things?”

Cao Wu turned pale upon hearing this and, realizing his precarious situation, hurriedly left without bothering to maintain any pretense with Lu Wu. 

The remaining old men, seeing which way the wind was blowing, claimed they had been misled by Cao Wu and were unaware of the full details. One by one, they left in a hasty retreat.

In the large, disordered hall, Lu Wu stood dejectedly amid the chaos. His usually straight back seemed to sag, and as he took a few steps out, he looked up at the sign that read “Honest Heart Escort Agency” and seemed to understand the deeper meaning behind his granddaughter’s choice of name.

He looked back at his granddaughter, who was assisting him, and sighed, “Do you think your grandfather is useless and senile?”

Mian Tang smiled and said, “The governor of the neighboring state is apparently even older than you, and he recently took a new concubine who is already expecting. You’re much healthier than him. If you wanted, you could still father a child and give me a younger uncle. There’s no such thing as too old.”

Lu Wu glared at her, “Stop talking nonsense or I’ll have you kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment!”

However, Mian Tang’s playful response eased his momentary frustration. After a while, he looked at the sign again and said, “I heard you once borrowed the roster to check the names of those receiving monthly payments, supposedly to buy gifts for the uncles and elders. But in the end, you didn’t send a single fruit. I’m old and maybe not as far-sighted as the younger generation. Over these decades, I’ve tried to be generous to former colleagues. Those who should be grateful are, and those who are ungrateful are just unworthy. Tomorrow, I’ll give you the key to the accounts. You can handle the finances and make decisions about what should or shouldn’t be distributed from now on.”

Lu Wu was well aware of the difficulties facing the Lu family. He had struggled with the concept of "loyalty" in the past and felt constrained by it, and his two sons were unable to control the old retainers.

However, with Mian Tang handling these matters, he felt completely at ease. This girl was clever and capable, and she had a good heart, knowing how to treat the old retainers and orphans fairly. If Mian Tang could take on the burden, it would improve life for everyone in the family.

Mian Tang, however, felt that she should not be presumptuous and modestly suggested that she still needed her uncle’s guidance to handle the overall situation.

Lu Wu gave her a stern look and said, “When the servant came to call me, those troublemakers had just arrived, right? You had everything arranged so meticulously, stirring up trouble for the old fellow, making sure your grandfather could see a good show. How can you say you’re inexperienced? You’re just trying to get your stubborn old uncle to relent. I’d rather you don’t let him learn from you!”

Mian Tang was surprised to find that her careful planning had been seen through by her grandfather, and she immediately felt embarrassed, playfully appealing to him.

Lu Wu gave her a stern look and said, “You’ve put in so much effort just to get this old stubborn head to relent. Now that your wish is fulfilled, you should stop running around and come home to eat properly.”

Mian Tang naturally agreed with a smile. She called for the carriage, helped her grandfather into it, and then returned home with him for dinner.

When the carriage stopped in front of the house, her second aunt was seen warmly guiding an elderly woman out the door.

Mian Tang looked up and saw the distinguished guest from her second uncle’s family, Madam Su.

According to her second aunt, they were planning to take Madam Su and Young Master Su to the famous Chan Yin Temple in Xizhou to offer incense.

In addition to her cousin Lu Qingying, who was accompanying the two ladies, there was also a refined young gentleman following them.

Mian Tang had not dined with her family in recent days, having been out early and returning late, so she had not properly introduced herself to the Su family.

However, she guessed that this young gentleman must be the Young Master Su her cousin had been seeing.

Young Master Su Mian, who was also watching the young lady getting out of the carriage, was struck by her beauty. He had been at the Lu family’s home for a while but had never seen this strikingly beautiful young woman.

Could she… be a member of the Lu family?

Madam Su, having first greeted Old Master Lu and listened to the introduction from the whole family, quickly recognized Mian Tang. She smiled and looked Mian Tang up and down, saying, “I heard early on that Old Master Lu has a capable granddaughter... By the way, what is the name of the escort agency she runs?”

Madam Quan smiled and said, “It’s called the ‘Honest Heart Escort Agency.’ The name is quite…”

Madam Su interrupted with a smile, “Quite fitting. My dowry included a cloth business that also travels the Xizhou route. I’ve heard from the workers that since the change to ‘Honest Heart Escort Agency,’ the service has been both cost-effective and efficient.”

Hearing this, Madam Quan was all smiles. She had heard from her father that Madam Su’s family was wealthy and that she had brought many shops as part of her dowry when she married into the Su family.

With only Su Mian as her son, wouldn’t the future business also belong to her daughter-in-law?

At this moment, Madam Su added, “What a coincidence, my son’s name is Mian, and Miss Liu’s given name also includes ‘Mian.’ It seems that the parents’ wishes when naming their children were similar—hoping for their children’s lives to be free of worries and for them to sleep peacefully…”

Madam Quan found this comment unpleasant. Madam Su’s son was here to court her daughter Qingying, yet Madam Su chose to highlight the similarity in names between her son and Mian Tang. Although she smoothly transitioned to discussing parental hopes, the mention still seemed somewhat inappropriate.

Moreover, Young Master Su was staring directly at Mian Tang, evidently captivated by her beauty.

Madam Quan knew that her daughter’s looks were not comparable to Mian Tang’s striking beauty. If Young Master Su was taken with Mian Tang's beauty, it could indeed be a problem.

However, Madam Quan then considered that Mian Tang's complicated background and her lack of parents made her less suitable compared to Qingying.

With that thought, Madam Quan felt somewhat reassured.

Since the guests were going to the temple to pray, Mian Tang offered a polite smile and farewell before following her grandfather into the house.

When she first returned to the Lu family, she had found it difficult to adjust, often struggling with insomnia and eating less due to the unfamiliar taste of the food. She lost some weight during that period.

Eventually, the cook’s dishes began to improve, and Mian Tang started eating more. Yet, she still struggled with feeling cold at night and occasionally experienced insomnia that lasted until dawn.

With the recent cold weather, Mian Tang recalled the pig's trotter and ginger stew that Li Mama used to make to ward off the chill. She asked Fang Xie to use Li Mama's special recipe to prepare a small pot of it. The pot was filled with pig's trotters, eggs, and old ginger, simmered for several days to perfect the flavor. 

Fang Xie placed the pot on the room’s warming stove to heat it up. 

After taking a bite, Mian Tang found the rich gelatinous flavor of the pig's trotter and the warmth of the ginger vinegar sauce comforting. Eating an egg with the hot broth made her feel completely warm and cozy.

Now that her shipping business was beginning to take shape, though it wasn’t very profitable at first, once she drove out the Cao family’s business, her profits would rise accordingly. When things improved completely, she planned to hand over the business to her uncle and restore the old Shenwei Escort Agency's name.

As for her second uncle, if he found his own way to make money, so be it. However, letting the second branch of the family manage the household wasn’t ideal.

Mian Tang was lost in thought when she suddenly asked, “Fang Xie, where did you get the sweet vinegar for the pig's trotter and ginger stew?” 

Fang Xie quickly responded, “I bought some from a traveling vendor who was shouting about authentic Lingnan sweet vinegar… Is the taste off?”

Mian Tang looked at the bowl of pig’s trotter and ginger stew in her hand and smiled, “No, it’s just that the taste is exactly like what Li Mama used to make, so I was curious…”

Previously, she had never understood why the vegetables Li Mama cooked always had a unique flavor that was different from anyone else's.

Later, she learned that many of Li Mama's seasonings had notable origins. For instance, the sweet vinegar used for the pig's trotter and ginger stew came from a renowned Lingnan brand, an old-established vinegar shop that made it using special smoked techniques. They only produced about twenty jars a year, with most reserved for the court and the rest going to the homes of nobles and high-ranking officials.

Even the soy sauce used in daily cooking was made from the finest fish and shrimp, contributing to the unique and delectable flavors of the dishes. Such luxurious tastes were special to royal households and not the sort of goods sold by street vendors.

So, the next day, Mian Tang casually instructed the kitchen to prepare a dish with duck liver, requesting they buy a northern snow goose for its liver.

The kitchen staff frowned and reported that they had scoured the market but couldn’t find any northern snow geese, suggesting they use another type of goose instead.

However, a few days later, when the purchasing maid went out, she heard a hunter proclaiming that he had northern snow geese for sale. 

This time, the maid didn’t make an immediate purchase but went to inform Miss Liu about the availability of the snow geese.

Soon after, Mian Tang appeared at the door, wrapped in a thick fox fur coat.

The goose seller, seeing her, tried to leave quickly, but Mian Tang, with a stern expression, said, “The geese haven’t been sold yet, and you want to leave? How will you explain this later?”

Despite the hunter's disguise with a bushy beard and a low-brimmed hat, Mian Tang immediately recognized him as one of her former helpers at the pharmacy, who was also a trusted subordinate of Fan Hu.

When the covert agent realized he had been recognized, he decided to be straightforward and began unloading the snow geese, wild boar legs, and various other game.

Mian Tang, with a stern expression, said, “How did you know I wanted this? How many spies have you planted in the Lu residence? And... I have no connection with him anymore. Why haven’t you left?”

The agent could not answer and instead bit his lip while glancing towards the alley. Soon, Fan Hu appeared, rubbing his hands.

“Madam... ah, no, Miss Liu. Our master instructed us to take good care of your daily needs. We heard you were having trouble with the food here, so after we informed His Highness, he asked Li Mama to make a list and send over some of your preferred items.”

Mian Tang remained unmoved and asked, “Which servant did you bribe to send this information?”

Fan Hu clasped his hands and said, “Miss, you know we’re just carrying out our orders. We meant no ill intent; it’s all done with good intentions. If you were less perceptive, we’d have already cooked the snow goose... Please have some compassion and don’t question us further. Once His Highness returns victorious, we’ll be able to report back.”

Had this been earlier, Mian Tang might have been moved. But now, she was resolute and replied coldly, “Indeed, it’s impressive how someone who’s about to become a prince consort can be so considerate. However, since I have no connection with him, his actions only lead to misunderstandings. It’s fine if you don’t explain; I’ll handle the mess in the residence myself. But please, Master Fan, don’t harm others or bribe the servants of the Lu residence.”

Fan Hu was taken aback, feeling a pang of frustration. If he could, he would have shut up the talkative Miss He long ago. 

With the imperial decree yet to reach the northwest, he wondered how this merchant’s daughter had learned such news and eagerly passed it on to Liu Mian Tang. 

Reluctantly, he said, “These orders come directly from His Highness, and we can’t disregard them. His Highness also mentioned that you should wait for him.”

Mian Tang was puzzled and asked, “Wait for him? Wait for what?”

Fan Hu didn’t have an answer and could only relay the message as instructed. “His Highness wants Miss Liu to take her time and not rush into marriage.”

Mian Tang found this even more absurd than the accusations she had heard from Old Master Cao earlier that day. She couldn’t imagine Prince Huaiyang, someone so proud, making such unreasonable demands.

She even suspected that Fan Hu might have fabricated this message, as it was hard to believe that Cui Xingzhou would say something so unreasonable.

However, Fan Hu handed her a letter personally written by the prince. Mian Tang recognized the familiar, strong handwriting but didn’t take the letter. Instead, she turned and walked back to her courtyard.

Bi Cao brought her a cup of tea and cautiously asked, “Miss, should I investigate the servants in the residence?”

Mian Tang took a deep breath and replied, “No need. If Prince Huaiyang wanted, he could easily have control over even a small place like the Lu residence. Instead, go and find out which matchmaker in Western Zhou is reliable and invite one over tomorrow.”

Bi Cao and Fang Xie exchanged worried glances. Such important matters shouldn’t be handled out of spite.

But Mian Tang insisted, “If he’s said this, and no matchmaker comes to inquire about me, it would make the Lu residence look deserted.”

She wanted Cui Xingzhou to understand that the decision of whether she married or not would be arranged by the elders of the Lu family according to her wishes. As someone about to become a prince consort, he shouldn’t worry about it!

Even though Mian Tang had resolved to handle the matter, she was so enraged by Cui Xingzhou’s arrogance that she couldn’t sleep the entire night. By the time the sun was high in the sky the next day, she was still tossing and turning in bed.

She knew she shouldn’t stay in bed all day. With so many people handling finances in the Lu residence, she needed to carefully review and organize everything. However, after the exhaustion of the past few days, today she simply couldn’t muster the energy.

After a while, feeling a bit thirsty, she reached for the water on the small table beside her bed. As she looked through the half-drawn curtain, she noticed a letter placed on the table.

It must have been left there by Fan Hu, who had given it to her maids when she refused to take it yesterday.

Though she had intended to ignore it and ask Bi Cao to burn it later, after some hesitation, she extended her slender arm, picked up the envelope, and slowly opened it.

As she pulled out the letter, a dried flower fell out of the envelope.

Mian Tang picked up the dried flower and vaguely remembered an old memory—she had seen this peculiar, light blue flower in the warm valley of the hot spring pool that Cui Xingzhou had built. The flower had a delightful fragrance that she loved, but it only bloomed in a small cluster.

At that time, Cui Xingzhou had promised to plant a whole field of wind whispers flowers for her, so she could enjoy their scent to her heart’s content.

Mian Tang placed the flower by her pillow and slowly unfolded the letter.

The letter was quite thick, with seven or eight pages. Despite reading it three times, Mian Tang couldn’t discern any serious meaning from it.

The contents were mostly about his daily life after she left.

For instance, a litter of kittens had been born from the cat she left behind in the courtyard. He had chosen a white kitten with a black-tipped tail to keep in his tent because it, like her, loved to stay in bed and sleep. He named it "Sleeping Immortal," or "Mian’er" in characters.

The clothes she had sewn for him were ruined by the rough hands of Mo Ru. However, even though he wore other clothes, he found them less comfortable than the old ones.

The valley where he had planted the wind whispers flowers was now filled with them. However, these flowers attracted bees, making it necessary to wear a veil during flower viewing. The buzzing in the valley made it difficult to bathe peacefully.

If not for the parting in anger before, the letter’s content seemed like a husband sharing the little details of daily life with his beloved wife after a long separation.

Mian Tang questioned what sort of relationship they really had. Could it be that Cui Xingzhou, after a defeat at the frontlines, was suffering from insomnia and had resorted to writing her letters out of boredom?

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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