Chapter 77 — Entering the Manor (Bonus Update for 600 Pink Votes)
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The moment she heard that voice, Bie Sulan snatched up the cleaver from the cutting board and charged out.
"Shimei, shimei!" the man in the brown robe called to her in alarm, yet he moved light as a swallow, and no matter how she chopped, she could not so much as graze the hem of his robe.
Bie Suxin came out and called her sister to order in a low voice: "Stop that at once."
Bie Sulan lowered the cleaver and stood sulkily at her sister's side, pouting. "It's all his fault!" she muttered. "If not for him, why would Father have been thrown in jail..." Her eyes reddened, and she wiped at them with her sleeve.
The man in brown was ashamed and mortified. "Shimei, I've wronged you both. I know nothing I say will help. I—I only came to look in on the old master and bring you a few things." With that, he set two strips of cured pork on a nearby stone bench, drew a bulging coin purse of coarse blue cloth from his breast, laid it beside the meat, and turned to go.
"Chen Shixiong, wait." Bie Suxin stepped forward and picked up the purse. "We appreciate your kindness, but Father bears you no grudge. We'll keep the meat; take the money back. Your own family is none too well off—you still have your mother and young sister to support. How could we take your silver?" And she tossed the purse back to him.
Chen Shixiong fumbled to catch it, then without a word set it on the ground and turned to leave.
Bie Suxin picked it up and caught him in a few strides, urging him to take the money with him. Chen Shixiong stubbornly refused. She tried to stuff the purse into his sleeve; he blocked her with his elbow. Back and forth they went, until it came to blows.
Chen Shixiong was quick and powerful, yet his movements were as natural and fluid as flowing water; Bie Sulan was light and airy, like drifting petals and falling leaves. As the two wheeled and leaped, the sight was a pleasure to behold.
The others indoors had followed Bie Suxin out the moment she pushed the door open. Now they stood beneath the eaves watching, and could only gape. Dou Yan in particular: "I never knew Suxin had martial skill," she murmured. "She looks so pale and delicate, while Sulan is sturdy and strong—I assumed only Sulan had trained under Curator Bie..."
Chen Yanzhou smiled. "Both sisters trained under Curator Bie. He used to say that a girl who learns a trick or two of martial arts can hold her own even in a quarrel with her husband—she won't come off the worse. Otherwise, why would that Shan Jie have needed the power of the authorities to force Curator Bie to bow his head?" At this he thought of the Bie family's plight and heaved a long sigh.
Learn letters and martial arts alike, and sell them to the emperor's house.
Dou Yi sighed as well.
Chen Yanzhou stepped forward and shouted, "Enough!"
The two broke apart at once.
Only then did Dou Ci notice that this Chen Shixiong was full of spirited vigor and handsome of face.
He came forward a few steps, bowed to Chen Yanzhou, and respectfully addressed him as "Uncle Chen"—clearly well acquainted with him.
Chen Yanzhou glanced at the tassel of the purse dangling from his sleeve and smiled. "In the matter of Curator Bie, you are guilty of poor judgment, but do not blame yourself too much. In the end it was Shan Jie who was too base and shameless. If your heart is uneasy, come by when you have leisure and help the sisters with rough work—there's no need to bring money. Your family is not well off either."
Chen Shixiong's face flushed to the ears. "I've already quit the Shan household. After the New Year I'll be running armed escort with Cripple Chen. I'm afraid I won't be home for the next few years..."