The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 54: Two People's World

Chapter 54: Two People’s World

Song Yuyan could no longer treat Tang Zhi as a little girl. In the past, they had both been young, so ordinary folks had not needed to avoid so many taboos with them. But this year, her own body was already seventeen, and Tang Zhi was sixteen too. Even if the neighbors would not say to their faces that it was improper for the two of them to come and go so often, they would still mutter about it behind their backs.

So Song Yuyan came up with a way to pass messages to Tang Zhi.

Of course, this did not mean she would stop coming and going openly with Tang Zhi. Passing messages had a few benefits. First, it reduced the material neighbors could use to gossip. Second, letters had always been a fine channel for exchange since ancient times, and words could sometimes add a bit of fun to their dealings.

Song Yuyan unfolded the strip of paper, which had clearly been cut much shorter. On it was Tang Zhi’s reply: “To sketch?”

Song Yuyan took up her brush and wrote: “You can sketch in any of the four seasons, but the chance to see the lanterns during the Lantern Festival is rare. Of course, it’s to see the lanterns.”

After a moment’s thought, she added, “This Lantern Festival, Uncle Twenty-One is preparing food to sell at the lantern market. I told Ye’er and Bing’er to go help.”

The meaning was that this time, for seeing the lanterns, it would just be the two of them. Tang Zhi understood at once, and her heart pounded thump-thump in her chest. She wanted to agree right away, but felt such a reply would not do, so she asked instead: “You’re not making lanterns to sell anymore?”

“What does the young lady suggest?”

“Sell lanterns in the daytime, and after selling them, enjoy the lanterns. But Ye’er and Bing’er have both been called by you to help your Uncle Twenty-One. You’re afraid you can’t manage alone, right? How about I bring Little Ye to help you sell lanterns?”

“Fine.”

And so Tang Ye, who had just finished running errands, received an order from her own sister: “Little Ye, on Lantern Festival day, you and I will go help Song Yuyan sell lanterns. She says she’ll pay you wages.”

Tang Ye: “…”

It was not enough just to sell her physical labor for errands; now her own sister was selling her off as a drudge?

These two had not even settled on a match yet, so how had she ended up living this squeezed life ahead of time!

____

Song Yuyan and Tang Zhi’s private message-passing gradually turned into a habit. Song Yuyan put the letters in poetry tubes and had Bing’er and Ye’er deliver them; Tang Zhi had her own little sister help in return.

Though the two of them spoke face-to-face less often, they both felt they were saying more to each other instead.

But in this way, they also used more paper. Tang Zhi often cut the paper into several small strips the size of notes, while Song Yuyan pondered that after the Lantern Festival passed, she should start making paper for her own use.

On Lantern Festival day, Tang Haogen had no time to come back. He only sent word through someone for Tang Zhi to take good care of herself and Tang Ye.

Tang Zhi was going to spend this Lantern Festival with Song Yuyan, so she did not feel downcast about her brother not returning. Besides, his not coming back counted as a good thing. He worked under Liu Chuo, where there was much to do, but not all of it was drudgery. Liu Chuo entrusted him with many important matters too.

Everyone said it was because he knew how to flatter Liu Chuo that he gained Liu Chuo’s favor, and they envied and resented him for it.

Tang Haogen did pat his superior on the back, sure, but in truth he knew how to adapt and never complained out loud in front of others. So his superior trusted him, and the other town officials were glad to deal with him too.

Sure enough, this year he had come of age, and many people heard he was still unmarried, so they all started fretting over his marriage prospects. Liu Chuo even said: “On this Lantern Festival, settle your sisters at home, then come with us to a place. I’ll find you a fine match.”

Tang Haogen could not tell if Liu Chuo truly meant to find him a match or if it was code for visiting a brothel.

His heart fluttered with unease, but he agreed anyway, then made full preparations—if things went wrong, he would find a way to slip out.

He could never let his sisters at home know about this, so he only told them he was busy with work.

In the same way, Tang Zhi did not tell him that she was going to see the lanterns with Song Yuyan that day.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, Song Yuyan got up early and sent Ye’er and Bing’er to Aunt Fierce’s place, to let them get a taste of society’s baptism. When she got back home, Tang Zhi and Tang Ye had already arrived with the ox cart.

They loaded the lanterns onto the cart, brought some water and food, and headed to the busiest street to set up their stall.

Song Yuyan’s lanterns from last year had already won favor from many women and children with their exquisite, unique shapes. And this year, as soon as Tang Zhi reached the street, she got a bit angry: “The lanterns you made last year—they’ve all been copied by them!”

Song Yuyan was not surprised at all. She smiled and said: “No matter. I expected it, so this year I changed to other patterns.”

“But what if they copy those next year? You can’t keep changing patterns every year, can you?”

“But if I have money next year, then I’ll never need to come out and sell lanterns again. So why care if they copy them?”

Tang Zhi glanced at her: “You’re pretty confident you’ll get rich next year.”

Song Yuyan: “Hard work creates wealth, so I still have to look forward to it.”

Tang Zhi turned her head to look at her silent little sister. “Little Ye, you’re not this quiet at home. Are you shy?”

Tang Ye: “…”

She thanked her big sister for finally noticing her. She had thought that in these two people’s eyes, she was just another part of the cartload of lanterns.

____

The shapes of the lanterns Song Yuyan made this year were still unique, but she put her main effort into the layer of paper pasted on the outside. From last year’s observations, she found that ordinary folks and children liked colorful lanterns, while scholarly families, just like in their clothing tastes, sought lanterns that were plain yet meaningful.

So she first made lanterns for ordinary folks with unique shapes and bright colors; then for the scholar class, she made ones like “carp leaping the dragon gate” with good omens.

If anyone asked, she could tell the relevant stories from the classics, which drew quite a crowd around her stall. Some came just for the stories, while others, listening along, grew very interested in her lanterns. So by afternoon, she had sold seventy percent of them.

Song Yuyan talked herself hoarse telling stories, and Tang Zhi was no easier helping collect money on the side. As for Tang Ye, since she could not tell stories and knew nothing of accounts, she just watched over the lanterns when not carrying her carving knife to practice on bamboo.

Someone passing by stopped on purpose to watch her for a bit. Seeing that she carved without first drawing the pattern on the green bamboo, he felt very curious: “Young lady, who did you learn bamboo carving from?”

Tang Ye jumped in fright, and her hand slipped, leaving a scratch on another piece of green bamboo with the knife. She felt deep regret, thinking her practice had not reached the point where a mere scare could ruin a piece.

But for this person who had suddenly appeared to disturb her, she had no good temper. She looked up and glared at the young man, saying nothing.

The young man knew he had startled her into ruining a piece, so he hurried to apologize.

Song Yuyan and Tang Zhi heard the noise and looked over. Tang Zhi set down her work for the moment and came to Tang Ye’s side: “I wonder what business this gentleman has?”

The young man explained. He was called Li Sigu, a painter who made his living selling paintings. Passing by, he saw a little girl carving bamboo and grew curious. Though Tang Ye’s carving had no artistic value, her knife did not hesitate, so she clearly understood drawing and had studied it for some time.

Out of curiosity, he wanted to meet the person behind her who taught her drawing and carving.

Tang Zhi gave him a doubtful look. “Curious?”

Li Sigu: “…”

He glanced guiltily at the sky, then said honestly: “Actually, I think her carving skill seems different from ordinary intaglio carving. And as far as I know, there’s only one famous intaglio bamboo carver in Mingzhou lately.”

“You think she’s Lu Fang?”

Li Sigu said: “Of course not. I know Lu Fang is a youth called Song Yuyan, but I’ve never seen…”

He had seen Lu Fang’s intaglio bamboo carvings, and their artistic depth left even him, a painter, in admiration. Though he wanted to meet Song Yuyan, few ordinary folks knew her, and he had no scholar friends to introduce him.

Today he had come out to set up a stall selling paintings, but business was poor, so he wandered about to clear his mind and think up his next painting. Then he ran into Tang Ye, and he naively thought: “What if it’s her?”

That led to the scene just now.

Tang Zhi asked him: “What do you want with Lu Fang?”

Li Sigu perked up at her words: “From what the young lady says, do you know Lu Fang?”

Song Yuyan turned back, pulled Tang Zhi away, and said to Li Sigu: “I’m truly sorry, but I’m busy here. Whatever it is, let’s talk another day.”

Li Sigu paused, then quickly caught on: “You’re Song Lu Fang?!”

Tang Ye quietly stepped away from him to help Song Yuyan and her own sister. Li Sigu wanted to go up and chat literature and art with Song Yuyan, but he knew she was busy, so he just made a simple introduction and set a time to visit properly another day.

After he left, Tang Zhi said: “That man looks like he wants something.”

Song Yuyan smiled: “Since he wants to get to know me, no matter if it’s for some self-serving reason, I shouldn’t shut him out before I even see what kind of person he is. So I’ll wait and see what he wants then!”

Tang Zhi gave her a smile that did not reach her eyes: “Done talking?”

Song Yuyan nodded: “Done.”

Tang Zhi: “Then it’s my turn.”

Song Yuyan: “Please go ahead, Miss Tang.”

“How long do you plan to hold that hand? Everyone’s watching!”

Song Yuyan squeezed the hand she held, then looked around. Sure enough, some folks eyed them with curious, gossipy stares. But no one said their behavior went against custom, since they all thought it was one family—why else would they come out together to sell lanterns?

She let go of Tang Zhi’s hand, feeling a tiny pang of regret deep down.

System: “There were so many chances right in front of me to hold her hand, but I did not cherish them. Only when I lost her did I regret it. The most painful thing in the world is this. If heaven gave me another chance, I would hold that girl’s hand and never let go. If I had to put a time limit on it, I hope it is a lifetime.”

Song Yuyan: “…”

Song Yuyan: “You’re the dramatic one.”

After Song Yuyan let go, Tang Zhi still felt a sweet thread in her heart, but if not for these people watching, she would not have minded letting Song Yuyan hold on like that the whole time.

____

The lanterns sold out quickly, and Song Yuyan made another good sum. She took the Tang sisters to eat at a restaurant. Then Tang Ye said very tactfully: “Ye’er and Bing’er are probably done by now. I’ll go pick them up and head home.”

Before leaving, she glanced at Song Yuyan. Taking advantage of Tang Zhi not noticing, she whispered: “Song Dalang, you have to make sure Big Sis gets home safe.”

Song Yuyan smiled and said: “Sure. I’ll make sure she gets home safe and happy.”

Tang Ye did not think her own sister would be taken advantage of. After all, though Song Yuyan had been wild before, she had never thought of taking advantage of her family’s big sister. Now she was proper as could be. If she did anything to harm her sister’s good name, it would be as likely as the sun rising in the west.

After Tang Ye left, Song Yuyan said to Tang Zhi: “A troupe of traveling performers from Shaoxing has come to Tile Lane. Shall we go see them?”

Tile Lane was actually where va zi gathered. People often said “va zi and performance sheds,” where va zi were like later entertainment venues, and performance sheds were the fixed spots inside for shows. Song Yuyan did not know why the term turned into a stand-in for “lewd, filthy, erotic places” in later times. In any case, at this point, going to va zi and performance sheds was not something shameful.

As for traveling performers, they were those without fixed venues who performed wherever they went.

Tang Zhi seldom went to va zi and performance sheds for shows, so when Song Yuyan invited her now, she gladly agreed.

They watched a sleight-of-hand show at the Tile Lane square, a kind of magic performance. By the time it ended, dusk was falling, the lamps just coming on, and the streets grew even livelier.

The arts that needed daylight faded out bit by bit, while those with better visual effect at night began to show their unique appeal.

“There’s shadow play! Let’s go see it!” Tang Zhi heard someone say, and her heart stirred.

This was the first time she showed interest in an entertainment, so Song Yuyan naturally supported it. The two followed the crowd back to the square. But now people crowded all around the stage, and neither could squeeze in, so they stood on the edge.

Song Yuyan found that shadow play was actually leather shadow play, but due to limits, the shadow play here was not as fine or beautiful as later leather shadow play.

Yet for ordinary folks, shadow play was like a modern black-and-white TV. The paper figures projected on the screen were the actors on TV, and under the performer’s control, they acted out catchy myths or historical tales.

So even though Tang Zhi could not get into the inner circle, she did not leave.

“Miss Tang, do you like watching shadow play?”

Tang Zhi was clearly in high spirits, her face breaking into a natural smile. “Hmm. Before, Mother and Big Brother would take me to see shadow play on holidays. The little paper figures up there seem just like the real thing, and the stories they act out are fun.”

Song Yuyan smiled faintly. Though standing on the edge made her legs and feet ache, she did not disturb Tang Zhi’s fun. Instead, she worried Tang Zhi might get too absorbed and swept away by the crowd, so she said: “Miss Tang, hold my hand, so you don’t get lost.”

Tang Zhi’s heart gave a light, happy skip in her chest. She said with mock disdain: “I’m not a little child of a few years. Even if I got lost, I could find my way home.”

Though her mouth disdained it, she still quietly took hold of Song Yuyan’s hand.

Both their hands had calluses to some degree from work, but each felt the other’s hand unusually soft.