"-Does he look sane? Do sane people talk like this after being insulted? Do you see any change over his face– no color, no blushing. Doesn't that remind you of stones? And he says he hasn’t turned into one- what a farce!” Huang Dan pointed his fingers at Master Wei, then cleverly fell back on his feet. He wrestled his arms away from his captives and straightened his ruffled shirt.

“Literate people do happen to talk like me, Master Huang, if you excuse me. I am a scholar, even a stained one.”

“Unlike an imbecile like you, he does know words. Take my words if not his.” Master Su RuHui said as he took another peeled grape into his mouth.

There was much persuading done on both sides. For a moment it looked like it would end up in an outright brawl, but some sane people held both the parties down, constantly reminding them of the place and time. Finally, under the coercion of having his father angered, one of the parties conceded a truce.

As soon as the inflamed man had found his way out, persuaded by his company, the others left behind, the spectators all started moving away. “What a character! Didn’t this exchange remind you of the hot days and small fights in the alleys back in our days? He seems to have forgotten to grow…he will die in some corner some of these days - if that hot temper doesn't come flattening down, I tell you.”

“Ha. Indeed. I haven’t felt this alive since a long time ago. And I felt it was only your effect that could arouse my anger, or your ingratiating tongue. But there are many wonders in this world. He just rubs people off the wrong way. Even I forgot that I have sired a dozen children, who are now entering the world as adults themselves.”

“Even I find that incredible of you- if you were to ask me! Who knows, in a year or two you might even become a grandfather.”

“Don’t curse me, I am still so young. If you are envious, marry someone home.”

“And watch her burn herself to death in jealousy? With a character like mine, I don’t want to be an eternal damnation of a woman.”

“You won’t be the worst.”

“I will be something worse than they had held in their imaginations. And it’s too late to go breaking a tender maiden’s heart now. You are already a grandfather. In no way am I going to catch up to that!”

At this moment there was bustling outside and then the screens opened to let in a crowd of curious looking young boys. Young men in their silk apparels and fresh faces sauntered inside the hall.

They knew a while later this Hall would welcome all the great men in town to hold the most renowned capping ceremony to ever take place in Jinghai’s history! There was much to talk of at length here! – what about those mighty wooden pillars, those gilded roof with exquisitely painted motifs in bright blues and reds and goldens, all those panels showing Buddhist motifs: there was the banyan tree, the otherworldly apsaras, the lotus blooms and the flying fishes all floating over the roof and the wooden walls, so ingeniously crafted that it made it look like it floated on its own! And that devious looking deity at the north? Of its huge glinting emerald body, its pot belly and huge ruby jewels in place of his eyes – the clan god of Wei was not a common sight that anyone could glimpse on a normal day. Only occasions like this opened this hall and its various wonders.

Soon, the voices inside the hall jolted a notch higher! The Old Master Wei walked briskly along with his companions, all looking somber and grave, as they took to their seats at the highest table over the northern part of the hall. For a while there was only silence, till the old men were settled appropriately and then began another round of greetings and congratulations.

Master Wei gracefully sat down once more. His friend had risen up to greet the elders, and another occupant had overtaken a seat on his left.

It was Master Huo Yuxun , the newly arrived Chancellor, appointed to the county's Yamen. The Magistrate had been quite smitten with this new addition to the town and had but good things to say about him. Of course! With a father as the Head of the Imperial Academy of Capital, his prospects are anything but successful. In fact, being sent to Jinghai was a sign of his lack of any favor thereof. Or perhaps, there were other intentions. Master Wei squinted his eyes thoughtfully while caressing the ring on his left hand.

"My lord, there should be no doubt about the auspiciousness of this year for your clan! From being promoted to a formal member of the imperial consulate to having an official position in the county, and now earning the second prince’s favor for your daughter - Such joyful news one after another -" followed a well-natured laugh.

"Your son too, I might say. I heard he had been accepted by Master Rong, Head Teacher at Imperial Academy who had once taught the second prince? Congratulations to him." Master Wei saluted Master Huo.

"Where, where, he tries to follow in the precedents of those of his senior brothers, like that of your son. Yes, my son has just joined the academy, by the recommendation of his grace, his lordship Duke of Weizhou. Hopefully there will be such happy opportunities for him to celebrate further down in life.” There was much silence between them, but looking at his face, always ready to say something but refraining, master Wei couldn’t help but finally asked him to confide in him.

The confidence that was given was of such nature – “It might appear abrupt, but for the cheer in the air– what do you say, my lordship, could I have the grace to accept one of your daughter’s hands for this son of mine? Again, quite an abrupt preposition, with nothing proper about it! But hear my reasons for this daring! I have heard of their reputation spread as far as the capital, your eminent daughter’s. No doubt, such noble houses as of yours can guide but only such talented and capable youngsters! This is indeed abrupt, but a word from you will go a long way. Rather than a pompous show of elaborate rituals that will make all of it public, for both our privacy’s sake and my deep hopes that you will agree and allow me to follow this proposal with all the legitimate ceremonies without the worry of dishonoring you; I finally decided over this crass method. I hope I haven’t offended you too deeply?"

Master Huo said this, in a melodious trill and a single breath, quite characteristic of himself; swiftly replacing another wet handkerchief in his hand-pockets. Deep inside he regretted his choice of place, as he began to feel the increasing need of fresh air! But…he did need this marriage!

“No you haven't. In fact, I like this way of your approach more - as it keeps many things under cover. After all, it's a matter of my daughter’s reputation.” Master Wei assured as he looked on, bewildered. Never in his life had he seen such a…straightforward proposal. He really had to look afresh at the man who had uttered such madness.

Apart from his stout figure one wouldn't notice anything cordial about the man, or anything affable. His face, though round, didn't give the feeling of being agreeable to any extent, while his jumping brows always peered with strained tolerance. The calculation could be seen flickering, sparkling in his round eyes - quite deep, but it was definitely there. Master Wei who was observing him with decided air, now felt completely speechless. How should he define such a man? Straightforward? 

"As for the proposal - There will come a time, of course, when your son himself can find his names recounted among those well-known people of Dajin, he can truly ask for any hand in marriage around the world! It’s not commonplace to enter the Imperial Academy, and if his highness the Duke of Weizhou himself ascertained and vouched his potentialities; he must be a powerful figure indeed! But I might add, regretfully as I do so, that the youngsters in my family are still too young to make any such judgements as heavy as matrimony, possible. Unfortunately, they are not ready to step into the world. Marriage? I have never thought of that, I confess. You haven’t spent much time in Jinghai I fear. I think you must be under some misapprehension about their ages. The oldest after Wei Ziya, the one engaged to the second prince is only a child of twelve! She doesn’t enter society for two or three more years! I fear I cannot betroth her before she does that, as Jinghai has never favored child marriage - especially in recent years they have become much of a past relic. My father was a great proponent himself against such practices at his time at court."

Master Wei's suspicious eyes silently looked down at his hands. ‘Marriage?’ He deliberated silently. 

"Master Wei Houyu, there is no need to go so deep into this matter as thus, is there? I find it completely irrelevant as of what your father had previously thought regarding such noble and traditional practices of early engagement! You must realize, I come with the knowledge that one of your sisters DID actually HAD a prior engagement settled at birth.” The man said, “ I am sorry to dampen your spirit with recollection of departed ones, but I have definitely heard, your sister Hua was just ten when she was engaged to our emperor, wasn’t she? Although the most unfortunate things happened to the maiden, don’t tell me there is no precedent in your house! Because that would be a blatant lie! If it can be done once, why not twice - a promise suffices, I demand but a word of you. But the look in your eyes tells me you don’t agree for even that somehow! I say, Master Wei. Let them be and decide who to love now. And such love as in their age, allows them to form a noble attachment of life, far from impure alloys added in adulthood. I have personal experience, having grown up together with my wife. You must agree to this." There was much beseeching in his voice as he looked into Master Wei’s eyes.

"I hear you, but what can be done? I, to tell you the actual truth, am very insecure about my children’s future. What with the death and disappearances of quite a few relatives of mine now, I can't but be meddlesome for their security. You deem it all well and fine, but you have to see my perspective as well! As a father of a daughter, what I send to you is a piece of my flesh. Any amount of time spent in their company is less, and just suddenly sending them away –? Don’t tell me you don’t have such plans of taking her away to the capital? Because I will be the first to refute you. You come here asking them to be allowed to form a bond - but a bond can only be forged on constant contacts between them. If one remains here in Jinghai and another in the capital - what makes this relationship different from that of a cold contract? To inculcate this building relationship, you do have to bring them together or your whole belief behind early marriage lies null and void – and inexcusable. You alluded right. My sister did eventually fall into a quagmire of her own making – which, in my opinion, would have been completely averted had she been allowed to follow her heart. Engaged as she was as a child, she had no opportunity to grow and love her betrothed. For her perhaps, it was not more than a cold piece of dictate. I see it as an unfit folly! When she ran away from home, we only know the cause of it being a warm love she held from another gentleman. What a fierce struggle must have reigned over her conscience – on one hand the dictates of morality, while on the other a deep human feeling that is never in our own control. No one seems to think of that. It's been years but there is no news, no leads whatsoever. Though we know she was lost, we have taken her as dead, for all that matters! – but can you imagine the PAIN, it caused us all? And all this folly, just because of a prior engagement!” After this outburst he slowly added, “Have the Yamen any leads in the case? About the one who kidnapped her? What about my youngest sister Hua'er…" Master Wei took a sharp breath and ceased to complete his sentence.

‘Tch, pretentious as ever.’ Master Huo's eyes flashed with sarcasm but soon turned into a face of the most empathetic well-wisher.

"My deepest condolences for such grave loss! As for leads in the lost case, hope is all but futile alas! The previous six years have been cruel to all the victims. No sign, and no leads about who did such heinous crime and now roams so free. But sometimes, such sadness is the affair of the world, isn’t it? Everyone must suffer something or other in their lives to some extent, albeit varying by degrees. Such misfortune as falling over your sister is not common at all. But what with this much worry in your breast, one expects you will cease to let your sons out of the threshold for their safety altogether! I don’t see you doing that, do I?! Why not give these young people a chance? Wei Lina, your daughter of whom I speak of in-kind regard is of noble birthright, with your Weijia’s good nurturing. She will grow up to be a good matron, and I ask for her hands for my equally well-situated son! Is there any implausibility in this affair?"

"Only that they are young. A few more years, perhaps, then they will have their own fate! Their own fate to decide about what makes them happy without much interference from a parent. Even a parent with no absolute morals as me. I promise you that, when such a time comes in three years, I will remember your request and beseech my daughter to look all the more kindly at one of her suitors – your son."

"Alas! Such is the sad affair then, we cannot expect everything to go aligned with our own wishes, however legitimate they may be. I am quite saddened now, Master Wei. You disappoint me. With my only son already in the academy, such happy relations escape my hands. I tell myself, though, that I can live with this little disappointment and not over-exert on your sympathies, ha, ha.” Master Huo looked a little perturbed and soon shifted his embarrassment in looking out the hall. “But there must be something happening with such noise coming from the garden, what do you say my Lord? You must know, all the young blood of the four major clans and nine families have joined tonight! Let me entertain myself by taking a look at what they are up to. Or you might want to join me in my simple pursuit?"

Seeing no lead in the marriage talk, Master Huo ceased to be as enthusiastic as at the beginning. After hearing a certain denial, he stood up on his own. With a few more ceremonious exchanges, he emphatically showed his intention to exit the closed hall. The stout figure skidded off towards the open garden, without looking back at Master Wei even once, who seemed to be still lost in his ponderings.

“What a conniving man!” Master Su RuHui slowly found his previous seat while shaking his head. He had been nearby eavesdropping on all the conversation. “ Sure enough - a fox father will only give birth to a fox-like son.”

“Ha…true. He is playing a long game, though. We have to see if we can spare some time to play along.”