Chapter 7 Playing Xiangqi

  After returning to his own western wing house with a gloomy face from the old master, Fang Yiai sat down on the bed with a thud. Linglong, who was studying chess at the table, smiled and asked: "What's wrong, Second Young Master? Who made you angry again?"

  "Who else could it be, but the old master? I kindly helped him get a recliner, and unexpectedly, the old master actually scolded me!" Fang Yiai laughed and complained. Linglong thought for a moment and smiled, saying: "Second Master, I'm afraid it's not the old master who is scolding you, but rather the madam who is scolding the old master! Actually, this is all your fault. If you were going to give something, you should have given two. Giving just one, isn't that obviously for the madam? The old master wouldn't dare compete with the madam!"

  Fang Yi Ai thought to himself, "It's really like that, it seems I'm also quite tragic as the Prime Minister's old father, always coming in second." Anyway, he wasn't truly angry, so Fang Yi Ai took a piece of canvas and drew a chessboard with a brush. Ling Long curiously asked beside him, "Second Master, is this for playing Weiqi?"

  "My home Linglong is indeed clever, hehe, no mistake, this is the chessboard" Fang Yiai said with a big smile, Linglong covered her mouth and laughed: "Second young master, your chessboard painting is okay, but these words are really too...!"

  "You little girl, just say it if you want to, I'm not unaware of my own level. This Chu-Han border is hard to look at even for me." Fang Yi'ai poked Linglong's forehead with a smile and scolded, "Linglong's heart was sweet and she grabbed Fang Yi'ai's thick finger with her hand and coquettishly said: "Second young master, don't poke my forehead, it's very impolite. And I'm older than you, don't treat me like a child, you're the one who's still a child."

  The house is a bit deserted now, and with a blink of an eye, he muttered: "What's the matter, obviously just a little kid."

  Linglong didn't hear clearly what Fang Yiai said, anyway, she just knew that the second young master was complaining. Linglong is not afraid of Fang Yiai now, and smiled to say: "Second young master, I think if you want to write something in the future, let me be your ghostwriter, my writing is much better than yours."

  "Hmm, got it, great talent. Let's not waste words now, I'll teach you how to play Go instead, this game is really fun." Fang Yi'ai finally regained some confidence and happily became the teacher, but after playing a few rounds, Fang Yi'ai was stunned - Linglong was too formidable! She was already so skilled at this point! Fang Yi'ai shamelessly said: "Linglong, the previous round doesn't count, I made a mistake with my eyes." Linglong pouted and complained: "Second Young Master, you've already taken back six moves, is your eyesight really that bad?" Although Linglong was complaining on the surface, she was actually very happy in her heart - being able to banter with Second Young Master was also a great pleasure.

  "Linglong, you still dare to say that? You don't understand the importance of respecting your teacher. I am your teacher, and you don't even know how to show deference to me."

  "Second Master, I call this honesty; would you have me deceive you?"

  "Alright, alright, you win this time. Next time, give me a chance, or I won't play chess with you again. You're simply a freak!"

  "Second Master, this is called being unreasonable! Is it fair to let you have one child and still be like that?"

  "That can't be helped, who let you be so strong? I, the young master, had to use some dirty tricks, hehe." Fang Yi Ai didn't think it was shameful, victory is the only way, but this time he really lost face. In just one afternoon, his apprentice could defeat him, he didn't know if the apprentice was too powerful or if he himself was a useless teacher.

  Anyway, that afternoon Fang Yi Ai and Ling Long were happily playing Go, they even forgot about dinner. Until Fang De called out to Fang Yi Ai from outside the door, the two of them finally came back to reality. Ling Long stuck out her cute little tongue and apologized to Fang De: "Housekeeper Fang, sorry about that, I was completely absorbed in playing with Second Young Master earlier and lost track of time."

  "You don't need to explain, just let the second young master go and have dinner now. The old master and madam are waiting." Fang De didn't take this kind of thing to heart either. Two young people playing together without any distractions was very normal, besides, Fang De also didn't want to see the second young master get scolded.

  Fang Yiai smiled and said to Linglong, "Linglong, don't put away the chessboard yet, we'll continue when I get back. You go ahead and eat quickly too." Linglong nodded and left, while Fang Yiai shook her head and walked towards Old Master's courtyard.

  After Fang Yu Ai sat down, Lu Shi smiled and asked: "Jun Er, was the recliner today something you came up with on your own?" Fang Yu Ai nodded while ordering dishes: "Mother, that thing was thought out by me. I think the current seating is unreasonable. You let people sit on such low stools; it's fine for a short while, but who can bear it after a long time? It's more comfortable to kneel and sit. I think we can make some higher chairs and stools, as well as matching tables. Don't you feel uncomfortable kneeling here to eat?"

  "Second brother, you're right. I also feel uncomfortable eating like this with our knees on the ground. It's making my stomach anxious. Originally, I could eat two bowls of rice, but kneeling down like this, I can only manage one bowl." Fang Yizhi also deeply agreed with Fang Yiai's words and didn't know who set such a ridiculous rule that they had to kneel while eating.

  Lu didn't respond to Fang Yizhi's words and thought for a moment before asking again, "Jun'er, did anyone else know when you made this recliner?"

  "Mother, only De Shu and Fang Quan and Ling Long know about this matter, others are still unaware." Fang Yi Ai smiled and replied, looking at her mother's expression, probably having thoughts about the chair.

  As expected, Lu heard and turned his head to Fang Xuanling and said: "Sir, I think this is a good way to make money, what do you think?"

  "Hmph, madam, I'm not interested in that yellow and white stuff. You can handle it yourself." The old man said with a serious tone, puffing on his mustache, as if gold and silver were dirt to him.

  Lu looked at Fang Xuanling with disdain and said, "Old man, what are you pretending to be? If I didn't think of ways to make money, your Fang Mansion would have become a beggar's den long ago. You still dare to look down on wealth? If you're capable, then don't eat this meal! This meal was bought with money too. I'd like to see if those empty words of yours can produce a single meal."

  Lu's ferocity was well-known, and Fang Xuanling didn't dare pretend to be noble anymore, busily sending things into his mouth. Fang Yaoni asked in puzzlement: "Big brother, what's going on? Didn't the Emperor say that officials are not allowed to engage in business?"

  "Second Uncle, you're being a bit too pedantic. The Emperor doesn't allow officials to engage in commerce, but that doesn't mean their relatives can't do business. Otherwise, how would we support this big family? Take our own household as an example - if Mother hadn't managed those wine shops, where would the Fang family's wealth come from? Father's salary alone wouldn't even be enough for a servant's monthly wages, let alone other expenses." Before Fang Yi Zhi could respond, Du Shi began speaking at length, "Our Fang family is already quite well-off. The Long Sun family has assets all over the country - the largest wine shops and inns in Chang'an are all owned by them, as well as a jewelry store. I'm sure the Emperor is fully aware of these things, he's just turning a blind eye."

  The house's love is now understood that there are so many roads here, it seems that the officialdom of the Great Tang Dynasty is not clear. After Lu Shi finished speaking, he turned his head and said: "Jun Er, tomorrow I will let Fang Xing find you, he will bring some master carpenters, you can teach those strange things in your brain to those carpenters, so that our Fang family can also make some money. Not knowing the price of firewood, rice, oil, and salt when not being at home, your father's salary is limited, and he doesn't want to take too much rent from the tenants, so our Fang family has to live frugally every day. Look at your sister-in-law's jewelry, there isn't a single piece worth more than ten taels of silver." After hearing Lu Shi's words, Du Shi frowned and said: "Mother, why say these things? Besides, I'm not very interested in those things."

  "The daughter-in-law, the House of Fu is really not good to you. The old man only knows how to be a pedant, and Jie'er is also a bookworm. These two people don't even know how to bring money back home." Lu Shi said with deep emotion, and Fang Yi'ai could also understand her mother's feelings. As the daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister's mansion, she didn't even have any valuable things. If this were to be said out loud, it would be a loss of face for the House of Fu. So Fang Yi'ai thought for a moment and solemnly promised: "Mother, just watch and see how I'll help you make money!"

  "You little scoundrel, are you itching for a fight again? Is doing business something you're capable of?" As soon as Fang Yuai spoke these out-of-line words, Fang Xuanling, who had been hanging his head in shame, immediately lifted it up and started scolding with a fierce face. Lu Shi also knew that her little son was too reckless with his words, letting others do business on their behalf was still acceptable, but if the second young master of the Fang family were to personally go into business, wouldn't those officials have him killed?

  "Jun Er, it's good that you have this idea, but don't mention business again. If those imperial censors hear about it, your father will be impeached again." Lu Shi stroked Fang Yu Ai's back of the head and said lovingly. She didn't think there was anything wrong with doing business, but since they were in the prime minister's residence, some rules had to be followed.

  "Mother, don't worry, I'm not that stupid. My intention is just to give him some guidance occasionally. By the way, who is Fang Xing?" Fang Yi Ai rubbed his forehead and said with a big tone, but after hearing this, Fang Yi Zhi almost spat out the food in his mouth. He pointed at Fang Yi Ai with a bitter smile and said: "Second brother, you've really forgotten thoroughly. Fang Xing is the son of Housekeeper Fang's family. How could you even forget that?"

  "Big brother, little brother isn't this amnesia? What's so strange about it? You'd better wipe the food off your mouth first!" Fang Yi'ai didn't feel embarrassed at all, pointing at Fang Yizhi and saying with a smile. Du Shi took one look at her little uncle's finger and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to help Fang Yizhi wipe it clean, complaining as she did so: "Look at you, such a big person and you can't even eat properly! Where has your usual composure gone?"

  "This isn't home, is it? Then I won't have to wear a mask and pretend anymore!" Fang Yizhi said with a wry smile.

  Fang Yi Ai couldn't help but steal a glance at Fang Yi Zhi, covering her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably. Fang Yi Zhi looked back at her with a helpless expression, but found that Fang Yi Ai was completely unbothered. Dinner ended in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

  Fang Yiai returned to his own courtyard and saw Linglong standing at the gate, looking around. He stood in the center of the yard, stroking his hair and tilting his face with a very handsome pose, saying shamelessly: "Hey, beautiful lady, may I have the pleasure of inviting you to play a game of Go? Look at this lovely scene under the moonlight, isn't it a perfect moment for a romantic encounter?"

  Linglong was so amused by Fang Yiai that she covered her mouth and laughed, her body shaking like a flower branch. Fang Yiai stared at her with wide eyes, thinking to himself, "What a beautiful woman under the moonlight!" Linglong saw Fang Yiai's dazed expression and felt delighted in her heart. She pulled his hand and said, "Second Master, stop fooling around, everyone has been waiting for you for half a day. Remember, you're not allowed to take back your moves again."

  That night, Fang Yi Ai and Ling Long went to bed very late, playing Chinese chess, but what they got was a marriage!