Chapter 4 Strolling in Chang'an

  After handing over the house deed, Fang Yi Ai hastily pulled Ling Long out of the Fang Manor's main gate.

  Standing on the street outside the door, Fang Yiai was a little dizzy and wondered where to go. However, Fang Yiai wasn't worried and pulled Linglong's hand, smiling and asking: "Linglong, are there any blacksmith shops or fabric stores near our home?"

  Linglong was very interested in the second young master's strange behavior, and felt the temperature transmitted from his hand, laughing and saying: "Second young master, this is Zhuque Street, there won't be any shops here, if you want to buy fabric, go to Nan Street, there are more shops there, and also a blacksmith shop." Fang Yiai was confused after hearing this, who knew where Nan Street was? He grasped Linglong's hand even tighter, not daring to let go. If others found out that Fang Erlang, the second young master of the Fang family, got lost in Chang'an City, then he would be finished.

  Linglong saw that the second young master was tightly holding her hand, and he didn't dare to let go all along the way. Linglong's heart almost laughed out loud, really not knowing that the second young master also had times when he was afraid. Linglong asked in confusion: "Second Young Master, what's wrong with you? Why have you been holding my hand all along?"

  "Ah, Linglong, to be honest with you, I don't remember the way to Chang'an at all. I'm afraid of getting lost and losing face." Fang Yiai was indeed honest, without hiding anything from Linglong. Linglong covered her mouth and smiled, thinking that Second Young Master was quite honest after all, not as bad as she thought, although a bit silly.

  A gentle breeze blew, blowing Ling's black hair, and Ling used her empty right hand to gently gather the scattered hair. At this moment, Ling had a special beauty, and Fang Yiai felt that if Ling lived in the 21st century, she would be a stunning figure. Fang Yiai was so enchanted that he didn't come back to his senses until after a while, then he said with a smack of his lips: "Ling, actually you don't need to make such a big bun for your hair, it's more beautiful and comfortable if you just let it down."

  "Second Master, really? Then how do you think that hairstyle should be done?" Every woman loves beauty, and Linglong is no exception. Although she is rich in rationality, she still can't help but yearn for beauty. Fang Yiai stroked his chin and smiled: "Linglong, don't worry about these things for now. When we get home, I'll take some time to help you with it. But if I do a bad job, don't be disappointed."

  Linglong was already immune to the shocking and unconventional words of Second Young Master, this young master combed the hair of a maid, which really opened up a precedent for the Tang Dynasty. Not to mention that the young master served the maid, even men serving women were rare, unless you are a princess. So Linglong just smiled and nodded, without putting the second young master's words in her heart, because she thought that after a while, he would forget about this matter.

  Under Linglong's lead, Fang Yiai quickly arrived in front of a blacksmith shop. Linglong walked into the blacksmith shop and said to an old master who was forging iron: "Hello Master Liu, do you have time now? My Second Young Master wants to make something!" Linglong always spoke with such politeness that if it weren't for her low status, she would probably leave a mark in the history of the Tang Dynasty.

  "Heh heh, it's Miss Linglong, could it be the Second Young Master of the Prime Minister's Manor?" Liu Shifu put down his hammer and wiped away his sweat as he smiled and asked upon seeing Linglong.

  "Haha, Master Liu, it's me. I want to ask Master Liu to help me make something. I'm in a hurry to use it, so I came over personally." Fang Yiai heard Master Liu's words and walked into the blacksmith shop with big strides.

  "Second Master, how did you get in? With your noble status, how can you come to a place like this?" Linglong started complaining as soon as she saw Fang Yilai. Liu Shifu also became somewhat tense after seeing Fang Yilai's true appearance. "Second Master, the fact that you came looking for me, Liu Dachui, is already an honor to me. I think it's best if you leave first, this place is too dirty and will tarnish your reputation."

  Fang Yi'ai rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that as a 21st-century person, she wouldn't care about such superstitions. She thought the idea of "avoiding evil spirits" was just nonsense. So Fang Yi'ai waved her hand and smiled, saying: "Alright, Master Liu, what's with this identity business? Aren't we all just the same, with yellow skin and black eyes? By the way, Master Liu, do you have a pen here? I want to draw what I need, it's hard to explain with words. Can you help me write it out?"

  Master Liu is now very respectful to this second young master of the Fang family. What identity does this second young master have, that he can look down on him, a blacksmith? That's ancestral virtue! Master Liu wiped his hands and smiled foolishly: "I do, Second Young Master, wait a moment, I'll help you get it."

  After Liu left, Ling stood behind Yu'er and frowned: "Second Master, don't say that kind of thing again in the future. If those old scholars find out, who knows what kind of trouble it will bring you?"

  "Linglong, your Second Master is a man unlike others. I've never worried about these issues. In my eyes, all lives are equal, no one is nobler than anyone else. So you should also learn to change, you are Linglong and I am just Fang Yiai, don't be afraid or intimidated by me. From now on, if there's anything, just say it directly." Fang Yiai held onto Linglong's hands, repeating this like a spiritual guide from the afterlife.

  After hearing Fang Yi Ai's words, Ling Long's eyes became slightly dim. Before, she could almost see the second young master every day, but it wasn't until today that Ling Long discovered that the second young master was not stupid. In fact, he was the most outstanding person in this Tang Dynasty, because he said what no one else in the entire Tang Dynasty dared to say. Equality of all living beings is such a wonderful thing, everyone belongs to themselves, just like the second young master said, she is Ling Long and he is Fang Yi Ai, nothing more. Ling Long felt that her heart was now so happy, a maid could follow such a master, what else could she be dissatisfied with?

  Liu Shifu quickly took out a pen and, to his surprise, was also holding a wooden board. He placed the items on the table and said with embarrassment: "Second Master, I only have a pen but no paper, so would you mind drawing these things on this wooden board?"

  Fang Yi Ai looked at the smooth wooden board and thought it was a waste, no matter how she looked at it. After glancing at Master Liu, Fang Yi Ai shook her head, "Master Liu, I think I'll just draw on the table top instead, let's consider it as a pattern for the table. It wouldn't be worth wasting another good wooden board like this one. Looking at how smooth and tidy this board is, I'm sure you were going to use it as a panel, right?"

  "Haha, Second Master, you're right. These past few days my wife said the cutting board was broken, so I brought out this wooden board. Originally, I thought it would be used in a few days, but since Second Master wants to draw something and I couldn't afford paper, I had no choice but to use this as a temporary substitute." Liu Shifu scratched his head with an embarrassed expression. Looking at Liu Shifu's sincere smile, Zhang Haichang let out a sigh in his heart. "Liu Shifu, I've already said it before - since I came to this blacksmith shop, I didn't care about my identity, so you shouldn't be too formal either. This makes me feel very uncomfortable."

  "Haha" Master Liu didn't know what to say, he just smiled foolishly. Fang Yiai quickly drew the armrests of the couch with a brush, and after finishing, she asked: "Master Liu, can this thing be made? Remember to make the mortise and tenon joints well, and all things must be the same size."

  Liu Shifu carefully examined the shape and size of this thing, nodded confidently and said: "Second young master, don't worry, this thing is easy to make, I wonder how many pairs the second young master wants to make."

  "Okay, that's good. Master Liu, can you first help me get 20 pairs? Also, please prepare 20 thin iron rods for me, about 6 inches in length." Fang Yiai instructed again.

  "Alright, Second Master, you can come over tomorrow to collect the items," said Liu Shifu. After he finished speaking, Fang Yiai went to fetch the silver, but after searching for half a day, she realized that she didn't even have a single hair on her body. It was Linglong who noticed Fang Yiai's embarrassed expression and took out some loose change from her purse, handing it over to Liu Shifu, saying, "Liu Shifu, take this money, we'll send someone over tomorrow to collect the items."

  "Second Master, this is too much money! Moreover, Second Master, you can come to me in person, and I, Old Liu, am already very happy. How could I accept your money?" Master Liu pushed away the silver in his hand, but Fang Yilai didn't listen to him at all, and quickly left the blacksmith shop with Linglong. After leaving the blacksmith shop, Fang Yilai and Linglong came to a fabric store. Fang Yilai loudly asked the clerk of the fabric store: "I say, do you have that kind of sturdy and thick fabric here?"

  "Sir, you've come to the right place. We do have the fabric you're looking for, but it's not very popular, so let me go get it from the back room." The shop assistant returned with a roll of fabric in no time. Fang Yu Ai felt it and saw that it was what she wanted, so she had Ling Long pay for it and they bought the whole roll on the spot.

  Carrying a bundle of cloth on Zhuque Street, Fang Yilai felt like a total failure. As someone who had supposedly transcended to a higher realm, he didn't even have a single penny on him, and all his expenses were being covered by Linglong. Looking at Linglong, who was almost as tall as him, Fang Yilai couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. With her height of 1.7 meters, she would be considered extremely tall in the Tang Dynasty, yet this stunning beauty with a statuesque figure was merely a maid. It was truly a cruel joke of fate. "Linglong, I'll pay you back as soon as we return to the manor."

  "Second Master, what do you mean by this? Linglong's food and lodging are all paid for with the Fang family's money. What use is your money to me? Besides, Madam has always been very good to Linglong. Is there a difference between my money and Madam's?" Linglong shook her head, not wanting Second Master to return her money, as that would represent a kind of distance.

  Fang Yi Ai thought for a moment and nodded, saying: "Ling Long, you're absolutely right. We don't need to be so formal with each other. If you're short on money in the future, I'll take care of you, haha!" Fang Yi Ai walked away with a swagger, while Ling Long stood behind him, looking dazed. She couldn't help but think that this Second Young Master was always so unconventional and shocking. How could a mere maid like herself possibly be worthy of someone as high-ranking as the Second Young Master? His future wife would surely be a noble lady from a prestigious family, or maybe even a princess. What right did she, a lowly maid, have to harbor feelings for the Second Young Master? He was far beyond her reach.

  After returning to Fang's residence, Fang Yiai threw the cloth on the bed and ran outside shouting: "De Shu, did you bring what I wanted?"

  "Second Master, I have prepared everything you wanted. Shall I send it to your courtyard?" Fang De was completely baffled by what this Second Master was trying to do and could only ask reluctantly.

  "De Shu, have someone send the things over. Also, tomorrow, send someone to Liu's blacksmith shop on South Street. I've had something made there and I'll need it tomorrow." Fang Yi'ai spoke somewhat urgently, but Fang De nodded in agreement. Since he couldn't understand what Second Young Master was up to, he would just wait and see. After all, Second Young Master would take action eventually.

  Fang Yi Ai sat in the house drinking water, just like a cow drinking. Linglong happily poured more water for Fang Yi Ai.

  Fang Yi didn't know that from now on, there was an additional woman's shadow in his heart, gentle as water, smiling like a flower!

  The more separated, the more infatuated, drawn in this great Tang's sky, transformed into a moving rainy season!