Though he had been scolded, Xu Yi didn't get angry. Without a word, he left.
He crossed the street to the storefront of Guanglong Trading Company. The doors were tightly shut. His awareness reached inside, where he sensed only dead silence—no one was there.
Xu Yi immediately had a bad feeling.
Cao Mengfu had only just grasped the doorknob when his shoulders tensed. A gleaming dagger slipped from his sleeve into his palm. He turned around calmly, and before he could make out who had come, the polite, obsequious smile he wore every day had naturally spread across his deeply wrinkled old face.
When he recognized the visitor, his smile froze before it could fully unfold, as if a sudden deep freeze had sealed a cicada in the middle of its leap.
"Husband, why haven't you—? Welcome, honored guest."
A young woman in a wooden hairpin and plain cloth dress, yet blessed with striking beauty, opened the door. Slightly surprised, she still curtsied to the young man in blue behind Cao Mengfu.
"Old Cao, would it be inconvenient to invite me in for a seat?"
The young man in blue smiled.
"Not at all, not at all! Please, come in!"
Cao Mengfu's tongue stumbled over his words.
Inside was a small courtyard, about a zhang across. Chickens and ducks pecked happily at freshly scattered leftovers. Beside the gate on the left stood a tall, old elm tree. Beneath it sat a stone table with one corner missing, surrounded by four chairs. The main house stood at the back of the courtyard, and there seemed to be another courtyard behind it; the sound of children playing came from there.
"Quick, bring some tea!"
Cao Mengfu said urgently.
"No need. We'll just talk. Let your wife get on with her work."