The night market was a riot of sound and color, buzzing with lively energy. Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the market street, which was choked with a dense stream of people and illuminated by dozens of swinging paper lanterns. The air was thick with the competing aromas of roasting meat, sweet pastries, and pungent spices wafting from the countless food stalls.
Hawkers yelled themselves hoarse, their voices cutting through the rhythmic din of clashing woks and the incessant chatter of the crowd. They paused frequently to observe the dizzying supply of goods piled high on stalls, from finely carved wooden toys and shimmering silk scarves to potent herbal remedies.
Suddenly, Mu Jiao Long came to a complete, abrupt halt. His gaze fixed on a particular establishment across the thoroughfare: an old, dimly lit inn.
He knew that the supplies had already been brought, and there was no reason for the people he brought with him to stay. Mu Jiao Long turned to Mu He, the housekeeper, and said, "Lao He, you take the rest of the people home." Mu Jiao Long then grabbed Wang Changming's hand. "Let's go and have a cup of tea."
Wang Bo panicked. "Gongzi, you can't go inside..." He hurriedly followed behind Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming.
Wang Changming pulled back. "Why? We have to leave early tomorrow."
Mu Jiao Long was insistent. "Drink a cup of tea with me, you won't die."
"Mu gongzi..." Wang Changming was dragged into the inn by Mu Jiao Long.
Mu Jiao Long, Wang Changming, and Wang Bo were seated at the second table on the left side of the stage. The waiter brought them tea and some peanuts.
The innkeeper stood in front of the stage and announced, "Everyone, tonight, Fa guniang said, if someone can play something that Fa guniang likes, she will serve you personally, or you can take one of these items as a gift."
The men in the inn cheered and applauded wildly.
The innkeeper continued, "But you have to choose one of the three instruments on the stage to play."
On the stage table lay a guzheng, a bamboo flute, and a pipa.
A customer called out, "Can we find someone to play on our behalf?"
The innkeeper refused. "No, you have to do it yourself."
The many gongzi in the inn frowned and looked disappointed, realizing that the only thing they possessed was their parents' wealth, with no other talents.
Wang Changming finally understood that this was a flower house. He angrily glared at Mu Jiao Long, who was drinking happily, seemingly undisturbed by the environment. Wang Changming angrily demanded, "Mu gongzi, why are we here?"
Mu Jiao Long smiled. "I like to sit here and listen to Fa guniang playing the flute."
"Fa guniang?"
Mu Jiao Long smiled wider. "Fa guniang is a very beautiful and talented guniang." Wang Changming immediately stood up, but Mu Jiao Long quickly grabbed his hand. "Xiao mao, where are you going?"
Wang Changming said irritably, "Mu gongzi, you can play as you like, and you can do it yourself." He pulled his hand away frantically. "Don't drag other people with you."
Mu Jiao Long looked genuinely puzzled. "I like listening to music. What's wrong with it? This is not a crime."
The innkeeper asked again, "Does anyone want to volunteer?"
Mu Jiao Long, wanting to thoroughly tease Wang Changming, grabbed both Wang Changming's hand and his own and raised them high. "My Xiao gongzi wants to be the first volunteer!"
Wang Changming glared at Mu Jiao Long, his teeth gritted. "You... bastard..."
Mu Jiao Long smiled and whispered softly, "Xiao mao, this bastard wishes you good luck."
Wang Changming whispered back fiercely, "Xiao gou."
Mu Jiao Long, completely unrepentant, shouted loudly, "Please applaud for my Xiao gongzi! He is a shy type!"
Wang Changming walked toward the door but was immediately blocked by ten guards. He realized that Mu Jiao Long wanted to deliberately embarrass him in front of everyone.
The Innkeeper smiled sweetly. "Xiao gongzi, if you volunteer, you must go up and play something for others." She gestured to her doormen. "Please take Xiao gongzi to the stage." She turned to address the crowd. "As you can see, there are two baskets. You can choose to give your money to Xiao gongzi or a poor family." She signaled her men. "Bring the family here."
A family of eight, the Li's, came and stood in front of the stage.
The innkeeper continued, "Tonight, we have the Li family with us. Old Li has a sick mother, a wife, and five children." She turned to Wang Changming. "Xiao gongzi, although we are a flower house, we also do good deeds for the poor. If you play well, you may get a lot of money. You can decide to keep all the money or give it to the Li family." She instructed the audience, "Everyone, remember to wait for Xiao gongzi to finish playing his music, and then choose who you want to donate the money to."
Wang Changming stepped onto the stage, looking down at Mu Jiao Long, who was sitting there happily drinking his wine and toasting him mockingly.
Wang Changming paced back and forth between the three musical instruments, trying to decide which was the easiest to use.
Suddenly, he heard Mu Jiao Long's loud voice shouting from below. "Xiao gongzi, hurry up and play something! Don't waste other people's time and opportunities!"
The crowd shouted in unison, hurrying Wang Changming. In a rush, he quickly picked up the bamboo flute.
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Bo and sneered. "If your gongzi were smart, he would choose the guzheng, which is simple. Even if he doesn't understand music, he can draw out a few strings with his talent." He smiled cruelly, looking back at Wang Changming.
Wang Bo slowly sat down his teacup. "Mu gongzi, you are very happy when you tease my gongzi. Is there any fun in teasing my gongzi?"
Mu Jiao Long scoffed happily. "Lao Wang, I don't have anything against your gongzi, but he acts too proper. Moreover, when he is shy, his face blushes." He picked up a peanut and put it in his mouth. "Also, when he can't think of a solution to the problem, I like to see the clueless movements of his eyes."
Wang Bo smiled faintly. "Really? I didn't recognize any of these."
"Have you been with him for so long, haven't you noticed at all?" Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Changming, saw him pick up the bamboo flute, and burst out laughing. "Lao Wang, your gongzi is doomed."
Wang Bo asked, "How so?"
Mu Jiao Long laughed harder. "He picked the flute."
Wang Bo simply smiled and said, "I don't believe it, because..."
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Bo, intrigued. "Because what?"
Wang Bo smiled back at Mu Jiao Long, confidentially. "See it for yourself."
Mu Jiao Long shook his head, picked up his cup, and began to drink, his eyes unfocused on the liquor. Suddenly, the air was pierced by a pleasant and cheerful flute sound.
He slowly turned, his eyes instantly locking onto the small stage. He saw Wang Changming standing there, cutting a brave and heroic figure with the flute pressed to his lips. Mu Jiao Long instantly set his cup down, his gaze fixed and unblinking.
He's so beautiful when he plays, a thought flashed through Mu Jiao Long's mind, a wave of pure adoration and admiration washing over him.
The sweet melody of the flute moved his heart so profoundly that everything else in the bustling inn faded away. Wang Changming's eyes remained serenely closed as he played, completely lost in the music. All Mu Jiao Long could hear were two sounds: his own rapid heartbeat and the beautiful, soft music of Wang Changming's flute.
After Wang Changming put down the bamboo flute, the crowd erupted. Many young men in the inn hurried forward and threw money into Wang Changming's basket. In a short time, the basket was filled with coins and silvers.
Customers shouted, "Play it again for us..."
The innkeeper intervened. "Rules are rules." She smiled and looked at Wang Changming. "Fa guniang asked if Xiao gongzi wanted to spend the night with Fa guniang or pick one of the three items" from the reward table.
Wang Changming's eyes settled on the table. "I want that jade flute."
For Wang Changming's choice, the guests in the inn frowned in disappointment.
The innkeeper then asked, "Does this Gongzi want to keep his money or give it to the Li family?"
Wang Changming's answer was direct. "I want to keep my money."
Wang Changming grabbed the jade flute and walked back to the table. He set the flute down and stared directly at Mu Jiao Long, challenging him with his gaze. He then pushed the jade flute toward him. "A present for xiao gou," he said, before sighing. "Mu Gongzi, a piece of advice."
Mu Jiao Long asked, "What?"
Wang Changming said seriously, "Mu Gongzi, don't judge a person by his appearance, because you can never tell what kind of person he is with just your eyes..." He looked at Wang Bo. "Lao Wang, let's go."
Mu Jiao Long hurriedly followed Wang Changming and Wang Bo out onto the open street. He saw Wang Changming talking intently to the poor Li family. He then witnessed Wang Changming empty his basket, handing over all the coins and silvers to the family. In return, one of the Li children gave him an apple.
Mu Jiao Long called out suddenly, "Yo, I didn't expect xiao mao to be so kind."
Wang Changming turned his head to look at Mu Jiao Long. "I didn't know xiao gou liked this kind of environment." He then turned and began to walk away from Mu Jiao Long, his pace quickening.
Mu Jiao Long hurried to catch up. "Are you upset?"
Wang Changming did not slow down. "No."
Mu Jiao Long pleaded, "Don't be angry. You promise me to play the flute for me, and I will never come here again."
Wang Changming stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "You kowtow three times in front of me, call me Shifu, and I will teach you to play the flute."
Mu Jiao Long scoffed, his pride flaring. "As a member of the Mu family, I would rather die than kowtow to anyone."
"Forget it then," Wang Changming said, beginning to walk away again.
Mu Jiao Long tried a new tactic. "Changming, don't go too fast! Aren't you afraid that Lao Wang won't be able to catch up with you?"
Wang Bo quickly reassured him. "I'm fine."
Mu Jiao Long ignored him. "Shut up! Changming, wait..." Mu Jiao Long chased Wang Changming along the crowded street all the way back to the Mu's Manor.