Li Chao called up all his acquaintances to gather Li Yun’s betrothal gifts. As the eldest brother of the Li clan, it was his responsibility of make sure that his nephew’s tea ceremony displays the full glory of the Li’s. According to his brother, Li Fan, the budget was open-ended as the grooms parents would be in charge of all the funding. The amount Li Chao’s chose was determined based on the Li family wealth. However, he had to carefully judge the bride’s family as well. Creating an imbalance of gifts meant poor judgment from the groom side.

“Is this the same girl little Yun is seeing?” Li Nan recalled a name from her nephew's previous visit. “Where is her family?”

Li Chao did not know the details, but he assumed low-middle class considering the girl was going to college in the countryside. His nephew and family were setting up a dinner gathering between the two families in an unknown restaurant.

“We will be meeting with the relatives at Hanshang Inn…” Li Chao was in the restaurant business but had never heard of the restaurant or inn before. There wasn’t any information on the web other than it was a boutique inn with no prices. It was too far out of the way and seemed like a new restaurant.

Right before the event, Li Chao instructed his son and daughter-in-law to dress in appropriate attire. A tea engagement ceremony between two families was a formal affair. Li Chenchen and Li Rong took their time to dress up in their qipao. They were both ecstatic about their cousin’s wedding. After their own wedding, they had many decorations left-over that they would like to pawn off to their cousin to make up for their loss.

They arrived at the meetup point and greeted the other Li’s and Li Yun’s maternal side, the Lu’s. Li Chao proudly presented to them ten red boxes of gifts filled with expensive tea leaves, liquor, and sweets.

“Isn’t this too much?” asked one of the Lu’s.

“Nah! This is from all of us!” Li Chao exclaimed.

Lu Suyin glared at her husband and wondered if he had instructed his brother to buy only gifts from the paternal side. Her siblings already had gifts prepared for the couple. She sighed, knowing her in-laws, they probably wanted to show off a little.

“It’s fine having more gifts,” Li Yun said as he readjusted his red qipao shirt.

Li Chao smiled brightly. His nephew was always sensible like his brother. They walked through a traditional-style courtyard and then into a large banquet-style room with two round tables. Everyone, including Li Chao, was impressed by the courtyard decor, the immaculate pond filled with koi, and an ornamental cliff with water cascading from its peak. Walking into the space was like walking into another world where it was easy to forget the rest of the world. No one was aware that it was Rouxi’s property and that Li Yun had designed the courtyard.

From the round tables, several relatives from the bride’s side rose up to greet them, including Song Gaode, Song Ke An, Rouxi’s aunt Chu Mimi, and uncle Gerry. Li Fan and Lu Suyin greeted the incoming couple and introduced them to everyone from the bride’s side, consisting of her aunt, uncle, and step-parents.

Li Chao felt pity for the girl, she didn’t have many relatives with her and it appeared that she lost her real parents at a young age. Before he could formally introduce everyone, they waited for Rouxi’s adopted grandfather to arrive.

As soon as Song Taiji walked in, everyone hushed. He wasn’t the eldest in the room, but he was the one almost everyone recognized immediately. Everyone from Li Yun’s side was surprised that Song Taiji had a fourth son they weren’t aware of and that his granddaughter was Song Meilin. Li Chao and his family couldn’t believe it, but they were excited about the prospect of their neighbors learning about their future connection to the legendary Song Taiji. With everyone seated, Li Chao formally introduced the groom’s side. Song Gaode introduced the bride’s side and called in Rouxi.

Rouxi walked into the room, guided by Wu Ling. Li Yun had seen Rouxi in all kinds of styles and makeup, including a white wedding dress for their wedding photoshoot, but it was his first time seeing her in a red qipao. It made him forget who he was sometimes and it also made him remember how human he was as his heart beated. Would drinking any sort of golden elixir make that feeling go away? Or would it retain that euphoric sensation?

Li Yun took hold of Rouxi’s hand as they traveled around the table to present the teas to their elders and parents. Afterward, the relatives all presented their gifts to the couple and they took several rounds of pictures.

“Ho ho, I knew something was up when we saw little Yun here a few months ago,” Li Chao said merrily to his brother. “Any chance you will be moving here as well?”

Li Fan looked into his wife’s disapproving eyes before answering. “The children will stay in Yide, so not likely we will move.”

“That’s unfortunate. Mister Song, are you going to be sad seeing your daughter so far away?”

“Meilin is used to being on her own,” Song Gaode replied. “I’m happy she has found someone who she can rely on from now on.”

Rouxi and Li Yun remained silent by the side, but their eyes smiled.

****

Chi Ling tapped his feet while staring at a picturesque waterfall his student Zhang Shuyi had drawn. His hands were balmy and his eyes were dark from nerves and stress. He had been notified of Zhang Shuyi’s return, but he hadn’t been called in for questioning. It was likely that Zhang Shuyi was not aware that he had hired an assassin to take care of him.

The assassin's number was given by one of his wealthy clients to use in case there were possible leaks. Chi Ling didn’t think he needed to use it on his student, but his oversight had led Zhang Shuyi to locate the ledger.

Hidden behind the waterfall painting, the ledger gave him both assurance and stress. Without the ledger, he would not have leverage over his clients. He needed it to protect himself, but if the ledger gets out, he would also be in trouble. He may get a few years in jail, but who knows what will happen to him if the clients want to get rid of him?

Suddenly, a jingle from his side pocket went off. It was an odd jingle as it wasn’t from his usual phone.

“Yes?” Chi Ling answered.

“You are aware that your student has been located?” Asked a mechanical voice.

“Yes.”

“What are the chances that he will reveal your side business?”

“I’m not sure…” Zhang Shuyi was he was a wildcard. “Your people failed.”

“You are aware that nothing is guaranteed in our line of work. We will track him down and fulfill your request. However, I want to make an offer for you.”

“What sort of offer?”

“We are aware that you have kept a ledger,” said the voice. “I would like you to remove some pages and turn yourself in.”

“What!”

“Let me finish. You are facing one of the best detectives from the province. He will find evidence of your business eventually. Rather than take a 10-years sentence, you will be better off with a 3- years sentence and I can guarantee that your cell is one of the best. After your sentence, we will reimburse you with 5 million USD and you can leave the country.”

Chi Ling thought about the offer.

“You do not have long to think. I will give you by 4pm. Think it through carefully.”

The call ended. At that moment, his shop manager knocked on his door. There was a friend of Zhang Shuyi who was there to deliver a scroll. Chi Ling had no idea why he was plagued by that name.

“Call him in ten minutes,” Chi Ling directed. He paced back and forth. Could it be the organization again? But why would they send someone here so soon after giving him an ultimatum over the phone?

As soon as the manager left, he took out the ledger from behind the waterfall painting, wrapped it in the newspaper, and looked around for a good hiding spot. He should hide it somewhere outside, but were they watching him? Maybe he should put it back behind the painting, but they could find it. He spotted one location and hid it.

Afterward, he sat down and took a deep breath. The so-called friend could be anyone from the organization or one of his clients. He didn’t believe Zhang Shuyi was close to anyone. A tall man dressed in a casual tee walked in and delivered the scroll tube to Chi Ling. Chi Ling opened the tube package and unraveled the scroll. The scroll was simply a simple poem in Zhang Shuyi’s signature style. He stared at the man and wondered who he was.

“Who are you? How do you know my student?” Asked Chi Ling.

“My name is Li Yun. Zhang Shuyi and I share a common appreciation for calligraphy. I am simply helping him out a little while he’s in protective custody.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Nope, that’s it,” Li Yun got up from his seat.

Chi Ling didn’t think the man would simply drop off a scroll and then leave. He was unaware that as soon as Li Yun left the shop, someone who had been tailing him was following Li Yun instead.

“Dr. Li, a moment of your time,” a man said politely to Li Yun despite the rude blocking stance. His quick and agile movement suggested some sort of advanced military training. “Please, this way.”

The invitation wasn’t an invitation, but a command with a gun angled toward Li Yun’s lower right side.