Before they left, Li Juechen was worried that Tang Lichu might feel awkward being around someone she did not know well, so he had her bring along Cheng’s mother and Susan, the foreign female doctor.
Susan could speak a little Chinese and was quite familiar with Beiping. Most importantly, she had a lively personality and could keep Tang Lichu company and chat with her. Cheng’s mother was brought along simply to take care of Tang Lichu.
Feng An was driving, with Cheng’s mother in the front passenger seat. Susan and Tang Lichu sat in the back, while everyone else followed discreetly from the shadows to protect them. How they managed to keep up was none of Tang Lichu’s concern.
She had not been outside in a very long time. As she looked at the endless stream of foreigners on the streets and the Western-style buildings that could be seen everywhere, an indescribable bitterness welled up inside her.
This was her country, yet it was constantly constrained and pushed around by foreigners.
When they arrived at the Longjiang Hotel, they picked up Sophia. Now there were three women in the back seat, with the two foreign ladies sandwiching Tang Lichu between them and chattering away in English. Cheng’s mother’s head began to ache just listening to them.
There was nothing particularly interesting to see along the way. England’s scenery was far more beautiful than Beiping’s anyway. Sophia loved shopping and spending money, so their first stop was an established old qipao shop.
Susan had been in Beiping for two years and was very fond of wearing Manchu-style qipaos. Sophia also wanted to buy several to take home as gifts for her friends.
“Miss Tang, you look absolutely beautiful in a qipao. Could you help me choose a few?” Sophia asked her.
Tang Lichu smiled and nodded, replying in English, “Women from your country have fair skin and tall figures. Long qipaos would suit you very well.”
The three women chatted as they walked into the shop, with Feng An and Cheng’s mother following closely behind.
They had intended to browse quietly, but things did not go according to plan. The moment they stepped through the door, they ran into a group of richly dressed, haughty young ladies from prominent families.
The girl at the front was wearing a pink Western-style dress. Her hair was curled into fashionable little rolls, and an extravagant necklace of large pearls hung around her neck. The outfit gave the otherwise ordinary-looking girl an air of fashion and nobility.
“Feng An? What are you doing here?”
Although Huang Xuejian called out to Feng An, her eyes were firmly fixed on Tang Lichu’s breathtakingly beautiful face.
There was no other reason. This woman was simply too dazzling.
Even standing there silently without saying a word, she naturally drew the attention of everyone around her.
With such devastating beauty, yet walking alongside Li Juechen’s trusted right-hand man, what could that possibly mean?
Feng An’s heart sank.
But since Miss Huang had called out to him, he naturally could not pretend he had not heard her.
“Miss Huang, I’m here under the Marshal’s orders to accompany and protect the foreign guests.”
Huang Xuejian pointed directly at Tang Lichu and asked arrogantly, “Oh? Then is she a foreign guest too?”
Her tone was filled with the haughty pride of a pampered young lady from a powerful family.
Feng An expressionlessly stepped in front of Tang Lichu and warned her, “She’s the translator Miss appointed by the Marshal. You should mind your own business, Miss Huang. If you offend our foreign guests and the Marshal holds you accountable, I’m afraid even your father, Mr. Huang, won’t be able to bear the consequences.”
At that moment, Cheng’s mother’s slightly plump figure also moved to Tang Lichu’s side, standing protectively like a small mountain.
Although her back was turned to the group of young ladies, she seemed to have eyes in the back of her head and immediately went into defensive mode.
Huang Xuejian was momentarily speechless after Feng An’s warning. He had made her lose face in front of all her “friends.” How could she possibly let it go?
“I was only asking a question. Must Lieutenant Feng use the Marshal to intimidate me? That young lady looks unfamiliar to me. She’s so beautiful, I only wanted to make friends with her.”
Feng An remained unmoved and continued, “Miss Translator is working right now. The Marshal’s orders are for us to make sure our foreign guests are properly entertained. It would be best if you didn’t keep pestering us, Miss Huang.”
“You!”
Tang Lichu ignored her throughout the entire exchange.
She took Sophia and Susan around the shop, examining the qipaos displayed along the walls while fluently introducing them to Sophia in English.
Du Shiru had just returned from studying abroad. Her father, Du Bin, was a division commander under Li Xiao.
Seeing Huang Xuejian’s embarrassing predicament made her feel awkward, but since they had come together, she could hardly stand by and do nothing.
“Lieutenant Feng, of course we wouldn’t dare offend Uncle Li’s guest. Xuejian is just straightforward and means no harm. We still have other places to visit, so we’ll be going now. You can carry on with your business.”
With that, she grabbed Huang Xuejian, who was still looking furious, and slowly led her toward the door.
As she walked away, Huang Xuejian kept turning back from time to time, glaring viciously at Tang Lichu.
For some reason, from the very first moment she saw Tang Lichu’s face, an inexplicable sense of panic had risen from deep within her.
It felt as though an invisible hand were tightly squeezing her heart, leaving her almost unable to breathe.
“Wait! Feng An, who exactly is she? I don’t believe for a second that she’s the translator Marshal Li invited. Do you dare come with me to confront the Marshal right now?”
Feng An nearly wanted to curse.
Is she out of her mind?
Miss Tang had not said a single word to her. She had not even spared her a glance. Where did she get all that hostility from?
And now she wanted to confront the Marshal?
Did she have nothing better to do?
Du Shiru was also inwardly cursing.
If Huang Xuejian weren’t close to Li Zhenting and Li Yuzhang, giving her opportunities to meet Li Juechen, who in their right mind would want to go shopping with such a troublemaker?
“Xuejian, stop making a scene. I heard my father say that this foreign guest has very important business to discuss with the Marshal. If you interfere and ruin things, even your Huang family will suffer the consequences. Listen to me. Let’s go somewhere else and continue shopping!”
Tang Lichu was growing irritated by the noise. Even Susan could not help rolling her eyes several times.
If someone had dared to target her like this, she would have already gone over and given them a piece of her mind!
In the end, the argument never escalated because the people hiding nearby stepped out and escorted Huang Xuejian away.
Susan quietly asked, “Miss Tang, aren’t you angry?”
Tang Lichu smiled faintly and explained, “I’m used to it. That’s precisely why I don’t like going out.”
Susan burst into laughter at her completely serious expression.
“Thank goodness I’m not pretty. I wouldn’t want to have troubles like yours!”
Sophia bought more than a dozen qipaos, while Susan also picked out several.
Cheng’s mother urged Tang Lichu to choose a few for herself as well, but Tang Lichu declined.
“I don’t go out very often. He has already prepared more than enough clothes for me. I couldn’t possibly wear them all.”
Afterward, Sophia went to a jewelry store and picked out more than a dozen sets of jewelry to match the qipaos before finally stopping.
“Miss Tang, shall we go back to the Longjiang Hotel for lunch? I’ve had enough of the usual food. Is there anything special to eat in Beiping—something so delicious that I’ll keep thinking about it afterward?”