“Food?” Tang Lichu wasn’t entirely sure either, so she could only look hopefully at Feng An.
Feng An immediately understood. “Miss Tang, Yuehua Tower is one of the most famous restaurants in Beiping. It’s practically full every day. The Third Master has a private dining room there. If you think that sounds good, I’ll send someone ahead to make the arrangements.”
Tang Lichu nodded.
When they arrived, the manager saw Feng An and immediately greeted them with nervous respect, personally leading them to Li Juechen’s private dining room. Before long, one exquisite dish after another was served, filling the table like a flowing stream.
Sophia was the happiest of them all. She believed the cuisine of Manchukuo was the best in the world, without exception. English food, on the other hand, tasted the same no matter how it was prepared.
After their meal, Sophia suddenly got the urge to see a Chinese opera, so Feng An promptly arranged the largest private box at Yijing Garden.
Tang Lichu hadn’t watched an opera in many years. Her mother had been an opera singer herself and had once been a famous performer with the Caiyuntian Opera Troupe. Unfortunately, after becoming pregnant with Tang Lichu, she had never performed on stage again.
The group arrived at Yijing Garden, the largest opera house in Beiping. That day’s performance was the renowned Peking Opera Farewell My Concubine.
Sophia and Susan swayed their heads along with the melodies, their enthusiasm making Tang Lichu laugh. In English, she teased them, “Can you actually understand the opera from our country?”
Susan honestly shook her head. “I can’t understand it, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking it sounds beautiful.”
Sophia understood a little. She and Mr. Smith had watched Chinese opera while they were in the western regions, so she explained to Susan, “This opera is extremely famous. My husband and I have seen it twice before, and we were deeply moved each time. Being able to watch it again here in Beiping means this trip has been completely worthwhile!”
For the rest of the performance, no one spoke. They simply sat quietly and watched the magnificent show onstage. Even Cheng’s mother was completely absorbed in it.
They had dinner at the Longjiang Hotel. Afterward, Sophia grabbed Susan and Tang Lichu and pulled them into her room. With a mysterious smile, she pointed to a row of evening gowns in the wardrobe.
“Each of you pick one and change into it. Once we’re ready, we’re going dancing at the Paramount!”
Tang Lichu was on the verge of tears.
She had no problem accompanying Sophia shopping, eating, and watching an opera. But Li Juechen had never said she was allowed to go somewhere like a dance hall!
Seeing the hesitation in the beauty’s eyes, Susan tried to reassure her. “We’re only going to have a few drinks and watch the performances. Mr. Li won’t say anything. He asked you to entertain Sophia, didn’t he? Then shouldn’t everything be done according to what she wants?”
Sophia handed her a fitted white lace evening dress, complete with a little white hat decorated with a bow.
“Miss Tang, you have such a wonderful figure. The moment I first saw you, I thought this dress would look perfect on you. I’ve never worn it before, so I’m giving it to you.”
Tang Lichu hurriedly handed the dress back, shaking her head repeatedly. “You’re Third Master’s guest, while I’m only a translator. How could I possibly take your clothes?”
Sophia exchanged a glance with Susan. The two women walked over to her and, without another word, began helping her change.
Tang Lichu had no choice but to take the dress and retreat into the washroom.
Although it was a Western-style dress, it felt somewhat similar to a qipao when worn, except that it was shorter. Her slender calves were fully exposed. With the little hat on her head, she looked exactly like a wealthy young lady who had just returned from studying abroad. Every gesture she made radiated an elegant and noble charm.
Sophia and Susan circled around her, admiring her from every angle, clicking their tongues in amazement.
“How can someone in this world be so perfect? Miss Tang, you’re absolutely gorgeous! I guarantee that tonight, you’ll be the undisputed queen of the dance hall!”
Although Tang Lichu had studied etiquette and languages under a Western gentleman for some time, she was extremely conservative by nature. Hearing such praise from the two foreign women made her feel terribly embarrassed.
What… queen?
When Feng An heard that they were going to the Paramount, he also looked hesitant.
No one else knew just how much Third Master treasured Miss Tang, but Feng An knew it better than anyone. If Third Master found out that Miss Tang had gone to a dance hall, then judging by his understanding of the man, he was certain to receive a beating with a military baton.
“Miss Tang, are you really going? I’m worried that…”
Tang Lichu looked at him helplessly.
Susan understood some Chinese. She turned to Feng An and spoke in slightly stiff but fairly fluent Mandarin.
“We’ll just sit there for a little while. I promise we’ll leave soon.”
Feng An had no choice but to grit his teeth and take the three women to the brightly lit Paramount dance hall.
Once they entered, he stayed carefully by Tang Lichu’s side the entire time, afraid that anything might go wrong.
But as fate would have it, they ran straight into Huang Xuejian.
The moment Huang Xuejian saw Tang Lichu, she reacted like a match thrown into explosives. She stormed over and shouted furiously,
“You shameless little vixen! Did you hear that Third Brother is coming here later, so you rushed over to flaunt yourself and seduce him?”
Tang Lichu’s heart jolted.
Li Juechen is coming? What am I going to do?
Her mind instantly became a tangled mess, and she had no idea how to respond.
Huang Xuejian was a proud young lady who couldn’t tolerate being repeatedly ignored and slighted. She grew even more furious and shouted again,
“I’m talking to you, you know! Are you mute? Why can’t you even say a word?”
The anger that Cheng’s mother had been suppressing finally exploded.
Did they really think her mistress was an easy target?
Her young mistress might be easygoing, but Cheng’s mother certainly wasn’t some soft persimmon anyone could squeeze.
If you bully my mistress, you’re bullying me!
Cheng’s mother stepped forward and positioned herself in front of Tang Lichu. She shoved Huang Xuejian two or three meters away, then spat fiercely on the ground and cursed indignantly,
“Who knows what godforsaken corner you crawled out of, you brainless brute! Our young mistress has been diligently working as a translator for the foreigners. When the foreign lady wanted to come out, could our young mistress possibly refuse? How did it become so filthy once it passed through that foul mouth of yours? Just look at yourself! You’re dressed up like a peacock, running here with nothing but the intention of seducing men, yet you insist on assuming everyone else is as shameless as you are!”
Huang Xuejian never imagined that an old servant would dare treat her this way. Her face immediately turned livid, and her whole body trembled with rage.
She turned toward Meng Lingwei and screamed, “You’re just standing there watching the show, happily watching this old hag bully me, aren’t you? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and help me up!”
Meng Lingwei and Li Baozhu, both concubine-born daughters, normally followed Huang Xuejian’s lead in everything. The incident had happened so suddenly that neither of them had reacted in time. Now that they had come to their senses, they hurried forward and helped Huang Xuejian up from the floor.
Du Shiru’s sharp gaze had also remained fixed on Tang Lichu’s face.
She had noticed something.
When that idiot Huang Xuejian had mentioned Li Juechen just now, Tang Lichu’s face had instantly gone pale, and she had looked extremely flustered.
If she really had come here to seduce her Third Brother, as Huang Xuejian claimed, then shouldn’t she have been delighted upon hearing that he was coming?
So why did she look so frightened and uneasy instead?