Chapter Nine: The Richest Man in Blossom City

When Mrs. Yongli called Minerva for tea, Minnie didn't expect that her mother had also called MeiLan. MeiLan was already seated by the time she entered, dressed in that drab man's suit that she seemed to favor. Not only did she wear men's clothes, but she also put her hair up in a topknot to complete the transition. And yet somehow, she still seemed demure and lady-like as she sipped her tea and smiled graciously at her aunt. 

Minnie had to hide her scowl as she sat beside her mother. "Good morning, Minnie," Luen greeted her daughter and poured her a cup of tea. "That is a stunning hairpin you are wearing this morning."

Minnie patted her hair and smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, mother."

Luen waved to one of her maids, and the older woman brought forward a plate of cakes and set it before the girls. Minnie picked one delicately and tasted it.

"There is a reason I have called you girls today," Luen said, bubbling with excitement. "Your father has invited Master Pang Xi to dinner tonight."

"Master Pang!" Minnie straightened with enthusiasm and put the rest of her pastry back down on the plate. 

Across the table, MeiLan looked curious but unimpressed. She was not from Blossom City, so she did not know the significance of the name Pang. Luen was only too happy to explain to her niece. "Master Pang is a spice trader, and he is the richest man in Blossom City. Some people say he has more money than the emperor." Luen wriggled in her seat, "His wife died last year, and they say he is looking for a new bride." Her grin spread across her face. "Now he will have an opportunity to see my beautiful flowers. Perhaps he will find one of you girls suitable to be his wife." 

"But Aunty…" MeiLan's forehead wrinkled, "how old is this gentleman? He must be an old man to have amassed such a fortune and to have already buried one wife."

"You must not mind such details! What is important is that he is capable of taking care of you, and you will never have to struggle for anything." Luen picked up a cake for herself. "Since my sister has passed out of this life, it is my duty to see that you are married well MeiLan. You are like my own daughter now."

There was nothing in that statement that sat well with Minerva, who rolled her eyes and set her teacup down with more force than necessary. "Do you think that Master Pang can overlook my cousin's disability? Perhaps you should look for someone else, someone who cannot afford to be too particular."

MeiLan merely smiled. "Don't worry, Minnie. I have no interest in Master Pang, or any man for that matter. I am content to be a businesswoman and take care of my own needs."

"Psh!" Luen waved away the idea like it was a mosquito that annoyed her. "Don't be silly. I expect you to be at dinner, regardless."

"And cousin," Minnie added with a smirk, "you might want to dress as a woman, or the poor man might be confused." 

As ever, MeiLan marveled at how her cousin's caustic remarks seemed not to register with her aunt, who simply popped another cake in her mouth and hummed at the prospect of the fine man who would grace her table that night. 

Master Pang Xi arrived in the late afternoon in an ornate carriage drawn by two fine horses. He stepped down with a bored expression as he surveyed the courtyard of Master Yongli. Pang Xi was not an old man, and neither was he a young man. He was about to turn forty, but he was still in the prime of his manhood. He had always been considered a handsome and intimidating man, standing tall and broad-shouldered. He wore his hair short, contrary to the popular style, with a neatly trimmed goatee. Thick black brows slashed over his sharp and piercing eyes.

He was not fond of these sorts of social calls, but sometimes it was necessary. Yongli had done him a service, as Captain of the City Guard, by stopping a gang that had been targeting his shops and returning to him the valuable merchandise that the thieves had stolen. It was only polite to show his gratitude by dining with the Yongli family, even if their social status was far below his. His assistant followed close behind him, as he turned to greet Yongli and his wife.

Yongli was dressed in his formal Imperial uniform. "Master Pang! Welcome to my home. May I introduce my wife, Yongli Luen. Please, after you!!" He opened his arm in a sweeping gesture, inviting the businessman to precede him into the courtyard. Pang Xi clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the gardens with detachment. They were quite nice, with flowers, trees and shaped shrubs surrounding the koi pond. The energy was well-balanced and pleasing. They entered the family hall, which was lavishly decorated with embroidered curtains, velvet cushions, and carved statues. As was appropriate, he was given the seat of honor, next to the host. He sat down, and immediately a servant came with a pitcher of wine.

Two young ladies entered the hall, one after the other. The first was a perfect beauty, slender and petite, with wide eyes and a small pert nose. Her hair was artfully woven through a golden headpiece so that she looked like a princess. She smiled and bowed as her father introduced her as his only daughter and the eldest of his children, Yongli Minerva. "Minerva is such a unique name," Pang Xi commented, "pleased to meet you."

The second young woman to enter walked slowly with the assistance of a carved staff. She was not as striking as the first girl, but Pang Xi found her more interesting. Although her clothes seemed simple, he recognized the expensive fabrics, and her understated jewelry probably cost three times as much as the golden headpiece worn by Yongli Minerva. Perhaps the most startling feature of the woman were her unusual blue eyes. He had seen blue-eyed foreigners, but never in the face of one of his own. She offered him a small smile and bowed slightly as her uncle introduced her as Zheng MeiLan.

Immediately, his eyes widened. "Zheng MeiLan? The horse woman?"

Her smile widened, and she dipped her head in acknowledgment. She retreated to her own seat and sat down. Pang Xi couldn't believe it; it was like meeting a legend in person. He had four of the famous black horses in his own stable. Not only were they beautiful, but they were also the strongest and most reliable horses in his herd. As the servants served the food, he told her as much. "But there is a thing I do not understand," he said, picking up his chopsticks. "Although I have two mares, and they have given me a foal every year, they have never thrown a black foal. How is that possible?"

Across the room, Zheng MeiLan only smiled. "My black horses are a blessing from my family guardian, Master Pang. I think it is a sort of magic."

"Pssh, I don't believe in magic. Everything can be explained by science!" 

The way he denied it so quickly and vehemently made MeiLan raise an eyebrow. "I am surprised that a man who has traveled the world as you have can be so narrow-minded," she chided lightly.

"Cousin! Do not insult our guest!" Minerva reprimanded her sharply and then shot an apologetic look at Pang Xi. "Please forgive her, Master."

"No need," Pang Xi dismissed the insult, and continued to eat, but he was still intrigued by Zheng MeiLan. And all the while he was aware of Yongli Minerva's eyes on him. The girl had not stopped staring, even though her food was growing cold. When he met her stare, she blushed and glanced down coquettishly. He suppressed the urge to sigh and shake his head. Who taught these girls that such subterfuge was the way to snag a man?

He himself preferred someone who was much more direct, someone who was not afraid to meet his gaze. Someone who didn't fall over herself when he entered the room.

Someone like Zheng MeiLan.

It had not, of course, failed to slip his notice that young Lady Zheng was a wealthy woman in her own right and a businesswoman at that, though these thoughts played out subtly alongside his attraction to her character. 

Captain Yongli tried to keep the conversation going. "My niece brought several of her horses with her," he said, "they are out in my stable now. Even I have had occasion to admire them. They are so docile that even a woman can ride them."

"Indeed! After the meal, I would love to see them, if you don't mind Miss Zheng."

"As you wish, Master Pang," she said politely. The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. Pang Xi allowed himself only three small cups of wine as a rule. He was never drunk, and he could not tolerate inebriated people and their foolishness. When the food was finished, the servants came promptly and cleared away the dishes.

As a group, they moved from the family hall, behind the courtyard, to the Yongli stables. The horses had just been fed and were quietly eating the hay from their mangers. They pricked their ears curiously at the visitors.

Pang Xi politely admired the captain's horses, although they were all ordinary and not of any particular quality. They were common cart horses and a couple that were used as riding mounts, but it would not pay to be impolite to his host. At the end of the line however, were the four big black horses that belonged to Zheng Meilan. They were both taller and broader than all of the horses in the stable, and their large, soft eyes had an intelligence and a calm that the other beasts of burden lacked. He reached out a hand and stroked it down the broad, flat forehead of one of the geldings. 

MeiLan stood nearby in front of the next stall, and another black horse had stretched his head out to nuzzle her shoulder. She absently obliged him, scratching behind his ear.

"Are these for sale?" Pang Xi asked.

She shook her head. "I'm afraid not, my lord. These are my personal mounts."

"I see. Do you have others then?"

Again, she shook her head. "I'm afraid you are late to inquire, Master Pang. This year's crop of yearlings has already been sold. What remains at home is only my breeding stock. Perhaps next spring, if you put your bid in early."

"What a shame," Pang shook his head regretfully. The Zheng MeiLan black horses were tremendously valuable, not only locally, but if he took them on the trade route, he could probably double or triple their value. What would be even more valuable was if he could pry the secret of the breed from Zheng MeiLan, but as he looked at her calm and impassive face, he knew that it would be no easy task.

He felt a light touch on his sleeve and looked down into the face of Yongli Minerva. She was trying everything in her repertoire of flirtation to appeal to him. "Master Pang," she simpered, "will you tell us a story from your travels before you leave?"

He sighed, feeling tired. He had no desire to entertain the young woman or the rest of her family. But rather, he would have liked to draw Zheng MeiLan aside for a private conversation. However, etiquette called for him to fulfill his duty to Yongli. "Sure. It's such a nice evening, perhaps we could sit in the garden?"

He glanced back to see if MeiLan was following them, but to his disappointment, she was not. She had gone a little distance from the group and was talking to a young, handsome servant. She had her back to Pang, but the servant met his eye defiantly, a clear challenge in his stiff expression. Pang could only smile knowingly to himself as he turned and walked toward the gardens with the rest of the Yongli family.