Chapter Five: Tao Chun

 There are now six days until the wedding and Bai Chun is starting to feel a bit stressed about his money just getting drained to pay for this wedding not knowing if he has enough for it all. He is dragging a small boar and three birds out the forest and headed to the city to sell them. Once there he quickly gets to work and sells them for 45 copper which makes him frown but he knows that right now meat is cheap since many people are selling it right now. Bai Chun quickly counts his money hoping he has enough to buy everything the old ladies told him to get. He counted out one silver and ninety eight copper.

 With that Bai Chun starts walking around stopping by different stalls buying all the food. All the older ladies who saw him were all smiles with a few taking advantage to grope him lightly. Bai Chun looks annoyed but he hides it with a smile taking the discounts. By the end Bai Chun has a satchel full of the food he needs. With that he starts heading home, as he weaves through the crowd he noticed people glancing in front of him at a lady who is running and yelling. Bai Chun can't hear what she is saying but it sounds like she is angry. Although he is interested in what is being said it has nothing to do with him and it's inappropriate to insert himself into what is happening. He looks up at the sky to see what time it is, it's almost high noon so he needs to hurry home otherwise it will be too late to hand the food over.

 While he was thinking this someone ran into his chest. Looking down Bai Chun saw a dirty girl who looks panicked and very familiar.

 "Oh!" She looks up and is shocked yet happy to see Bai Chun.

 "It's me Li Bai. I helped you buy some cloth a few days ago. My muqin is chasing me and trying to force me to become a concubine to an old man. Please help!" She says quickly and desperately while glancing back seeing her muqin rushing forward while looking around. Bai Chun frowns but grabs her and hides her small body with his body making sure to turn away so her muqin doesn't recognize her as she ran by. The stood closely as Bai Chun kept his eyes on her muqin watching as she ran off. Li Bai looked up at him with a blushing face embarrassed at the close proximity. Bai Chun glances down and notices her expression and quickly takes a step back not wanting people to start talking without getting anything in return.

 "Thank you." Li Bai says quietly looking down.

 "So what happened?" Bai Chun asks looking ay her. She has watery eyes at she looks at him.

 "Please hide me my muqin is looking for me." She says. He looks her over and sees that her body is bruised and her clothes are dirty and a bit torn. Bai Chun frowns but pulls her against the nearest wall and hides her small body with his before looking behind himself and realizes the lady that is running while yelling is the shop keeper from before.

 "That's your muqin right?" He asked just to make sure to which she nods while shivering. Bai Chun looks at her and realizes that they are standing way too close for the public but since she is hidden nobody can tell that she is there. Li Bai looks up at him her eyes looking a bit sad but you can also see a bit of a blush on her face. He takes a small step back so as to not be too close. They stood there quietly waiting for her muqin to pass and was half way down the street.

 "So are you going back home?" Bai Chun asked. Li Bai looks very uncomfortable but looks at him.

 "I would rather not." Bai Chun nods his head.

 "It's very inappropriate but you can come to my home in the village down the road and tell me what happened on the way." Bai Chun said slowly.

 Li Bai's face flushes heavily but after a pause she slowly nods. The two start walking out the city and down the road. Once on the road Li Bai starts talking.

 "After you left the store muqin realized our interaction wasn't the most appropriate so she told fuqin and they plan to sell me off as a concubine to a old rich merchant that is close to passing away." Her face shows the visible distress. Bai Chun frowns at her words.

 "If I marry the old man and become one of his many concubines I will have to get married off to one of his children since I was sold in as a concubine." Li Bai explains to him. Bai Chun nods in understanding looking angry.

 "I know a way that can help you so even if your muqin find you she can't do anything besides ruin your reputation." Bai Chun says after thinking for a while. Li Bai looks confused as she looks at him.

 "What is it?" She asks while looking up at him with her big eyes. Bai Chun gulps lightly and averts his gaze.

 "I can take you in as a concubine myself." He says softly knowing it's an uncomfortable topic for a girl who is fourteen which is marriable age. Li Bai looks at him with wide eyes in shock before her face flushes after understanding what he was saying. She looks down and doesn't respond for a while.

 They walk in silence both blushing a bit from the topic. This continues until they are close to him home before Li Bai finally responds softly.

 "Ok."

 Bai Chun looks at her in surprise since he thought she would just ask him to help her find a Zhangfu *husband*. He quickly smiles at her while leading her to him home ignoring the murmurs of the villagers.

 "Oh wow you know Bai Chun has a good future ahead of him. He has already picked out a concubine to bring in after he marries Tao Fang."

 "I feel bad for Tao Fang her future Zhangfu will be a man with any concubines from the looks of it. How will she manage?"

 Bai Chun closes the door but leaves the gate to his courtyard open to keep rumors from spreading. He points her to a room on the other side of the house.

 "That will be your room. Although there isn't a bed since I am waiting to marry my qizi since it's her job to decorate the home to her liking." Bai Chun tells her. Li Bai eyes the room but nods her head.

 "I understand." She says. Suddenly there is a knock at the door. Bai Chun is surprised he quickly places the food on the ground and opens the door. At the door Tao Chun is seen holding a basket of vegetables from their home garden and wearing a loose Ruqun that's white with green plants decorated on the skirt with a pink shawl over her arms. Her hair is up in a bun held in place with a pretty hairpin.

 "Hello I'm here to get to know my future brother in-law." Tao Chun says with a smile. Bai Chun nods and let's her in the home closing the door to the house. Tao Chun enters with a smile showing some satisfaction, but her eyes quickly land on Li Bai and she frowns while looking her over. Li Bai looks back at her while frowning as well.

 "Who is this? Don't tell me your planning on bringing in a concubine before marrying my sister?" Tao Chun asks while glaring at Li Bai before looking at Bai Chun with a frown.

 "She is Li Bai I am helping her since her muqin wishes to marry her off as a concubine to a rich old merchant." Bai Chun says with a smile. Tao Chun looks her over before standing up straighter and subtly pushing her breast out with a smile while glancing down at Li Bai's.

 "Oh well nice to meet you."

 Li Bai frowns but forces a smile and nods.

 "Bai Chun is a good man who will help a young lady even if it impact's his reputation." Li Bai says softly while glancing at Bai Chun with a slight loving expression. Tao Chun frowns at Li Bai then turns to Bai Chun.

 "Here this is our gift to you." She hold out the basket she was holding. Bai Chun smiles and grabs it.

 "Then I will take this gift." He says.

 "Brother in-law has a good attitude but should be careful about who he brings into his home." She says while giving Li Bai a sharp look. Bai Chun smiles and nods before placing the basket with the other food.

 "Li Bai take all these foods next door and tell them it's for my wedding." He orders her. Li Bai nods and grabs all the food. Tao Chun smiles smugly as she watches her leave. Once the door closes behind Li Bai Tao Chun takes a deep breath. She suddenly takes a few steps behind Bai Chun and falls to the ground with a cry. Bai Chun who had just closed the door turns around quickly and sees her there.

 "What happened?" He asked rushing over but not touching her.

 "I think I hurt my leg from falling." Tao Chun says sounding whiny. She lifts her skirt with a flinch to show off her thin pale legs rubbing it.

 "Ow it hurts so much."

 Bai Chun pauses when he saw her lifting her skirt and showing him her legs before giving her a deep look. He could tell what is happening since her leg doesn't look hurt. Tao Chun blushes but keeps up the act. Bai Chun decides to play along wondering what she is planning since she knows her sister is to marry as a qizi.

 "I will grab some cream to put on your leg." He turns to leave and comes back five minutes later before sitting down and grabbing her exposed leg and rubbing some cream on it. He then gives it a few squeezes wanting to get something more out of the interaction. While all this is happening Tao Chun is blushing heavily with a smile.

 Suddenly the door opens and Li Bai walks in a pauses in shock at what she is seeing before quickly closing the door not wanting the other villagers to see. Bai Chun's face flushes at being caught and quickly finishes up before letting go and standing up. Tao Chun glares at Li Bai for interrupting her time with Bai Chun before turning to look at Bai Chun her face blushing red.

 She stands up and decides to stay longer.

 "Brother in-law thank you for helping me." Tao Chun says shyly while grabbing his hand and looking up at him. Bai Chun looks at her deeply and decides to work harder to become an official to keep up with the expenses of all the women that are coming in.

 "It's not an issue." Bai Chun says before turning to his room and grabbing a roll to study. Behind him Li Bai and Tao Chun follow.

 "For someone that is an outsider you sure like to get into a lot of people's business." Tao Chun says annoyed.

 "For someone who's sister is supposed to become the main qizi you sure are close to your brother in-law." Li Bai countered. The two glare at each other. Bai Chun ignores them and reads. Slowly time passes by with the girls fighting and Tao Chun subtly flirting with Bai Chun by touching his legs or leaning on him. By the time she left before sunset Bai Chun felt a bit worked up and was close to pushing her against the wall and kissing her mind blank.

 After saying good bye Tao Chun rushes home to find her muqin.

Village Head's Home

 Inside the village head's room Tao Ming, Tao Fang, and Tao Chun are all there looking gloomy. Tao Ming sat on the bed and looks at Tao Chun.

 "You said it's a girl Tao Fangs age?" She asked. Tao Chun nods her head.

 "She said she's fourteen just of age for marriage." Tao Chun tells them. She looks at the girls with a dark expression.

 "You must work hard when you join the family since he already has a woman in the house . Tao Fang you must hurry and have a son. Tao Chun you must hurry and become a concubine and have a son." She tells them looking at the two with a very deep expression giving them an outline of what they need to do in the future.

 Tao Fang and Tao Chun look at each other annoyed but still nod knowing they have to work together to suppress that Li Bai girl once they join.

 "Yes Muqin." They say together while looking at her.