Flaws

After returning from Aunt Zou, Tan Yang went to the study to review her lessons. The room was warm, lit only by the desk lamp, its jade-green glass shade gathering the orange glow onto the broad writing table. Tan Yang softly recited her English text, her lips moving in quiet murmurs. The door opened noiselessly, and Bi Qingtang walked in. Tan Yang smiled and called out, “Big Brother.” Bi Qingtang stepped behind her and reached out to the window. “You didn’t even draw the curtains. The chilly breeze is blowing right onto your back!” With that, he drew the heavy navy velvet curtains closed with a swish.

Tan Yang leaned back in her chair, smiling with pursed lips. “It’s so warm in here, even the breeze is a rare treat.” Bi Qingtang squatted beside her. “So diligent—are you aiming to be the top scholar among women?” “Big Brother, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be married to the top scholar?” Bi Qingtang shook his head with a laugh. “I’ve even dreamed of being emperor, but never of being the top scholar’s husband.” Having said this, he gently stroked Tan Yang’s back, pulled a key from his pocket, and unlocked the tall cabinet beside the writing table. Inside was a safe. He took out another key, turned it twice in the keyhole, then spun the combination dial, muttering to himself, “It’s my birthday, my birthday. You know it, don’t you? Only you do.”

When the safe opened, Bi Qingtang took a deed from the top compartment and placed it before Tan Yang. “This is the house deed. I changed it to your name before we married. I never told you—you’re too scholarly, and I feared you’d think me vulgar for mentioning it.” He pointed to the lower compartment. “There are gold bars and silver dollars down there. If you play mahjong or want new clothes, just help yourself!” Bi Qingtang locked the safe, closed the cabinet, and placed the key in Tan Yang’s palm. “I had a key made for you but never gave it—truth is, I quite enjoy the feeling of you spending money from my hand.” Laughing, Bi Qingtang pulled Tan Yang into his arms. “Oh, and when you graduate, my department store should be thriving. Help your brother manage it, and as for shares, we’ll talk.”

Tan Yang slowly set the key on the table. “I don’t want it. Maybe Aunt Zou and the others are right, but I think everyone has their own way of living, every woman too. I’m not like them, and that’s why you married me. If I become like them, wouldn’t you have lost out? My father always said people shouldn’t desire too many material things—when fullness comes, disaster follows. So I never wished for a lavish life. The life I want, I can achieve through my own efforts. The rest, you can give, but I don’t need it. If you give it, it’s superfluous.”

Bi Qingtang sighed inwardly. She was no naïve girl, nor did she lack plans for herself. She knew what she wanted, how much, and how best to obtain it. Tan Yang’s wisdom lay in her worldly insight after having experienced life—something young people sorely lack. He held her tightly. “Little sister, it’s for your own good. A man who truly loves you doesn’t just promise eternal affection, he plans your escape route. When love fades, when I’m gone, you’ll still be well.” Tan Yang’s heart chilled at his words, and she spoke with some resentment, “Escape route? Is it for me or for you? I’m not the kind of woman Aunt Zou is, but I fear you might become like old Mr. Zou.”

Bi Qingtang frowned, lost in thought. After a while, he returned to himself and realized Tan Yang was crying quietly on his shoulder—silent tears, born of disappointment and sorrow. Bi Qingtang hurriedly patted her back. “Don’t cry, little sister, don’t cry. You’ve misunderstood me. I’m not leaving myself an out for future fickleness. I just feel the future is so long, I truly don’t know what may happen.” He glanced at the red wedding character on the door, dejected. “I shouldn’t have spoken of this now.”

After New Year, Bi Qingtang became busy again. His grand department store was set to open mid-March, and he bought a four-story garden house on Fuxu Road, with dozens of rooms—a renovation that consumed time, effort, and money. Tan Yang said, since he was in business and needed capital, there was no need to acquire such a large property. Bi Qingtang teased, “Leave it be—I have plenty of money. If our wedding hadn’t been rushed, this would have been our bridal home!” When moving, Tan Yang wanted to bring her dowry furniture. Bi Qingtang was reluctant, but did not oppose her. He opened two rooms in a corner on the third floor of the new house, placing the rosewood furniture meticulously inside.

One day, Tan Yang visited Fang Ya’s home. On the dressing table in Fang Ya’s bedroom, she saw an antique bronze photo frame. Gazing at the photograph, Tan Yang drifted into a trance. Fang Ya shook her shoulder, “What are you thinking? You look lost!” Tan Yang raised her finger toward the man in the photo. “I’ve seen him before, but I can’t recall when or where.” Fang Ya looked puzzled. “Do you know who he is? He’s your father-in-law, Qingtang’s father! You couldn’t have met him—they were still in Shandong before you were born, and after Qingtang found you and brought you to Shanghai, he was already gone.” Fang Ya seemed to realize something. “Have you perhaps seen other photos of the old master at Qingtang’s place?” “No, we don’t have a single picture of father-in-law at home. I’ve seen him in person.” “Not a single photo at home? How can that be? Qingtang deeply respects and misses his father,” Fang Ya protested.

That night, lying in Bi Qingtang’s arms, Tan Yang brought up the matter. Bi Qingtang quickly replied, “Maybe I resemble my father, so you find his photo familiar. There are no photos at home because I don’t want to stir up too much longing for my father. Little sister, don’t overthink.” Tan Yang tugged the quilt higher. “I’m not overthinking. Why are you so eager to explain?” Bi Qingtang was momentarily lost for words.

Thanks to many friends’ support, Bi Qingtang’s department store flourished from the day it opened. On an early spring weekend, Bi Qingtang planned to take Tan Yang to the store, then to Tianchan Theater for a Peking opera. Unexpectedly, at the store, a call came in—there was trouble at the wharf’s warehouse requiring Bi Qingtang’s attention.

While Bi Qingtang instructed staff outside the warehouse office, Tan Yang sat bored inside, doodling and scribbling on desk paper. She wore a pale grey cotton cheongsam and a water-pink wool cardigan. No school on weekends, her waist-length hair was loose, adorned only with a popular hairband among female students—also pale grey to match her outfit, paired with small pearl studs, giving her a refined and gentle air. After half a year of marriage, Tan Yang’s feminine beauty had gradually become apparent—a charm marked by scholarly grace and obedient sweetness.

Tan Yang absentmindedly turned her gaze to the window. Outside on the wharf, an old man’s back caught her attention. She paused, then dropped her pen and rushed out of the office. She pushed open the heavy iron door of the warehouse and ran towards the old man. Many workers were loading and unloading cargo, and Tan Yang dodged left and right until she reached the old man. She opened her mouth to call out, but the words wouldn’t come. She reached out and tugged his coat. The old man, dressed in black silk, holding a purple clay teapot, turned around.

He stared at Tan Yang, dumbfounded. The teapot slipped from his hand and shattered, tea spilling amongst broken porcelain. He looked Tan Yang up and down, his voice trembling. “Miss, is it really you?” Tan Yang nodded. “Uncle Ma, why are you in Shanghai? What are you doing at their association’s wharf?” Her question made the old man glance nervously behind her. “Is the master here? Did he come?” Tan Yang lowered her eyes, saddened. “Father passed away long ago, in the spring of the second year after you left.” As she spoke, tears came. The old man was heartbroken. “What? Master is gone? Did you handle such a big affair all alone?” “My cousin helped.” “Him? He’s useless now.”

The old and the young lamented together. Tan Yang suddenly asked, “Uncle Ma, you once told my father you’d followed him most of your life, but now wanted to return to Shandong to be with family. So why did you come to Shanghai?” The old man blinked and stammered, “I—I have a big family, they need money.” “Why didn’t you tell father? He had little, but he wasn’t stingy.” With a sigh, the old man replied, “Back in Shandong, a whole family has to work for their food. I wanted to be a country gentleman, to live like the master did.”

“Old Ma!” Bi Qingtang’s voice boomed from behind Tan Yang. Old Ma shuddered, hurriedly bowed. “Boss Bi, you’re here.” Bi Qingtang pulled Tan Yang’s arm. “Why are you running around? Made me look for you!” “Big Brother, is Uncle Ma working for you now?” Bi Qingtang nodded. “Did you know Uncle Ma served my father from Shandong to Tongli, as our family steward for over a decade?” “Oh? Is that so?” Bi Qingtang asked absent-mindedly, checking his pocket watch. “Let’s go, the show’s about to start!” He reached for Tan Yang’s waist to lead her away. Old Ma, suddenly understanding, asked softly, “Miss, you married Boss Bi? The Miss Tan who married last year—that’s you?” Tan Yang nodded, and Old Ma hesitated, wanting to say more. Bi Qingtang, impatient, said, “Enough, we’ll be late. Another day, I’ll host a reunion for Old Ma and you can reminisce!”

Watching Bi Qingtang and Tan Yang walk away, Old Ma squinted, lost in thought. Uncle Chen approached and nudged him. “Old friend, what did you say to your Miss? The young master will surely ask when he gets back.” Old Ma smacked his lips and answered irrelevantly, “This marriage only happened because you people got rid of Feng Kang, didn’t it?” Uncle Chen smiled slightly. “He died from opium. Those who talk nonsense lose the chance to speak forever.”

In the car, Tan Yang leaned against the window, deep in thought. Suddenly her eyes brightened, and she exclaimed, “Big Brother, I remember now—I really did meet your father!” Bi Qingtang frowned, staring at her. Tan Yang continued, “That summer, there was a guest at our house. He came at dinner, and father was delighted. The guest and father chatted and drank all night. At dawn, while I was still groggy, they suddenly quarreled fiercely in the front yard. By the time I left for school, he was gone. At noon, returning home, I saw him and Uncle Ma talking at the alley by our back door. A few days later, Uncle Ma told father he wanted to return to Shandong for family happiness, and left our household. Big Brother, if I’m not mistaken, that man was my father-in-law—your father!”

Bi Qingtang lit a cigarette, crossed his legs, and said nonchalantly, “What’s strange about that? Old Ma, my father, and Uncle Chen have been friends since Shandong. My father had some money and influence in Shanghai. Old Ma wanted to come here to earn more, but didn’t want to disappoint your uncle, so he lied to leave. No big deal.” “No, Big Brother, what’s odd is this: your father clearly came to Tongli to see mine, so why, after my father died, did you say you’d just found us and needed to bring me to Shanghai?”

Bi Qingtang rolled down the window, tossed his cigarette outside, and clapped his hands, annoyed. “I didn’t know everything my father did. Maybe he did visit you, but I didn’t know. He sought out your uncle because of their sworn brotherhood. After my father died, I sent people to find your uncle too, because he cared for me as a child. One thing is one thing, don’t mix them together.” Tan Yang hesitated, and Bi Qingtang said, “Little sister! What’s with you, so suspicious? It’s a small matter, nothing strange. Your brother doesn’t like you like this!” His tone was impatient and angry, and Tan Yang felt dispirited.

After a while, Bi Qingtang pulled Tan Yang into his embrace, stroking her hand and smiling. “Are you blaming me? Maybe I should have gone with my father to Tongli to find you, so while both our fathers were alive, I could have married you sooner, made you my wife.”

Bitan Chronicle 2826—Bitan Chronicle Full Free Reading—28(26): Flaw Complete!