Great Jing Dynasty, before the New Year Festival.
“Lu Lang.”
As the New Year approached, even Benevolent Heart Hall had few visitors.
Prompted by Liu Qingyan’s glance, Old Master Liu said to Lu Zheng, “It must be dull to stay home alone for the vigil. Why not come to our place?”
Liu Qingyan immediately looked at Lu Zheng with hopeful eyes.
Lu Zheng had no objections. “Sounds good!”
Liu Qingyan’s face bloomed with a smile. “It’s been a while since we played chess, Lu Lang. Tomorrow we can have a few games.”
Then, with a touch of regret, she added, “It’s a pity Sister Shen can’t leave Peach Blossom Village. It would be great to celebrate together.”
Lu Zheng suggested, “We can visit her on the first day of the New Year.”
Liu Qingyan nodded. “That works too.”
In the afternoon, Hu Zhou came to help as usual. Old Master Liu asked about his plans and learned that Hu Zhou and his mother would be alone for the holiday, so he invited them to join the Liu family for the New Year.
Hu Zhou said he needed to check with his mother, but Lu Zheng figured she wouldn’t refuse.
Lu Zheng smacked his lips, surprised that after half a year in the Great Jing Dynasty, he could celebrate a lively New Year.
On New Year’s Eve, equivalent to modern New Year’s Eve, Lu Zheng informed Aunt Liu early in the morning that he’d be at the Liu household for the holiday. Back in his room, he packed all the gifts into a large bamboo basket.
“Uncle Liu! Aunt Liu! Qingyan! Qingquan, Happy New Year!” Lu Zheng called as he arrived.
“Lu Lang, you’re here! Come in!” Old Master Liu welcomed him, then sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up.
Knowing Old Master Liu’s fondness for liquor, Lu Zheng didn’t beat around the bush. Smiling at the Liu family, he said, “I’ve brought gifts for everyone.”
Liu Qingquan piped up, “Are there lollipops and preserved plums?”
Lu Zheng shook his head with a smile. Liu Qingquan’s face fell, as if she might cry.
“But I’ve got something even better: milk candies, toffees, and chocolates.”
Something better?
Milk candies? Candies made from milk?
Toffees? Crunchy sweets like crispy pastries?
And chocolates, what were those with such a strange name?
*Gulp*
Lu Zheng and the others went to the front hall, where he set down the basket and began taking out items.
First, for the little sister-in-law.
“These are toffees, milk candies, chocolates, and preserved plums.”
Lu Zheng had removed the packaging and placed the sweets in bamboo containers.
Liu Qingquan took one, hugged it, then took another, clutching it tightly.
Soon, she couldn’t hold any more but was reluctant to let go of any.
Liu Qingyan, unable to watch, took two containers from her.
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, then turned to Old Master Liu. “This is white liquor, and this is yellow wine. See if you like them.”
“These are two cashmere scarves. Aunt Liu and Qingyan, pick a colour you like.”
“Wonderful!” Aunt Liu was thrilled to receive a gift.
Liu Qingyan took the cashmere scarf Lu Zheng handed her, feeling its soft texture and fine craftsmanship. “Excellent work.”
“Qingyan, I noticed you don’t often wear that gold hairpin, so I bought a few hairpins. See if you like them.”
Besides personal gifts, Lu Zheng brought out fruit wine and pastries.
Finally, he took out a wooden box about a foot square.
Seeing him handle it so carefully, the Liu family’s attention focused on it.
“What’s this?”
Lu Zheng opened the box, revealing many small wooden tiles, less than an inch wide, neatly arranged.
Liu Qingquan picked one up, noticing two circles drawn on the other side.
She looked it over, still puzzled. “What is this?”
Liu Qingyan saw Lu Zheng’s mysterious smile and picked up a tile, noticing six small linear patterns painted green.
She took another, this one with a bird in red and green, quite intricate.
Her eyes lit up. “Is this some kind of game?”
Lu Zheng clapped and laughed. “Exactly!”
The national treasure, mahjong, had officially arrived in this other world!
“Like backgammon or leaf cards?” Liu Qingquan asked.
Liu Qingyan looked at the number of tiles and shook her head. “With so many pieces, it might be like Go.”
Liu Qingquan’s face fell. “That sounds too hard.”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “Not hard at all. I thought staying up late for the vigil might get boring with just snacks and chatting, so I brought this game to pass the time.”
“Not hard?” Liu Qingquan’s eyes brightened. “Is it fun?”
“Very fun!”
Joking aside, mahjong was a simple game that anyone from ninety-nine to toddlers could learn after watching a couple of rounds.
Yet, it was endlessly variable, with luck and skill equally important.
They cleared the front hall table, and Lu Zheng had the four Liu family members sit around it, teaching them a round of open-hand mahjong.
Then…
“One Chicken!”
“Chow!”
“Five Dots!”
“Hold on, I pong!”
“Six Bamboo!”
“Haha, I win!”
Seeing Liu Qingyan’s gleaming eyes and excited card-drawing, Lu Zheng suddenly recalled an old movie.
Did I just do something stupid?
No way! Qingyan is dedicated to studying medicine and saving lives, not like that.
“Lu Lang?”
“Hm?”
“When we visit Sister Shen tomorrow, let’s bring this, um, mahjong. She can play too.”
Lu Zheng: Σ(°△°|||)︴
After another round, Aunt Liu reluctantly left the table as it was getting late, heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
So Lu Zheng naturally took her place.
*Clatter clatter*
After lunch, the Liu family resumed playing, with two old servants serving tea and water. Lu Zheng stood behind Liu Qingyan, giving her pointers.
Then…
“Sister! Pay up!”
Liu Qingyan shot a glance at Lu Zheng for making her lose, then took a coin from her purse and handed it to her sister.
Early in the afternoon, Hu Zhou and his mother arrived, pausing the game briefly.
Soon, Hu’s mother was pulled to the table, with Hu Zhou attending to her, while Liu Qingyan dragged Lu Zheng to the study.
With the door closed, incense lit, and tea brewed, the room grew quiet, calming their minds.
Lu Zheng set up the chessboard, Liu Qingyan sorted the pieces, and they sat opposite each other, beginning to play.
Back and forth, advancing and retreating.
“Lu Lang, thank you.”
“For what?” Lu Zheng was genuinely surprised. “The gifts? Just some drinks and novel snacks.”
Liu Qingyan smiled brightly. “Thank you for helping me deal with the trouble from other clinics.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “You knew? It’s nothing, just a small matter.”
Liu Qingyan placed a piece gently, her voice barely audible. “Meeting you, Lu Lang, is my fortune.”
