Day after day, week after week, and eventually turning into a few months, the feelings between Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming quietly deepened. What began as intense attraction and shared curiosity matured into a profound, reciprocal bond. They became inseparable, their emotional lives entirely woven together, allowing the affection in each other's hearts to blossom into genuine and undeniable love.
Mu Jiao Long was sharpening his sword in the small pavilion when Wang Changming suddenly slammed an abacus book on the table. He looked fixedly at Mu Jiao Long. "You have to study this, not sharpen your sword."
Mu Jiao Long looked up at Wang Changming. "What is this?" He put the sword down and picked up the book. "How to Use an Abacus for Beginners."
Wang Changming was stern. "As the head of the family, you must learn basic calculations."
Mu Jiao Long put the book down. "Xiao mao, that's not my job." He picked up the sword and resumed cleaning it. "That's why we have an accountant to handle all of this."
Wang Changming's face was critical. "Xiao gou, you don't even look like a man. No wonder your cousin looks down on you."
When Wang Changming mentioned Mu Tao, Mu Jiao Long was immediately annoyed. "Xiao mao, we are chatting and enjoying this wonderful weather, why bother to mention his name?" He put away the sword and laid it on the table. "You turned such a beautiful sunny day into a foggy day."
Wang Changming continued his criticism. "Mu Jiao Long, how old are you now?"
Mu Jiao Long smiled proudly. "Twenty."
Wang Changming retorted, "Then you should do things according to your age. Your tangge is twenty-two years old, and he is better than you in every aspect." Mu Jiao Long's happiness vanished. Wang Changming picked up the book, leaned against a pavilion pillar, and looked out at the pond. "If I were a woman, I wouldn't mind marrying someone like your tangge. A person who can give me a guarantee of a safe future."
Mu Jiao Long immediately stood beside Wang Changming and yanked the book away from his hand. "Within a month, I will master it!"
Wang Changming turned and smiled, satisfied. "Very good. Studying will give you a boundless future." He started to walk away.
"Under two requirements," Mu Jiao Long called out.
Wang Changming turned back. "No wonder your uncle wants to write everything down."
Mu Jiao Long defended himself. "My two requirements are doable."
"What?"
Mu Jiao Long stated his first requirement. "My first requirement is that you teach me."
Wang Changming had anticipated this. He walked to Mu Jiao Long. "As long as you are willing to pay, it's okay."
"I'll pay."
"Your second requirement?" Wang Changming asked.
Mu Jiao Long walked behind Wang Changming and put his arm around his waist. He kissed Wang Changming on the neck. "Changming, can you stay forever?"
Wang Changming sighed softly. "Jiao Long, no guest will stay forever."
Mu Jiao Long rested his chin on Wang Changming's shoulder. "If I learn everything and improve myself, I want Changming to stay by my side forever."
Wang Changming smiled, a hint of promise in his voice. "I will consider it."
Mu Jiao Long rested his head on Wang Changming's shoulder, spotting the faded hickey on his neck. He whispered, "Changming, when can we do what we did back on that mountainside again?"
Wang Changming laughed. "Bastard."
Mu Jiao Long laughed back. "I don't mind being your bastard."
From that day on, Mu Jiao Long focused on studying. He walked into the store and asked Mu Yu to teach him how to record sales. His sudden and significant improvement surprised Mu Jian.
Mu Jian and Mu Bai were sitting and chatting about the record books when a servant walked in.
The servant took out a letter and said, "Master Jian and Master Bai, er gongzi said that he will return next month."
Mu Jian smiled widely. "When will you go back?"
The servant replied, "I will go back in four days."
Mu Jian instructed, "You take a good rest first."
"Yes, master." The servant then left the room.
Mu Bai commented, "Even if Jiao Long doesn't like to study medicine, he has made progress. It seems that he has finally grown up." He coughed. "Yu said he learned accounting from Yu. Even if he doesn't like medicine, he can study accounting and read the record book."
Mu Jian seized the opportunity. "Da ge, do you want to arrange a wife for him?"
Mu Bai agreed readily. "His peers are already married and have children. I think he should get married too."
Mu Jian declared, "I'm going to talk to Bai saozi and Yu saozi to help me arrange a matchmaker for Ah Lan and him."
"That's good," Mu Bai approved.
Mu Jian stood up excitedly. "Da ge, I want to bring Jiao Long the good news about Ah Lan. He keeps asking me when Ah Lan will be back."
Mu Bai nodded. "Go."
Mu Lian walked in with a tray containing a bowl of medicine. "I heard my name." She put down the tray, took the medicine, and handed it to Mu Bai. "Lao gong."
Mu Jian addressed her. "Saozi, I want you and Yu saozi to help me arrange matchmakers for Jiao Long and Ah Lan."
Mu Lian smiled. "Don't worry, I will let Jiao meimei handle this matter."
Mu Jian asked, "Do you know where Jiao Long is?"
Mu Lian informed him, "He is studying in the pavilion in the backyard."
Mu Jian said, "Thank you, I will leave first."
Mu Jian walked to the backyard and met Mu Yu. Mu Jian said, "Yu da ge, Ah Lan wrote to say that he will be back next month. I will tell Jiao Long the good news."
Mu Yu smiled. "He will be very happy to hear the news. He asks me about Ah Lan every day."
The two brothers walked toward the small pavilion. From a distance, they saw Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming sitting at the table reading. Mu Yu spoke quietly. "We should thank Wang gongzi. Since he came to our house, he has had a great influence on Jiao Long's success."
Mu Jian conceded. "You are right. Wang gongzi wants to learn the Mu acupuncture needle technique."
Mu Yu considered this. "Jian didi, since he has changed Jiao Long, we should allow it this one time for an outsider to learn the Mu acupuncture needle technique, as long as he promises not to teach it to others."
"Alright…" Mu Jian agreed.
Mu Jian turned to look at Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming again. He saw Wang Changming peel an orange and then gently feed a slice to Mu Jiao Long. Then Mu Jiao Long picked up a slice and fed it to Wang Changming. Mu Jian and Mu Yu glared, shock giving way to intense anger.
Mu Yu's heart sank. He muttered angrily, his breath heavy, "No... he cannot follow his father's footsteps! This is unacceptable!"
Mu Jian's face was thunderous. "Shameless..." He angrily walked towards the small pavilion and cleared his throat loudly. "Jiao Long."
Mu Jiao Long turned around, cheerful. "Father, Uncle Yu, why are you two here?"
Mu Jian forced himself to speak calmly. "Ah Lan, he..."
Mu Jiao Long asked happily, "Is Ah Lan coming home?"
Mu Jian lied. "No, he wrote that he won't be back until next spring."
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Changming, disappointed. "Changming, I'm sorry... I guess you have to wait until next spring."
Wang Changming smiled lightly. "It's alright."
Mu Jian turned to Mu Yu. "Yu da ge, did you just tell me that you need Jiao Long to read some record books with you?"
Mu Yu played along. "Oh... I completely forgot. Jiao Long, come with me."
Mu Jiao Long smiled at Wang Changming. "Changming, I will be back. You wait for me..."
Wang Changming smiled and nodded. He watched as Mu Jiao Long got up and followed Mu Yu toward the main building.
Mu Jian sat down heavily and looked at Wang Changming. "Wang gongzi, since Ah Lan will not be home until next spring, do you want to continue to wait or go home? If you decide to go home, I promise to send you a letter when Ah Lan returns."
Wang Changming hesitated only a moment. "I'm not sure yet."
Mu Jian then delivered the polite ultimatum. "If Wang gongzi is not in a hurry, perhaps you can stay a few more days. Within five days, two matchmakers will bring twenty suitable guniangs for Jiao Long to look at. If Jiao Long agrees to get married, he can marry one or more guniang. After the bride is selected, we will have the wedding right away." He then chose his words carefully to ensure Wang Changming understood he must leave. "I know that no guests will stay forever, but since you are a good friend of Jiao Long, I really hope you can stay until the day he gets married."
Wang Changming understood the clear message: Mu Jian did not want him to stay in the Mu Manor any longer. "I think I will be leaving soon, because Mu er gongzi will not come back until next spring."
Mu Jian smiled tightly. "Thank you very much for setting a good example for Jiao Long. Your father must be very proud to have a son like you." He sighed and stood up. "What am I talking about? All fathers want their son to succeed, get married, and have children. Wang gongzi," he turned to Wang Changming, "you are a very good young man. If you don't mind, I have four nieces about the same age as you. How about strengthening the friendship between Jiao Long and you by marrying a niece of mine? I am sure Yu da ge would not mind having someone like you be his son-in-law."
Wang Changming declined politely. "Master Mu, thank you for your kindness, but I haven't discussed this matter with my father."
Mu Jian persisted. "You are welcome to take your father to meet us and meet my nieces."
Wang Changming maintained his distance. "I will keep your kind words in my heart."
Mu Jian then stood fully. "Sorry, I have to talk to my saozi in regard to Jiao Long's marriage arrangement."
Wang Changming offered one final, pointed remark. "Master Mu, I believe that the guniang you pick for Mu gongzi, he will like it."
Mu Jian nodded stiffly. "I hope so. I'll leave first."
"Walk carefully," Wang Changming replied.
Wang Changming watched Mu Jian walk back to the main house. He sighed and muttered to himself, "Wang Changming, time for you to go home."