The city of Anping is a different story. Two large gates guard the entrance to this city. Several wells are situated in the city allowing easy access to water. Although small, Anping is better off than most cities even with its run-ins with thieves once in a while. Venders and merchants line the small streets and sell their wares. Cloth, antiques, jade, and plenty of jewelry stores open for business everyday. The streets are crowded and the stores are busy. Theft and kidnapping are common but less seen here than many places. What Anping lacks is a good official. The last official, Official Chu, was killed within two months of office. Most likely, this was the work of bandits or thieves that hide here. Now, Anping lacks an official to clean this town up.
Two young people walk pass the gates of Anping, one male and the other female. The man was in his early twenties. His face shown of knowledge and curiousity. The younger companion, a girl of sixteen walked with him, hand-in-hand. They smiled at each other and observed the streets of Anping with the greatest curiousity. After standing at the gates for some time, the young girl clapped her hands and pulled on the young man's coat sleeve.
"Big Brother, look at this city. It is so beautiful. Oh, do you smell that? What is that smell? I think I am hungry, what should we eat," the girl asked the young man.
"I don't know, Sister Gu, but I believe it must be good. Let us find where this smell is coming from," the man replied.
The young girl grabbed her brothers hand and they ran through the streets. She then stopped suddenly almost causing her brother to trip over her. She eyed the people watching her.
"Big Brother, why are they looking at us? They are staring at us. I don't like it. Big Brother, they must be staring at me. It must be my beauty or my elegance."
"Or it is your uptightness and your carefree attitude that is causing their stares," her brother replied with a laugh.
"Hmmmph." The girl slapped her brother's back and laughed. "Never mind them then. Let us find something to eat. I am starving."
The two followed their noses to a restaurant at the end of the street. The young man walked in slowly while his sister happily skipped inside. A young man in his his late teens greeted them and led them to a table. The two sat down. Still the young girl eyed everyone carefully. She could not understand why everyone was looking at them.
"Big Brother, they are still looking at us. Make them stop. How can I eat if everyone is staring at me?"
The young man looked around and noticed that all the people were whispering and pointing at them.
"Hmmmph. Waiter."
The young waiter ran up to greet the two but accidently bumped on the bench stool and spilled the tea all over the floor. The owner ran up and started to scold the waiter.
"You lazy fool. Liu Xiu why can't you do anything right. How many times have I told you to be careful."
The owner held up his hand ready to slapped the terrified Liu Xiu but the young man caught the owner's hand just in time. He laughed and patted Liu Xiu on the shoulders.
"Ahhh, sir you must have mistakened. Liu Xiu is merely trying to entertain my sister and I. We have asked him to entertain us. We are new here and need some fun. Liu Xiu did us a great job as to providing the entertainment."
The young man reached into his coat sleeve and pulled out a piece of gold.
"Here, sir. I would like to allow Liu Xiu to wait on us for today. Please prepare us a room so we can stay the night. Is this enough to cover the expenses?"
The owner greedily grabbed the piece of gold and commanded Liu Xiu to take care of his guests. He rushed back to his counter and continued with his bookkeeping.
The young Liu Xiu stood next to his two guests and lowered his head. He did not know what to say. If they had not acted so generous, he would have lost his job. This was his third job this month. He could not afford to lose this one too.
"Thank you Sir and Miss. I---I---I am in debt to your kindness."
The young man smiled at Liu Xiu. His sister looked at Liu Xiu and smiled warmly at him. This made Liu Xiu blushed. He was so embarassed that he could not think of what to say.
"Will the Miss be sleeping in the same room as this gentleman. Ohhh, forgive me. I meant what would you like to eat today."
The young girl looked at him and then at her brother. She could not help but laugh under her breath. Liu Xia was concerned that she would be sleeping in the same room as her brother. Why would it matter, since he is her brother?
The young man laughed and poured himself some tea.
"Liu Xia, my sister and I have followed our noses to this place. What his that divine smell. Bring us some of your best dishes."
Liu Xia hurried to the kitchen, this time almost knocking over another waiter bringing food to a customer. The owner gave out a loud sigh. He was about to go and scold Liu Xia when he saw that the young man was eying Liu Xia. The owner decided to forget about this incident since the piece of gold was enough to pay the monthly rent. Ever since the Emperor confiscated huge amounts of gold, he and many others had to hide their gold and spend the worthless currency that could not buy anything. Liu Xia came out with four dishes and served them to his guests. He introduced each dish. The first dish was duck with garlic sauce, the second was mushrooms in ginger, the third was egg noodles with mushroom. The fourth he introduced it as steamed buns.
"Ohhh, this is the smell. Steamed buns, you say? It smells very good. This must be your restaurant's trademark." The young man took a bite of the steamed buns and told Liu Xia that he had never had anything so delicious.
Liu Xia looked puzzled. This man that had just given his owner gold likes steamed buns. Steamed buns were cheap and commoner's food. How can a man like this eat steamed buns. The young man ordered for more steamed buns. He only took a bite of the other dishes but went on to devour steamed bun after steamed bun. Same with his sister, she had many plates of steamed buns herself. She even told Liu Xia to take away the other dishes because they were causing the steamed buns to smell. After their dinner, Liu Xia took his guests to the best room in the inn. The young man took out another gold piece and gave Liu Xia. Liu Xia could not believe his eyes. This gold would be enough to last him for months. The young man told Liu Xia to come back in the morning with more steamed buns for them to eat. He even invited Liu Xia to join him for breakfast. Liu Xia left his guests with puzzled eyes. He thought to himself that they must be crazy or just love steamed buns.
Walking home, Liu Xiu suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to buy rice. He shooked his head and slowed his pace down. Another scolding on the way, Liu Xiu thought to himself.
"Aiyah, Auntie will be so angry. Ahhh, maybe the gold from the gentleman at the inn will cheer her up. It is not rice but it will get us through this month."
Liu Xiu cheered up and quickened his pace. He knocked on the door to an old and broken down hut. The hut had a straw roof with shabby patch work and there was only one window. A woman opened the door and seeing Liu Xiu's empty hand, she shooked her head. The woman was quite interesting compared to her home. She wore a blue silk overcoat and beautifully quilted slippers. Her skin was soft and her hair tied up neatly. She had a jade pin in her hair and wore several gold rings on her finger. But Liu Xiu was opposite of her. Liu Xiu had on a plain dark blue coat, patched at the bottom. He had no rings on his fingers or nicely woven shoes. Upon entering the house, there was only a small brown table with a candle on it. There were two rooms in the house. One room was furnished with a single straw bed and a bench for Auntie. Liu Xiu slep on the floor near the entrance. The kitchen was a mere pile of rocks for a stove and a small bench for preparing food.
"Auntie, here-here is a gold piece a gentleman gave me. He was most kind. Look it is enough to last us this month. Maybe-maybe I can use some of it to buy a new pair of shoes. Mine are verrr-"
Auntie glimpsed at Liu Xiu's hand and her expression changed. She hastly grabbed the gold and slipped it in her belt.
"No need for shoes. Xiu, you do not need shoes. Yours will do for months. I need this to buy makeup. Tomorrow, you take some money to buy me a bottle of lily perfume. Remember to buy rice."
Liu Xiu looked at his Auntie and smiled. His shoes were old there will signs of holes. He led her to bed and he laid on the floor and closed his eyes.
