Liu Xiu entered the room bringing four plates full of steamed buns for his two guests. The two started to devour the steamed buns and continue commenting on the taste. Liu Xiu could not help himself but stare at the two especially at the young girl.

 

"Liu Xiu. I forgot to ask you about something. When my sister and I entered this city, I could not understand why everyone was eyeing my sister and I. Very uncomfortable, you see. Mind explaining this to us?"

 

Liu Xiu did not know what to say. Did his guests not know? How can they not understand the stares of people?

"I am confused about this question. Do sir and miss not know that people stare because of the way that sir and miss are dressed? It seems foreign or strange to us."

 

The young gentleman and his sister looked at each other. They could not understand Liu Xiu's comment on their dress. The gentleman had on a blue overcoat finely woven with gold silk. The sleeves to his coat were long and tied with lace at the end. He wore a gold colored vest over his coat. He had on beautifully woven shoes. His hair was tied back neatly and had a huge pearl pinned in his bun. He carried a beautiful jade flute with gold trimmings on his belt. In addition he had on a blue headband with beautiful silk trimmings on. His sister was no different. She had on a beautiful yellow gown with a phoenix woven on the front. A light blue overcoat drapped her gown. Her hair was neatly braided and tied with beautiful laces. She had a huge jade pin in her hair that dangled to the side of her left ear. On her belt, she had a small gold dagger with a pearl attached to the middle. The two looked beautiful but their clothing seemed misplaced with what other people wore. They seemed to come out of a play of some sort.

 

Liu Xiu thought he had offended his guests. He looked down at the floor.

 

"Liu Xiu, so our dress seems foreign. I did not know this. I know, how about you take us shopping for some new clothes that will be normal for us. Don't worry I will pay you must kind. My sister and I do not know this city, you can be our guide."

 

Liu Xiu nodded.

 

"Gu Yee, I told you people don't dress like this. We should have never bought the clothes from the performers. Although their dress looks  nice, we get all these stares from people."

 

Sheng Xuan began to explain their encounter with some performers when they left home. Gu Yee was fascinated with the way they dressed and paid for clothing to wear just like them. Liu Xuan could not help but laugh at his two guests. They must be from a place far away since they don't know how people dress.

 

"Liu Xiu, do you mind taking Gu Yee and me around Anping. We will pay you most kindly. The first place we need to stop at is a clothes store. Ehhh, how about it?"

 

Looking at his two guests with curiousity and amusement, Liu Xiu nodded his head. He glanced at Gu Yee and their eyes met. Liu Xiu felt embarassed and blurted out that they had to start going now. Gu Yee smiled at him and grabbed her brother's hand. Liu Xiu led them to the main street of Anping. He walked ahead and started to introduce the sites. Sheng Xuan and Gu Yee walked slowly behind him and admired the scenery. They kept commenting about everything they saw. Liu Xiu then took them to the best clothing store in Anping.

 

"Sheng Xuan and Gu Yee, here is the best clothing store in Anping. The quality here is know all over this region."

 

Sheng Xuan walked insided and started to admire the different colors of cloth. Gu Yee happily rummaged through some different attires. The owner greeted his two guests and suggested several different attires for them. Gu Yee rejected everyone. She then glance over on the rack in the corner and saw two beautiful silk red gowns. She took one and gave the other to her brother. The owner laughed.

"Ahhh, I understand. You and the miss are preparing a marriage. Don't worry, our cloth is best around here. It will bring you luck and long life. In addition, you will have many sons."

 

Sheng Xuan glanced at the owner and frowned. Gu Yee told her brother that she wanted them to wear these. Liu Xiu broke out in laughter. He held his side and continued laughing. Explaining to Sheng Xuan that these gowns were for couples to get married in, Gu Yee got angry. She was about to stomp outside of the store when her brother grabbed her wrist.

"That is fine Gu Yee. We should not wear these. How about you choose another. Ahhh, the yellow one over there looks fine."

 

Gu Yee caught a glance at the yellow silk gown in the other side of the store and smiled. Sheng Xuan also picked out a new set of clothing. Leaving the store, Sheng Xuan was dressed in a beautifully sewn blue coat and Gu Yee was in a beautiful yellow gown. Liu Xiu was a bit worried that his laughter had upset Gu Yee. He walked slowly out of the store and followed behind the two. Noticing Liu Xiu was afraid that he had upsetted Gu Yee, Sheng Xuan decided that they had to stop to get something to eat.

"Liu Xiu, any place you know close that is famous for their food?"

 

Feeling that he was needed, Liu Xiu smiled again. He led them to a small restaurant stall around the corner.

"This place is where I normally eat out at. It has the best egg noodles and best steamed buns in Anping."

 

"Ohhh, steamed buns. Brother let's eat here." Gu Yee smiled at Liu Xiu and made the indication that she had forgiven him for his outburst.

 

The three ate many steamed buns, quite countless. After filling themselves, Liu Xiu began to wonder about where to go next. He looked over at Gu Yee who was talking to the owner to wrap for her three more steamed buns for her to take home. Liu Xiu looked over at Sheng Xuan. He was busy in thought.

 

"Sheng Xuan is something the matter. You seem preoccupied."

 

Sheng Xuan sighed and stared at his sister.

"Liu Xiu, you are a good person to us. I am worried about my sister. We do not know the world as well as we have thought we did. We need someone we can trust. You are a likely candidate. How about it? You can work for us. We will pay you much gold. On our travels we need someone to be our guide and explain things to us."

 

Liu Xiu looked at his two guests. They were sincere about this. He did not know what to do.

"Sheng Xuan, I know that you are a good person. I do not know if I can accompany you on your travels. You see, I have an aunt at home. She needs me to take care of her. If I leave, what of her then?"

 

"Big Brother, why not take care of Liu Xiu's aunt for him. We can buy her a big house with servants so he has nothing to worry about."

 

"Splendid idead, Gu Yee. Smart and clever as ever. How about it Liu Xiu? I will buy a house for your aunt and have servants take care of her. You can send part of your wage that we give you to her. She will be fine."

 

"In that case, I cannot refuse but I must talk to Auntie first. She will be most pleased. I have always wanted to explore the world."

 

Sheng Xuan laughed. He gave Liu Xiu a bag of gold and told him to go take care of his Aunt.

"Meet us here three days later and we will begin our travels."

 

Departing with Sheng Xuan and Gu Yee. Liu Xiu raced home to report the good news to his aunt. She was at first hesitant about the news, but upon seeing the gold she yelled at him for not agreeing right away. Liu Xiu thanked his aunt. The next day, he went in search of a house. He found one at the middle of Anping. It was big enough for twenty people to live in. He also hired several servants for his aunt. Soon enough, his aunt situated herself right in and started to order the servants around. Liu Xiu gave his aunt the rest of the gold and told her to spend it wisely, although the gold was enough to last her for several years. He packed his things and bid farewell to his aunt and met Sheng Xuan and Gu Yee at the inn ready to begin their journey.