Chapter 131: Uncle Chang

"Sir, as you instructed, I have spread the word that Sun Qingkui is looking to sell his opera troupe," the advisor said, standing respectfully before Tang Peiyuan’s desk.

"And how has the Ruiqing Troupe reacted?" Tang Peiyuan asked leisurely, taking a small, composed sip of tea.

"At first, there was a lot of chatter and restlessness among them, but later..."

"Later what?"

"Later, the gossip died down. Sun Qingkui has gone into hiding, claiming he’s off looking at property, leaving the performances in the hands of an old musician named Liu Yi," the advisor explained.

"He’s just avoiding the backlash from his subordinates, I suppose. What about the people I told you to win over?"

"Since Xiao Xiangning became a star, others have naturally grown envious, especially Miss Xiao Yuehong, who plays similar roles. As long as we promise to promote her, it shouldn't be a problem. However, that old dan actor, Lü Xiaolou, is deeply devoted to Xiao Xiangning; I’m afraid he won't be so easily swayed..." The advisor listed a few more names—all mid-level figures and pillars of the troupe.

Tang Peiyuan didn't care for the smaller, insignificant members.

"Proceed. You may agree to some of Xiao Yuehong's conditions. You know what I want," Tang Peiyuan said, casting a meaningful glance at the advisor.

"I understand, sir." The advisor nodded eagerly. He knew his master’s tastes all too well.

Although Xiao Yuehong wasn't as famous as Xiao Xiangning, she had her own following, and she was a beauty in her own right, with an even more alluring figure.

...

With Bai Yulan looking to acquire the New Stage Theater, Su Wenqing had naturally taken a greater interest in it. As a heavyweight who held sway over both the underworld and the legitimate circles in Harbin, getting information was easy for him.

It was no secret to him that Sun Qingkui wanted to sell the Ruiqing Troupe or that Tang Peiyuan had his eyes on Xiao Xiangning.

"A-Xing, have you approached Tang Peiyuan yet?"

"I haven't spoken to Tang Peiyuan directly, but I have already conveyed your intentions to the Tang family," Su Xing replied.

"What was their attitude?"

"No response. The New Stage just produced a star in Xiao Xiangning and is at the peak of its popularity. Tang Peiyuan won't sell his shares under any circumstances right now," Su Xing said.

"Forget about Tang Peiyuan's shares for a moment. Are there any cracks in the rest of the Tang family we can exploit?" Su Wenqing asked.

"I will look into it."

"Has Bai Yulan gone to see Tang Peiyuan?"

"Not yet. However, it is interesting that Xiao Xiangning from the Ruiqing Troupe has moved into the Ningxiang Pavilion to live with Bai Yulan," Su Xing noted.

"Oh? It seems Bai Yulan is serious about taking over the New Stage!" Su Wenqing was slightly surprised. Striking at the most popular star the theater had just cultivated was exactly her style.

"What has Old Four been up to these last two days?"

"He’s been checking the black market for guns..."

"How could a professional sniper buy a gun on the spur of the moment? He’s being naive," Su Wenqing frowned slightly.

"Since there are no clues about the shooter, he’s hoping to find some leads in the underworld."

"Can't he look into Zhou Sen's enemies?"

Su Xing looked embarrassed.

"What is it?"

"Zhou Sen doesn't really have any enemies in Harbin. If you have to name one, it would be us," Su Xing said awkwardly.

"What are you implying? Are you saying I must be the one who ordered the hit?" Su Wenqing was infuriated.

"No, sir. But Zhou Sen is with Qin Lang, which suggests he may have reached a secret reconciliation with the Qin family. Based on our investigation, he truly has no other enemies..."

"What makes you think being with Qin Lang means he’s reconciled with the Qin family?" Su Wenqing countered. "Can Qin Lang represent the Seventh Master Qin? You know neither of the Qin sons is a pushover. With the Seventh Master gone, who will be the successor? Do you really think these two brothers will be amicable?"

"This..."

"Qin Xiong has his eyes on the prize while eating from the bowl. Don't think I don't know he’s put a lot of effort into winning over Bai Yulan. He probably hates Zhou Sen even more than he hates me!"

"Sir, you’ve reminded me. After the attempt on Zhou Sen's life, the Qin family’s Qunfang Pavilion was sealed off by the Police Department's Special Branch. Do you think there’s a connection?"

"If that’s not a connection, what is? Shibuya Saburo is Zhou Sen's mentor. If Zhou Sen were truly reconciled with the Qin family, why would the police department harass the Qunfang Pavilion for no reason at this juncture? Isn't Qin Xiong the one managing that place?" Su Wenqing’s face darkened.

"Yes, he is."

"Have Old Four investigate Qin Xiong. See what he's been up to lately."

...

"Uncle Chang, this is Zhou Sen, my future husband," Bai Yulan said, introducing Zhou Sen to an elderly man with graying hair, well past his fifties.

Uncle Chang scrutinized Zhou Sen, and Zhou Sen returned the gaze. They stared at each other for a full half-minute.

"How old is the groom-to-be?"

The moment Uncle Chang opened his mouth, Zhou Sen nearly bit his own tongue.

"I’ll be twenty-five after the New Year."

"Twenty-five? Doesn't look like it," Uncle Chang remarked. "Miss, why did you find a pretty boy for a husband?"

Zhou Sen gasped, nearly choking on the remark. Did he look like a "pretty boy"? He had even grown a beard; there was no way he could be called that.

Bai Yulan felt helpless.

Uncle Chang had always been blunt. He hadn't wanted her to marry the old man, Old Ma, years ago, believing it would ruin her life, which was why he had left her side. Yet, despite being away, he had always helped her from the shadows.

"A pretty boy is better than an old bachelor, at least he can leave an heir for the Bai family," Uncle Chang muttered to himself.

"Uncle Chang..."

"Miss, I know you don't like hearing this, but I'll say it once and never again," Uncle Chang interrupted, raising a hand.

"Boy, I don't care how you tricked our Miss into marrying you, but there is one condition you must agree to, or we will not accept you," Uncle Chang said, turning to look sternly at Zhou Sen.

"Uncle Chang, please speak." He could tell that Uncle Chang genuinely cared for Bai Yulan, despite his harsh tone.

"Your first son must carry the Bai surname!"

"No problem!" Zhou Sen agreed instantly. What was the big deal? A name was just a name, and it would still be his son. Besides, he and Bai Yulan might not have only one child, and as for carrying on the family line, he didn't even know where the ancestral tablets of the Zhou family were. As a man with a modern soul, he didn't care about such things.

"You agreed just like that?" Uncle Chang was stunned. That was too fast.

"Uncle Chang, Xiao Sen is an orphan. He was abducted as a child and adopted, so he’s the only one in his family," Bai Yulan quickly explained.

Uncle Chang nodded; that explained it. If he had parents, no one would ever agree to such a condition unless it was a matrilocal marriage.

"Where do you work, boy? What's your income?"

"I'm a police officer at the Nangang Police Station," Zhou Sen said, having realized that Uncle Chang was like a donkey that needed to be stroked the right way.

"A police officer? Isn't that just a lackey? What's the point of that job? Quit it!" Uncle Chang said dismissively.

Zhou Sen smiled awkwardly. He would like to quit, but the problem was, he couldn't.

"Uncle Chang, you must be exhausted from the journey. Why don't you rest? I'll have A-Xiang prepare dinner, and we can talk while we eat?"

"Yes, Uncle Chang, you must be hungry after such a long trip. Let's eat first," Zhou Sen added.

"Fine, let's eat," Uncle Chang waved his hand.

In the dining room, they sat around the table.

Uncle Chang scanned the dishes and beamed. "My, Xiao Xiang’s cooking has improved. These dishes make my mouth water just looking at them."

"They are all your favorites, Uncle Chang!"

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent," Uncle Chang laughed. "Xiao Xiang, do you have any wine?"

"Of course, I prepared it for you." A-Xiang brought over a jar of strong spirits. As she removed the stopper, the aroma of wine filled the air.

"Uncle Chang, wine is good, but you should drink less," Bai Yulan reminded him. Uncle Chang was an elder who had watched her grow up, and sometimes such elders were the hardest to handle.

"Don't worry, Miss, I know my limits."

"Groom-to-be, why aren't you drinking?" Seeing no wine bowl in front of Zhou Sen, Uncle Chang looked displeased.

"This, I..." Zhou Sen was stumped.

"Uncle Chang, Xiao Sen isn't much of a drinker, and he’s injured, so he can't drink," Bai Yulan quickly explained.

"If he's injured, he should drink even more! The more you drink, the faster the wounds heal!" Uncle Chang insisted.

"Uncle Chang, alcohol speeds up blood flow and can cause wounds to burst and bleed. Drinking doesn't help with healing," Zhou Sen said with a sheepish smile.

"Don't listen to those doctors and their nonsense..."

"Uncle Chang!" Bai Yulan’s face went cold.

"I just don't like drinking alone, it's too dull..." Uncle Chang immediately backed down. Clearly, he was afraid of her; he didn't dare to defy her when she was truly angry.

"Come, let's substitute tea for wine and welcome Uncle Chang," Zhou Sen proposed, diffusing the awkward situation.

After downing a large bowl of strong spirits, Uncle Chang cheered, "Refreshing!" with a heroic air.

"Refreshing! It's been a long time since I've had such a good drink..." Since Zhou Sen couldn't drink, he called Wu En over to keep Uncle Chang company. The two were well-matched, and by the end, Uncle Chang was completely floored.

Bai Yulan had Wu En and A-Xiang help Uncle Chang to his room.

"Uncle Chang was my father’s brother-in-arms and watched me grow up. He’s helped me a lot over the years, but he’s blunt and hot-tempered, which often offends people. So, I arranged for him to live in the mountains, and I only call for them when I need help," Bai Yulan explained as she cleared the table.

"How do you plan to arrange for him and his men?" Zhou Sen asked.

"For now, he can act as a butler. Not many people in Harbin recognize him anymore," Bai Yulan said. "Then we'll see. The renovation at the Ningxiang Pavilion needs someone to oversee it, and then there’s Xiao Rou’s safety—we can't have Wu En following her around forever."

"Do you need my help with their identities?" Zhou Sen asked.

"No need. They will have legitimate identities soon; there won't be any issues," Bai Yulan shook her head.

"I won't be able to stay here much longer," Zhou Sen said.

"Are you going back?"

"Yes. Returning is for the best for both of us, at least for now," Zhou Sen said. "There are some things I don't want you dragged into."

"I know. You don't want me to worry."

"Yes. And contrary to my intentions, I’ve implicated you. Yulan, I really owe you an apology."

If they had never seen each other again after that incident, everything would have been fine. But who could have known things would develop to this point? He couldn't cut ties even if he wanted to. If he tried and acted upon it, the Japanese would certainly notice, and it would only make matters worse. He had no choice but to push forward.

"You don't need to say that. In fact, if it weren't for you, it would have been very difficult for me to get through that ordeal," Bai Yulan said. "In the end, I suppose I used you a little bit, too."

"Haha."