Chapter 87: So We Are Family After All

Sister-in-law?

Jiang Rou’s mind went blank for a moment. How could her recently reunited "Brother Zhou Sen" be connected to Bai Yulan, the most beautiful woman in Daowai and the owner of the Ningxiang Pavilion, in this way? It was simply astonishing.

Bai Yulan was equally puzzled. How could the newly famous lead actress Xiao Xiangning know Zhou Sen? Wasn’t Zhou Sen supposed to be an orphan adopted by the White Russian businessman, Anthony? Where did this little sister come from? The two of them seemed to have no connection at all.

“Yulan, before Old Man Anthony adopted me, both Xiaorou and I were sold to the opera troupe. I’m two years older than her. In the troupe, we got along well, and she always called me ‘brother.’ We’ve only just reunited recently,” Zhou Sen explained, covering his mouth as he coughed.

With this explanation, Bai Yulan understood—they weren’t siblings by blood, just two children who grew up together through hardship.

“Xiaorou, quickly, call her sister-in-law…” Zhou Sen also felt relieved. If he hadn’t acknowledged Jiang Rou as his sister beforehand, today’s meeting would have been truly awkward.

Jiang Rou was still struggling to process the relationship between Zhou Sen and Bai Yulan, let alone this sudden appearance of a “sister-in-law.” She was momentarily startled into silence.

Bai Yulan’s face flushed, her cheeks burning. The awkward scene from earlier, when Zhou Sen had sucked the blood from her finger, had been witnessed by all. At this point, denying her relationship with Zhou Sen felt even more suspicious. This man truly knew how to pick his moments.

“Xiaorou, is Xiao Xiangning your stage name?” Bai Yulan, accustomed to social situations, spoke graciously.

“Please don’t call me by my stage name, sister-in-law. You and my Brother Sen can just call me Jiang Rou,” Jiang Rou finally managed to reply.

“All right. Actually, your brother Zhou Sen and I aren’t quite at that stage yet. You must be younger than I am, so you can just call me Sister Lan.” Bai Yulan smiled and gestured, “Come, please, have a seat.”

“Yes, Xiaorou, we’re all family here. No need to be so formal,” Zhou Sen added, thinking that as long as Bai Yulan didn’t object, things were moving in the right direction.

“Yulan, do you have a medicine box? Let me treat your wound…” Zhou Sen said with an ingratiating smile.

“No need, it was just a small needle prick. It’s not bleeding anymore.” Bai Yulan lowered her head and gave a soft cough—this man really knew how to strike a nerve.

“All right then, you ladies chat. I’ll go check in the kitchen and see what we’ll have for lunch.” Zhou Sen realized that staying any longer would only make things more awkward for everyone, so he wisely found an excuse to slip away and dissipate the tension.

“Axia, Axia, come with me and lend a hand…” Zhou Sen called out when he noticed Axia still standing there, dazed.

“Yes, yes, Brother Sen, I’m coming.”

“Go wake up Wuen and have him split some firewood. Since he’s not out on patrol today, he can’t just sleep in.”

“Brother Wuen has been up for a while…”

“Really? How come I didn’t know? He’s getting bolder, not even treating me like his superior.” Zhou Sen snorted.

“Brother Sen, what are we having for lunch?” As soon as they entered the kitchen, Axia’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Didn’t we make tofu? Let’s do a home-style tofu dish, then a tofu soup. Slice a piece of the best tenderloin and make sweet and sour pork. Then we’ll do braised beef brisket with potatoes and sautéed fish fillets. How many dishes is that?”

“That’s five!” Axia replied.

“Let’s add one more to make it an auspicious six. How about a hot and sour shredded tofu stew?”

“Sounds great!”

…

“Xiaorou, I never expected we’d be so fated to meet. From now on, we must keep in touch.” Bai Yulan had a natural warmth about her, especially toward other women. Her grace and composure were of a kind that ordinary women simply couldn’t match.

Jiang Rou, though initially a bit reserved, soon relaxed. She was worldly enough to handle herself, and while she was surprised by Zhou Sen’s relationship with Bai Yulan, it didn’t really affect her. She had sought out Zhou Sen simply to reconnect with her childhood friend, with no ulterior motives. Now, her purpose was a bit more complicated, but not selfish.

And perhaps Zhou Sen’s connection with Bai Yulan would bring her unexpected advantages.

“Yes, Sister Lan. I only just reconnected with Brother Sen, and to see him doing well—and with someone like you beside him—makes me truly happy for him,” Jiang Rou replied with a smile.

“My relationship with Zhou Sen is a bit complicated. I’ll tell you more another time.” Bai Yulan chuckled. “I love to sing opera, but it’s just a pastime for me. Compared to an established performer like you, I’m far behind.”

“If you enjoy it, Sister Lan, you’re always welcome at the troupe. Or I could come here. I don’t have many friends in Ice City,” Jiang Rou said.

“Wonderful! From now on, let’s visit each other often,” Bai Yulan responded happily.

“Sister Lan, which style of opera do you prefer?”

“I mostly listen to Peking Opera—Master Mei Lanfang’s ‘The Drunken Concubine’ and ‘The Cosmic Blade’ are my favorites. I also enjoy Huangmei opera…”

“I like Huangmei opera too, but now I mostly sing Pingju…”

“Are you fond of ‘The Heavenly Match,’ Sister Lan?”

“What a coincidence…”

…

“Axia, bring them a fruit platter—and see how things are going,” Zhou Sen instructed, handing over a prepared plate.

“Brother Sen, was Sister Xiangning really sold to the opera troupe with you?” Axia asked.

“Yes, I was sold first, she came later. Back then, she was so thin she was practically skin and bones. The troupe was harsh on children like us—we were never full, and if we slacked off during practice, we’d get beaten. Xiaorou was weak and malnourished, so she couldn’t keep up with the training. I used to sneak her food whenever I could…” The original Zhou Sen’s memories of that time were still vivid. The comfort and support two frail children found in each other in such an environment were unforgettable.

Axia’s eyes grew red as she listened. She’d had a hard life herself—if not for meeting Bai Yulan, she’d likely have been sold into a brothel, enduring a miserable existence.

She could empathize.

“Enough of that. Help me cut this potato and soak it for the braised beef later,” Zhou Sen said, pulling himself from the memories.

…

“Lunch is ready, lunch is ready…”

As dish after fragrant, delicious plate was set on the table, Jiang Rou was the most astonished of all. But after more than ten years, anything that happened to Zhou Sen was understandable.

“Where’s Wuen?”

“He’s shy—eating in the kitchen by himself. Don’t worry, he won’t miss out,” Zhou Sen explained. Bai Yulan asking after Wuen made him gratified—he’d never looked down on Wuen for his background. If they were all equals, there was no reason not to eat together.

But since Wuen himself preferred not to join, no one could force him—after all, many people’s attitudes still hadn’t changed.

There were six dishes on the table, three of which featured tofu. It could almost be called a tofu feast. The tofu was indeed delicious, especially the home-style tofu, which the three women couldn’t stop eating. The sautéed fish fillets and sweet and sour pork were also excellent. The latter was a classic Northeastern dish, but Zhou Sen added perilla leaves, giving it a unique flavor.

After lunch, Jiang Rou stayed for a short while before taking her leave. There was much to do at the troupe, and her half-day at the Ningxiang Pavilion was only out of regard for Zhou Sen. If it had been a routine visit, she would have just stopped in for tea and gone on her way.

“Fifteen years—childhood friends, and now reunited. That’s quite a fate!” Bai Yulan said as she personally saw Jiang Rou off. Returning, she found Zhou Sen half-reclining on the sofa and asked with a teasing smile.

“So sour, are you feeling threatened?”

“I’m not jealous. I just don’t want her to misunderstand our relationship,” Bai Yulan said seriously, looking at Zhou Sen. “You two are childhood sweethearts.”

“What’s to misunderstand? We were kids—she was eight, I was ten. And it’s been fifteen years. Even now, the most we feel for each other is sibling affection. Who says childhood friends must become lovers?” Zhou Sen retorted.

“But isn’t that how all the stories go?” Bai Yulan’s lips curled in amusement, clearly pleased by his answer.

“Well, those are just stories. Who takes them seriously?” Zhou Sen replied. “Besides, do I even have the right to pursue her?”

“Listen to yourself. You do have feelings, don’t you? Xiaorou is so beautiful—what man wouldn’t be tempted?” Bai Yulan said.

“It’s only human to appreciate beauty, but must one possess everything beautiful? Besides, she might already have someone else in her heart.”

“That’s true. Given the way you are now, she might not even be interested.”

“Exactly. Only you would take a liking to me. All right, Bodhisattva, why don’t you just take this poor monk in?” Zhou Sen joked, getting up.

“You never act serious. Tell me—are you in some kind of trouble?” Bai Yulan asked earnestly, seeing Zhou Sen about to leave.

“It has nothing to do with you,” Zhou Sen said, putting on his coat and heading out. He didn’t want Bai Yulan dragged into his affairs.

“So, what, do you want me to become a widow again?” Bai Yulan called after his retreating figure.

Zhou Sen paused, turned, and looked at her. “Some things are better left unknown.”

“Everyone says Old Ma died of sudden illness, but I know the truth. He refused to cooperate with the Japanese and become a traitor, so they secretly poisoned him,” Bai Yulan said quietly.

Zhou Sen was shaken. He looked at her in surprise—she had probably never told anyone this secret before, yet now she was telling him, which showed how much it meant to her.

“Don’t worry. Even though I don’t know who my parents are or where my home is, Chinese blood runs in my veins. I would never become a traitor,” Zhou Sen said solemnly to Bai Yulan.

Afraid he might say more, he turned and left.

Watching him go, Bai Yulan’s gaze grew complicated. This man—chosen by her, or perhaps by fate—would he keep his promise?