Xianggong, Please Divorce Me!

Ch. 30: Haggling to Lease a Shop

[1] One foot is approximately 30 cm.

[2] The five elements here seems to be a reference to Chinese Medicine where the different elements in nature, and the qi which flows them, are supposed to be balanced. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Salty taste is associated with the water element as is being erudite. The five elements are also used in, among other things, martial arts, feng shui, and philosophy. Anyhow, Su Tang while disguised as a man gives her name as Su Yan (苏盐). Yan here is 盐 which means salt. 盐 is also a surname and a brother Yan is mentioned in the chapter. A play on the word 盐 is used. A character from a prior chapter reappears and he acknowledges that Su Yan and brother Yan's business savvy are leagues better than his. Since Su Yan and brother Yan are both "salt" that leads him to wonder whether his five elements needs more salt.

Ch30 – Haggling to Lease a Shop

Su Tang was surprised to see this pretty as a picture person who was wearing a light purple changshan. He showed the manners of a son of the rich, an extremely graceless willful bearing. The person was sitting on a backless bench, one foot up, his chin propped on top of the table, with a teacup that had one mouthful which had not yet been slurped down.

Su Tang saw his appearance and couldn't help but feel it was ridiculous.

Zhan Yi was half-asleep and suddenly detected someone had come in. He lifted his head and soon afterwards saw Su Tang standing at the threshold, disguised as a man. Her face was completely astonished.

He hastily stood up and scrutinized her for a bit from top to bottom. With wrinkled eyebrows he stroked his chin and said, "Brother, in my humble opinion, looking at me in that way can give birth to doubt. I am honored by your presence. Brother, what can I do for you?"

Right! This person absolutely does not remember you! Su Tang considered his genteel erudite speech and distressed lower teeth which also did not expose deceitfulness. She merely smiled and asked, "This store is yours?"

"Most definitely." Zhan Yi understood that this was a customer dropping in. He cheekily said with a full grin, "Brother wants to lease this shop. Come, come, come. Have a seat."

Su Tang saw calligraphy and paintings hung on all around. She sat down and said, "May I be so bold as to ask what is the rent?"

Zhan Yi declined to answer and merely looked at Su Tang. He inwardly took a breath and asked, "Why do I feel that brother looks quite familiar? Is it possible that we've met before?"

Finishing speaking, he suddenly remembered and batted his head. "I remember now, we met that day there at lao Wang's! However...."

Su Tang saw him draw close. He pressed nearer so she subconsciously stepped back leaving the distance of a foot [1] between. He very carefully stared at her face, looking all over. After that, his handsome eyes revealed confusion.

Su Tang got goosebumps being stared at and was suspicious that he saw through her disguise. As a necessary consequence she said, "Daren Zhan, this is...."

Zhan Yi draw himself back and stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought. "Compared to the last time we met, I see that you are much whiter....what brand of face powder do you use?"

Su Tang almost tumbled off of the bench....her white face, that was due this time to hurrying out the door and forgetting to carefully apply powder!

"Ah, ah, I use Flying Wind Tree Peony cosmetics. You can try that."

"Got it!" Zhan Yi nodded his head. Immediately afterwards he again drew back the corners of his mouth in a grin and said, "Then now let's talk about proper business matters. You want to lease this store? Oh, right. Brother, how should I address you?"