Late May was a season poised between coolness and heat. Strong sunlight broke through the clouds as the haze dispersed. Under a bright blue sky, plenty of pedestrians had already switched to short sleeves and shorts, cheerful expressions on their faces.
A plane roared across the sky, seeming to slice the white clouds in two, before descending at an airport in Italy. Someone was already waiting to pick up Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng. Xie Wenzhi had arrived a day ahead of them.
Every country had its own customs and atmosphere.
The terminal was filled with blond, blue-eyed foreigners, a sight Wang Cheng had never encountered on such a scale. The person sent to collect them was David. Before Wang Cheng even spotted him, David was already bouncing on his feet and waving wildly, shouting as though he feared they might walk past without noticing him.
David had been thinking about when he might next visit China on business and enjoy another meal cooked by the boss’s partner. Before that could happen, however, his boss and partner had come to Italy themselves. He had been beside himself with excitement when he heard.
The three got into the car with David behind the wheel. His chatter barely stopped for the whole drive.
Wang Cheng understood his intentions perfectly. “When I have some free time, I’ll cook dinner and invite you over.”
“Great! It’s a deal.” That was exactly what David wanted to hear. After returning home, he had told his friends several times that Chinese food could be delicious, but only one or two believed him. Most imagined Chinese food was unbearably spicy. Unable to tolerate hot dishes, they assumed every Chinese dish tasted like that and had avoided it ever since.
Wang Cheng looked at the scenery outside the window. Italian architecture included Gothic and Baroque styles, and the unusual buildings looked entirely unlike those at home. Seeing them for the first time filled him with wonder.
“Where are we going?”
“To the Aimer family’s main residence,” Chu Yifeng answered. “We can visit Zhou Group’s overseas subsidiary tomorrow.”
“Does that mean we’ll be staying at your family home the whole time?” He had not even met Chu Yifeng’s grandfather. Was it really appropriate to move in right away?
“Would that be a bad thing?” Chu Yifeng asked.
Wang Cheng hesitated. “Shouldn’t we at least greet your grandfather first? You said he doesn’t approve of us being together. I’m worried we’ll make a bad impression if we just move in.”
“Don’t worry. Grandfather isn’t home today. He probably won’t return until the day after tomorrow. Even if you wanted to meet him, you couldn’t.”
David glanced into the rearview mirror. “Boss’s wife, you don’t need to worry! The chairman’s actually very nice. I’ve met him lots of times, and he hardly ever looks stern.”
Wang Cheng: “…What did you just call me?”
“Huh? I said the chairman’s a nice person,” David answered, confused. He thought Wang Cheng had failed to hear.
“Not that part. The very first thing.”
David thought for a moment. “Boss’s wife?”
Wang Cheng narrowed his eyes. “Since when did I become your boss’s wife? Do you even know what the Chinese word niang means?”
“Wasn’t that what everyone’s been calling you?” David blinked. “And… no, I don’t.”
Wang Cheng explained solemnly, “Niang means mother. Mom. Do you think that’s the right word to describe a man like me?”
David was completely taken in by his serious expression and failed to notice Wang Cheng was deliberately twisting the meaning of the Chinese term. “Sorry, Bo… uh, I didn’t know that. But if I shouldn’t call you Boss’s Wife, what should I call you?”
Elio’s Notes: David calls Wang Cheng 老板娘 (lǎobǎnniáng), a term that can mean “the boss’s wife” or a woman who owns a business. Wang Cheng seizes on 娘 (niáng, “mother” or “woman”) to argue that it can’t describe him. It’s a rather selective language lesson, and poor David takes him at his word.
“You’re a few months younger than I am. Just call me Brother Cheng.”
“Brother Cheng! All right, that’s what I’ll call you from now on.” After saying it, David realized he liked the new form of address. It sounded closer and friendlier.
Chu Yifeng slipped an arm around Wang Cheng’s neck, and Wang Cheng simply leaned sideways against him.
They soon reached the Aimer family’s main residence. Chu Yifeng had not lied. His grandfather had gone to the presidential residence two days earlier. Although the country was now a republic, members of the royal family still enjoyed aristocratic standing and controlled great wealth, making them impossible for the nation to ignore.
The moment Wang Cheng stepped out of the car, he was stunned by the sheer size and splendor of the estate. The enormous building rose from a vast open expanse. Even counting the forecourt, the grounds were not quite as large as the Forbidden City, but they seemed at least half its size. Wang Cheng suspected it might be even more extravagant than the presidential residence.
Rows of servants stood neatly at the entrance to welcome them.
They were all professionally trained. Under the direction of a man who appeared to be the household steward, they greeted their returning master in unison. Nobody looked around or moved out of line, displaying exemplary discipline.
The distance from the main gate to the house was so great that walking it would take over ten minutes, perhaps much longer. Wang Cheng had assumed they would walk. Instead, a steward named Jande arranged a small sightseeing cart for them, with seats for four people.
“Has Mother returned yet?” Chu Yifeng asked Jande when they reached the main residence.
“Not yet, Young Master,” Jande replied immediately.
“Did she say when she’d be back?”
“No.” They spoke in Italian. Wang Cheng had never studied the language, but Chu Yifeng had taught him a few phrases. He could just about tell they were discussing Chu Yifeng’s mother, Emily.
“Steward Jande, this is my partner, Zhou Cheng. He’ll be staying here, so please look after him.” Chu Yifeng switched to English for the introduction.
Surprise flashed across the steward’s face so briefly it was almost imperceptible. He immediately recovered and bowed politely to Wang Cheng. “Welcome, Mr. Zhou. I’m Jande, steward of the Aimer household. If you need anything during your stay, please come directly to me.”
“Thank you very much.” Wang Cheng was unfamiliar with foreign etiquette.
“Young Master, shall I prepare a guest room for Mr. Zhou?” Jande asked.
“No. He’ll sleep in my room.”
“Very well.” David had visited the mansion many times. What he missed most was the food cooked by the Aimer family chef, so he headed straight to the kitchen after entering. By the time the conversation ended, he had reappeared carrying a plate of pastries. After walking barely a dozen steps, he had already eaten half of them.
Chu Yifeng gave their luggage to Jande and took Wang Cheng to sit in the lounge. Lunch was ready before long.
The Aimer household employed a master chef named Rien. He was in his fifties and had worked for the family for almost twenty years, making him their second-longest-serving employee after Steward Jande. His smile was warm, and the aroma of his cooking always drifted from the kitchen before the dishes appeared. David regularly invented excuses to linger at the estate just so he could eat Rien’s food.
In Italy, lunch was the most substantial meal.
At the appointed hour, the servants efficiently brought out pasta, meat, fish, mixed vegetables, wine, fruit, coffee, and more.
Wang Cheng stared at the spread. In his family, dinner had always been the main meal. After moving to the capital he had discovered that some households treated lunch as the largest meal instead and ate more simply in the evening. He had become somewhat accustomed to that while staying with the Zhou family.
“Brother Cheng, hurry up and eat before it gets cold. Chef Rien’s food tastes best when it’s still piping hot.” David’s mouth was stuffed with meat, yet somehow he managed to speak around it.
Wang Cheng was not accustomed to drinking coffee with lunch, so Chu Yifeng asked a servant to bring him water instead.
The meat dishes included beefsteak and lamb chops. Lamb often had a strong smell, but Rien’s skill was exceptional. His lamb was tender, without the slightest trace of gaminess. David, whose appetite was supposedly smaller than the others’, finished his first portion and asked for more. By the time they were done, an hour had passed.
“I’ve never eaten such a satisfying meal in my life.” David sprawled shamelessly across the sitting-room sofa with one hand on his round, overstuffed stomach, burping. He had definitely been right to tag along.
Wang Cheng was somewhat more presentable. He lay back on the sofa with his head resting on Chu Yifeng’s lap, his own stomach full enough to be slightly uncomfortable. Hearing David’s comment, he asked, “Haven’t you eaten here before? Didn’t they let you eat your fill?”
David immediately shot Chu Yifeng an aggrieved look. “I’ve eaten here before, but every time, just when I’d had a few bites, someone chased me out! Clearly if I stick with the Boss’s… uh, Brother Cheng, I get to eat well. I’ve decided that if Brother Cheng ever needs anything, he only has to say the word. I’ll gladly… what’s that Chinese saying? The one that starts with wan?”
“Wan si bu ci. ‘I would gladly risk death rather than refuse.’”
“Yes! That’s the one!”
Wang Cheng burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, shortly after eleven in the morning, Wang Ning’an received two unexpected visitors.
Before leaving the country, Wang Cheng had ultimately given the jade pendant to Wang Ning’an. To keep it from being stolen, Wang Ning’an locked it in a bank safe-deposit box. Nobody except him could retrieve it. On the very day Wang Cheng left, Papa and Mama Wang suddenly arrived in the capital. Wang Ning’an only learned of their arrival when they called him. The elderly couple did not know Wang Cheng had gone abroad. They had tried his phone first, but could not get through, so they called their eldest son instead.
Wang Ning’an was surprised but had no time to think through the implications. He spoke to his assistant, Peng Yang, left work early, and took the afternoon off. Then he drove to the airport to pick up his parents and bring them to his apartment.