"Oh, it's so lively here!" Hong Liu looks in awe as she strolls in one of the markets in the state of Hang Zhou, the mortal realm. The atmosphere was little cool, looks like it recently rained here but as the sun started to beam again and a soft breeze passed the street, it blew the soft scent of earth, Hong Liu smile taking it all in. Everybody setting up back their stalls, there was a child trying to keep up with his mother, who was struggling to balance baskets vegetables in her both hand.
"Xiao Wu! Careful!" the mother yelled.
Children were running in their almost faded robes covered in dirt, chasing each other. Their laughter echoed the street. Hong Liu wore a worn-out black travelling cloak to hide her bright red robes and she covered her head with the hood to hide that hide her raven hairs and she hid her birthmark on her forehead with magic. She walks down to the street, a fortune-teller was calling on the passerby and Hong Liu lasts her balance as she felt someone collide to her back.
"Sorry, my child. These old knees had forgotten how to keep the balance," A craked voice of an old woman reached her ears as she manages to not fall on the ground. She turns to see a thin bent figure of an old woman, her grey hair was pulled into a messy bun and her face wrinkled but it was her eyes, they were not dimmed and glassy for an old person instead they were bright brown. She was pulling a wooden cart full of teacups.
"It's alright," Hong Liu smiled kindly and moved away to give her away. The woman slowly lower herself to the ground and picked two polls of the cart that slipped from her shaking hand and with her back bent figure she started to pull it on the strength of her wobbly knees. Hong Liu felt a little concern, 'she is so old and supreme lords know how long she has to walk?' Hong Liu thought. She went after her.
"Old Aunt, let me help you," Hong Liu offered.
"No, no, my child. I can't bother you, You look like a noblewoman,"
"I insist let me,"
The old lady smiled in gratitude and move away from the pulling poles.
"You are too kind, You remind of someone," her old voice cracked.
Hong Liu pulled the card while the old woman walks beside her.
"Really? Who?" She asked curiously.
"A very kind girl, use to help me a lot but was a terrible tea cup maker and had no artistic flair," The old woman said.
"I am not much artistic myself," Hong Liu said, remembering her own terrible poetries or attempt to play the flute.
"It alright, nobody brought art in your life yet you are young, you will learn. She did too, Just stop here this is my shop," The old lady pointed towards the small wooden shop.
"Really? How?" Hong Liu asked as she helped her get the cups off the card.
"She fell in love, her husband finally inspired her,"
"She must have loved her husband a lot," Hong Liu helped her set up her platform
"Absolutely, but sometimes it was hard to tell with those two. Who loves who the most? She had done a lot for him without a flinch and if you ask me, He would have laid down stars at her feet," the old lady sat on a stool and wipes her brow with a rugged cloth. She had a content smile remembering the girl, Hong Liu thought the girl must be close to her.
"She seems close to you, where is she now?" Hong Liu stated looking at the cups, grinning at the story. Ah, lucky her to be loved like that.
"She passed away at a very young age," the old lady said, sadly. Hong Liu heart squeezed for the old lady.
"I am sorry,"
"Oh don't worry, it has been too long almost like it was another lifetime but I still sometimes think about it. I feel sad for her husband I have never seen a pair like that and trust me that saying something since I have seen many love stories in my life,"
"What happened to her husband?" Hong Liu asked.
"He return where he come from, I heard once. He does whatever it is needed to honour her sacrifices,"
A sad but comfortable silence fall over them like a blanket, it seems like even the love mutual. It doesn't guarantee a happy ending. She too feels a little sad for her and her husband.
After a while, she actually looks at the teacups as the melancholy of the moment passed, they were beautiful some designs were so bright and vibrant some filled her with feeling awe. She never saw so many cup designs at once and every cup was beautiful than the cup before. She picked one, it had leaves layered over it and when she traces it the design was she can feel the smoothness but it was not plain you can feel it in your hand.
"It's beautiful!" She said in awe looking at it with wide eyes, looks like mortals left immortal behind when it comes to art.
Seeing her childlike wonder, the old lady smiled.
"You can keep it if you like," She offered.
"Oh no, no, I have no gold with me," Hong Liu put it back gently, looking at all the cups she title her head when she caught something familiar, among those colourful cups there was only one simple cup. A white cup with one red lily printed on it, Hong Liu picked it up with a curious smile.
"She uses to make a cup exactly like this for her husband, she learns to make cups for him,"
Hong Liu knew she was talking about the girl she reminds her of. She looks at her waiting for her to continue.
"Did you taught her?" Hong Liu asked.
"Yes, She tries seventy-two times and after that, she was able to make a half-decent one," the old lady chuckled.
"Why did she choose to paint the red lily?" Hong Liu asked.
"Those were her husband's favourite flower,"
"I like red lilies as well, someone I know use to have the same cups but I broke it I would have tried to make it for him if I knew how," She put the cup back as her heart sunk at the reminder of First Lord.
"It seems he is important,"
"He is," Hong Liu nodded.
"How about I teach you and you gift him,"
Hong Liu thought she might not be able to gift him but she can learn so, she nodded.