Anxiety jittered her expression as Xiaolin prepared to leave for the mayor's office. She had been mostly content the whole day, thinking she would take care of one problem after so long.
But as the time came to record the verbal agreement on paper, she grew queasy. Grandma Yushen provided enough reassurance for her not to be worried. That should have been enough, but she couldn't help it.
She wouldn't rest until everything went smoothly. The entire business had been a dark shadow on her heart for over a year. She was utterly hopeless to do anything. Unless she gets help from Grandma Wang and Senior Gale's agreement to buy the property, she would still be in the dump.
But not anymore. She would sell the land, gather enough resources and advance. After that, she would look for her father and find him.
Changing into a cleaner robe, and binding her hair into a braid, Xiaolin got out of her room and scurried into the hall, hoping she wasn't making the others wait.
Grandma Yushen wasn't in the hall yet. She sighed in relief, finding that. However, Senior Gale was present there working where Elder Sister Wang Li should have been. He had changed those weird short clothes to a fair tunic, hugged tight to his skin, outlining his proud stature. But he seemed carefree as always, chatting merrily with people he barely knew.
Vale rested peacefully on the corner where little Rong'er stood next to him, considering waking the beast up for play. Elder sister seated near the counter, watched as Senior Gale handed her a cup of drink.
"Chocolate?" Wang Li arched an eyebrow. "This is what you're so proud of?"
"Hot chocolate," Gale nodded, smiling. "It isn't the same kind I gave Little Rong'er."
He had one cup in his palm, patiently waiting for Elder Sister to drink the chocolate drink and praise him. He seemed to be excessively expectant of her reaction, to fall into euphoric bliss with just a sip of the drink.
Wang Li watched him warily and gave a provisional sip. Then an ethereal bliss spread across her face as she closed her eyes. She took another sip, a larger one. Her tongue worked to lick the dark chocolate dipping down her lips.
"This is . . ." Wang Li was left speechless. After several euphoric whimpers, she finally collected her thoughts. "What have you mixed in?"
A wide smile crept on Gale's lips as he smirked. "Trade secret, but I'll let you know I had to sacrifice over ten Virgin maidens to finally get this."
Xiaolin faltered on her path while Wang Li gave the leftover hot chocolate a look to stare back at Gale. "You're single, right?"
"Unfortunately," Gale said, shaking his head in distraught. "You can call me a maidenless tarnished if you like."
"I can understand why that is," Wang Li muttered. "People can misinterpret your humour pretty easily."
"That did happen on more than a couple of occasions," Gale agreed. "But you do admit sacrificing the virgins was worth it?"
A conflicted look developed on Wang Li's face as she weighed the cost. Gale burst into laughter, slapping the counter loudly.
"Well, you can rest assured, no sacrifices were involved in the chocolates, but I might have stolen them before coming here. In my defence . . . Well, you drank it, you know it's irresistible."
Wang Li shook her head, unsure which part to believe and which part not to.
"Talking about maidens," she said, turning to find Xiaolin. "There's one. Ready to move, Linlin."
Xiaolin nodded. "Grandma isn't here yet?"
"She's expecting a guest."
Just as Wang Li's voice trailed off, the door of the inn creaked open and sunshine found its way into the inn. It was in the form of a fair youth with brimming silver hair and a perfectly symmetrical face that could make any woman blush just by the presence. His face could spark jealousy in any man, and make weak-willed suffer Qi deviation if they took the liberty of expression.
More importantly, it wasn't an unfamiliar face, but the same man who gave him a lift into Wayshire.
I wonder if he has any sisters, Gale wondered. Wait, plural? What I'm thinking?!
"Apologies," Sun Ziang said, "I'm a bit late. Where's Grandma?"
Wang Li frowned, inspecting the newcomer. Her expression said she was seeing him for the first time, yet he seemed familiar with Grandma Yushen.
"Oh, look at my manners," Sun Ziang said again, "I haven't introduced myself yet. You must be Wang Li, Grandma Wang's granddaughter. I'm Sun Ziang . . . A distant relative."
Gale exchanged quick glances between Sun Ziang and Wang Li as both of them stood in awkward silence. Until Grandma Wang slipped into the hall.
"Ahh, Little Ziang," she said, "you've grown fine."
Sun Ziang greeted, bowing respectively. "Aunt Mei asked for your good health and have me deliver this letter to you."
A realisation flashed in Wang Li's eyes as Grandma Wang introduced everyone.
"My first daughter had the good fortune of marrying into the great Sun Clan," Grandma Wang said. "When I heard Sun Ziang coming to our town, I asked him for a favour as he holds another identity than the son of the Great Sun Clan. He's also a newly appointed enforcer of our town. He will be working as a witness to the recordings."
That brightened Xiaolin even more than when the fabulously handsome Sun Xiang showed his face. Well, with that settled, they moved towards the Mayor's office.
***
Turns out Xiaolin was worrying about nothing. The proceedings continued without any delay.
The Mayor was never present in the town as he had better things to spend time with, which leave much authority to the Han Family who worked as the spokesperson of the mayor.
That left Han Xiao an edge to make a move, but with the presence of Grandma Wang and Enforcer Sun Ziang, he had to overlook the recordings.
In the end, not only Xiaolin managed to sell 12 acres of land to Senior Gale, she even leased out the rest of the land for five years. Gale had already left extra marks with her, and everything went without a mishap.
Xiaolin still couldn't believe it even after reaching the Inn.
"Seemed like you're worried about nothing," Gale told her, slapping her shoulder slightly. "Now what?"
Xiaolin regarded him.
"This asks for celebration, does it not?" Gale laughed. "What do you do to celebrate here?"
"We party," Wang Li answered for her.
"Then we party."
____________
Looks like I've spent enough on building up. A few story beats would go faster after this.