022: Senior perfumer Xie Shang

This room used to be Xie Qingze's room, but now it's been emptied, with only a memorial portrait left.

Xie Jingxian had one-fourth Western ancestry, his pupils had a golden-yellow color. In the generation of Xie Shang, only his pupils resembled Xie Jingxian to some degree.

"I knew you would come today," Xie Jingxian, past his seventieth year, with gray hair, said in front of the memorial portrait, "You come every year on this day."

Today was Xie Qingze's birthday.

Xie Shang stepped forward, poured tea, lit incense, and bowed respectfully: "Grandfather, do you still remember how Uncle looked?"

Aside from this somewhat faded memorial portrait due to the passage of time, there were no other photos of Xie Qingze in the house, as he was not fond of taking pictures when he was alive.

"Ji Fu, one must look forward."

That's what Xie Jingxian advised, as did many others.

Xie Qingze had passed away seven years ago, and it seemed like only Xie Shang within the entire Xie Family had not let go, only he still remembered Wind Town of Flower City, and that girl from the Wen Family.

After leaving the room, Xie Shang did not linger and left straight away.

"Xie Shang," Xie Liangjiang called out to him.

His mother, Madam Su, and grandmother, Madam Zhai, liked to call Xie Shang Xingxing, the old master called him Ji Fu, Aunt Wen and the driver Uncle Zhong called him Fourth Brother, his second uncle called him Xiao Shang, while Xie Liangjiang liked to call him by his full name.

If it weren't for the fear of being cursed for being unfilial, Xie Shang would have liked to call Xie Liangjiang by his full name as well.

Actually, there wasn't any deep hatred between father and son, it was just that they were incompatible in their magnetic fields, beliefs, and ways of handling things—in every possible way. Xie Shang used to be left-handed, and Xie Liangjiang insisted on him changing that. Fine, he switched to using his right hand, but then he couldn't use chopsticks properly.

"You're not so young anymore, it's time to do some serious work," said Xie Liangjiang, seated upright, his gaze looking up didn't diminish his composure as a superior.

Xie Shang was sufficiently polite: "What do you mean?"

"Come to the law firm and help me."

Running a pawnshop wasn't serious, being a perfumer wasn't serious, only the career of Xie Liangjiang was considered serious.

Xie Shang reminded him kindly, "Father, if I were to go to the law firm, you would have to retire."

Xie Liangjiang fell silent.

Xie Shang didn't stay for a meal; he had made arrangements to be at Linsheng Courtyard. The owner of Linsheng Courtyard was named Lin Sheng, and the small courtyard ran a tea house, also featuring variety acts, storytelling, tea tasting, and opera. Boss Lin was talented, and his business was booming. The small courtyard had five floors, with the second floor being the tea room.

The manager of the second floor was surnamed Jing.

Today they had esteemed guests, so Manager Jing personally attended to them, leading the girl who played music the best in the store to a private room. Before entering, he specially instructed her, "Don't be like yesterday, putting on a stern face."

This girl was named Ning Su, a student of the music academy. She had good looks and a good figure, and she played well, but her temperament was too aloof.

"I'm a music player, not a jester."

The tone of the girl showed her disdain for the part-time job.

Because she liked to put on a cold face, she had already been complained about twice.

Manager Jing didn't indulge her, speaking bluntly, "Don't love hearing this, but in most customers' eyes, you might just be a jester, after all, not everyone understands your music." Manager Jing laid it out like that, "You can choose not to earn this money, but if you want to earn it, don't hold your chin too high."

Ning Su looked displeased by the comment but did not argue back.

She needed this part-time job—the pay from Linsheng Courtyard was good.

"Go on in, there's a VIP inside, be careful with your words and piano playing."

Ning Su pushed the door and entered, the first thing she saw was a Chinese screen painting. She entered from the right side of the screen, which was the rule of the tea room. The customers' tea table was to the left, separated by a bead curtain in the center.

Ning Su smoothed her cheongsam's hem and sat down, starting to play music immediately, without lifting her head even once throughout. She wasn't interested in paying attention to the guests, and she hoped the guests wouldn't pay attention to her. She had seen too many of those types who used music as a pretext for flirting,

Halfway through the piece, some guests came in.

"President Xie, sorry to keep you waiting," said one.

Two men entered one after the other, the speaker was surnamed He, one of the directors of Huadi Group.

Xie Shang poured two cups of tea, filling them up to seventy percent: "I arrived too early."

Those familiar with Xie Shang knew he hated waiting for people, so he would always arrive early for appointments but never wait for anyone.

Director Ho took the initiative to introduce the person who came with him, "President Xie, this is Xiao Li, our company's legal affairs officer. If there's anything you're dissatisfied with in the previous contract, just say it out loud. It's convenient to make changes while Xiao Li is here."

Xiao Li followed with a greeting to President Xie and placed the paper contract documents on the table.

Xie Shang used the lid to flick away the tea leaves floating on the surface, then set it down, with half of the lid pressing on the documents. He didn't seem inclined to open them, "I am dissatisfied with everything."

Director Ho's heart skipped a beat, "This..."

"Let's start by changing the spokesperson for the mall."

Isn't the spokesperson your relative?

Director Ho couldn't figure it out, "This..." Could it be some sort of implied meaning?

"Can't be changed?" Xie Shang raised his eyes.

"Changed," Director Ho said without hesitation, "Changed!"

"Why don't you sit down?"

Director Ho immediately sat down.

Xie Shang pushed the teacup toward him, "This one is void. I will have someone send the newly drafted contract to you."

Director Ho tactically probed, "Will you draft it?"

"Or will you?"

Xie Shang's words were all courteous, gentle, and mild as a spring breeze, with no trace of harshness in his eyes, graceful and amiable.

Director Ho's heart was erratic, "No, no, of course it should be you, with your background in law."

Xie Shang was a high-level perfumer from Noon Ferry.

Huadi Department Store's best-selling luxury perfume last year was crafted by Xie Shang. The contract for the store expires this year, and the board gave Director Ho a firm order to ensure the renewal is successful.

As long as it was within an acceptable range, whatever demand Xie Shang made, Director Ho would agree without condition.

Having completed the official business, Director Ho rotated the exquisitely arranged mung bean thousand-layer pastry towards Xie Shang, "This is a specialty here. Please try it, President Xie."

The seat in Linsheng Courtyard was booked by Director Ho, and the tea and refreshments he had ordered in advance were the finest selections.

Xie Shang just tasted a bit and then set it down.

Director Ho awkwardly chugged his tea, inwardly grumbling about how picky this person was.

"The music is played quite well," Xie Shang casually complimented.

Director Ho, taking the hint, immediately stood up, walked in front of the beaded curtain, and took the initiative to draw it aside. This wasn't Director Ho's first time brokering a deal in Linsheng Courtyard. Men who praised the music tended to be interested in seeing the face of the girl playing it.

As the beaded curtain was lifted, Ning Su's head shot up. The moment she saw Xie Shang, she hit two wrong notes.

I should only gaze upon the painting, for the ferry of this scene knows me alone.

*****

On the ground floor of Linsheng Courtyard, a storyteller was narrating "Mirror Flower Edge."

"You actually can't hear?!"

Madam Qi looked at Wen Changling with a face that was off the charts, full of disdain.

Madam Qi was the mother of Mr. Tao Jun, who was Wen Changling's suitor during a matchmaking session.

"What's this, not saying upfront about being disabled, isn't this just toying with us?" Madam Qi stared disapprovingly at the hearing aid in Wen Changling's left ear, not bothering to lower her voice at all.

Perhaps she thought Wen Changling was deaf.

Wen Changling reminded Madam Qi, "I can hear you." No need to speak so loudly, after all, it's a public place.

"Then you're also not normal. Which normal person wears that thing on their ear?" Madam Qi was very agitated as she grabbed her purse and stood up, "Let's go, let's go, a waste of time."

Tao Jun tugged at Madam Qi, his voice was quite soft, "Mom, since we're already here."

He glanced at Wen Changling out of the corner of his eye. Aside from the ear, he actually quite liked her. He preferred girls who looked meek, prim and proper, and gentle.