Chapter 7

### Chapter 7: Playing Chess

After returning to his western courtyard with a sullen face from the old man, Fang Yiai plopped down on the bed. Linglong, who was studying chess, smiled and asked, "What's wrong, Second Young Master? Who upset you again?"

"It could only be the old man. I kindly helped him get a reclining chair, but he actually took it out on me," Fang Yiai complained with a smile. Linglong thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Second Young Master, I don't think the old man was angry at you. It was probably the lady who was angry at the old man. Actually, this is all your fault. If you were going to give something, you should have given two. Giving just one clearly means it's for the lady. How could the old man dare to compete with her?"

Fang Yiai thought about it and realized she was right. It seemed his prime minister father was quite tragic, always having to be second. Since he wasn't really angry, Fang Yiai took a piece of canvas and drew a chessboard with a brush. Linglong, curious, asked, "Second Young Master, is this for playing chess?"

"My clever Linglong, hehe, yes, this is the chessboard," Fang Yiai said casually. Linglong covered her mouth and laughed, "Second Young Master, your chessboard is pretty good, but your writing is really something else!"

"You little brat, just say it if you want to. I know my own level. Even the Chu-Han border looks bad to me. What's there to be embarrassed about?" Fang Yiai poked Linglong's forehead and scolded her with a smile. Linglong felt sweet inside and grabbed Fang Yiai's thick finger, pouting, "Second Young Master, don't poke my forehead, that's very impolite. Besides, I'm older than you. Don't treat me like a child. You're the one who's a child."

Fang Yiai was a bit confused, blinking and mumbling, "What? Clearly, you're the child."

Linglong didn't hear clearly what Fang Yiai said, but she knew he was complaining. Linglong wasn't afraid of Fang Yiai anymore and said with a smile, "Second Young Master, I think in the future, if you want to write anything, let me do it. My writing is much better than yours."

"Hmph, I know, great scholar. Now, let's not talk nonsense. I'll teach you how to play chess. It's really fun," Fang Yiai finally regained some confidence and happily took on the role of teacher. However, after a few games, Fang Yiai was stunned. Linglong was too good. Fang Yiai shamelessly said, "Linglong, that doesn't count. I must have picked up the wrong piece because I was distracted." Linglong pouted, unhappy, "Second Young Master, you've already taken back six moves. Is your eyesight really that bad?" Although Linglong complained, she was happy inside. Arguing with Second Young Master was a great pleasure.

"Linglong, you're still talking. You don't know how to respect your teacher. I'm your teacher, and you should let me win a bit."

"Second Young Master, that's honesty. Do you want me to lie to you?"

"Ugh, fine, you win. From now on, I'll let you have one cannon, or I won't play with you. You're a freak."

"Second Young Master, that's cheating. Is it fair to let me have one piece?"

"Well, what can I do? You're too strong. I have to use some underhanded tactics. Hehe," Fang Yiai wasn't ashamed. Victory was the only way. However, he was quite embarrassed. In one afternoon, his apprentice could beat him. He didn't know if it was because his apprentice was too good or if he was too incompetent. Anyway, that afternoon, Fang Yiai and Linglong happily played chess, even forgetting dinner. It wasn't until Fang De called Fang Yiai that they realized it. Linglong stuck out her cute little tongue and said to Fang De, "Fang Manager, I'm sorry. I got so engrossed in playing with Second Young Master that I forgot the time."

"You don't need to explain, little girl. Just get Second Young Master to go eat. The old man and the lady are waiting," Fang De didn't take it to heart. It was normal for young people to get engrossed in play. Besides, Fang De didn't want to see Second Young Master get scolded.

Fang Yiai smiled awkwardly and said to Linglong, "Linglong, you don't need to clean up the chessboard. We'll continue when I come back. You should go eat too." Linglong nodded and left. Fang Yiai shook his head and walked toward the old man's courtyard.

After Fang Yiai sat down, Lady Lu asked with a smile, "Jun'er, was the reclining chair you made all by yourself?" Fang Yiai took a bite of food and nodded, "Mother, I came up with the idea. I think the current seats are unreasonable. Making people sit on such low stools is fine for a short time, but who can bear it for long? Kneeling is more comfortable. I think we can make some higher chairs and stools, along with matching tables. Don't you find it uncomfortable to kneel here for meals?"

"Second Brother, you're right. I also find it uncomfortable to kneel here for meals. It makes my stomach hurt. I could eat two bowls of rice, but kneeling, I can only eat one," Fang Yi Zhi agreed with Fang Yiai, not knowing who made such a ridiculous rule for meals.

Lady Lu ignored Fang Yi Zhi and continued, "Jun'er, who else knew about the reclining chair?"

"Mother, only Uncle De, Fang Quan, and Linglong knew. No one else did," Fang Yiai answered with a smile, sensing that his mother had an idea about the chair.

Sure enough, Lady Lu turned to Fang Xuanling and said, "Old man, I think this is a good way to make money. What do you think?"

"Hmph, Lady, I don't care about that yellow and white stuff. You do as you please," the old man blew his beard and said seriously, as if gold and silver were like dirt to him.

Lady Lu looked at Fang Xuanling with disdain and said angrily, "Old man, stop pretending. If I didn't think of ways to make money, this Fang household would have become a beggar's nest long ago. You dare to look down on money? Try not eating. This food is bought with money. I'd like to see if your 'zhi hu zhe ye' can turn into a meal."

Lady Lu's toughness was well-known, and Fang Xuanling didn't dare to pretend to be noble anymore, stuffing his mouth with food. Fang Yiai asked curiously, "Big Brother, what's going on? Didn't the emperor say officials can't engage in business?"

"Second Brother, you're being too rigid. The emperor said officials can't engage in business, but he didn't say relatives can't. How else would we support this large family? Take our household, for example. If it weren't for Mother managing a few taverns, where would we get the money? Father's salary isn't enough to even pay the servants, let alone other expenses," Du Shi, the eldest sister-in-law, spoke up before Fang Yi Zhi could, "Our Fang household is already quite good. The Changsun family's assets are spread across the country. The largest taverns and inns in Chang'an, as well as the jewelry shops, all belong to the Changsun family. The emperor probably knows all about this but turns a blind eye."

Fang Yiai now understood the complexities of the situation. It seemed the Tang Dynasty's bureaucracy wasn't as clean as he thought. After dealing with the Tang prime minister, Lady Lu turned and said, "Jun'er, I'll have Fang Xing find you tomorrow. He'll bring some carpenters. Teach them all the strange and wonderful things in your head. This way, our Fang family can make some money. You don't know how expensive things are until you manage a household. Father's salary is so little, and he doesn't want to charge high rent to the tenants, so we always have to be frugal. Look at your sister-in-law's jewelry; nothing is worth more than ten taels of silver." Hearing this, Du Shi frowned and said, "Mother, why say these things? Besides, I'm not too interested in those things."

"Wife, the Fang household has wronged you. The old man only cares about 'zhi hu zhe ye,' and Jie'er is a bookworm. Neither of them brings any money home," Lady Lu said with a sigh. Fang Yiai understood his mother's feelings. The prime minister's daughter-in-law having no valuable items would be a disgrace to the Fang household. So, Fang Yiai thought for a moment and said confidently, "Mother, just watch. I'll help you make money!"

"You little rascal, are you itching for trouble? Can you even do business?" Hearing Fang Yiai's outlandish words, Fang Xuanling, who had been hanging his head, immediately looked up with a stern face. Lady Lu also knew her youngest son was too outspoken. Having someone else manage the business was one thing, but if the Second Young Master of the Fang household personally engaged in business, the censors would impeach him.

"Jun'er, it's good that you have the intention, but don't talk about business anymore. If the censors hear, your father will be impeached again," Lady Lu patted Fang Yiai's head affectionately. She didn't think business was bad, but as a member of the prime minister's household, some rules had to be followed.

"Mother, don't worry. I'm not that stupid. I just mean to guide Fang Xing occasionally. By the way, who is Fang Xing?" Fang Yiai rubbed his head and said boldly. Hearing this, Fang Yi Zhi almost spat out his food, pointing at Fang Yiai and laughing helplessly, "Second Brother, you really have a good memory. Fang Xing is Fang Manager's son. How could you forget that?"

"Big Brother, I'm not suffering from amnesia. What's so strange about that? Wipe the food from the corner of your mouth first," Fang Yiai didn't feel embarrassed at all, pointing at Fang Yi Zhi and laughing. Du Shi, seeing her brother-in-law's finger, quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe Fang Yi Zhi's mouth and scolded him, "Look at you, such a big person, and you can't even eat properly. Where is your usual composure?"

"This is home, so I don't need to wear a mask anymore!" Fang Yi Zhi laughed awkwardly.

Seeing Fang Yi Zhi's embarrassed look, Fang Yiai covered his mouth and laughed. Fang Yi Zhi looked at him helplessly, but Fang Yiai was completely unfazed. The dinner ended in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

After returning to his courtyard, Fang Yiai saw Linglong standing at the door, looking around. Fang Yiai stood in the middle of the courtyard, touched his hair, and struck a cool pose, shamelessly saying, "Hi, beautiful lady, may I have the honor of inviting you to a game of chess? Look, the moon and the flowers make it a perfect time for a game."

Linglong was amused and laughed, covering her mouth. Fang Yiai was captivated by her beauty. Linglong, seeing Fang Yiai's fixed gaze, felt sweet inside and pulled his hand, saying, "Second Young Master, stop being silly. I've been waiting for you for a long time. Remember, no more taking back moves."

That night, Fang Yiai and Linglong stayed up late playing chess, but what they gained was more than just a game—it was a bond!

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