CEG Chapter 1

The “buzzing” sound finally stopped. Li Sizhi turned around and saw that she was lying on the small bed with a fine layer of sweat covering her forehead.

 

“Are you okay?” Li Sizhi asked.

 

Cheng Yan nodded. Perhaps because he was speaking after quite a while, his voice was a bit hoarse, “Okay.”

 

His voice originally sounded low and husky like a person who smoked, but now it sounded weak.

 

Li Sizhi was about to get up, but Cheng Yan stopped her and said, “Lie down for a while. There’s still edema flowing down your back. We need to observe it for a while.”

 

“Then can I sit up while you’re observing me? I’m not feeling well after lying down for too long.”

 

Cheng Yan took off his mask, took off his latex gloves and threw them into the trash can, then turned to look at Li Sizhi and said, “You can’t touch anything where the tattoo is. You also can’t put on clothes.”

 

Li Sizhi nodded and said she understood.

 

She was getting a tattoo on the back of her shoulder. Just now, Cheng Yan’s female assistant took off her clothes and bra. She was not wearing a top now. The female assistant wrapped her in a thin blanket and clamped it from behind with a clip, leaving only her shoulders exposed.

 

While Li Sizhi was waiting for her tattoo to finish getting checked, she started chatting with Cheng Yan. She called out, “Cheng Yan?”

 

Cheng Yan who was packing up his tools and didn’t even look up, “Hmm?”

 

“I heard from that short-haired girl that you’re still not married?”

 

The short-haired girl she mentioned should be Cheng Yan’s assistant. Li Sizhi is an old acquaintance of Cheng Yan and his former teacher. The two haven’t seen each other for many years. But not so long ago, Li Sizhi found this tattoo studio and wanted to get a tattoo, only to find that the owner of the studio was an old friend.

 

These days, she comes here almost every day to watch Cheng Yan work, and she also likes to chat with the girls here and talk about Cheng Yan.

 

Cheng Yan responded, “Yeah.”

 

“Not in love either?”

 

Cheng Yan smiled and walked over to her and looked at the wound, “No, what’s wrong.”

 

“Do you like men?” Li Sizhi seemed to have a questioning tone when she said this, but his eyes were firm and looked bright.

 

“Did our xiao yatou[mfn]xiao yatou (小丫头) term of endearment used by friends or family when referring to a young girl.[/mfn] tell you that?” Cheng Yan asked.

 

“Yes.” Li Sizhi smiled lightly. She was almost forty years old, but she looked very young, with big black wavy hair that went past her shoulders. She had an elegant temperament, but a straightforward personality.

 

Cheng Yan admitted, “Yeah, I like men.” He took a clean towel and gently pressed on Li Sizhi’s shoulder. He heard Li Sizhi say, “Then, I want to introduce someone to you. I wonder if you’re willing to accept my goodwill.”

 

Cheng Yan applied a layer of tattoo ointment on Li Sizhi’s shoulder, tore off the plastic wrap and stuck it on the tattoo, and asked, “What kind of introduction?”

 

“What else can it be?” Li Sizhi said bluntly, “The kind for a relationship.”

 

“Blind date.”

 

“You can think of it that way.”

 

Cheng Yan didn’t answer, but called out to the door, “Maomao.”

 

“Yeah!”

 

“Come and help the guest change her clothes.” Cheng Yan ordered, “Take a picture of the tattoo and show it to the guest.”

 

“Okay.” The assistant came into the room with Li Sizhi’s clothes in her hand, and Cheng Yan left the room.

 

The conversation had been interrupted, but a moment later, Li Sizhi appeared in Cheng Yan’s office, dressed neatly. Cheng Yan picked up a glass of water and drank it quickly, while Li Sizhi pulled a chair and sat down in front of his desk.

 

“Xiao yatou took a picture of the tattoo and showed it to me. I like it very much.”

 

Cheng Yan put down the water cup and rubbed the wet corners of his mouth with his fingers. “As long as you like it. And remember not to touch water the first six hours after returning home. Don’t use shower gel when taking a bath. Remember to apply ointment every day, and don’t scratch the scabs on the wounds.”

 

Cheng Yan briefly and straightforwardly explained the precautions, and Li Sizhi continued the previous topic, “have you thought about it? Are you willing to accept the date?”

 

Cheng Yan held the water cup in silence for a while. If it were someone else, he would have ended the topic directly. But Li Sizhi was his former teacher, who taught him art for a period of time. Although she was only a few years older than him, she was very kind to him. Even now, Cheng Yan still calls her Teacher Li.

 

So Cheng Yan followed up on her question and asked, “Who?”

 

“My cousin, the same age as you.”

 

Cheng Yan asked a very practical question, “What does he do?”

 

“He teaches in school.”

 

Cheng Yan shook his head. He didn’t even graduate from high school, and he wasn’t educated, so he didn’t think he was suitable. He said, “Not really suitable.”

 

“What’s the reason?”

 

“We possibly can’t have anything in common.”

 

Li Sizhi smiled, “How can you be so conservative at such a young age? Do you think he is some old scholar? Or a bald uncle in a polo shirt?”

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

“His name is Jiang Muping.” Li Sizhi said earnestly, “He is very handsome and excellent.”

 

 

 

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As Jiang Muping entered the yard, he smelled the rich aroma of food. There was a stone table in the yard, which was filled with dishes. The nanny came out of the kitchen carrying freshly stewed fish soup.

 

“Xiansheng[mfn]Xiansheng(先生) respectful way of refering to some you respect of someone who teaches you. In modern term in can mean Mr.[/mfn] is back?”

 

Jiang Muping teaches at a university and is a professor. The nanny is old and has traditional ideas. She likes to call him “Xiansheng” according to the old-fashioned respectful title for teachers.

 

“Aunt Cai.” Jiang Muping greeted her.

 

“Oh, go inside and wash your hands and get ready for dinner.”

 

“So many dishes today?” Jiang Muping glanced at the dining table.

 

Jiang Muping’s parents lived in a courtyard. Jiang Muping walked into the main room. Jiang’s mother was sitting on the sofa looking at drafts. She said, “Sizhi came here today. She said she got a tattoo and wanted to show it to us.”

 

“Tattoo?” Jiang Muping picked up the teapot on the coffee table and poured a glass of water.

 

“She always remembers to show what she has tattooed to. She said it was tattooed by an acquaintance and it looks quite good.”

 

Jiang Muping smiled without a word, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

 

As soon as Li Sizhi arrived, she took off the white gauze shawl that was draped over her body. She was wearing a half-backless dress. When she took off the shawl, half of her tattoo could be seen. The tattoo was covered with plastic wrap. The area around the lines was red and a little swollen along the edges, which looked creepy.

 

“How is it, aunty and uncle?”

 

The Jiang couple are old and don’t understand young people’s aesthetics, so they can’t describe the tattoo. So father Jiang just asked the main point directly, “Did it hurt to get the tattoo?”

 

“Tolerable.” Li Sizhi pulled up the shawl, “The tattoo artist has good skills.”

 

Li Sizhi’s parents died in a car accident when she was a child. Her mother is the younger sister of Jiang Muping’s mother. She was raised by Jiang Muping’s parents since she was a child. Jiang’s father and mother have always been gentle and open-minded. They never try to influence the decisions of their children. They always say “whatever Sizhi thinks is good.”

 

Jiang Muping ate in silence, without any sound. He always ate like this, but today Li Sizhi wanted to make her presence known.

 

“Muping.” Li Sizhi called out to him.

 

Jiang Muping raised his head.

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything? What do you think the tattoo is about?”

 

Jiang Muping swallowed the food in his mouth before speaking, “Is it a killer whale?”

 

“Did you figure it out?” Li Sizhi’s mouth curled up slightly.

 

Jiang Muping picked up a dish with chopsticks and said, “It looks like it. I like the killer whale.”

 

“I like it, too.”

 

A killer whale was the main element that Li Sizhi suggested to Cheng Yan. In addition, she also made many minor requirements. What Cheng Yan finally designed was actually a painting with a very vague shape and meaning.

 

“Is there any meaning?” Jiang Muping asked tactfully. In fact, he didn’t really want to know. It was just that it was rare to see Li Sizhi so enthusiastic. He found it very amusing and didn’t want to spoil her enjoyment.

 

“If there’s freedom, there’s power.”

 

Father Jiang nodded and said, “That is a good implication.”

 

Li Sizhi took out a business card from his bag and handed it to Jiang Muping, “If you are interested, you can go get one too.”

 

Jiang Muping glanced at the name on the business card and said seriously, “Teachers cannot have tattoos.”

 

Li Sizhi retorted back and said, “Who would even see the tattoo on your butt?”

 

Mother Jiang choked as she held the rice bowl and scolded with a smile, “Why are you talking about such things.”

 

Jiang Muping pushed the business card back with a faint smile on his face, “I might consider it, after I retire from teaching.”

 

 

 

Jiang Muping is staying at his parents’ house today. His room is on the west side of the house, and Li Sizhi’s is on the east side. They both left the old house a few years after graduating from college.

 

When Li Sizhi entered the room, Jiang Muping was reading a student’s paper. Li Sizhi put the cup of coffee she was holding onto Jiang Muping’s desk .

 

“I don’t drink coffee at night.” Jiang Muping said without raising his head, “It troubles my sleep.”

 

“I just made you a cup of coffee because I didn’t want you to go to bed early. You are a young man in your prime, why do you go to bed at a certain time every day like an old man?” Li Sizhi looked at him.

 

“At thirty-five, I am no longer a young man.”

 

“That’s not even that old.”

 

“I don’t like coffee.”

 

“Okay.” Li Sizhi stopped embarrassing him and took a sip of the coffee. “Muping, I want to introduce you to someone.”

 

Jiang Muping raised his head, and his glasses glowed light blue under the light.

 

“I’m not joking. I know I’ve never mentioned this to you before.” Li Sizhi’s expression and tone were very serious. She leaned her back on the desk and said to Jiang Muping. “He and I are old acquaintances. He’s a really nice guy.”

 

Jiang Muping quickly guessed who the “he” Li Sizhi was talking about was, “Is it the tattoo artist who tattooed you?”

 

“Yes.” Li Sizhi turned around and said, “Auntie introduced you to a few people recently, but you didn’t meet them right?”

 

“I don’t have the time.” Jiang Muping continued looking at his computer.

 

“Don’t give me that. You’re just being indifferent.” Li Sizhi hit the nail on the head. “It’s just that my aunt and uncle are too peaceful and kind enough not to nag you.”

 

Jiang Muping pursed his lips but said nothing.

 

After a while, Jiang Muping asked, “Why did you suddenly think of introducing someone to me?”

 

Li Sizhi casually said, “Because I think he’ll be your type.”

 

Jiang Muping smiled mysteriously,”How do you know?”

 

“Guessed.” Li Sizhi blinked.

 

When mother Jiang came in, Li Sizhi turned around and said, “Aunt, I have someone I want to introduce to Mu Ping.”

 

“Oh”

 

“It’s the tattoo artist who tattooed me.”

 

“A tattoo artist…” Jiang’s mother slowed down her pace, looked at Jiang Muping, then looked

at Li Sizhi, “It’s okay as long as he’s a good person, right Muping?”

 

Jiang Muping’s eyes never left the computer screen. He adjusted his glasses, raised his eyes, and looked at his mother,

 

“Alright.”