Mag’s customers left with disappointment when they saw the notice on the door.
“I don’t see anyone inside, Aisha,” Yabemiya said after she looked inside through the window for a while. “It won’t open today, I think.”
Sally nodded, disappointed.
“Anyway, you look beautiful! I like your dress!” Yabemiya said.
Sally smiled. “Thank you.”She had never worn anything like this before. It was a tight-fitting dress with a side slit, making her legs seem even longer and slenderer. The white and blue were going great with her light skin tone.
She couldn’t quite tell what was the material it was made of—it felt like silk to her, but even the silk produced by silkworms in the Wind Forest wasn’t as smooth. It was close-fitting, but stretchy enough not to restrict movement.
What amazed her most was that it fitted her like a glove as if it had been made according to her measurements.
But he didn’t have the time, and never asked about my measurements, Sally thought to herself.
He figured out my measurements just by looking at me? But my dress yesterday was pretty loose. There was no way he could have guessed them right. Maybe he could somehow see through clothes or something? Sally could feel herself turning red.
Yabemiya didn’t notice the change of emotions on Sally’s face. “Our boss is a great cook, and he also has very good taste in clothes,” she said. “Did you have any breakfast this morning?”
Sally shook her head. “No.”She had planned to have a plate of Yangzhou fried rice here.
The owner of the Geya Hotel still let her stay there, and had said she could still work there when she was not working at the restaurant.
“You must be hungry,” Yabemiya said, smiling. “I know a place where we can have some breakfast. It’s not as good as the food in our restaurant, but it’s cheap, and that place is pretty clean.”
Sally brightened up at her spirited smile. “Sounds good.”
Mag seemed like a decent man; I don’t think he would do anything repulsive, thought Sally. What if he offers me two bowls of tofu pudding every meal? Should I stay here forever?
Sally shook her head. No! Absolutely not! I would never forgive myself if I stayed here forever.
“All right. Let’s go. Maybe we can come back at noon,” Yabemiya said, and walked away.
Sally took another look at the notice—the writing was lean and strong, but not aggressive, just like Mag. She left with Yabemiya.
…
Mag had noticed Guy when the latter jumped on that rock. He was tall and strong, 50-odd years old, in a tiger-skin vest over a black shirt. He looked great despite his age, his skin reddish black from the sun.
Mag had seen that he had wanted to help until Amy killed the boar.
He was the same man who had warned Mag not to take Amy on a mission here. Mag was grateful to him, and even admired him—he had been willing to save two strangers from a rampaging boar.
“I thought I heard a bronze wild boar, so I came running to check,” Guy said, putting down his spear. “Oh, I have a quest of capturing a bronze wild boar.” He said nothing about him coming to help since they clearly hadn’t needed it.
“Oh, I see,” said Amy. Then she looked up at Mag. “Father, I don’t think we can eat all of it. Can we share it with Mr. Tiger?”
Mag smiled and stroked her hair. “Mr. Tiger didn’t come here to eat the pig. Besides, it’s still undercooked, I think. It’s inedible.” Then he turned to Guy. “Hi, I’m Mag. Do you still want this?”
“Hi, I’m Guy. I’m afraid its meat is burned, so they won’t accept it. This boar hasn’t been sighted on the west slope for years. It’s old, but its tusks look good. I think they can fetch some money.”
Amy walked up to the boar on her short legs. “It’s inedible? But it smells so good…” Then she saw the white tusks and brightened up. “Can you turn a tusk into a magic wand for me, Father?”
