The big man stepped forward, trying to pull Adam Sullivan up. Adam Sullivan coughed and sneered, “You dare touch me? Can’t you see I’m sickly, like I’m made of paper? If something happens to me because you touch me, is it your fault or your young master’s?” This was pure nonsense—he’d been eating so well lately that his cheeks were rosy, and he didn’t look the least bit like someone on the verge of death.

But the big man was bluffed, tilting his head to look at the young man in brocade. The young man said impatiently, “Let him walk on his own.” Only then did the big man remember that this kid had been bitten by a snake and that’s why he was staying here. Even though he looked fine, who knew if the poison was really gone? What if he suddenly dropped dead?

※※※

Adam Sullivan held onto the railing, trembling as he went downstairs. The young man in brocade strutted arrogantly at the front, the burly man walked with his head down at the rear, sandwiching him in the middle as if escorting a prisoner.

As soon as they reached the courtyard, Adam Sullivan saw the bruised and swollen ‘Miss Grace’, her hands and feet in splints, sitting on a cart, squinting and smiling at him… It was probably meant to be a cold or triumphant smile, but her face was so swollen it looked like an eggplant, making it comical no matter how you looked at it.

Once the three of them left the small yard, Miss Grace had her husband push the cart behind them, so the five of them walked in a line down the corridor. Adam Sullivan looked ahead and behind, suddenly remembering a children’s song he used to sing, which fit the scene perfectly, so he raised his voice and began to sing…

“Monk Tang wears a green kasaya,

Behind him follows Sun Wukong;

Sun Wukong, runs so fast,

Behind him follows Zhu Bajie;

Zhu Bajie, chubby and round,

Behind him follows Sha Wujing;

Sha Wujing, pushing a cart,

On the cart sits an old demon hag,

The old demon hag is truly bad,

She tricked Monk Tang and Bajie;

Monk Tang and Bajie are so muddleheaded,

Can’t tell human from demon;

Can’t tell, got fooled,

Luckily Sun Wukong’s eyes are sharp;

Eyes are sharp, shining gold,

He raises his golden staff high;

Golden staff, full of power,

Sweeps away all the monsters and demons…”

By this time, the story of Monk Tang’s journey to the West was already well known. Plus, his voice was excellent and his singing playful and mischievous, drawing men and women from all the courtyards to watch, and some children followed behind, giggling as they listened.

When he finished singing, the young master actually turned and smiled, “That song is interesting. Who taught it to you?”

Adam Sullivan rolled his eyes, not sure if this young master was wise and pretending to be foolish, or just plain stupid.

The children understood the song, and surrounded the cart with the chubby Miss Grace, making faces and chirping, “Old demon hag, old demon hag…”

Miss Grace of course understood too, and shrieked angrily, “Fourth Young Master, he’s calling you Monk Tang!”

“Am I that handsome?” Unexpectedly, Fourth Young Master was pleased instead of angry, touching his face and asking Adam Sullivan, “Am I really as handsome as Monk Tang?”

Adam Sullivan looked at his lopsided, ugly face and replied nonsense, “Young master, you’re as elegant as a tree in the wind, more handsome than Pan An, loved by all, flowers bloom at your sight!”

“Good kid, you’ve got a sharp eye.” The big-nosed Fourth Young Master laughed happily, “Very few people can see my inner beauty.”

“Ah, the world isn’t short of beauty, just short of eyes that can see it.” Adam Sullivan said solemnly.

Chapter 8: The The Sullivan Family Mansion (Middle)

That Fourth Young Master suddenly felt that this boy, three or four years younger than himself, was truly a remarkable person.

Pinching his cheek and thinking for a moment, he whispered, “How about you apologize to Miss Grace, and we settle this privately?”

Before Adam Sullivan could say anything, Miss Grace, who had been listening intently, objected sharply, “No way! He made me like this, I can’t just let it go.”

Fourth Young Master also felt that so many people had seen it—if it wasn’t resolved, people would gossip, and he might get dragged into trouble himself. Thinking this, he winked at Adam Sullivan and said, “Don’t worry, as long as it’s not your fault, I’ll speak up for you.”

“Fourth Uncle…” Miss Grace pouted aggrievedly.

Fourth Young Master glanced at the sky outside the corridor, gave a dry laugh, and said, “What a refreshing day.” Then he lowered his head and walked ahead, not speaking further.

After passing through several archways, the group arrived outside the ‘Zhonghe Hall’ in the third courtyard. Fourth Young Master told them to wait outside while he went in to announce their arrival.

This hall was clearly a very important place in the residence. Along the row of twelve south-facing doors, openwork carvings depicted ‘Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter’, ‘Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, Studying’, and ‘Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting’. The figures were simple and ancient, the craftsmanship exquisite, making it hard for Adam Sullivan to tear his eyes away.

After a while, Fourth Young Master came out and said, “The master wants you all to come in.”

The big man helped Miss Grace down from the cart and supported her to the hall entrance, then let go so she hobbled in on her own, not taking another step inside himself.

Seeing Adam Sullivan looking curious, Fourth Young Master leaned in and whispered, “A live-in son-in-law, not presentable.” Then he kindly warned, “The master is formidable, you’d better be careful.”

Adam Sullivan smiled at him, “Thank you for the advice, young master.” Straightening his washed-out clothes, he held his head high and walked in.

As soon as he entered, he saw a sandalwood plaque hanging above the main hall, inscribed with four ancient, powerful characters: ‘Zhong He Wei Yu’. The wall beneath was elegantly decorated, with the Zhuzi Family Instructions carved in running script. The couplets on either side read, ‘Set your mind on self-cultivation and order, read the books of sages’, eight gilded characters in regular script.