“You are…”
“Mr. Golden, we are here to learn the method of making tea silk,” Charles spoke first and explained
their purpose of visit.
The old looked at the people standing at the entrance. He narrowed his eyes, his wrinkles could be
seen. His eyes were deep, he entered the house, “Let’s get in.”
The living room of the wooden house was small, it could not occupy all of the people. The security
guards did not enter while they stood outside.
Even then, the house was crowded after they entered.
The design of the house was simple, it was Chinese style, there were eight chairs in the living room. A
few drawings were hung on the wall on both sides. There was a newly created rubbish bin made of
bamboo. They did not match each other and looked messy. A table was placed in the middle. The old
sat on his seat.
He took a cigarette and ignited it, “Who wants to learn it from me?”
Dolores held Samuel’s hand and walked forwards, she said sincerely, “I want to learn the method of
making tea silk from you. If you are willing to do so, please be the master of my business. The salary is
up to you.”
He smoked vigorously and the white smoke was emitted. The special smell of the cigarette lingered in
the small space. The smoke was different from the smell of those cigarettes found in the market.
Instead, it was a faint herbal smell.
Matthew frowned slightly. If it were not because of Dolores, he would not come to this kind of place
ever.
The old sized up Dolores under the white smoke. Finally, his sight rested on the jade bracelet on her
wrist. Then, he glanced at Charles. Charles nodded at him.
He stopped looking at her, “I can teach you but I will not leave here.”
Their interaction was secretive. Although Matthew seemed to not concern about the issue, he noticed it
clearly.
He curved his lips slightly.
He wanted to know why Charles coaxed Dolores to come here.
He stayed still.
He seemed like an outsider that never took part in that.
“Can,” Dolores agreed.
“It is painstaking to learn the skill, are you willing to do so?” The old asked.
“Lola, or else let me learn it?” Theresa walked forwards, “You have to take care of the children and take
charge of the business. Just let me learn it, is it ok?” She realized that she had said something wrongly
and explained, “I don’t mean to learn the skill for myself selfishly…”
“I know.”
Dolores trusted her, she never suspected her intention.
The old ignored Theresa and said clearly, “I will only teach her.”
The living room became silent abruptly.
“So, you only accept one apprentice?” Armand thought that it was interesting. Why such kind of person
existed in this era? It was not in the past which the Kungfu skill would only be passed to one
apprentice. He was just a master who excelled in making silk, why did he pick the apprentice he
wanted?
Furthermore, he only selected Dolores. Did he know that Dolores was talented?
The old was calm, he did not bother Armand. He just looked at Dolores, “If you want to learn it, you
should make me your master. Then, I will teach you how to make the silk.”
Dolores did not mind making him her master but why did he only select her?
She was surprised.
But she felt uneasy. So, she did not answer him immediately.
“I don’t know why do you select her as your apprentice. May I know why?” A deep voice was heard in
the living room. He did not look at anyone, he was playing with his daughter. It seemed like he only got
attracted by her daughter and nothing else.
The old looked at him. The light beam from outside shone in, there were dust seen in lines. He
narrowed his eyes slightly. The old’s hand which held the cigarette pouch chattered when he saw the
handsome face under the light, he said calmly, “She is talented.”
“Really?” Matthew looked up and he met the old’s suffering sight. The old did not expect that Matthew
would concern about it suddenly.
He distracted their attention by coughing.
“You all seem not to trust me. I don’t like to teach people who are insincere, you all can leave now,” The
old stood up after saying that, he pushed the door and walked into the house.
“Wait,” Dolores called him. She thought that the person who excelled in the ancient skill would have a
bad temper.
As a fashion designer, she did not only care about the pattern of the clothes, materials were important
to her too.
If she could learn it, it was useful for her to develop her business.
Simona and Samuel had accepted Matthew as their father, he would not treat them shabbily in his
identity. She did not have to plan for the future of her children like what she did in the past. However, it
was her business. She would not give up her dream because of Matthew.
She wanted to work hard so that she was eligible to be the woman by his side. She did not want to be
the woman that depended on him to live.
She was not a dependent woman, she would never show off because of his background. She would
not depend on him even though she had given birth to their babies.
She was still herself. She would never be like her mother that married a man and lost herself, her
business and her social circle. That was why she lived sufferingly after she was abandoned.
Probably because she had suffered a lot in the past that made the painful memory etch in her mind
even though she lived well now.
“I am willing to make you as my master.”
The old was stunned, he turned to look at her, “Are you sure?”
“I am sure,” she did not bother Matthew.
It was her matter, she had the right to decide it.
The old’s sight rested on the tall silhouette behind her and said slowly, “You will have to stay here for
half a month if you want to learn the skill from me. Are you sure that you want to make me your
master?”
Dolores hesitated, it was not because she had to stay there for half a month, it was because she was
worried about her children.
“Forget it if you are hesitant. I will not force you as it is a painstaking lesson. No one will have the
determination to learn it.”
He was criticizing Dolores obviously. He thought that she wanted to learn how to make the material but
she did not want to bear the hardship.
That was why she was hesitant.
Theresa was annoyed, she wanted to argue with the old.
But she was stopped by Dolores, Dolores shook her head and asked her not to act boisterously.
Dolores looked at the old, “I agree.”
The old showed a startled expression, “After you are ready, see me.”
He entered the house after saying that.
The door was shut, they seemed to break apart with him.
Charles moved towards them in his wheelchair, “He has a bad temper, I have no choice. I have
persuaded him with all means in order to get him to make the material last time.”
“Mr. White, thanks for your effort,” Matthew lifted Simona and stood up. He glanced at Charles, “What
is Mr. White planning?”
Charles still maintained his smile, “Mr. Nelson, what do you mean? I just introduce a skilled master to
Ms. Flores, what can I plan for that?”
Matthew sneered and spoke in a threatening tone, “No one will be safe and sound after harming my
family members. Mr. White must be very clear on your purpose of the visit today.”
He held Dolores’s hand and walked out of the wooden house after saying that.
Dolores followed him out obediently because she had something to tell him.
They stood at the bridgehead by the riverside. Dolores spoke first, “Are you angry?”
Matthew’s voice was cold, “I can give you if you need money…”
“Your money is yours, they will not belong to me no matter how much you have,” Dolores interrupted
him. Her stand was firm, she knew what was Matthew going to say next, “Are you going to say that you
can afford my living expenses and ask me not to worry about the matter of money?”
Matthew gazed at her.
It was undeniably that he thought in that way. He could give her whatever she wanted.
Money, identity and social status.
Dolores smiled, “I have a dream too. I can live well even if you are not around. Even though I have you
as my husband, I don’t want to lose myself and turn into someone totally different from me. To be
honest, whatever you give me is not stable, I am afraid that it is just a dream and imaginary and
disappears after I wake up.”
She turned to look at the grapery over the mountain, she seemed to meditate, “I have experienced a
suffered life, I know what is the feeling of being helpless and dispirited…”
If she had the ability, her brother would not leave her. She was afraid that it would happen again and
she still could not do anything.
Matthew bit his teeth, “Don’t you know that there is an intention behind the master and
Charles?”
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