Courtship Rite

Music Instructor

For a brief moment, Meng Yao had thought to get away from the grind, to arrange the meeting outside the office, somewhere pristine and unspoiled, perhaps someplace like Taihu wetland park, but then he thought of how a Lan employee would react to being invited to a remote and sparsely populated location. He arranged to meet the music instructor in his office. Instead of trying to seem friendly, he kept the meeting as professional as possible, sitting at his desk while Pan Wenshi sat facing him. The man appeared nervous, but that was to be expected.

"I see you taught the guqin to Lu Zhi, the previous Lan furen. Her other instructor was a, hmm ..." He pretended to look over Pan Wenshi's dossier. "... Bao Zhenmin."

"Yes, sir. Tragedy what happened to him."

"Tragedy?"

"The accident."

The circumstances surrounding Bao Zhenmin's death were not, of course, in the dossier, but Meng Yao knew the pertinent details. The Lan might discourage gossip, but their employees knew the value of information. Bao Zhenmin had fallen for Lu Zhi. Nobody knew if she'd returned his feelings or only saw him as a way out. They were caught while trying to escape. None of Meng Yao's sources had evidence that Bao Zhenmin had been killed, but the Lan had only one answer for disloyalty.

Meng Yao took a moment to appreciate the subtlety of Pan Wenshi's response. It highlighted that he understood the delicacy of the situation and confirmed that Meng Yao had made the correct choice. "I see you started here when your wife was ill, and it looks as if our medical benefits contributed to her recovery. You've had three children since then, and it looks as if your youngest is planning to attend university. Would you say that you've benefited from working for the Lans?"

"Yes, sir. Of course."

Pan Wenshi gave the expected response. Given Meng Yao's position, the man would be a fool to do otherwise. "It looks as if your reasons for a steady income will be winding down in about five years, unless your youngest two decide on graduate school."

"I suppose so, sir." The words held a tentative note.

"How would you like to retire in five years?"

"What?"

The Lan did not let go of their employees. Once a person had been hired either into the corporation or the Lan personal staff, they were expected to remain loyal. "Early retirement is unusual, but I can arrange it. You've heard that the second young master is engaged?"

"There are rumors."

"This situation of his fiance is similar to that of the previous Lan furen. I'm certain you understand the need for discretion."

"Of course." Pan Wenshi paused as if searching for words. "I'm afraid I don't understand the connection between his situation and this opportunity for an early retirement."

Oh. "I apologize. My words have been too roundabout. I'm looking for a music instructor for the young master's fiance."

"I see," Pan Wenshi said. Clearly, he didn't.

Meng Yao didn't see it either. He hadn't actually thought through why he was giving Pan Wenshi the chance to retire early. The answer came as a shock. Someone had to get out. Wei Ying, of course, could never leave, and Meng Yao was just as bound to the company, but he could help Pan Wenshi escape. And now how to explain his actions without giving the real reason away? "You've done well at Lan Corp by keeping your head down and avoiding unwanted attention. If you chose to accept, you'll be in a more prominent position. I feel there should be a reward for accepting this greater risk."

"If I choose to accept?"

"Because you knew Bao Zhenmin, you understand the delicacy of the situation. That makes you my first choice, but I want it to be your decision. There will be no retribution for rejecting this offer." Meng Yao was almost certain that Pan Wenshi would accept. He was looking at another twenty to twenty-five years at Lan Corp. Getting out in five years made for a substantial incentive.

"Yes, sir. I accept."

"Wonderful. The lessons will start next week. Do Tuesdays and Thursdays work for you?"