Gusu NOW!!!

*** assistant editor notes: Due to an foreseen jet ski accident with our head editor we have moved up are exclusive interview with BaoShan SanRen. Don’t worry folks, the editor fine just a broken leg and broken clavicle.***

We have been driven to one of Baoshan Sanren homes in the area, they take us byway of the services roads. This way Baoshan Sanren privacy stays in tact and we can’t disclose the location. The interview is set up in one of the many greenhouse in the backyard. As we enter the heavy scent of jasmine fills the air. We see Baoshan Sanren in more casual cloths then her typical attire. A medium blue jean wash, with a plaid shirt that has had the sleeves rolled up. She still wears a hat with a veil on it but is much more simple. Contains no beading and is a simple gray. She is seated at an iron wrought table that has tea set in the middle along with a variety of mochi. A very elegant middle age woman stands to greet us, wearing a seafoam green peasant dress. Minimal makeup very natural looking with her long black hair braided. You can see the Lan ribbon weaved through her hair. She gives a gentle smile, one can see a few gray streaks framing her face.

“ Hello, my name is Lan Yi, I’m Baoshan Sanren’s partner.’ Introducing herself. A snort escapes from Baoshan Sanren as she injects. “ What she means is wife. Don’t degrade yourself with partner.”

“Of course, dear. Come let’s sit and get started.” Lan Yi guides us to the table to sit.

GN= Gusu Now, LY= Lan Yi, and BS= Baoshan Sanren

GN: Thank you for inviting us to tea and giving us this interview.
BS: This just so your lot doesn’t dig through our garbage.
LY: Dear, you said you would be nice.
BS: That WAS nice. I didn’t call them moth#^#*#*

Lan Yi raises an eyebrow as if almost a warning, this writer decides to skip normal small talk so an argument isn’t started.

GN: How long have you two been married?
BS: About 400 years? Give or take.
LY: Closer to 415 now.
BS: Really? Are you sure?
LY: Well I count, those 15 years before you went to the mountains.
BS again snorts before answering: Of course you would.
GN: Why do you count those years? Did you have a ceremony?
BS: No LY: Not officially they answer at the same time.
GN: What do you mean not officially?

LY: I had tied my forehead ribbon to her wrists and then attached to mine. And then we bowed to my mother, who had past that spring.
BS: We were leaving the next day, when she did that . We did not bow to heaven or to each other. So it does not count.
LY: I tied my ribbon it counts. Also do you remember what we did afterwards?
BS: Stubborn mule. Don’t let the poised and elegance fool you. All Lans are stubborn sappy romantics.
LY pats BS forearm writer not sure if it’s for sympathy or to placate her.
GN: How did you two meet?

BS: We meet at Gusu Lecture, though they were nothing like they are now.
LY: The sect was still young, remember I was only the second generation of this clan.
BS: Yes, there was only fifty to hundred rules back then.
LY chuckles before adding You staying there made my dad add 15 rules.
GN: Really?
LY: Yes, she was quite boisterous even back then.
BS: I was the third daughter of a second wife in a very insignificant clan. Really didn’t have set plan for myself beside my father wanting to marry to make are clans ties stronger.
LY: You should see her duel, she was taking on my brother. Who was quite good at the time.
BS: You were better. I knocked him straight up on his a&&.
LY : So of course I had to get to know this person who defeated my brother. I could see great things from her.
BS: I knew you would be a better leader than your brother. I saw that when I did your chart.
GN: With your reading is it all stars or do you really see people’s future.

BS: I see possible futures. Certain things are not set in stone it’s fluid. Some choices that we make do change things for us.
GN: Earlier you said that you traveled together for about 15 years. Why did you separate?
LY takes a deep breaths as if to steady herself. I had to go back to led my clan. My brother had died from what you now call measles. He was not married and had no heir. My father was also in poor health at the time.
GN: Why didn’t you ask Baosha Sanren to go with you?
LY: I did. I asked, begged and pleaded her to come with me.
BS: What good would it have done me? I couldn’t give you an heir, I wasn’t going to be a secret or a pawn.
LY: You weren’t a secret.I won’t have used you as a pawn.
BS: I would be the elephant in the room. Because you still had to marry and have an heir if you wanted your clan to thrive. Everyone else would have tried to manipulate me. I left my clan to avoid that.

LY must hear something in BS voice because she scoots closer and sticks her head underneath the veil. All this writer can hears is mummers of two voices. After some time LY comes out of the veil. She grabs two mochi handing one to BS. LY points to the tray filled with mochi “ Please have mochi, we have mango, strawberry and plum wine.”
Hesitantly this writer grabs a mango mochi before asking “ So how did you two meet again?”

BS: Well I went to the mountains as a home base to readings for the local villages around the area. I also helped with the spirits that didn’t want to move on. During one if these night hunts I run into this one trying to reason with by playing inquiry. BS has finished her mochi and is reaching for a plum wine mochi.
LY: Not the best way to see me after 135 plus years. Sitting in the grass, covered in mud and playing the guquin.
BS: You still looked put together, not a hair out of place. So I helped her get rid of the spirit and then well the rest is history.
LY gives her wife a look and says She is glossing over the work it takes to earn back trust and the arguments that happen.
BS waves her hand as to dismiss the air “ They don’t want to hear all the grunt work. Let me tell you, love takes time, patience, understanding and compromise.
LY: Also recognize each other faults, do not try to change each other but instead improve each other.
BS: Ever once in awhile fight, so you can have make up s@x. A loud thud can be heard echoing the room. LY has slapped BS on the shoulder quite hard.
LY: Lao pó!!! You shameless woman!!!
BS chuckles then answers: I’m not saying ever day but like once every three to six months should do the trick. A faint pink blush has come a crossed LY cheeks. BS pull out her pipe lighting it with a tailsman.
BS: Now that I’ve embarrassed my wife, let’s move on.

GN: * writer coughs* Of course. What advice do you have for young cultivators who are also cut sleeves dealing with predjuice.
BS: I find setting fire the judgemently $$$hole works.
LY: side eyes her wife Make friends and allies of those who are of the same mind you. You let your actions speak louder then their words. * LY puts her finger on her chin.* For those who are extremely chatty a silence spell does not hurt.
Dear reader on my dear mother life LY winked at the statement she had made.
BS: * takes another hit on her pipe.* Your little magazine says there is been sighting of bright moon and gentle breeze.
GN: Well it just rumors right now. None of our reporters have spoken or seen him.

BS: Okay well when you do see “ bright moon and gentle breeze” * air quotes with her fingers.* to get his @&& home.
LY: Please excuse her, his real name is Xiao Xingchen and it’s been a few years since we’ve seen him.
BS: He doesn’t write, doesn’t call, doesn’t visit. Worries his poor muqin.
GN: You’re his mother?
BS: * snorts* hell no. She’s mother.
LY: It’s just what some of the kids call me. Particularly the ones with no family.
BS: So you tell him to get his @&& over here, because I want to meet this new boy toy of his. What’s his name again?
LY: I believe they call him distant snow and cold frost. * BS blows air like a horse naying.* His real name escapes me. I’m sure he’s not a boy toy.
BS: Until he get properly introduced with a real name * she stresses the word name.* he will be boy toy. God let’s hope he’s better than that goth kid he brought home.
LY: * pats BS knee.* They were just friends dear.
BS: Friends my @&&. That goth kid kept giving Xingchen puppy eyes just like your….* all of sudden BS can’t move her lips. She starts to pound the table.*
LY: I think this ends the interview.

And with that dear readers we are escorted out of the greenhouse and back into the van. Though all my years doing this job, it was a first to receive a goodie bag filled with mochi and oolong tea in thermos.