He took her arm and steered her towards the low stone table where his chessmen were laid out on their board. “Ah, but in China to be old is to be venerated. Age equates with wisdom.” He grinned. “We have a saying: ‘Old ginger tastes the best.’ Sit down, please.” He indicated a folding canvas chair. “Naturally, at my advanced age, I should be very wise. And, of course, everyone thinks I am.” He laid his sword on the ground and sat opposite her, then leaned confidentially across the table. “I would be very wise if I could remember everything I knew.” He sighed sadly. “The trouble is, nowadays I’ve forgotten more than I can remember.” And his eyes twinkled as he added, “That is why I am still learning my English vocabulary. It helps to fill up all the empty places left in my head by everything I have forgotten.”

“Well, you certainly haven’t forgotten how to charm a lady.” She smiled back at him, an immediate rapport established.

“Pah,” he said dismissively. “Not much use to me now.” He raised an eyebrow and nodded towards Li. “If only my nephew had inherited a little of it. But he takes after his father. Slow in affairs of the heart.” He looked at Li. “What age are you now, Li Yan?”

Li was acutely embarrassed. “You know what age I am, Uncle.”

Old Yifu turned back to Margaret, mischief all over his face. “Thirty-three years old and still single. Doesn’t even have a girlfriend. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, I think.”

Margaret stifled her smile, enjoying Li’s discomfort.

“I’m glad he at least took my advice,” Old Yifu said.

“Advice on what?”

“Uncle, I think you should be going back to the apartment and getting packed,” Li said.

Old Yifu ignored him. “On obtaining your help for the investigation.”

Li wished the ground would simply swallow him up. Margaret cocked an eyebrow at him then turned back to Old Yifu. “Oh, so that was your idea, was it?”

“Well . . . let’s just say I encouraged him in that direction.” Old Yifu bared his teeth in a broad smile. “Now I can see why he didn’t take too much persuasion. He didn’t tell me how attractive you were.”

“Perhaps he doesn’t think I am.”

“Oh, I do not think he would be blushing like that if he did not think so.”

Li could barely contain his embarrassment. He sighed and gazed off through the trees, teeth clenched. Margaret was enjoying herself.

Old Yifu asked, “Do you play chess?”

“You don’t have time, Uncle. Your train is at eight. It is nearly five thirty.”

“Of course I have time.”

Margaret said, looking at the board, “I think the chess you play may be a little different from the version I know.”