Chapter 8: Tiangge
The year 1899 arrived peacefully. I had been almost certain that fighting would break out in December in Manila after news of the treaty arrived on Philippine shores. But for some reason, somehow, the tenuous peace held in Luzon. It gave an old man like me hope that Aguinaldo was still trying to negotiate and bring a peaceful end to all of it.
I was having the best of times on that island.
I imagine most old men would not have been fond of being bothered about every little thing by their children. But I did not mind Isabela wanting me to be involved in everything she did. I had nothing much to keep me busy anyway, and I liked the attention just as much as she liked mine.
"We could just buy indigo fabric directly, hija. Why go through all this hassle?" I asked her as we made our way to the local market. As usual, we were seated in the carriage, while Teniente Triviño, who seemed to have taken a liking to driving, was our driver.
"They're expensive, papá," she replied lazily, using my arm as a pillow.
"I could buy you a steamer if you want, Belang," I said, using her nickname, though I did not quite like how a beautiful name like Isabela had been shortened to Belang. "I imagine a yard of indigo fabric would cost significantly less than that."
Her head left my arm as she sat up properly, an amused look on her pretty face. "You would... buy me a steamer?"
I matched her expression. "Yes, señorita. Why... do you want one?"
"Stop joking, papá," she laughed loudly. "Not to mention, we shouldn't be carelessly spending money, not with the war coming."