Courtesans and Opium

by AnonYMous

  “So long as he’s skilled at reading a pulse, I don’t mind how much he charges. Send someone to ask him to come. We’ll see what he has to say.” She went downstairs and sent for the doctor.

  It was dark before Dr. Ming arrived in a sedan chair. He came upstairs, and Lu Shu invited him into Fragrance’s room. While the maid offered him tea, Lu Shu told him that Fragrance had missed her period and had been vomiting and still felt dizzy. He also showed the doctor the prescription Dr. Ren had written. Dr. Ming checked Fragrance’s pulse and said to Lu Shu, “Your young lady’s external evil factors of cold and heat have dissipated; Dr. Ren’s medicine was quite appropriate. As for the pregnancy, after one month the embryo is the size of a dewdrop, after two months it’s like a peach blossom, and only after three months does it separate into male or female. One needs to wait three months before it can be detected in a reading of the pulse. In your young lady’s case, she’s in her fortieth or fiftieth day, so it does not appear in her pulse. She should use her own judgment about the temperature and see that she eats regularly. I don’t imagine she’ll be engaging in any strenuous activity, but it’s important that she exercise caution in whatever she does.” On the bottom of Dr. Ren’s prescription he wrote: “I make so bold as to suggest adding one capsule of weeping forsythia, one and a half qian.” He then took his leave. The medicine and the chair fare cost Lu Shu a good deal of money.

  Lu Shu now suspected that Fragrance was indeed pregnant, and he at once sent for the ingredients and had them decocted. Then, just as he was coaxing Fragrance to swallow the medicine, someone arrived in Lute’s room opposite and began causing a commotion. His name was Mo Ai, style Xuyou. His father, who had made a fortune of several thousand taels from his activities as a shyster, had just this one son and a daughter. Mo Ai was fifteen when his father died, and with no occupation of his own, he spent all of his time in the brothels and ran through the whole of his inheritance. Fortunately for him, however, while he still had money he had joined a group of rich men’s sons, and because he was always quick with a jest, they found him an indispensable companion on visits to the pleasure quarter and treated him as a kind of hanger-on. He had seen Fragrance in the Jinyulou before her deflowering, found her quite beautiful, and been strongly attracted. Since she was still a virgin and he had no money at the time, he could only dream about her. Later, in desperate financial straits, he arranged to sell his own sister to Suzhou. After settling on a price, he took her there and got a couple of hundred taels for her. While in Suzhou his old passion for whoring flared up again and he spent a good deal of the money that he had received. With no more than a few dozen taels left, he returned to Yangzhou, paid off a few debts, and redeemed some of his clothing from the pawnbroker. When he heard that Fragrance had been deflowered and was receiving clients, he was delighted and came rushing over excitedly with a couple of taels to spend the night with her.

  He was shown into Lute’s room, where she and Cloud greeted him and the maid offered tea and tobacco. “What about your Miss Fragrance?” he asked.

  “She’s in bed with an illness,” said Cloud.

  Mo Ai stood up. “I’ll step across and take a look at her,” he said.

  Cloud barred his way. “She has a client with her!”

  “Now, there’s a real hot courtesan for you!” he said angrily. “I come along, and she pretends to be sick and won’t even come out and say hello. If she’s so ill, why does she have a client with her? I insist on spending the night. Get her in here at once!”

  “There’s no need to be angry, Master Mo,” said Cloud, “Miss Fragrance really is ill. The client she has with her is a steady patron, and because she’s ill, the nights he spends with her are very quiet. Please come back some other time.”

  This suggestion infuriated Mo Ai even more. Pounding the table, he roared, “What sort of three-eyed Marshal Wang,4 what low-life scoundrel, gets to spend the night with her? You think I have no money, do you?” He took out a purse and flung it on the table. “What’s this, if it isn’t money? I insist on staying here tonight. If this fellow won’t give way, let him come out and take me on instead of hiding away in that room!”

  From across the hall in Fragrance’s room Lu Shu heard all of this and flew into a rage. He didn’t know who the speaker was, but he knew well enough that every word was aimed at him and he couldn’t stand it. He wanted nothing more than to rush out and thrash the man. However, Fragrance had only just taken her medicine, and when she saw how angry he was, she clutched weakly at his arm and refused to let him leave the room. “If you go out and fight him, I’ll kill myself!” she cried. Because she was ill, and also because he feared to disturb the fetus, Lu Shu did not like to pull himself away from her grasp. Instead he cursed the man from inside the room.

  The Jinyulou steward was surnamed Hua, and because he was a convivial character and a born jester, he was known as Drummer Hua. When he heard the quarreling, he raced upstairs. He went first to Fragrance’s room, where he said to Lu Shu, “Please don’t be angry, sir. Quarrels are hard to prevent in the pleasure quarter. That man has no idea that it’s you in here. If he did know, he wouldn’t dare to cut loose like this. I expect he’s drunk. Let me go over there and have a word with him and send him on his way. If you get angry, won’t it give Miss Fragrance an attack of nerves?”

  At these words, Lu Shu’s anger began to subside. “Hurry up and see who it is,” he said.

  As Drummer entered Lute’s room, he saw her holding the man down beside the bed. He approached and saw that it was Mo Ai. “Is that Master Mo?” he asked. “It’s such a long time since you visited our humble establishment. What brings you here today?”

  Mo Ai saw that it was Drummer. “How hot she must be, this courtesan of yours! I come here with money to spend the night, and she doesn’t even bother to show her face, she looks down on me so much. What big player is she hiding behind? I want to see her!”

  “Just what are you saying, Master Mo? Did you ever visit us when she didn’t come out and make a fuss of you? But today she really is sick. She’s just taken her medicine and gone off to sleep. In her room with her is a steady patron, someone who’s here to attend on her. But even if she weren’t sick, since she already has an engagement for the night, she still couldn’t entertain you. Put yourself in this man’s place. If you had arranged to stay the night and then someone else came along and wanted to do the same thing, could you give way to him? First come, first served—that’s the rule in everything. You must have been visiting some house where you had a drink too many. Look, do me a favor, will you? Come back some other day, and I’ll guarantee to play the matchmaker for you. When you’ve enjoyed yourself with Miss Fragrance, you’ll thank me in a big way!”

  Mo Ai gave a thin smile, and when Drummer picked up the tobacco pouch to replenish his tobacco, he got to his feet. “We’ll take this up some other time,” he said.

  Drummer picked up Mo Ai’s purse from the table and handed it to him. “Put your purse away, sir. I’ll see you downstairs.” He shouted to the servant below to light a torch. Mo Ai took the purse and went down. Drummer held the torch and saw him as far as the main gate, where he handed the torch to Mo Ai. “Careful how you go, sir. I’ll say good-bye now. Come back and enjoy yourself some other day.” Mo Ai took the torch and went off muttering to himself.

  Drummer returned to Fragrance’s room, where Lu Shu asked him, “Has that bastard left yet? What’s his name? What sort of person is he?”

  “Master Lu, ‘A great man does not stoop to petty things.’ Don’t ask, just ignore him.”

  But Lu Shu persisted, and Drummer said, “He’s Mo Ai, also known as Mo Xuyou. He doesn’t have a job but goes about with a group of gentlemen as a sort of hanger-on, popularly known as a lickspittle. An impossible person like that, why not just ignore him, let it go?”

  “I know,” said Lu Shu. “Why don’t you go and get some rest?” Drummer went downstairs.

  In attending on Fragrance, Lu Shu slept in the
same bed, but he still seethed with anger. It’s true what they say, he thought. Life is always harder away from home. When I visited the pleasure quarter at home, I was the one who was the center of attention, and I always had my way with the courtesans; I never had to fight with anyone for a woman’s favor. I haven’t felt so low as this in my entire life. Tomorrow morning I’ll make a point of talking to my sworn brothers about how to find this Mo fellow and work off my anger on him. Thoughts such as this tormented him most of the night. At dawn he rose, washed, ate some lotus seeds, and told a servant to call the doctor to come and check Fragrance’s pulse. Then he left the Jinyulou and went to the Futura teahouse to meet his brothers and consult them about his feud with Mo Ai.

  If you are wondering what happened, please turn to the next chapter.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  A vendor seeks a reward for a floral basket,

  And a madam receives her share of a thanksgiving service.

  When Lu Shu reached the Futura teahouse, he found the brothers already there. He greeted them and joined them at their table, then poured himself a cup of tea. “Brothers,” he said, as he sipped his tea, “you’ve got to help me avenge myself. Last night someone insulted me.” When the others asked what had happened, he told them how Mo Ai, who had wanted to spend the night with Fragrance at the Jinyulou, had cursed him before Drummer Hua had eventually persuaded the man to leave. “I’ve been seething over it all night. I’m not familiar with your city, and I’d like to call on you for help.”

  Three of the brothers, Jia Ming, Wu Zhen, and Wei Bi responded. “How terrible! Brother Lu has been insulted in our city, and that’s something we cannot allow. He shouldn’t have to take the responsibility himself. We’ll get a few fellows together and find this man Mo and give him a good hiding as we drag him off to the yamen. At the risk of losing a few taels, we simply have to teach this man a lesson. Once he finds out what’s good for him, he won’t dare offend anyone again.”

  Before they had finished speaking, Yuan You got up, walked over to face Lu Shu, and bowed deeply. Lu Shu sprang to his feet. “What was that for?”

  “Brother, there’s something I have to tell you. Mo Ai is a cousin of mine. He doesn’t know you and bears no grudge against you. I don’t believe it was a deliberate offense on his part, more likely just a drunken rant. Now, don’t be angry. Please excuse him, as a favor to me. I’m going to find the little swine and bring him to the Jinyulou to make a proper apology.”

  “Do sit down, Brother,” said Lu Shu hastily. “Since he’s a relative of yours, there’s nothing more to be said.”

  “Even though he’s Brother Yuan’s relative,” put in the other three, “it was still wrong of him to insult Brother Lu. The rules of behavior have to be followed. Otherwise, we can’t accept the arrangement.”

  “When we’ve had our tea, you go on to the Jinyulou,” said Yuan You. “I’m going to find him and see that he follows the rules.” With Lu Shu trying to forestall an apology and the other three insisting on one, Yuan You set off.

  After some casual conversation, the others left the Futura with Lu Shu and went up to Fragrance’s room in the Jinyulou. They found her lying fully clothed on her bed, her illness still not completely better. When she saw them come in, she rose to her feet, greeted them, and invited them to sit down. “Has the doctor been?” Lu Shu asked her.

  “He was here just now, checking my pulse. He told me to take a little clear soup followed by a dose or two of medicine and I’d be fine.” Lu Shu asked for the prescription and studied it, then called for a servant to make up the medicine. He also told the maid to light the opium lamp for Wu Zhen.

  Shortly before noon Yuan You came in with Mo Ai. As soon as they entered Fragrance’s room, Yuan You explained to Lu Shu: “Last night, Cousin Mo had been drinking, and he didn’t realize who you were and said some very offensive things. He’s come here specially to apologize.”

  Lu Shu and the others sprang to their feet and greeted them. When he saw Mo Ai bowing to him, Lu Shu hastily bowed in return. “You’re cousins, after all,” he said. “It was quite unnecessary of Brother Yuan to do this. I’m very sorry. Do sit down.” Cloud and Lute greeted Mo Ai, who bowed to the others present and than joined them. They introduced themselves and exchanged pleasantries.

  Mo Ai called the steward and ordered wine for everyone, but Lu Shu objected. “I can’t let you play the host in my favorite’s room. Let me do the honors today. I’ll impose on you some other time.” They sparred politely with each other, before Lu Shu emerged as the host. After drinks and lunch, Mo Ai thanked Lu Shu and took his leave. Wu Zhen satisfied his opium habit before going off with Jia Ming, Yuan You, and Wei Bi. Lu Shu continued to attend on Fragrance in her illness and did not return to his uncle’s house.

  The next morning, when Lu Shu arose, he found that Fragrance had made a complete recovery. The maid came in and did her hair while he stood beside the dressing table filling her pipe with tobacco. As they bantered with each other, Tiger Cub Wang, who peddled his gambling basket along the Parade, arrived at the Jinyulou with a large floral basket woven of jasmine flowers surrounded by numbers of artificial butterflies. He had heard of Lu Shu’s liaison with Fragrance and was hoping for a reward. As he presented the basket in Fragrance’s room, he said, “So this is where you are, Master Lu! I’ve specially brought this along so that you and Miss Fragrance can enjoy the scent.” Fragrance picked up the basket, which was exquisitely made, employing almost two thousand jasmine flowers, and told the maid to hang it inside her bed curtain.

  Lu Shu took two silver dollars from the white suit he was wearing and gave them to Wang. “Thank you for all the trouble you’ve taken. Here, buy yourself a couple of drinks.”

  “Thank you very much, sir,” said Wang as he went off with the money.

  Now that Fragrance was cured of her illness, Lu Shu tried to build up her strength with all kinds of choice food and drink.

  One day he invited the sworn brothers to join him for lunch in Fragrance’s room. Afterward the opium smokers were smoking and the others idly chatting, when Mother Xiao came upstairs, greeted them all, and took a seat. “Gentlemen, there’s something I need to bring to your attention. It’s a tradition in this house to hold a thanksgiving celebration for someone who has recovered from an illness. The other day, when Miss Fragrance was poorly, I kowtowed I don’t know how many times before the kitchen god, praying for her recovery and promising to hold a thanks-giving immediately afterward. Don’t anyone tell me that the gods don’t exist, because they do. The bodhisattva showed her powers, and the very next day Miss Fragrance was cured of her illness. I’ve already fixed on a date for the thanksgiving. On the eleventh of the sixth month the altar will be set up, and on the twelfth we’ll hold a day-and-night celebration. Both will demonstrate our gratitude to the bodhisattva. Since it’s a house affair, I can hardly ask Master Lu to fund it on his own. Master Lu, if you would be so generous as to pay my share for me, I will undertake to provide the animal sacrifices, the incense and candles, the whole lavish outlay. On the twelfth, I would like to invite all of you to attend with your favorites, to see it and also to enjoy yourselves. I wonder if you would do me the favor?”

  At the mention of a thanksgiving celebration for Fragrance, Lu Shu, who did not realize that such an affair in Yangzhou was quite inexpensive, said, “I’ll leave it to you. Let me contribute ten taels.”

  “In that case, you will outdo us all, sir.”

  The four brothers said, “We will certainly come and offer our congratulations. The courtesans from Qiang Da’s will come, too. There’s no need to send anyone to invite them; we’ll give them the message.”

  “The rules of etiquette still apply, even when you know the person well,” said Mother Xiao. “Of course we’ll send someone to invite them.” After repeating her requests, she went back downstairs.

  The brothers wanted to invite Lu Shu to Qiang Da’s for drinks and dinner, but Fragrance would not let him go. After hav
ing some fun at the couple’s expense, the brothers said good-bye and left.

  Time slipped by, and soon it was the eleventh of the sixth month. In the early afternoon, four or five exorcists (in Yangzhou they are commonly known as incense men) arrived at the Jinyulou with a load of essential items as well as spirit tablets and portraits. In the middle room downstairs they hung up portraits of the Original Saintly Emperor of the Eastern Sacred Mountain, Equal to Heaven; the Great Emperor Who Forestalls Calamities and Brings Blessings, Prince of Heaven; and the Empress of Mount Tai, as well as the portraits and tablets of the various spirits. They also hung up proclamations on long banners. They asked Mother Xiao for a quantity of rice as well as paper money to tie to their queues with red string, as well as a small set of scales and a mirror. They erected a little table, placed a censer and incense and candleholders on it, arranged the area around the altar, and began beating their drums and gongs and sprinkling water there to summon the spirits. Then, having set up the altar, they ate some supper and went off. At dawn the next morning eight or nine of them came back; beating their drums and gongs, they began the ceremony and summoned the spirits. They also took a long pole bound with bamboo branches and erected a large paper banner. Having chanted for some time, they breakfasted on pastries and noodles.

  At the sound of the gongs and drums, Lu Shu and Fragrance rose early. She at once called someone to do her hair and help her dress. Then, shortly before noon, the brothers arrived together, each contributing a silver dollar as his share. Mother Xiao accepted the money and thanked them, then invited them up to Fragrance’s room. Lu Shu and Fragrance greeted them and asked them to sit down, and they smoked and chatted together. There were also other visitors to the house, each of whom had contributed his share; they were shown into Cloud’s or Lute’s rooms. During the morning Phoenix, Paria, Cassia, and Lucky sent presents; Mother Xiao dispatched someone to invite them, and they arrived at noon in their chairs. Cloud and Lute welcomed them and asked them in, noting that they were gorgeously dressed in silks and brocades. After they had offered their congratulations, they were invited upstairs to join the brothers. Pastries were set out, and then everyone was invited downstairs to watch the celebration.