Courtesans and Opium

by AnonYMous

  Ge Ai went on to the teahouse and chatted with Duan while they drank their tea. Yuan You arrived, greeted them, and joined them at their table. “After we left you yesterday, we went to the criminal department and spoke to the chief,” said Duan Qinggeng. “The first words out of his mouth were a request for two hundred thousand from your friend. I kept on stressing the eighty thousand. Gifts to the messengers on the gate would, in the usual way, be in addition to that. There are also the senior and junior guards and the various expenses inside the jail, which would also be in addition. Please take that into consideration.”

  “I cannot go beyond the figure we spoke of before lunch. It cannot be increased.”

  Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai shook their heads. “We can’t help you with that figure. If you think we haven’t tried our best, you should find someone else.” They stood up to go.

  Yuan You held them back. “Do sit down, please! You’re taking me for a novice. If you two won’t act on the sum we spoke of, it would be no use asking a thousand other people. Oh well, it can’t be helped, I suppose. Wu Zhen’s a friend of mine, so apart from not taking a commission for myself, I’ll increase the amount by ten thousand out of my own pocket, whether or not he takes over the debt in the future. Now, be reasonable, gentlemen. We should all resign ourselves to the fact that this is a very small pig we’re dealing with and be a little more lenient.” But Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai merely shook their heads and refused. They hung on for another four hours, until Yuan You added another ten thousand, and they finally accepted. After arranging that the money be handed over that evening outside the yamen, Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai took their leave.

  At this point Fazi came up and asked if there was any news. “What did your mistress say when you got back?” asked Yuan You.

  “She said she hoped you would handle everything, sir.”

  “Well, now that we know how much the criminal and prison departments will need, I wonder whether your family has thought of how to pay it.”

  “The mistress would like to invite you over to our house to discuss it.”

  Yuan You paid the bill and accompanied Fazi to Wu Zhen’s house. He was asked to take a seat in the reception room, where Fazi offered him tea and tobacco before going to the rear quarters and passing on the news to his mistress. Wu Zhen’s wife, Mistress Wang, came out and greeted Yuan You, then took a seat to one side. “I am most grateful to you for all your efforts,” she said.

  “Your husband and I have been friends for a long time. Now that he’s been framed and is in serious trouble, it’s my duty to do what I can to help. He asked me again and again to take action, and I’ve negotiated a base figure for the two departments of a hundred thousand cash. Miscellaneous expenses, extra compensation, and gratuities add up to another eighty thousand. We’ve agreed to hand over the money this evening, which will allow him to be freed from his shackles.”

  “To be frank with you,” said Mistress Wang, “my husband puts on a good show, but there’s nothing behind the facade. He has a runner’s job at the Customs, but it’s a job in name only. He has always liked to go out and play around, leaving no money with his family, and now because of this sudden turn of events he’s in trouble. Our son is still young. My husband’s family has never been on good terms with him, and now they’ll not only ignore him, they’ll be sniggering at him behind his back. On my side of the family, there’s no one capable of taking charge. When I heard the news yesterday, I was panic-stricken. I had nowhere to turn for help, I didn’t know what to do, and I spent the whole night in tears. Then before lunch today Fazi came back and told me that you had kindly put yourself out to help us. I at once sent the jewelry and clothes in the house to the pawnbroker’s in return for a hundred thousand.” She called to the maid to bring out the packets of money and put them on the table. “Here is a hundred thousand. Do take it. As for the balance, I’ve just now been talking to a cousin on my mother’s side about a loan, and I would ask you to wait until tomorrow, if you’d be so kind as to come back again. I implore you, sir, to discuss this with the prison staff. It’s vital that the shackles be removed today. As you know, my husband is slight and weak, and in addition he has an opium habit. He’ll never survive such harsh treatment.”

  “Set your mind at rest, Sister-in-Law. One way or another, I’ll get them to remove the shackles today so that he won’t have to suffer another night of pain. It’s important that you tell Fazi to take food, drink, and opium to the jail.”

  “I’ll send him off at once. Thank you for handling these matters for us.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “There’s one other thing I’d like to ask you. I’ve heard that this affair with my husband occurred because someone in a certain establishment tried unsuccessfully to get a loan from him and then conspired with other people against him. Do you know the details? Is there any way of getting him off?”

  “You’re quite right. Give me one more day, and I’ll be able to tell you all the details. Now I must hurry off to settle that matter with the two departments so that he can be freed from his shackles. Tomorrow morning I’ll go and see the clerk in charge of the case and ask him if there is anything he can suggest. After that, I’ll come back and report to you.”

  Mistress Wang knelt down before him. “We’re utterly dependent on your kindness! If by some chance you manage to get my husband off so that he can return home, I shall thank you most humbly again.”

  “Please get up, Sister-in-Law. I’d feel awkward returning your gesture. Your husband and I are very good friends, and you don’t need to be so polite. I’ll do the best I can.” He picked up the money, took his leave, and left the house.

  He went first to the money shop, where he had the money checked and rearranged into strings of nine hundred and twenty cash each,2 then wrapped the strings up in heavy paper. The rest of the money he put in his own purse.

  At the yamen, he found Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai standing in the gateway and arranged to meet them in a quiet place. “Here’s seventy thousand,” he said. “I’ll be responsible for delivering the rest to you before lunch tomorrow. I hope that you’ll release him from his shackles today.”

  “Just as you say.” Yuan You then produced the packages of money and went with the other two to the money shop, where once more the clerk was asked to check the money.

  “Master Yuan, why did you do them up in strings of nine hundred and twenty?” asked Duan Qinggeng as he accepted the money.

  “There’s nothing irregular about it. In big dealings at the Customs, they always use that method. In a small transaction like this, let’s just say that we’re in your debt.”

  “You’re being too tough, sir. You’re making things very difficult for us.”

  “I’m sorry if I’ve put you to any inconvenience. But nowadays there are plenty of prisoners in shackles. You may well catch a wild pig that will be the answer to all your prayers.”

  Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai clucked in disapproval but gathered up the money anyway. “It’s getting late,” they said, “and the magistrate will soon close down for the day. It wouldn’t be convenient to invite you in now. We’ll hurry back and release Wu Zhen from his shackles. When you come to the prison tomorrow to visit your friend, you’ll be pleased.”

  Yuan You bowed and thanked them, then asked which clerk was in charge of the case. “My colleague Bian Zhichi is handling it,” said Duan Qinggeng. Yuan You asked where Bian lived and then took leave of them and went back and spent the night with Paria.

  Early the next morning he went to Bian’s house and invited him to a teahouse, where they drank tea and exchanged pleasantries. “You’re handling my friend Wu Zhen’s case,” said Yuan You, “and I’ve come specially to beg you to find some way to save him. Naturally there will be a modest reward.”

  “Your friend was brought before the court yesterday. He testified that Bao Guang and other runners had listened to someone called Wu who had a grudge against him, and that the runners and this Wu had th
en banded together to frame him. His Honor got so angry on hearing this that he ordered your friend to be given thirty blows to the face and held in prison. To be frank, Bao Guang and his men are in high favor at present, and the magistrate listens to them. Only if your friend has inside connections can he be acquitted. If you have no strings to pull, even if there really was a frame-up, the magistrate won’t listen to you. If your friend continues to testify as he has done so far, he’ll suffer no end of abuse.”

  “We’re entirely dependent on your kind efforts. My friend has entrusted me with the contemptible sum of eight thousand cash for you and the copyist, in the hope that you will think of some way to save him.”

  “As the old saying goes, ‘Beat, but don’t imprison.’ If your friend is hoping to walk away free and clear, that’s impossible. You’ll just have to tell him that when the case comes under review, he should testify that he used to smoke opium because of an illness, but after hearing of the strict ban, he had begun to cut down when, to his great surprise, he was investigated and arrested. If he testifies like that, he should be able to lessen the punishment he’s subjected to. Generally, in cases like this in which someone is caught in the act, he can consider himself lucky to get off with a sentence of exile. Since you have asked me, I shall do my best to help, but I wouldn’t presume to accept the very generous sum you offered.” Yuan You realized the sum was too small and increased it to ten thousand, which Bian accepted.

  “I wonder if I could also trouble you for the runners’ charge with the comments attached, as well as the text of the court examination,” said Yuan You.

  “I’ll have fair copies made and sent to you today.” When the two men had eaten their breakfast, Yuan You paid the bill and arranged with Bian to meet at the same place the following day, when he would give him the money. Then the two men left the teahouse and went their separate ways.

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

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Phoenix rents a house because of a ban on prostitution;

  Jia Ming buys ginseng in order to stop smoking opium.

  After Yuan You and Clerk Bian had finished their discussion and parted company, Yuan went to the prison, where Fazi had already delivered the clothes and other items. At the sight of Yuan You, Wu Zhen jumped to his feet and knelt down in front of him: “Brother, thank you, thank you for everything!”

  Yuan You quickly bowed in return: “Do get up! We’re brothers, after all. There’s no need for this sort of thing.” He helped Wu Zhen to his feet and asked about the shackles, which had been removed the night before.

  Ge Ai came to the office. “Well, Master Yuan, now that you’ve spoken to your friend, tell me, did we do the right thing?”

  “You did indeed, thank you.” Ge Ai withdrew, and Yuan You told Wu Zhen about his discussion with Clerk Bian.

  Wu Zhen sighed. “All the enemies from my previous lives have come together in this one! But we can’t escape our destinies. I’ll just have to let fate take its course.” Before leaving the prison, Yuan You tried at length to console him.

  Fazi followed Yuan out and invited him to Wu Zhen’s house, where once more he took a seat in the reception room, while Fazi went to the rear quarters and reported to Mistress Wang. She brought out a note for eighty thousand cash and gave it to Yuan, and he told her of his discussion with Bian Zhichi.

  She began to sob. “With regard to the twenty-four thousand that you promised him, would it be all right if I raised a second loan today and sent Fazi over with the money tomorrow?”

  “Yes, tomorrow will do.”

  “There’s one other thing I want to talk to you about. I’d like to visit the prison myself to see my husband. Would that be possible, do you think?”

  “I’ve settled all of the prison expenses. If you wish to visit him, just go in with Fazi, and you won’t have any trouble.”

  Yuan You took his leave of her and, after changing the note into fifty thousand cash in strings of nine hundred and twenty, gave the money to Duan Qinggeng and Ge Ai. The following morning he went back to the teahouse to meet Bian Zhichi. They greeted each other and, following a show of deference, took their seats and poured tea for themselves. After some idle conversation Yuan You gave Bian two notes, the gifts he had promised the day before for the clerk and his copyist, one of ten thousand, the other of two thousand, both in strings of nine hundred and twenty. After checking them, Bian put them away and produced a small white envelope with a plum-red slip attached to it that contained the copies and handed it to Yuan, who cast an eye over it and then put it away. After they had had their breakfast, Yuan You paid the bill, and they left the teahouse and went their separate ways.

  At the prison Yuan You gave the copies to Wu Zhen, who studied them intently:

  Petition from the runner Bao Guang:

  Subject: Request to go to trial as result of search and arrest.

  After receiving a special directive to work with the various local wardens in searching for and arresting people who smoke opium, I duly cooperated with them. I found that Wu Zhen, a runner for the Yangzhou Customs, put his trust in magical charms and was defying the law by smoking the proscribed substance. In cooperation with warden Fang Shang, I personally went to conduct a search and make an arrest. With my own eyes I saw Wu Zhen in the act of lighting an opium lamp and smoking. I arrested him together with one pipe, one opium lamp, and one packet of opium. I have now brought him and the paraphernalia to the yamen. I hereby set forth the circumstances and earnestly request a merit award as well as an interrogation and response.

  Respectfully submitted.

  month day

  Brought Wu Zhen before the court for interrogation. The said runners made a timely search and arrest, and naturally this office ought to reward them. But one cannot make a false arrest and stir up trouble; that would be a grievous mistake. The opium paraphernalia seized are to be stored in the treasury, and a receipt will be issued.

  Wu Zhen testified: “I am thirty-three years old. I was previously employed as a runner for the Yangzhou Customs but was dismissed for neglect of duty. I have long suffered from a stagnation of the vital forces that frequently becomes acute, but I have found that when I smoke a small quantity of opium, my condition improves. Recently I heard that runners were making searches and arrests, so I didn’t dare smoke anymore. When last month—I forget the exact date—I met the military licentiate Wu Jingyu, he tried to borrow several tens of thousands of cash from me, but I declined because I had no money. To my astonishment he bore a grudge against me and conspired with runners Bao Guang, Xiang Guang, Xu Guang, and others to bring opium paraphernalia and plant it on me in order to frame me. Wu Jingyu told me that if I could produce several hundred thousand cash I would be exonerated. I was unwilling to do so, and they brought me here to court. At the present time I truly do not smoke opium, and I ask as a great favor that Wu Jingyu be brought before the court for interrogation.

  Finding of the court month day

  Interrogation has established that Wu Zhen, relying on his position as a runner for the Yangzhou Customs, brazenly flouted the law and smoked opium in defiance of the ban. He was arrested together with his opium paraphernalia by runners and a warden. Under interrogation in court he was evasive and refused to confess. He tried to confuse the issue with baseless charges intended to implicate others and proved stubborn in the extreme. He is to be held in prison pending further examination and investigation. Examine and submit to higher authority. Remand in custody.

  After reading the document, Wu Zhen said nothing, merely sighed again and again. “In my humble opinion,” said Yuan You, “you need to get someone to appeal the case for you. If there’s no one to do so, and you testify as you did when the case is reheard, it’s Bian Zhichi’s opinion that the magistrate will definitely not believe you, and he is afraid you won’t be able to withstand the ill-treatment you’ll be subjected to in prison. Before the verdict is issued, you need to confess that
you used to smoke opium but testify that you’ve broken the habit. If you’re lucky, you’ll draw a sentence of exile.”

  “No matter what case is made, I’m afraid the magistrate will reject it. Not only do I have no one to step forward and appeal my case for me; even if I did, without money or influence it would be very hard to get the verdict overturned. In this situation, all I can do is accept my fate.” After chatting for a while, Yuan You took his leave.

  A few days later, word came that the case was to be reexamined. Yuan You again took care of the prison officials’ gratuities on behalf of Wu Zhen, making a good deal of money for himself on the side. The magistrate ascended his tribunal and had Wu Zhen brought out for a reexamination, at which he testified as before. The magistrate roared at him and was about to have him struck in the mouth again, which so intimidated Wu Zhen that he felt that he had to change his testimony and do as Bian Zhichi had recommended. The magistrate pursued his questioning no further but ordered Wu Zhen to sign his confession in court and returned him to prison. Sentenced to exile, he was to wait in prison while the case was referred to higher authority, to the governor’s office and to the Ministry of Justice, and a warrant was issued to escort him into exile. But these events lie in the future.

  Let me return to Bao Guang and the other runners. They had brought Wu Zhen to the yamen and petitioned the magistrate, who had conducted his examination and remanded the accused in custody. Two days after that, Bao Guang, Xiang Guang, and Xu Guang sought out Yu Jiafu to collect the money they had been promised. Yu arranged with them that they should wait in the teahouse while he went to see Qiang Da, who took him to a secluded place in the house and lit an opium lamp for him.