Fortress Besieged

by Qian Zhongshu

  “How ridiculous! How absolutely ridiculous! I haven’t bullied you. You yourself are always saying how much more capable you are than I am, how much more money you earn. Now you know yourself that you’re dependent on your relatives’ connection here. You mean once you get into the interior you might not find a job?”

  “I depend on my relatives? And what about you? You have no relatives to depend on, so you depend on your friend. Isn’t it just the same thing? Anyway, I’ve never said I am more capable than you. It’s just that you’re so small-minded you can’t swallow the fact that I earn more money than you do. As for the interior, I’ve been there before too. Don’t forget it wasn’t me whose contract wasn’t renewed at San Lü University. For whom did I sacrifice a job in the interior in order to come to Shanghai? You really have no conscience!”

  “Since you brought up San Lü University,” said Hung-chien with an ugly sneer, “I’d just like to settle some old scores with you. I wish I’d never listened to you. Kao Sung-nien must have died laughing at that thank-you letter I wrote him from Hengyang. I’ll never listen to you again. You think Kao offered you a contract because he really wanted to keep you? Don’t be so smug. He was making trouble for me, you fool!”

  “In any case you listen to everybody. What Chao Hsin-mei says especially is more divine than an imperial edict. It’s what I say that you won’t listen to. All I know is that I got a contract and you didn’t, whether Kao was ‘making trouble’ or not. Did Kao tell you he was making trouble? How do you know he was? Aren’t you just covering up your shame with your one finger [evading the truth]?”

  “You’re right. He really did want to keep you, so he could let the students ‘Beat down Miss Sun’ again.”

  Her face flushed as red as the comb on a fighting cock, and the rims of her eyes also turned red. She stopped to collect herself, then said, “I was a young girl, just out of college on my first job. Getting bullied by those men-student dogs is nothing to feel ashamed of. It’s not like a returned student who turned into a teacher whose dismissal was demanded by the students. It was the information I passed along that saved his job.”

  A torrent of words rushed to Hung-chien’s tongue all at once, but he couldn’t utter a single one. Without waiting for him to speak, she announced, “I’m going to bed,” and went into the bathroom to rinse her mouth and wash her face, pulling the door closed behind her. When she came out, he wanted to continue the argument, but she said, “I’m not going to quarrel with you. When feelings have gotten this bad, what good does it do to say any more? Better to be quiet and leave a little leeway. If you want to quarrel, then go ahead. I’ve rinsed my mouth, and I’m not going to talk any more.”

  With that she hopped into bed, pulled up the covers, then got up again, opened a drawer and picked out two wads of cotton which she stuffed in her ears. She then lay down and closed her eyes. Presently her breathing became regular as though she had fallen asleep. Her husband wished he could have yanked her up and forced her to quarrel with him, but all he could do was shake his fist at her. She saw it all clearly from underneath her eyelashes and was both angered and secretly amused.

  The following evening when Hung-chien returned home, she was waiting for him with baked oranges she had cooked. Hung-chien spitefully refused to eat them, but his greediness won out, and he ate them anyway, all the while cursing himself for being unable to do any better.

  “Did you write Hsin-mei?” she asked.

  “No, my dear wife, I haven’t answered his letter,” he said.

  “It’s not that I won’t let you go. I’m just urging you not to act impulsively. Hsin-mei is very warmhearted by nature, I know. But he has one shortcoming. He often makes promises that he can’t keep. You’ve had experience with that before. San Lü Universtiy sent you a telegram directly, then ended up discounting it. Now this time it’s his own letter, and yet he is vague about the possibility of getting you a job.”

  Hung-chien said with a grin, “You really are full of ‘a thousand tricks and a hundred schemes,’ and so wise and resourceful in every way, shape, and form. Luckily, he’s a man. If he were a woman, I can’t imagine how you could be any more jealous.”

  Jou-chia was somewhat abashed by this, but laughed lightheartedly and said, “Isn’t it a good thing I’m jealous over you? If he were a woman, would he pay any attention to you? Would he have anything to do with you? You’re really dreaming! I’m the only one who would still try to ingratiate myself with you today after all the abuse I took from you yesterday.”

  The newspaper office was receiving terrorist letters and warnings from the Concession authorities over its radical views. In the office it was being bruited about that the American lawyer who acted as the nominal publisher was no longer willing to give his name to the newspaper agency; that Mr. Wang, the editor-in-chief, had fallen out of favor with the stockholders; and that Mrs. Shen was linked up with the puppet government acting to buy people out. Hung-chien got on rather well with Mr. Wang, so when he heard all these rumors, he went to ask him about them, and while he was there he showed him Hsin-mei’s letter. Mr. Wang thought it was a very good idea but urged Hung-chien not to resign just yet. He was in the midst of a struggle with the management over editorial policy and it would soon be decided whether he stayed on or quit.

  Hung-chien said gallantly, “I’ll leave the day you do.”

  Mr. Wang said, “If it’s agreeable, then stay; if not, then leave. It’s up to each individual. I don’t dare force you. But Hsin-mei entrusted you to me. Whatever action I take I’ll certainly let you know, I won’t keep anything from you.”

  On his return home, Hung-chien did not mention a word of all this to Jou-chia. It seemed to him that in the last six months whenever he talked anything over with her, he could never do as he had originally intended and always ended up feeling frustrated. This time he had made up his mind by himself and was as happy as a child who has secretly done something naughty behind the backs of grown-ups. Knowing he hadn’t replied to Hsin-mei’s letter, Jou-chia assumed she had won him over.

  On the morning of the day of winter solstice by the lunar calendar, just as Jou-chia was about to leave the apartment, Hung-chien said, “Don’t forget. We have to go to my parents today for winter solstice dinner. My father telephoned himself yesterday to tell us. You can’t back out this time.”

  Wrinkling her nose in an expression of disgust, she said, “All right, I’ll go, I’ll go! ‘The ugly wife will visit her in-laws!’ If I really wanted to argue with you, then I would not go today. After all, you didn’t go with me to my aunt’s house for Christmas dinner. Why do I have to go with you today?”

  Hung-chien laughed at her for being such a sourpuss.

  She said, “I just thought I’d mention it to you. Otherwise, having taken advantage of me, you’d even think you were in the right. I’ll come back here and wait for you so we can go together. Ask me to go by myself, and I’ll refuse.”

  Hung-chien said, “It’s not as if you’re a bride entering her new home for the first time. Why ask me to make an extra trip?”

  Jou-chia left without answering him. Shortly after that, Mr. Wang telephoned and asked him to come at once. He guessed that something major had happened, and his heart fluttered with excitement. He was eager and yet at the same time afraid to find out what it was.

  When Wang saw him, he smiled ruefully and said, “Last night the Board of Directors gave me permission to resign. I can leave anytime I wish. They’ve already found a replacement. The resignation is effective tomorrow, so I’m letting you know beforehand.”

  Hung-chien said, “Then I’ll resign today. I’m your appointee. Should I submit it in writing?”

  “Why don’t you talk it over with your father-in-law?” suggested Wang.

  Hung-chien said, “This is my own business.”

  Wang was an upright man. Now that he was being forced out because of his principles, he liked having a little excitement attendant on his leaving to lessen the drear
iness of his departure and didn’t want to slip off alone as though eloping. He’d been in the working world long enough to know that in any organization replacements can always be found, and positions refilled. When one resigns out of spite, it is only the resignee who suffers. The position itself never suffers. If a person refuses to take a seat, it is only his own legs which suffer. The chair won’t go hungry if left empty or get sore legs if left standing. But if a few more chairs are left empty, an impression of want will be created. Though Hung-chien wasn’t Wang’s man, the more people who quit the better. It wouldn’t hurt to get up a good number. Thus, at the same time Wang mentioned his resignation to the domestic news editor, the international news editor, the economics news editor, and two feature editors. The newspaper management had already prepared for this and had plenty of people waiting in the wings. Furthermore, knowing that these resignations were of a political nature, the management hoped they would depart as quickly as possible in order to avoid further complications. In any case, salaries for the month had already been paid. Except for efforts to retain the economics news editor, the management approved one after another of all the letters of resignation Wang submitted to them. Since the Office of Information was least important, and a replacement could be found at any time, Hung-chien was the first to go jobless by being allowed to resign before anyone else.

  That afternoon when his father-in-law heard the news, his father-in-law hurried over to ask him whether he had gotten Jou-chia’s consent in the matter or not. Hung-chien replied offhandedly that he had. His father-in-law looked unhappy at this and didn’t seem to believe him. Since Hung-chien would not be coming the next day, and there were several matters which he had to take care of, he called Jou-chia to tell her he didn’t have time to return home and get her, so would she please go directly over without waiting for him. He could tell over the phone that she was quite displeased, but as his father-in-law suddenly appeared, he could not explain to her.

  He did not get to his parents’ home until almost seven o’clock. All the way there he regretted not having called up to see if Jou-chia had gone over or not. She might very well refuse to go alone. When his parents saw him, they asked why he had come by himself.

  His mother, her face livid, said, “That wife of yours certainly is ‘too noble to set foot on lowly turf.’ She won’t even come when invited!”

  Hung-chien was just about to explain when Jou-chia entered. Second Daughter-in-law and Third Daughter-in-law went to greet her, saying with a smile, “Such a rare visitor!”

  Mrs. Fang barely put on a forced smile, as though the act were painful to her face. Jou-chia gave the excuse that she was very busy.

  Third Daughter-in-law said, “Of course, people like you with jobs on the outside are much busier than we are.”

  Second Daughter-in-law said, “There are fixed hours for work. Eldest Brother, Third Brother, and my husband also work outside without having to stay out all day. But Eldest Sister works and takes care of the house as well, so she can’t find the time to come see us.”

  Since they were talking as though expounding the truths of Zen with subtle jabs hidden underneath, which was enough to send one’s head reeling just listening to it, Hung-chien slipped upstairs to see his father. He hadn’t spoken more than three sentences when Jou-chia came in. She asked her father-in-law how he was and made a few polite remarks; then unable to contain herself any longer, she complained to her husband, “Now I know why you didn’t come home to get me. Why did you quit your job without first discussing it with me? So maybe I don’t understand anything, but at least you should have come here first and asked for your father’s advice.”

  Without any inkling of the subject, old Mr. Fang cried out in astonishment.

  Hung-chien said in embarrassment, “I was just about to tell Father. How—how did you find out about it?”

  Jou-chia said, “Papa called me. You even deceived him! He didn’t resign. Why did you have to resign in such a hurry! Wouldn’t it have been better to wait and see how things worked out?”

  Hung-chien quickly justified himself.

  Tun-weng inwardly blamed his son for being too rash but would not humiliate him in front of his daughter-in-law, and since the die was already cast in any case, he said, “Well, if that’s the case, it’s just as well you did resign. People like us must never seek petty advantages at the expense of justice and righteousness. I became a refugee rather than return to our village precisely because I had a little moral integrity left. I didn’t approve of your joining this newspaper agency in the first place. I felt it was far inferior to teaching. Come over tomorrow and the two of us can discuss this matter together. I’ll try to find a job for you.”

  Jou-chia had nothing more to say and pulled a face as long as a beautiful donkey’s.

  During dinner Mrs. Fang exhorted Hung-chien to eat more meat and vegetables, “You’ve grown thinner lately, and your face has lost its glow. What sort of things do you eat at home? Jou-chia is too busy with her job to look after you. Why don’t you come here and eat? You’ve eaten the food I’ve cooked with my own hands since you were little, and it’s never poisoned you.”

  Jou-chia lowered her head and did her best to control herself. She managed to get through half a bowl of rice, then would eat nothing more. Mrs. Fang could tell by her daughter-in-law’s face that Jou-chia was not easy to deal with and did not dare provoke Jou-chia further, merely consoling herself that at least her daughter-in-law had not had the nerve to retort.

  On the way home, Hung-chien repeatedly apologized for his mother. Jou-chia said simply, “You let her talk without saying a word in my defense. I take this as a lesson.”

  Once home, she complained that her stomach hurt and told Mama Li to fill the hot water bottle so she could warm her stomach.

  Mama Li said quickly, “Did you eat something that made you sick?”

  She replied, “No, I’m not sick from eating; I’m sick with rage.”

  Ordinarily Hung-chien would certainly have rebuked her for telling the servant about the master’s affairs, but that day he dared not say anything. That evening Jou-chia paid no more attention to him, and the next morning husband and wife continued to maintain a stony silence.

  During breakfast Mama Li asked Hung-chien what he wanted for lunch. He replied that he had business at his parents’ home and probably wouldn’t be back for lunch, so she needn’t fix anything.

  Jou-chia sneered, “Mama Li, you can save yourself the trouble from now on. Master won’t be eating at home any more. His mother says your food is poisonous.”

  “Ai!” said Hung-chien with a frown, “Why do you have to tell her—”

  “Because I happen to feel like telling her,” said Jou-chia with a heavy stamp of the heel of her shoe. “Mama Li is a witness here, and I want everything made clear. From now on you can beat me to death or kill me, but I’m not going to your home ever again. If I die and your highly cultured household prepares food as sacrifices for me, my ghost won’t come either.”

  At this the tears welled up in her eyes, and Hung-chien, moved to pity, stood up to comfort her, but she pushed him away.

  “And another thing. From now on we’ll just keep the river water separate from the well water. You needn’t tell me anything about your affairs. We’re all going to be Japanese collaborators. Even the dogs you Fangs keep stand by justice and righteousness.”

  With that she turned and left, humming an English melody on her way down the stairs to show her total unconcern.

  Glum and despondent, Hung-chien was reluctant to go back to his parents’ home, but Tun-weng called up to press him. He went and listened to a long lecture from his father, who offered him no concrete advice or help. He began to hate everyone in his family and refused to stay long.

  After he left, he went to the moving company to see the manager about the traveling expenses. The manager wasn’t in, so he made an appointment for the next day. He went next to Mr. Wang’s home, but he wasn’t home either. B
y this time the trams were filled with office workers leaving work. He could not squeeze his way on, so he walked home, all the while wondering what he could do to dispel his wife’s antagonism.

  At the entrance to the alley when he noticed the Lus’ car, he stiffened inside. He opened the back door of the house and went in through the kitchen, which they shared with the landlord’s family. Mama Li was not there. A can on the stove was chattering away. He walked halfway up the stairs. The door to the small sitting room was open a crack, and he heard Mrs. Lu talking inside in a loud voice. Rage seized him. He didn’t want to go in, but his feet seemed to be nailed to the spot. He heard her say, “Hung-chien has no ability, but he does have a terrific temper. I know that without Mama Li telling me. Jou-chia, men are like kids. They mustn’t be spoiled. You give in to him too much.”

  The blood rushed to his face, and he wished he could have burst in on them with a loud shout. Suddenly he heard the sound of Mama Li’s footsteps approaching the stairs. Afraid of being caught in an embarrassing situation, he quietly slipped out the door. His rage made him oblivious to the bone-piercing chill of the wind. When would that disgusting woman get out? he wondered. Might as well not go home for dinner. Having lost my job, I’m all set to go begging anyway. No use saving those few cents.

  After he had walked a few blocks, his anger somewhat subsided. He passed a Western bakery; the gleaming white light in the window shone brightly on a wide variety of cakes and pastries. Outside the window stood an old man in a tattered jacket staring fixedly at the cakes in the window. He was carrying a basket on his arm filled with crudely made clay dolls and pinwheels made with waxed paper. City kids these days don’t want such crude toys when they have so many fancy foreign goods to choose from, Hung-chien thought. This poor old fellow couldn’t have much business. It suddenly occurred to him that he himself was just like the toys in that basket. No one showed any interest in him these days either, which was why it was so difficult to get a job. With a sigh he took out the wallet Jou-chia had given him and gave the old man two bills. Two little beggars, who had been waiting at the bakery entrance to beg from patrons coming out, immediately scurried over and asked for a handout and followed him from a distance.