The Golden Lotus, Volume 2

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  While they were drinking, they could watch the carriages with gaily decorated wheels, and people coming and going. From the hillock on which they were, the people in the street seemed like a sea or a mountain of human beings. Some were standing in a ring watching performing horses. Among them was the son of the magistrate, a young man called Li Gongbi. He was about thirty years old, and a student at the Imperial Academy of Learning. But he was a gay and dissolute young fellow, who cared more about hawks and dogs and horses than for the study of poetry and literature. He was always to be seen about the streets, and people called him Li the Wastrel. Today he was wearing a light silk gown, a palm hat with a gold button, and yellow boots. He was with a man named He Buwei, and they had with them a party of twenty or thirty lusty fellows with crossbows, blowpipes, balls, and quarterstaffs watching Li Gui putting the horses through their paces. Then they performed all sorts of tricks, fighting with spears and staves. The men and women standing by laughed and cheered.

  This Li Gui was nicknamed the Demon of Shandong. He wore a hat with a swastika badge, a purple shirt, and an embroidered waistcoat, and was riding a silver-maned horse. He carried a shining spear with a red handle, and behind him were several streamers flying in the wind. He was displaying his skill for the benefit of the people in the street.

  The young man Li was looking at this show when suddenly he raised his head and saw the ladies on the hill. One was rather taller than the others, and he could not take his eyes from her. He did not speak, but wondered to what family she belonged and whether she was married. Then he whispered to Little Zhang, one of the men with him: “Go and see who those three people in white are, standing on the hill. When you have made sure, come back and tell me.”

  Little Zhang hurried away. When he came back, he said: “They are members of Ximen Qing’s family. The old man is Wu, the short woman is Yueniang, the first wife, and the tall one with pockmarks on her face, the third wife, Yulou. Of course, they are widows now.”

  Li felt particularly attracted to Yulou. He gave some money to Little Zhang.

  When Yueniang and Uncle Wu had watched the show for some time, they told Daian to pack up the things, and the ladies went to their sedan chairs. Then they went home, as sunset was drawing near.

  Sun Xue’e and Ximen Dajie had been left at home. They had nothing special to do, and about midday went to the gate and stood there. As Fate would have it, a mirror man came along. In those days, the people who sold powder, flowers and ornaments, and those who polished mirrors, all had a sign to show who they were.

  “My mirror is very tarnished,” Ximen Dajie said, and told Ping’an to fetch the man to polish it. He laid down his pack. “I am not a mirror polisher,” he said, “I sell gold and silver ornaments and artificial flowers.” He stood and looked hard at Xue’e.

  “If you are not a mirror polisher,” she said, “be off with you. What do you mean by staring at me like that?”

  “Lady,” the man said, “don’t you remember me?”

  “Your face seems familiar, but I can’t quite remember you,” Ximen Dajie said.

  “I am Laiwang, who used to serve his Lordship,” the man said.

  “You have been away so many years you have grown fat,” Xue’e said.

  “When I left here, I went to my native place Xuzhou. But I could not get work there and took service with a nobleman who had an appointment at the Eastern Capital. I went there with him. On the way his father died and he had to go back again. Then I went to a silversmith and learned this trade. Business is very slack and my master told me to try and sell these things in the streets. I have seen you several times but felt shy about making myself known. If you had not stopped me today, I should not have dared to come to you.”

  “Now I know you,” Xue’e said, “but I should not have known you if you had not told me. Why shouldn’t you come? You are an old member of this household. What have you got there? Bring them in and let us see.”

  Laiwang took his boxes into the courtyard, opened them and, putting the gold and silver ornaments on a tray, showed them to the ladies. They were excellently made. When Ximen Dajie and Xue’e had looked at them, they said: “If you have any artificial flowers, we should like to see them too.” Laiwang opened another box. He had all kinds of flowers, some to wear on the forehead, some large enough to make a complete headdress, others in the form of different insects. Ximen Dajie picked out two pairs of flowers for her hair, and Xue’e a pair of jade phoenixes and a pair of gold fish. Ximen Dajie paid for what she took, but Xue’e asked Laiwang to come another day for his money, one tael and two qian.

  “The Great Lady and the others have gone to your master’s grave to burn paper money,” she told him.

  “I heard last year that my master was dead,” Laiwang said. “I suppose the Great Lady’s baby is quite big now.”

  “He is eighteen months old, and the whole household treats him as though he were a pearl or some other jewel. The future of this house rests wholly upon him.”

  While they were talking, Laizhao’s wife brought a cup of tea for Laiwang. He took the tea and made a reverence. Laizhao came out to talk to him. “Come tomorrow and see the Great Lady,” he said. Then Laiwang picked up his boxes and went away.

  In the evening Yueniang came back. Xue’e and Ximen Dajie and the maids kowtowed to her. Daian could not keep up with the men carrying the boxes, so he hired a donkey. When he reached home, the porters were dismissed.

  “Today at the temple,” Yueniang told her daughter and Xue’e, “we met Chunmei. Jinlian is buried at the back, and we never knew. Chunmei went to burn some paper money for her and we met her quite by accident. We were very friendly. The Abbot offered us vegetarian food, then Chunmei called for her servants, and they must have set out thirty or forty dishes. We could not drink all the wine she offered us. She looked at the baby and gave him some pins. She was most agreeable. And what a number of servants she had! She was in a large sedan chair with ever so many attendants following it. She is taller and stouter than she used to be, and her face seems whiter and fuller.”

  “She had not forgotten us,” Aunt Wu said. “I remember when she was here, she was much more efficient and a much better talker than any of the other maids. She spoke so gently and quietly. Even then I knew she was a capable girl. Now she has been lucky her intelligence is more evident than ever.”

  “Sister,” Yulou said, “she told me that she has not been unwell for six months. Her fortune is made. I understand she expects to have a baby in the eighth or the ninth month. The Major is delighted. So what old woman Xue said happens to be true.”

  “Today, while you were out,” Xue’e said, “Ximen Dajie and I were standing at the gate and saw Laiwang. He is a silversmith now, and was selling gold and silver ornaments and flowers in the street. At first, I didn’t recognize him. I bought a few things. He asked after you and I told him you had gone to the grave.”

  “Why didn’t you ask him to wait for me?” Yueniang said.

  “I told him to come again tomorrow.” While they were talking, Ruyi’er came to them. “The baby has been asleep ever since we came in,” she said, “and I can’t get him to wake. His breath seems cold, but his body is as hot as fire.”

  Yueniang was frightened. She went to the bed and picked up the child. She kissed him and could feel a cold sweat on his body, though he seemed feverish.

  “You wicked woman!” she said irritably to Ruyi’er. “He must have got cold in the chair.”

  “He could not,” Ruyi’er said. “I had him well wrapped up in the bed-clothes.”

  “Well, perhaps when you took him to the grave he got a fright. I told you not to take him, but instead of listening to me you rushed off like a mad woman.”

  “Xiaoyu knows I had only had him there for a minute or two. How could he be frightened?”

  “Don’t argue,” Yueniang cried. “Whether you had him there a short time or not, he is frightened now.”

  She called for Laian and sent him f
or old woman Liu. When the old woman came, she felt the baby’s pulse and examined his body. “He has caught a chill,” she said, “and would seem to have met an evil spirit.” She gave them two red pills and asked them to give them to the child with ginger water. The nurse was told to put the baby to bed. During the night he began to sweat and his body became cooler. They gave the old woman some tea and three qian of silver and asked her to come the next day. The whole household was in a state of excitement. Some got up and some lay down, and they were running about half the night.

  Next day, Laiwang came to the gate with his wares. Yesterday,” he said to Laizhao, “Lady Xue’e bought something from me and told me to call today for the money. And I should like to see the Great Lady.”

  “Come another day,” Laizhao said, “the young master is not well. They had to send for old woman Liu last night, and they were worried and busy all night. He is better today, but I don’t think they will feel like seeing you.”

  As they were talking, Yueniang, Yulou and Xue’e came along with old woman Liu. Laiwang knelt down and kowtowed to Yueniang and Yulou.

  “I haven’t seen you for a long time,” Yueniang said. “Why haven’t you been to call on me?”

  Laiwang told Yueniang of his adventures. “I felt shy about coming,” he said.

  “You are an old servant of ours,” Yueniang said, “and your master is dead now. Your trouble was really due to that wicked woman Pan, who would carry fire to one place and water to another. Your good wife hanged herself and you were banished. But Heaven could not allow such a creature to live, and now she is dead too.”

  “I need not say anything, Mother,” Laiwang said. “You understand so well.”

  When they had talked for a while, Yueniang asked what he had to sell. He showed her and she picked out ornaments to the value of three taels and two qian and paid him for them. Then she asked him to go to the second door, and told Xiaoyu to give him a pot of wine and some cakes. Xue’e went to the kitchen and herself gave him a large bowl of meat. When he had had a good meal, he kowtowed and prepared to go away. Yueniang and Yulou went to the inner court, but Xue’e stayed and talked to him.

  “Come here as often as you like,” she said to him. “There is nothing to fear. I will send you a message by Laizhao’s wife. Tomorrow evening I will wait for you in the little room by the wall not far from this door.” They exchanged glances, and Laiwang knew what the woman meant. He asked if the second door would be closed in the evening.

  “Come to Laizhao’s room,” Xue’e said, “and, in the evening, take a ladder and climb over the wall. I will help you down on this side. I shall have something to tell you when we meet.”

  Laiwang was delighted. He said good-bye to Xue’e and took away his boxes.

  The next day he did not bother to do any business. He came to Ximen’s house and, when Laizhao came out, he bowed to him.

  “I haven’t seen you for a long time, Brother Laiwang,” Laizhao said.

  Laiwang smiled. “I would not have come except to ask Lady Xue’e for some money.”

  Laiwang took the man to his own rooms.

  “Where is my sister-in-law?” Laiwang said.

  “My wife is always in the kitchen during the day,” Laizhao told him.

  Laiwang gave him a tael of silver. “This is to buy a pot of wine for your wife and yourself.”

  “But a pot of wine doesn’t cost so much as that,” Laizhao said. He called his son, Little Iron Rod. The boy was now fifteen years old. He took a pot and went out to buy some wine. Then he went to the kitchen to see his mother.

  Laizhao’s wife came out with some hot rice and a large bowl of stew with two other dishes. “Oh, I see you are here, Brother Wang,” she said.

  Laizhao showed his wife the silver and said: “Our brother has given us this to buy some wine.”

  “I don’t think we ought to take it,” she said, smiling. “We have done nothing for you.” She put a small table on the bed and asked Laiwang to sit down. Then she set out food and wine. Laiwang filled a cup and offered it to Laizhao, then he filled another and offered it to the woman.

  “It is a very long time since we were last together,” he said politely. “I fear this poor cup of wine is all I can offer you.”

  “I am not the sort of person who cares too much for wine and meat,” Laizhao’s wife said. “You are a friend, and you must tell me the truth. Yesterday, the lady told me that she and you still love one another. She has trusted my husband and myself to help you. There had better not be any pretence between us. As the proverb says: If a man wishes to find the track down the mountainside, he must ask a practiced guide. If you two meet here and you get anything out of it, don’t keep everything for yourself, but let us have at least a taste of the gravy. We have to be responsible for you.”

  Laiwang knelt down. “Brother and Sister,” he said, “if you help me, I will never forget.” Then they had their meal. Laizhao’s wife went to the inner court again and talked to Xue’e. Then she returned and told Laiwang to come to her rooms that evening. When the second door was closed and the people in the inner court had gone to bed, he would be able to get over the wall and join his beloved.

  Laiwang went away. That night, he came again to Laizhao’s rooms and bought wine for him and his wife. They drank until it was late, without anybody knowing that he was there. Then the gate was closed, the second door fastened, and everybody went to bed.

  Xue’e and Laiwang had arranged a signal. When he heard a cough on the other side of the wall, he climbed up a ladder and got over the white wall in the dark. Xue’e had a bench waiting for him on the other side. They went to a small harness room near by. There they embraced and began to make love more earnestly. Neither had a mate, and their passion was ready to burst into flame. Laiwang’s spear was hard and strong. They sported for a long time; then the moment of greatest happiness came to him, and he yielded to her.

  Xue’e gave him some gold and silver ornaments, a few taels of silver, and two suits of clothes. “Come again tomorrow night,” she said to him, “and I will have something more valuable for you. Take it and find a place for us to live. I know that this family can hardly prosper now. I will leave it, and we will get a house and marry. You are a silversmith and we shall not have to worry about a living.”

  “I have an aunt outside the East Gate,” Laiwang said. “She is a famous midwife. Her place is out of the way, and I suggest that we go there. We will stay there a while until we know whether there is going to be trouble and, if not, I will take you to my native place. There I will buy a few acres of land, and we will work on that.”

  He climbed over the wall again and went back to Laizhao. There he stayed till dawn and slipped away as soon as the gate was opened.

  The next evening he came again. He went as before to Laizhao’s rooms, then over the wall, and they made merry again. So they went on for a long time. They stole a number of valuable things, gold, silver and clothes, and Laizhao and his wife had their share.

  One day Yueniang was very depressed because the baby was ill again. She went to bed very early. Ximen Dajie’s maid had been given to Xue’e, and Li Jiao’er’s maid had been given to Ximen Dajie because Chen Jingji had wanted her. Today, Xue’e sent her maid to bed. She took a number of earrings, pins and ornaments and put them into a box. Then she covered her head with a kerchief. She had arranged with Laiwang that they should meet in Laizhao’s place and run away.

  “That is all very well,” Laizhao said. “You can get away easily enough, but I am in charge of the gate, and how can I let you escape like a pair of wild ducks? The Great Lady is sure to find out, and what am I to say to her when she asks me about it? You had better get over the roof. Smash a few tiles, and then there will be something to show the way you went.”

  “That is a good idea, Brother,” Laiwang said.

  Xue’e gave Laizhao and his wife a silver cup, gold earrings, a black silk coat, and a yellow silk skirt. They waited until the fifth night watch, when
it was very dark, and then climbed over to Laizhao’s place. Laizhao heated two big cups of wine and gave one to each of them. “Drink this,” he said. “It will strengthen you for what you are going to do.”

  At the fifth night watch, each of them took some incense, then they got a ladder and climbed out on to the roof. Step by step they climbed up, breaking a few tiles as they went. When they came to the other side, there seemed to be nobody about, no watchman in the street. Laiwang got down first, then helped Xue’e, who climbed down with her feet on his shoulders. When they came to the street a watchman stopped them and asked where they were going. Xue’e was alarmed, but Laiwang was cool enough. He held out the incense he had brought and said: “We are husband and wife going to offer incense at the temple outside the city. That is why we are up so early.”

  “What have you in those parcels? “the watchman asked them.

  “Incense and paper money,” Laiwang said.

  “If you are husband and wife and are going to the temple, it is a good work and you may go,” the watchman said.

  At that, Laiwang took Xue’e’s hand and they hurried off as fast as they could go. By the time they came to the city gate, it had just been opened. They went out, turned up one street and down another, and so came to the place where Laiwang’s aunt lived. It was a very lonely place: there were only a few ramshackle houses. They came at last to the house of Midwife Qu. The door was shut, but they knocked and, after a while, the old woman, who had just got up, came and opened the door. There stood Laiwang with a woman.

  Laiwang’s real name was Zheng Wang. “This is my wife, whom I have lately married,” he said. “Can you let us have a room? We should like to stay here for a few days while we look for a house.”

  He gave the old woman three taels of silver for expenses. When she saw the money, old woman Qu could not refuse to let them stay. But, one night, her son, Qu Dang, who had seen that Laiwang seemed to have a great deal of gold and silver, forced the door, stole the valuables, and went gambling. He was arrested and brought before the magistrate. The magistrate, Li, realized that the things must have been stolen and ordered runners to go with Qu Dang to the old woman’s house. They arrested Laiwang and Xue’e. The woman was so frightened that her face became the color of wax. She put on plain clothes, covered her face with a veil, took off her rings, and gave them to the runners. Then they were taken before the magistrate, and people came to hear of the matter. Some recognized them and said: “Surely that is one of Ximen Qing’s women. She has been carrying on with one of the servants, the fellow Laiwang, now called Zheng Wang. They stole some things and ran away. Then Qu Dang stole the stuff from them again and now they have to go before the magistrate.”