“You have lost my property,” he shouted, “and now you will neither return it to me nor pay me what it is worth. You keep on telling me to come here and go there. Today, you say, you will go to the office and claim the things; and tomorrow, you will tell me to wait a little longer. Where are they? This won’t do at all.”
Clerk Fu went to the man and pacified him. “Give us one more day or perhaps two,” he said, “and you shall have your things without fail. If we do not get them for you, you shall have double what they are worth.”
“I will go and see what my master has to say,” the man said, and went away.
Yueniang, what with one trouble and what with another, wore a continual frown. She sent a boy to ask her brother, Uncle Wu, to come and talk the matter over. “You must go to Wu Dian’en,” she said, “and get this matter settled before things get any worse.”
“I don’t imagine he will do anything for us unless he gets well paid for it,” Uncle Wu said.
“Remember that he owes his position entirely to us,” Yueniang said. “And he still owes us a hundred taels of silver. My husband never asked him for any note, yet he repays our kindness by hatred.”
“Ah, sister,” Uncle Wu said, “there are only too many people who do that.”
“Brother,” Yueniang said, “I am counting on you to settle this. I will give you some money, and you can get back the ornaments and so end the wretched business.”
When Uncle Wu had had something to eat, Yueniang took him to the gate. By chance, old woman Xue went past with a young maid. She was carrying her box.
“Where are you going, old woman?” Yueniang said. “J haven’t seen you for a very long time.”
“No, indeed, Lady,” Xue said. “I have been very busy lately. Yesterday the young lady sent for me several times, but I could not go.”
“Old woman, you are crazy,” Yueniang said. “What do you mean by this young lady of yours?”
“Well, she is not a young lady any longer,” old woman Xue said. “She is the mistress of the household now.”
“How did she get into that position?” Yueniang said.
“It was just her good luck,” the old woman said. “First, she had a baby. Then the Great Lady died, and the Major made her his first wife. His second wife has to do what she tells her. She has two nurses and four maids to wait on her, and two of them are very good singers. Though the Major has slept with both of them, if the lady takes it into her head to punish them, he never says a word to stop her. And still he is always anxious lest she should have something to complain about. The other day, for some reason or other, she punished Xue’e and pulled her hair out. She was sent away one night and sold for eight taels of silver. This morning, even before I was up, she sent for me twice. I was told to go at once and take two sets of green ornaments and one set of nine phoenix ornaments. They gave me five taels of silver. I have spent the silver, and they haven’t seen the ornaments yet. Certainly I shall get a terrible scolding when she sees me.”
“Come in and let me see what the ornaments are like,” Yueniang said.
She took Madam Xue into the hall of the inner court. The old woman opened the box and took out the ornaments. They were indeed exquisitely made, with a beautiful blending of gold and green, and the backs gilded. Each ornament had a phoenix, and each phoenix held a string of little pearls in its beak.
“This set,” the old woman said, “is worth three taels and five qian. The other, one tael and five qian. I have made no profit at all out of them.”
As they were talking, Daian came and said: “The man has come again for those things that were pawned with us. He wants to know how much longer he will have to wait. He says if we don’t get the things by tomorrow there will be trouble for Uncle Fu. He will go with Uncle Fu to a certain place. Uncle Fu is not well and has gone home. The man has gone too.”
“What is it all about?” old woman Xue said.
Yueniang sighed. “Ping’an stole a set of gold ornaments and a pair or hooks from the pawnshop. He went to the bawdy house outside the city and there Inspector Wu arrested him. Now he is in jail and the man keeps coming for his things and shouts outside the door. Inspector Wu deliberately refuses to give the things up. He beat Clerk Fu. I don’t know what to do. Ever since my husband died, I have had nothing but one trouble after another. It is very hard for me to have to put up with all these insults.” She began to cry.
“My good lady,” old woman Xue said, “there is one way out that you have not thought of. Let me go to the young lady, and ask her to send a card to the Inspector. Then you would get ten sets of ornaments if there were so many.”
“Major Zhou is a military officer,” Yueniang said. “What can he do with the Inspector?”
“Lady,” the old woman said, “don’t you know that he has special powers. He has many functions that a military officer usually does not have. He has something to do with the river and the taxes and the soldiers and all sorts of things. He seems to be able to settle any sort of question. And it is his business to see to the capture of robbers who go to the river. This is the very thing for him.”
“Well,” Yueniang said, “will you go to the young lady for me and ask her to speak to the Major on my behalf? If I get those ornaments back, you shall have five taels of silver.”
“Money is not everything, my good lady,” old woman Xue said. “I should not think of taking money for helping you out of such a sad predicament. Ask someone to write a note for you and I will take it to the young lady at once. If I do this business for you, just give me anything you think fit.”
Yueniang asked Xiaoyu to give Madam Xue some tea.
“If you don’t mind, I won’t have any tea,” the old woman said. “Tell a boy to write the note. I am rather busy.”
“You must have something to eat. You have been out half a day.”
Xiaoyu brought them tea and cakes, and the old woman ate something with Yueniang. She gave two cakes to the girl who was with her.
“How old is she?” Yueniang asked.
“She is twelve.”
Daian finished the note and brought it in. Xue drank her tea and put the paper in her sleeve. She picked up her box and went away.
When she came to the Major’s house, Chunmei was still in bed. Yuegui told her that Madam Xue had come. Chunmei told Haitang to open the windows and let in the bright sunshine.
“What, Lady,” the old woman said, when she came in, “are you not up yet?” She set down her box and kowtowed to Chunmei.
“There is no need for ceremony between us,” Chunmei said. “Stand up. I am not very well. That is why I didn’t get up before this. Have you brought my ornaments?”
“Yes,” the old woman said, “and I had a very hard business getting them. I did not get them, in fact, until last night. This morning, I was just going to bring them to you when your servant came for me.”
She took the ornaments from the box and gave them to Chunmei. Chunmei did not care very much for one of the sets, but she put them in the box and gave the box to Yuegui. When the old woman had had some tea, she called forward the little girl who had come with her and told her to kowtow to Chunmei.
“Who is this?” Chunmei asked.
“The Second Lady has several times told me that her maid is only useful for cooking,” old woman Xue said. “She wants a young girl to do needlework for her, and I have brought this one for her to see. She is a country girl and twelve years old. I think she will turn out well.”
“You should have got her a town girl,” Chunmei said. “Town girls are more intelligent. Indeed, I never think a country girl has any brains at all. How much does she cost?”
“Only four taels,” old woman Xue said. “Her father is going to the army and needs the money.”
“Take this girl to the Second Lady,” Chunmei said to one of her maids. “We will pay for her tomorrow.” Then she said to the other maid: “There is some Jinhua wine in the jar. Heat some for Madam Xue and bring her some cakes. If w
e don’t give her cakes, she will say that we only give her wine to drink in the mornings and nothing to eat with it.”
“Sister,” the old woman said to the maid, “don’t heat any wine for me. I have something to say to your mistress. I had some wine before I came.”
“Where did you have some wine?” Chunmei asked her.
“I have just come from the Great Lady,” old woman Xue said, “and she gave me something to eat. She is in great trouble and she cried to me. Her boy, Ping’an, stole a set of gold ornaments and a pair of gilt hooks from the pawnshop and went after some whore. Then he was arrested. Meanwhile, the owner of the things keeps coming and shouting and demanding his property. Inspector Wu was once a clerk in her family, and when Ximen Qing was alive he was very kind to Wu. But now the Inspector has forgotten all about that, and looks the other way. He had her servant beaten and refuses to give up the things. He insulted Clerk Fu and beat him. Fu got such a fright that he had to go home, ill. The Great Lady told me to bring you her love and ask you to take pity on her. She has no relatives of her own to help her, and she said I was to ask you if you would speak to the Major, so that she can get back the ornaments and give them to their owner. If you are good enough to do this for her, she will call to thank you.
“Have you brought any paper with you?” Chunmei said. “My husband is away on duty, but when he comes back this evening, I will tell him.
“I have the paper here,” the old woman said. She took it from her sleeve. Chunmei read it and put it on the windowsill.
Then Yuegui brought four dishes on a tray. She filled a large silver cup with wine and offered it to the old woman.
“Lady,” Xue said, “why do you give me so large a thing?”
Chunmei laughed. “It is not so large a thing as your husband’s,” she said. “If you can put up with that, you can drink this. If you won’t drink it of your own accord, I shall tell Yuegui to hold your nose and pour it down your throat.”
“Well, give me some cakes first so that I have something to make a foundation for it,” the old woman said.
“You are an old liar,” Chunmei said. “A moment ago you said you had just had something. Now you say you want something to make a foundation.”
“I only had two cakes,” old woman Xue said, “and they won’t last forever.”
“Mother Xue,” Yuegui said, “drink the wine and then you shall have the cakes. If you won’t, it will mean another beating for me. My mistress always says I am no use.”
Old woman Xue could not help herself. She drank the wine and immediately felt as if a young deer were careering about inside her. Chunmei made a sign to Haitang, and the maid gave her another cup. The old woman put it aside.
“Mother,” Haitang said, “you took the wine Yuegui offered you. You can’t refuse mine. If you do, my mistress will give me a beating.”
Old woman Xue knelt down.
“Well,” Chunmei said, “give her some cakes to eat with it.”
“Mother Xue,” Yuegui said, “nobody is so kind to you as I am. I have kept these rose cakes especially for you.”
She brought out a large plate of rose cakes, but the old woman ate only one.
“Take the others away and let your old turtle have them,” Chunmei said.
When Madam Xue had had some wine, she wrapped up in paper some dried meat, buns and goose, and put the paper into her sleeves. Haitang pressed her to drink another half cup. Then she saw that the old woman was on the verge of being sick, so she cleared the table and urged her no more. Chunmei told her to come the following day and paid her for the ornaments. When Xue was going, she said: “Now, old woman, don’t pretend to be deaf and dumb. One of these sets of ornaments is no good. I shall expect a better set tomorrow.”
“Very well, Lady,” the old woman said. “Will you send a maid out with me? I am afraid of the dog biting my leg.”
“My dogs know what they’re about,” Chunmei said. “They will stop when they get to the bone.” But she told Yuegui to take the old woman to the gate.
It was sunset when Major Zhou came back from his office. He went to the great hall. The maids took his hat and clothes. He went to see Chunmei and his little son, and was very happy with them. When he had sat down, the maids brought tea to him and he told Chunmei about the work he had done that day. Then the table was set and they had dinner together. Afterwards, candles were brought and they drank wine. He asked if anything special had happened in the household, and Chunmei gave him the paper that old woman Xue had brought.
“Mistress Ximen’s boy, Ping’an, stole some ornaments,” she said. “Then he was arrested. Inspector Wu refused the people who went to claim the things and beat the boy severely to make him declare that Mistress Ximen had behaved improperly. He says he is going to send the case to a higher authority.”
“But this is my business,” Major Zhou said. “What does he mean by talking about sending the matter further? He is a most unreasonable fellow. I will send for him tomorrow and see how he likes a beating himself. I believe he used to be one of Ximen Qing’s men. When Ximen went to the Eastern Capital with presents for the Imperial Tutor, it was he who got this appointment for Wu. Now he is trying to do all the harm he can to Ximen’s family.”
“That is just what I was going to say,” Chunmei said. “You must look into the matter tomorrow.”
The next day, Major Zhou told Yueniang to send an accusation to him. In his great hall, the Major wrote out an instruction and put it in an envelope. “The Major’s office wishes to investigate a certain case of theft,” it said. “The thief and the stolen property are to be sent to this office immediately. This instruction will be delivered by officers Zhang Sheng and Li An.”
Zhang Sheng and Li An took the document. First they called to see Wu Yueniang. She entertained them with food and wine and gave each of them a tael of silver with which to buy shoes. Clerk Fu was still in bed, so Uncle Wu went with the two men to the Inspector’s office.
Wu Dian’en remarked the fact that although Ping’an had been in prison for two days, nobody from Ximen’s household had been to see him. He was preparing a document to send to his superiors. Then the two officers from Major Zhou’s office came in and handed him an envelope. He read the superscription and opened it. Inside was an accusation from Yueniang. He was alarmed and made himself most agreeable. He gave two taels of silver each to Zhang Sheng and Li An. He wrote a document in reply, sent those concerned to the Major’s office, and went with them himself.
After a long time, Zhou came to the great hall, and his underlings stood on either side. They went in and the Inspector handed his document to the Major. The Major read it. “This business belongs to my office,” he said. “Why did you deliberately delay handing the matter over to me? You must have had some evil purpose.”
“I was just preparing the document when your instructions arrived,” Wu said.
“You doggish officer,” Major Zhou shouted. “What is your rank that you should dare to go contrary to the law and disregard your superiors? By his Majesty’s command, it is my duty to protect this district, control the soldiers here and the river too. You know what my duties are, yet you dare to arrest people, and do not send them to me. You abuse your authority and even punish people yourself. Then you accuse the innocent. Certainly you are actuated by some evil motive.”
Inspector Wu took off his hat and kowtowed to the Major.
“I ought to punish you, you doggish officer,” Zhou cried, “but this time I will forgive you. If anything of the sort happens again, I shall certainly deal with you as the law requires.”
He called Ping’an before him. “You slave,” he said, “you stole these things and lied most disgracefully about your mistress. If all servants were like you, no one would dare to employ one.” He ordered that Ping’an should be given thirty severe stripes, and sealed up the stolen property until the owner should claim it. Then he called for Uncle Wu, who gave him a receipt for the things.
Then he sent Zh
ang Sheng with his card to Yueniang. Yueniang gave the man wine and another tael of silver. When he returned, he told the Major and Chunmei what she had said. So Inspector Wu gained nothing by arresting Ping’an, but lost a few taels of silver. Yueniang returned the ornaments and hooks to their owner, who examined them, recognized them as his own, and took them away without a word.
Clerk Fu was very ill and, after seven days, he died. He had taken medicine, but it did him no good. After this trouble in the pawnshop, Yueniang decided to let people redeem their pledges, but would not accept any new ones. She put her younger brother and Daian to look after the medicine shop, and this brought in sufficient to pay the household expenses.
When the business was settled, Yueniang sent for old woman Xue and gave her three taels of silver. The old woman refused to take the money, saying that if she did so, her young lady would be annoyed.
“But I am very much indebted to you,” Yueniang said, “and Heaven does not employ people without assuring them of their reward. You need not say anything about it to her.”
Then she got ready four dishes, a pig, a jar of wine and a roll of silk, and asked Xue to take them to Chunmei as a mark of her gratitude. Daian, dressed in black clothes, took the list of presents. The old woman took him to the hall in the inner court and there Chunmei came to see him. She was wearing a golden arched headdress, an embroidered coat and a silken skirt, and her women and maids came with her. Daian knelt down and kowtowed. Chunmei told the maids to give him something to eat.
“I have done nothing,” she said. “Why does your mistress trouble to send me these presents? I don’t think my husband will allow me to accept them.”
“My mistress told me to say that she is very grateful for all the trouble you have taken over Ping’an,” Daian said. “She has nothing worthy to offer you, but sends these trifles in the hope that you and his Lordship will condescend to give them to your servants.”
“It embarrasses me to accept them,” Chunmei said.
The Golden Lotus, Volume 2 Page 76