Bride of the Moso Prince

by Lucy Yam

  And the lake reflects the mountains.

  Leaves of boats float on silver clouds,

  And happy Moso sing in golden rays.

  Oh, Goddess Gemu must be jealous:

  Their world is a true paradise!

  Sharon clapped her hands and Charlene whistled as the professor read the last line. They translated it into English for Dr. Lewis. He offered his praises and said, “Charlene always told me that it’s heaven on earth here. I doubted it at first but now I must say I agree with her. You’re lucky to do your thesis here, Charlene.”

  “Of course!” Charlene said, “But I didn’t expect it. In fact I was expecting the worst. Ask my sister, she tried to stop me from coming, telling me that I would have to use the outhou…”

  “Stop it.” Sharon interrupted her sister.

  “She did?” Dr. Lewis guessed the rest, “but now, I’m sure she’s thankful that you brought her here. Am I right, Sharon?”

  Sharon nodded, “Yes. I am now. But just a few days ago I was worried sick.”

  “Well, since Charlene has recovered, there is no need to worry. Just enjoy your stay.” Dr. Lewis put his hand on Sharon’s shoulder, “It’s a perfect place to fall in love, don’t you think?”

  Sharon didn’t answer, but smiled uncomfortably. Dr. Lewis was very unscrupulous in his language, and very un-professor like, in her opinion.

  While Charlene and Dr. Yang started to speak in Chinese about the lives of the Moso, Dr. Lewis seemed to be interested in Sharon’s life. Deliberately keeping a distance between them and the other pair, he asked about her web-designing work, about what kind of books she read, what movies she liked, and even what kind of food she preferred in the U.S.. Finally he asked her whether she had a boyfriend.

  “No,” Sharon answered reluctantly. She was offended by that personal question. After all, they were not much more than strangers.

  “How come? An attractive young woman like you?”

  Sharon was confused momentarily. She knew from Charlene that anthropologists had a habit of being nosy, but she wasn’t his research subject. Besides, there was a flicker in Dr. Lewis’ eyes, and Sharon interpreted it as lust. She was annoyed and somewhat disgusted and wanted to ignore that question. But thinking that he was Charlene’s advisor, she repressed her anger.

  “I was busy, that’s all.” She quickened her pace, thinking that the proximity to the other members in the party might deter further personal questions from Dr. Lewis.

  I see,” Dr. Lewis said quickly as he kept up with her, “then I must suggest you use your vacation wisely.”

  Sharon rolled her eyes and didn’t respond to that comment.

  But her silence did not discourage the persistent professor. He insisted to tell her about himself and filled Sharon’s ears with the boring details of his research on gender differences on mate preferences.

  “Women prefer successful, wealthy men, and a man’s age or look is less important to them. But to a man, a young and beautiful woman is the most attractive. Therefore, a man normally marries a younger woman, while a woman rarely marries a younger man. This is a result of biological evolution. In a pre-historical world, a woman who preferred a man rich in resources had more chances to raise healthy children, and these children, would in term pass down the genes that carried such preference. On the other hand, a man who preferred an older woman didn’t have a chance to pass down that kind of genes.”

  Sharon had not only heard the theory from Charlene, but had also read about it in the magazines. She always thought it offensive. Although she felt annoyed, after a moment’s pause, she responded, “Didn’t Elizabeth Taylor marry a man twenty years younger than her?”

  Dr. Lewis shrugged, “A rare example.”

  “There are plenty others,” Sharon retorted, “Edith Piaf, Demi Moore, Susan Sarandon, Madonna, Lorraine Brocco, Norma Shearer …”

  “Ok, there are exceptions,” Dr. Lewis relented, “But I’m not saying that this kind of marriages do not exist. I’m saying that it’s not the norm. It’s an abnormal behavior, excuse my bluntness. You have to agree with me that not many people think old women are attractive, while it’s different with old men. It’s not surprising to see a twenty year old woman being madly in love with a sixty year old man, but it’s rare to see a twenty year old man madly in love with a sixty year old woman.”

  He sounded convincing, but Sharon argued nonetheless: “I don’t think this is a result of evolution. I think culture plays a role. On TV and in books, we saw examples of young women falling in love with older men, but seldom saw the opposite, therefore our thoughts and behaviors were influenced.”

  Dr. Lewis smiled, “Good point. However, examples in books and TV are taken from real life.”

  “Before the twentieth century, most of the book authors were men, and so were creators of so called norms. Besides, I’ve heard plenty examples of young men marrying older women lately, on TV or over the internet. They’re not even celebrities. It has a lot to do with emancipation of woman, which happened not so long ago. Nowadays, financially independent women have the freedom to choose poor handsome men for a partner. Gradually, what you called abnormal behavior will become the norm. My point is, social institution, not biological evolution, is the main reason behind human mate preferences.”

  Dr. Lewis looked astonished, “Wow, you are a feminist!” Then he shut up.

  After about an hour’s walk the trail ended at the neck of the Goddess.

  From there they would have to climb the rocky surface of lioness’ head. It was extremely slippery due to the moss.

  Charlene was going to lead the climb, but Sharon stopped her.

  “Are you sure? What about your dizziness?”

  “I’m ok.”

  “But it looks dangerous. I thought the path would lead us straight to the cave.” Sharon looked at the rocks worriedly.

  Charlene assured her sister, “Don’t worry. I’ve been here once.”

  “Do we have to go up?” Sharon hesitated.

  “Of course! We’re almost there!” Charlene was going to climb again.

  Sharon held her sister’s arm, “No. Let me go first.”

  As they were debating, Dr. Lewis said, “Well, I’m not much of a hiking person, so I really can’t…”

  “I’ll go first,” Dr. Yang said unexpectedly and agilely went up to the irregular stairs of rocks and helped the rest to come up.

  Charlene exclaimed, “Dr. Yang, you’re amazing! A professor, a poet, and a mountaineer!”

  Dr. Yang smiled humbly, “I’m not a mountaineer. I do Taiji ever day, that’s why I have strong legs.”

  “Oh!” Sharon looked at the professor with grey hair and small statue and thought one really couldn’t judge a person by his look.

  Dr. Lewis, on the other hand, was indeed unskillful as he had claimed and had to rely on the help of Dr. Yang.

  Seeing how clumsy he was, Sharon teased, “I thought every anthropologist must have some sort of field experience. Apparently I was wrong!”

  Dr. Lewis shrugged. “I’m more or less what they call an Armchair Anthropologist. Most of my researches were done from books, except my undergraduate thesis, which was done in guess where? The campus of UC San Diego.”

  “Really, what is it about?” Charlene asked him.

  “It’s on the dating behavior of college students.”

  Oh no. Sharon regretted bringing up that subject, but Charlene was excited, “Oh I know what it is. The one that says an ugly A male student is more successful in getting a girlfriend than a handsome C male student. While a reversed pattern holds in females.”

  “Exactly. It was really a shocking revelation to me. I was hoping to see that a handsome C guy student like me would have more girls after him.”

  Sharon said when he barely finished, “Let me guess, after that you began to study hard.”

  Dr. Lewis chucked, “Right on! And then I decided to get a Ph.D. You see, that thesis changed my life!”

  Wh
ile Charlene and Dr. Yang smiled at Dr. Lewis’ frankness, Sharon couldn’t stand him.

  “In other words,” She said sarcastically, “You went to graduate school for women?”

  Charlene mumbled to her in Chinese, “Sister, that’s too much.”

  But Dr. Lewis didn’t mind at all. Instead he gave Sharon another speech, “That’s right and there is nothing wrong with it. Everything a man does in his life is ultimately for women: making money, competing for a rank, fighting for a territory… On the other hand, the sacrifices a woman makes are also for men: diet, skin care, shopping for clothes…Again, these are results of natural selection. There isn’t much difference between humans and other animals, there is only one true purpose of our lives: pass down our genes.”

  After he said that, he looked at Sharon and waited for her to respond.

  Sharon wanted to argue. The reason she worked hard was not for men! But she knew it would be futile to argue with Dr. Lewis, who could be rightly called an evolutionary fanatic.

  Dr. Lewis, on the other hand, misinterpreted her silence as consent, got hold of her hand at the entrance of the cave.

  The cave was spacious. It was faintly illuminated by the light entered from outside. Rocks hung from the ceilings or thrust from the ground, making an architectural design that was entirely natural.

  Sharon was in awe with what she was seeing. The interior was so quiet that she could hear her own breathing. Occasionally there was the sound of water dripping. She couldn’t help but imagine that there were spirits floating above them. As they went in further she was reminded of the day of her arrival and the thought of Nobul disturbed her. She wished he were here with her. He would be telling her legends and stories. In darkness she imagined the hand she was holding was his. But then she heard the voice of Dr. Lewis. “Be careful. The floor is wet.”

  Annoyed, Sharon broke free from that hand, “Don’t worry about me.”

  That night there was a brief performance to welcome the two professors. Sharon, still traumatized by the previous dance, did not attend.

  Chapter 8

  Sharon wanted to skip the next day’s agenda as well, which consisted of a tour on a wooden boat rowed by Urcher and visits to various villages and towns on the shore. Then they would leave the two professors in Water Town, where they would converge with other scholars. But Charlene pleaded, saying that Dr. Lewis was an important figure in her field and his reference would be valuable after she graduated.

  “Please, Sharon, just one more day.”

  “I don’t know whether I can stand him for an hour, that unscrupulous professor of yours.”

  “Unscrupulous? That’s too strong a word. He’s a bit eccentric, that’s all.” Charlene argued.

  “He’s lustful.”

  “Lustful? I don’t think so!” Charlene said, “He is only attentive to young and beautiful women. He won’t cross the line. Besides, you have his attention because you are attractive, sister!”

  “Oh please, I’m sooo flattered!” Sharon grimaced as she remembered the unwanted ‘protection’ from Dr. Lewis she had gotten the day before and added, “If he dared to put a finger on me I would scream.”

  “Oh come on, Sharon, don’t be such a prude. Those were common gestures. Americans do that all the time.”

  “I’m an American, and I don’t do that and I’m not a prude!” Sharon raised her voice. No one had ever called her that.

  “OK, I’m sorry, sister. You’re not a prude. You’re just a conservative woman who refuses to be touched by any guy, be it a rich handsome Moso prince or an attractive American professor.”

  “That’s not true either…” Sharon stopped what she was about to say, as she remembered how she had almost compromised herself to that Moso prince.

  It would be a hot day. The sun was already glaring on the eastern sky in mid morning. Sharon stood in the balcony for a moment before leaving her room.

  Charlene opened the door as soon as she heard her knock. She had finished a shower and was drying her hair.

  “For god’s sake forget about jeans for a day!” Charlene said to her when she closed the door behind them.

  “I don’t have anything else.” Sharon shrugged.

  “Yes you do.” Charlene pulled out a suitcase from the closet and threw it on her bed.

  “You sent me this along that swimsuit,” she said as she flung open one dress after another. “Some are your dresses. I don’t get it. Don’t you know that I’m not as slim as you are?”

  Sharon was pleased to see her old dresses. She had decided that she would never have the occasions to wear any of those pretty dresses when she sent them to Charlene, thinking that Charlene would probably lose a few pounds in that “poor” mountain village in China. She picked out a knee-long cream linen dress with elegant embroidery along the scoop neck. She had loved it. Without a second thought she took off her T-shirt and jeans and put the dress on. It still fit her perfectly. The loosely fitted belt emphasized the slimness of her waist.

  “Simply elegant,” Charlene said while throwing her a pair of matching sandals, “now all you need is a hat.”

  She again dug in the closet and found a straw hat with color slightly darker than the dress.

  “Rustic elegant now,” Sharon said while looking at herself at the mirror.

  Charlene put on a fluttering skirt under a cotton shirt with ruffles along the upper buttons.

  “You look so cute, my little sister.” Sharon kissed her on the cheek and Charlene protested.

  They went out to the lakeshore chatting and laughing, and then Sharon frowned when she saw the solar boat. Dr. Lewis was sitting on the bench gazing at the scenery. Dr. Yang was standing in it talking with…not Urcher, but Nobul! Sharon froze. He had come back just as sudden as he had left. One hand in his jean pocket the other gesticulating towards the lake and its islands. Sharon’s heartbeat went out of control as she watched his silhouette in the morning sun. He was a beautiful sight no matter what angle she viewed him. Unconsciously she stopped moving.

  “What’s wrong?” Charlene looked at her sister.

  “You told me Urcher was going with us.”

  “That’s what I thought. I guess they switched duties again.”

  “I’m sorry Charlene but I can’t go.”

  “Why?”

  “I...my tummy hurts. It might be the buttered tea I had earlier…” Sharon tried to come up with a good excuse but that was the best she got.

  “Oh really?” Charlene looked at her sister and then looked at the man they were referring to, “It isn’t the buttered tea, I’m sure. Sometimes the sight of a man can give you stomach cramps, and that indicates the special place he holds in your heart.”

  “Stop teasing me, Charlene, I just, I can’t go.”

  She was about to turn when Dr. Lewis spotted them. “Ladies, ready to go?”

  Now all eyes were on them. Sharon hesitated.

  “Yes we are!” Charlene shouted and took her sister’s hand as she whispered, “Come on sister, they’re waiting! And no one would believe that you had a stomach ache.”

  Sharon followed her sister to the boat, while carefully avoiding looking at Nobul. Dr. Lewis got up and helped first Charlene, then Sharon. It seemed to Sharon that he had deliberately pulled her too hard so that she felt into his arms with a jerk.

  While apologizing for her clumsiness resentfully, she looked up and saw Nobul’s smoldering eyes. She fancied that she read a mixture of expressions in it, including longing, jealousy, and mocking. Her cheeks went aflame.

  “You look absolutely charming, Sharon!” Still holding her hands, Dr. Lewis complimented her, and his eyes accessing her figure boldly.

  “Thank you.” Under his gaze Sharon realized that the neckline of the dress was perhaps too low and regretted for a moment to wear it.

  Nobul went into the cabin and turned on the engine. “Sit tight,” he shouted, “and here we go!” The boat left the shore.

  After a moment’s admiration o
n the solar boat, conversation of the passengers turned to anthropological topics. The three scholars discussed the origin of the Moso, comparing their customs with that of the Nakhi, the Yi, and the Tibetans in the same region. The discussion heated at why the Moso had started and kept their walking marriage system. Dr. Lewis insisted that the custom was a phenomenon that was against evolution. A man’s tendency to raise his own children was a naturally selected trait, for a child who was cared by both parents had a better chance to survive and carry out the father’s child-caring genes. Therefore a walk-marry society was abnormal and why it formed was a mystery to him.

  Dr. Yang was more of a sociologist, and he believed that the walk-marry system was a product of social and economical conditions. In an agricultural society, a large family with a concentration of labor had a better chance to survive than small families. Therefore it would be better that married couples would live with their natal families. In a patrilineal kinship system, a large family is hard to hold because of the complicated relationship between in laws, while matrilineal families were more harmonious. The Moso’s walk-marry system eliminated the need for a son-in-law, indeed, what’s the point to lend your son to labor in his wife’s family, and borrow someone else’s son to plough your field? The system must have been working well for the Moso, who lived in such an isolated mountain area, and thus it lasted until today.

  Charlene agreed with Dr. Yang, because from what she had seen in the past months, the small households in nearby villages of other ethnicities were indeed poorer than the larger Moso households.

  Sharon lost interest in the middle. Humans were creative and flexible. It was only natural for people to have different customs and life styles in order to adapt to different environmental conditions. What was the need to speculate?

  As her attention on the conversation slacked she was instantly aware of Nobul’s gaze on her. She had in the beginning chosen the seat with her back towards him so she wouldn’t see him, but switched with Dr. Yang because he was finding the glare of the sun unbearable to his aging eye. So now she was sitting next to Dr. Lewis on the narrow bench. The rocking of the boat made it all the more difficult to keep any space between them. More than once the professor’s arm slid around her waist to steady her. She had found it annoying at first and had thought about moving away from him. But then she noticed that Nobul had an expression of a grouchy lion whenever Dr. Lewis did that to her. She could see the flare of his nostrils and she took a cruel pleasure in seeing it. Unknowingly she found herself leaning against Dr. Lewis’ shoulder from time to time. When Dr. Lewis claimed that there was eyelash in his eye, she even took out a piece of Kleenex and helped him to remove it.