by Bangqing Han
Prosperity Luo and Lotuson Wang alighted, exchanged greetings, and, together with Constance, Green Phoenix, Gold Phoenix, and Mama Zhao, went upstairs. Promotion, knowing there wouldn’t be anything for him to attend to, remained behind. Lotuson Wang preferred the front terrace, which was light and airy, so the two men each took a table by the balustrade to admire the distant views, drink tea, and chat. Lotuson Wang asked Prosperity Luo why he had given another party the previous night at Green Phoenix’s. Prosperity gave a brief account of things. Then he asked how Lotuson had got to know Constance and where she had come from, and Lotuson filled him in.
“You’ve got some nerve, I must say! What if Little Rouge gets to know about this?” asked Prosperity Luo.
Lotuson said nothing, just smiled and made a face.
Green Phoenix, trying to lighten things up, said, “What you say of Mr. Wang is not like him at all! If he had such fear of his girl, what would he be like in front of his wife?”
“Have you seen the two plays about henpecked husbands called In the Boudoir and Kneeling by the Pond?” asked Prosperity.
“Maybe it’s because you’re used to kneeling, that’s why it’s always uppermost in your mind,” she retorted. This made both Lotuson and Constance laugh.
Prosperity Luo also laughed. “That’s enough nonsense for now.”
They sat or stood around admiring the scenery. In the garden, the lawn was like embroidery, and the peach blossoms had just started to bloom. The song of the yellow linnets seemed to tease out the essence of spring unique to the area south of the Yangtze. To top it all, this was a clear, bright Sunday with a mild breeze, perfect for outings. The garden was full of people who had come to take a walk and show themselves off or to shake off the pall of winter and admire beautiful women. There was a constant noise of rolling wheels and neighing horses. Some thirty or forty carriages came one after another, their occupants filling the tables in the various pavilions and terraces. The finest hairpins and hats were on display, and men and women behaved freely in mixed company. Where the wine fumes had melted away, the aroma of brewing tea wafted in the air. Not even the gatherings in Buddhist paradise could rival such gaiety.
A handsome young man suddenly appeared on the scene. He had on a sleeveless jacket with a cutout cloud pattern and heavily embroidered slip-on leggings with broad pipings. He headed straight for the front terrace, where he stood staring at Constance and then smiled to himself. Constance, a little annoyed by this, turned and looked away. Lotuson recognized the young man as Little Willow, the young martial male lead of the Panorama Theatrical Troupe, and so paid him no attention. After a while, Little Willow went away.
Green Phoenix walked arm in arm with Gold Phoenix over to the railing, where they leaned forward to look at the incoming carriages. After a while, she suddenly beckoned to Prosperity Luo, “Come and look.”
Prosperity looked down and saw none other than Little Rouge getting out of a carriage in the front courtyard. She was dressed in casual old clothes, her hair not even done up. He hastily signaled Lotuson and whispered, “Little Rouge is here.”
Lotuson hurried over to see for himself, asking, “Where is she?”
“She’s coming up,” Green Phoenix replied.
Lotuson turned around, thinking he’d go down to meet her, but Little Rouge had already come upstairs. With her eyes glaring straight ahead and her forehead all greasy and sweaty, she was panting for breath as she charged toward the front terrace, followed by her maid, Pearlie, and the servant girl Goldie. Colliding with Lotuson Wang head-on, she did not say anything, just pointed a finger at his temple and jabbed him hard. Lotuson half turned to fend off the attack, and this gave Little Rouge her opportunity. She stepped forward, seized Constance by the front of her clothes, and started to pummel her with her fist.
Completely taken by surprise, Constance could neither give her the slip nor ward her off. All she could do was grab hold of Little Rouge and fight back, shouting, “Who are you lot? How can you beat up somebody with no reason at all?”
Little Rouge said not a word, just kept pummeling Constance in complete silence. The two women were twisted together like a knot. Seeing the fury of the onslaught, Green Phoenix and Gold Phoenix retreated to the room behind the terrace; Mama Zhao could not very well come forward to make peace either. All Prosperity Luo did was to bawl at Little Rouge, “Let go. We can talk things over peacefully.”
Would Little Rouge let go when she had the upper hand? She pushed Constance from the center table all the way to the western end of the terrace. What was more, Pearlie and Goldie were secretly helping her, getting in a blow here and a blow there. People who were drinking tea downstairs all came up to watch when they heard there was a fight.
This was too much for Lotuson. He went forward, hooked an arm around Little Rouge, and tried to pull her away, but it didn’t work. Then he wedged his body between the two women and gave Little Rouge a violent push. Little Rouge staggered backward several paces and just managed to keep her balance when her back hit a partition wall. Free at last, Constance stood in the middle of the room weeping and cursing at Little Rouge. Little Rouge tried to make a rush at her, but Lotuson pinned her against the wooden partition and tried to reason with her in a torrent of words. “If you have anything to say, say it to me. It’s got nothing to do with her. What did you hit her for?”
All this fell on deaf ears. Little Rouge started biting and pinching him, while Lotuson continued to beg and reason with her despite the pain. Just then, Pearlie made a surprise attack from one side, pulling at Lotuson and shouting, “Whose side are you on? Shame on you!”
Goldie rushed up and held Lotuson round the waist. She also shouted, “So you’re taking someone else’s side against our maestro! Are you disowning her?”
With her two serving women tackling Lotuson, Little Rouge broke free and flung herself after Constance, resuming the fight. Lotuson, pinned down by the two servants, could do nothing to separate them.
Constance was no match for Little Rouge even under normal circumstances; now that Little Rouge was going at her for all she was worth, every blow was aimed to kill. In no time at all, Constance was stretched out on the floor with blood on her face and one of her lotus shoes fallen off. She still managed to keep up a stream of tears and curses. Spectators now packed the front terrace like swarming bees, but not one person lifted a finger to intervene.
Lotuson realized this would not do. In desperation, he flung aside Pearlie and Goldie, parted the onlookers, and went downstairs to call for help. It happened that the cashier of Luna Park was standing at the door of his office peering around. Lotuson knew him and said hurriedly, “Quick, call a couple of waiters to separate them, or else somebody’s going to get killed!” Having said this, he pushed his way back onto the front terrace. He saw that Little Rouge had actually got Constance spread-eagled on the floor, and was sitting astride her, pummeling her furiously. Pearlie and Goldie, one on either side, held Constance’s arms down so she could not move. Constance could only kick her feet about, yelling, “Help! Murder!” The spectators also shouted in unison, “Stop! You’ll kill her!”
Lotuson’s anger flared up. He gave Goldie a kick in the chest. It sent her yelling and rolling all over the floor. Pearlie quickly scrambled to her feet and rushed at him, shouting, “Shame on you! How dare you beat us, you animal!” She rammed her head against his chest, shouting repeatedly, “Come beat me! Come on!”
Lotuson lost his balance and fell backward, landing head first right on top of Goldie. Pearlie, who was ramming at him, also lost her balance and toppled forward, sprawling over him. The five of them thrashing about on the floor in a tangle sent the spectators clapping and roaring with laughter.
Fortunately, three or four waiters now came up with a foreign policeman, who barked at them, “Stop fighting!” Pearlie and Goldie immediately scrambled to their feet. Lotuson was helped up by a waiter, while another waiter pulled Little Rouge aside and then helped Constance sit up on
the floor.
Frustrated by the waiters’ intervention, Little Rouge finally started wailing in the most grief-stricken manner, stamping her feet on the floorboards as if they were a drum. Both Pearlie and Goldie joined her in name-calling. Lotuson, paralyzed by anger, could not get a word out. It was left to Mama Zhao to look for Constance’s shoe and put it back on for her. With a waiter’s help to prop her up, she slowly walked her to the room behind the terrace for a rest. The policeman waved his truncheon threateningly to disperse the bystanders. He then pointed to the staircase, indicating that Little Rouge should leave. She dared not defy him, and together with Pearlie and Goldie wept and cursed all the way down. They got into their carriage and went home.
Too busy to bother with Little Rouge, Lotuson hurried into the room behind the terrace to see Constance. He found the cashier, Prosperity, Green Phoenix, and Gold Phoenix huddled together in conversation. Constance lay stretched out stiffly on the couch, while Mama Zhao tried to do up her hair for her. Lotuson hastened to ask how she was.
“She’s lucky. Just minor injuries to the ribs; nothing serious,” Mama Zhao replied.
“Though it’s not serious, it was risky enough,” the cashier commented. “Why didn’t she bring a maid with her? With a maid there, she’d have had some protection when she was cornered.”
This gave Lotuson something else to worry about. After a moment of hesitation, he begged Green Phoenix to lend their maid Mama Zhao as an escort to take Constance home.
“Mr. Wang, you really should take her home yourself,” said Green Phoenix. “Think about it: when she goes home in such a state, will her maids and menservants let it go at that? If they gather up a dozen people and rush over to seek revenge at Little Rouge’s, they may cause real trouble, and it’ll all end up on your plate, Mr. Wang. If you go back with Constance now, you can explain things to them first. Don’t you think so?”
“That’s right. It’s best if you take her home yourself,” the cashier chimed in. Yet Lotuson did not want to take Constance home, and he couldn’t come up with a good reason. He just pleaded with Green Phoenix to let Mama Zhao do it.
Finally, Green Phoenix had to agree. She then instructed Mama Zhao, “You go and tell them: Mr. Wang will see to this business. They’re not to take things into their own hands.” Then she added, “Isn’t that so, Constance? You should put in a word, too.”
Constance nodded in agreement.
“Shall I call the carriage?” Promotion asked at the door.
“Get all our carriages while you’re at it,” said Mama Zhao.
Promotion went out at once to do so. Mama Zhao handed the silver water pipe to Green Phoenix and went to help Constance off the couch. Constance looked at Lotuson and tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.
Lotuson said hastily, “Please don’t be upset about this. You should go home in a good mood and think of this as nothing more than getting bitten by a mad dog. If you let it upset you and fall ill, that won’t be worth it. I’ll come round later; don’t worry.”
Constance nodded again and, supporting herself on Mama Zhao’s shoulder, struggled down the stairs step by step.
“Take her jewelry along,” said the cashier.
Lotuson saw there was a heap of broken ornaments on the table and realized they had been damaged during the fight. “I’ll put them away for her.”
Then a waiter brought Constance’s silver water pipe, saying, “This fell downstairs and got dented.”
Lotuson Wang wrapped it up in a towel with the jewelry.
“Let’s go, too,” Green Phoenix hurried everyone up and, taking Gold Phoenix by the hand, led the way out.
Lotuson saluted the cashier and thanked him. “All the damaged furniture will be paid for according to usual practice. I’ll show my appreciation of your men’s help separately.”
“Oh, please don’t mention any damages; they’re nothing, really,” the cashier replied.
Prosperity Luo also took his leave from the cashier and went downstairs with Lotuson. They found out from Promotion that Constance and Mama Zhao had already left, while the Huang sisters were still waiting in their carriage. Lotuson rode with Prosperity back to Generosity Alley, where Prosperity invited him into Green Phoenix’s. When they reached her room upstairs, Prosperity lit the opium lamp and invited Lotuson to smoke.
Green Phoenix, who was changing into an at-home outfit, said, “Mr. Wang, you haven’t smoked for a few hours now. It must be getting to you, right?” She then turned to Little Treasure, “After you’ve prepared the hot towels, get Gold Phoenix to fill the pipe for Mr. Wang.”
“I can do it myself,” said Lotuson.
“We’ve got some ready-made pellets, will they do?” asked Green Phoenix. She then told Little Treasure to have Gold Phoenix fetch them.
Gold Phoenix had also changed her clothes. She now came over to greet Lotuson and, as soon as she saw him, said with a smile, “Aiyo, Mr. Wang! The whole thing frightened me to death. I was so afraid I hung on to Elder Sister and said, ‘Let’s go home. What if they should start beating us as well?’ Weren’t you frightened, Mr. Wang?”
Even Lotuson could not help smiling at this. Prosperity and Green Phoenix both laughed.
Gold Phoenix picked up from the opium tray a box of water buffalo horn shaped like a crab apple blossom. The box was filled with opium pellets, and she offered them to Lotuson. He heated a pellet and started smoking. After he had smoked several pellets, he heard Mama Zhao’s voice downstairs and sat up to listen.
Seeing his anxiety, Green Phoenix hastened to call out for Mama Zhao.
When Mama Zhao saw Lotuson, she reported, “I took her home, saw her all the way upstairs. Her people said, ‘Since there’s Mr. Wang to see to things, that’ll be for the best. Please ask Mr. Wang to come over as soon as he’s back.’ They thanked me, too, and told me to come back and thank our maestro. Very nice and warm they were.”
On hearing this, Lotuson felt that half his burden had been lifted. Then his steward Talisman came looking for him. Lotuson called him in to ask what the matter was.
“Little Rouge’s maid came just now to say that Little Rouge is coming to the house,” said Talisman.
This made Lotuson extremely uneasy again.
Green Phoenix said to him, “It seems to me Little Rouge is not the same as Constance. It may be all right for you to see Constance tomorrow instead of today, but as far as Little Rouge is concerned, you should go and see her straightaway. And what’s more, you’ll be in for a good chiding as well.”
Lotuson hesitated, his forehead creased with a deep frown. He said nothing.
“Mr. Wang, you mustn’t be afraid to see Little Rouge,” Green Phoenix said pleasantly. “If there’s anything you want to tell her, say it loud and clear. If you’re afraid of her, you won’t be able to say anything.”
Lotuson still procrastinated. He told Talisman to fetch his sedan chair, saying he’d decide what to do later. But he gave Talisman the package of jewelry for safekeeping. Talisman took it and went home.
“I’d never have thought that Little Rouge could be so fierce!” said Prosperity Luo.
“What’s so fierce about Little Rouge?” asked Green Phoenix. “In her place, I wouldn’t have gone and beaten Constance up. For one thing, you tire yourself out with the beating, and all that jewelry that gets smashed will go on Mr. Wang’s account, so it’s Mr. Wang who ends up the loser. What’s the point?”
“What would you do if you were her?” asked Prosperity.
“Me? I don’t feel like telling you now. You might like to drop in on Lute, though, and then you’ll see for yourself. How about that?”
“What if I do go, what can you do?” Prosperity said smiling. “If you act up I’ll tell Lute to come and give you a beating, too!”
Green Phoenix gave him a fleeting glance out of the corner of her eyes and then said with a faint smile, “Aiyo, well said! I wonder whose benefit that’s meant for? Are you showing off in front of Mr. Wang?”
Lotuson, who was inhaling a puff of opium as Green Phoenix spoke, nearly choked with laughter.
In his embarrassment, Prosperity felt he had to say something to hold his end up. He said, “You people are so unreasonable! Think about this: as a courtesan, how many clients do you entertain? And yet you won’t let your clients see another girl. Is that reasonable? It’s a wonder you people can say something like that and not feel ashamed of yourselves.”
Green Phoenix responded with a smile, “But why not? We’re in this business so we can’t help it. If you’re willing to secure my business for a whole year, all three seasons of it, then I’d drop all other clients. I can assure you that’d make me very happy.”
“Ah, so you want to milk me alone!” he said.
“If I see no one else, who else can I milk? Who’s being unreasonable now?”
Prosperity was stumped for a reply. After a while, Green Phoenix said, “If you have reason on your side, out with it. Why are you so quiet?”
“What’s there to say? I’ve had enough of your barbed tongue,” he said light-heartedly.
“It was you who didn’t do your case justice, so don’t blame it on my barbed tongue!” Green Phoenix was all smiles.
In the course of the conversation, the lamps had been lit. Little Treasure came in with a printed slip for Prosperity Luo. He looked at it and passed it on to Lotuson Wang, who took it rather nervously. It was Benevolence Hong inviting Prosperity to a party, so he paid no attention to it. But then he saw another line added at the end: “If the esteemed Mr. Lotuson Wang is there, his company is also requested.” Lotuson said with a frown, “I’m not going.”
“Benevolence seldom gives a party, so it’s best if you go and mingle for a while. You don’t have to call any girls,” Prosperity said.