by Bangqing Han
“If you want to see Bright Pearl, it’s your business. I haven’t exactly tied you down, have I?”
“All right, I’ll shut up. You can say whatever you like.” He smiled.
“Humph!” She went on muttering, “You go ahead and suck up to Bright Pearl, but d’you think she’ll show you any affection?”
“And who wants her affection?” he asked with a smile.
But she wasn’t done yet. “Even if you give ten double-table dinners at her place, it’s nothing to her. All my affection has been wasted on you. It seems you’d rather go and be a creep of a guest. You’re certainly one of a kind in Shanghai!”
“Don’t be angry. I’ll give a double-table dinner here tomorrow night,” he said, smiling.
She remained poker-faced and made no reply. He went over to pull her by the hand to the divan, pleading, “Won’t you fill a pipe for me?”
“I’m too clumsy. I can’t do it as well as Bright Pearl.” But as she was saying this, she had lain down on the divan and started to toast opium. He sat down at her knees and bent over to whisper into her ear, “You’ve always been very affectionate, so why is it that you’re so angry on account of this Bright Pearl? D’you think I’m going to take up with her?”
“Perhaps you are. One never can tell.”
“Well, I might take up with somebody else, but you can be sure it won’t be Bright Pearl. Even if she took the initiative I wouldn’t be tempted.”
“What has it got to do with me, whether you see her or not? I don’t want to hear about it.”
So he smiled and let it go. When she had filled the pipe, she set it down and walked away. As he smoked, he realized that she still bore a bit of a grudge, so he took ink and a writing brush from a drawer and wrote out a few invitations and an order for some dishes. She pretended not to notice. When he had finished writing, she asked, “Since you’re ordering, would you like a couple of dishes first for supper?”
He hastened to comply and added two small dishes to the order. She told the maid to take it downstairs for the menservants to place at the restaurant.
Lamps had just been lit when the dishes were delivered, and the house sent up four extra plates of cold cuts. Amity and White Fragrance sat drinking and chatting, and soon the subject turned to Bright Pearl again.
“All there is to being a courtesan is fashion,” said White Fragrance. “When you’re in fashion you’ll have lots of clients making a big fuss of you. Now, our clients are a sickening lot: if they want to spend a thousand dollars, wouldn’t it be nice to give the business to a courtesan not too much in demand? If you spend it on a fashionable one, she won’t even notice it. And yet the clients will go to the fashionable courtesans, they will waste money just to suck up to them.”
“But it’s not just the clients,” he said. “The courtesans are sickening, too. When business is poor, they do their best to please whatever client they have, but when business is a little better, they take up with actors and keep lovers—the whole works. Is it any surprise that they end up with nothing?”
“Those who take up with actors are rare cases, so we needn’t talk about them. But it seems to me that the fashionable courtesans don’t come to a good end, either. If, while they’re in fashion, they pick a reliable client and get married, then they should do all right. The problem is, none of them wants to get married. And come the time they’re a bit older and their business declines, they’re in for it!”
“Marriage is no easy matter for a courtesan. It goes without saying that she’d want to marry a good client, but when she comes across one, he’s sure to have several wives and concubines at home. Even if she married into the house, she’d never be happy. If there isn’t any wife or concubine, the client is unreliable. He may take her clothes and jewelry and pawn them all, and then she’d have to work again as a courtesan. This happens quite frequently in the foreign settlements.”
“It seems to me that the most important thing is whether you’re suited to each other,” she said. “If you find a client compatible, even if he’s sort of hard up, as long as there’s food on the table, it’s all right. But if the client is just so-so, then you’d do better to pick one who has a bit of money.”
“If you’re looking for a man with money, it will never be my turn,” Amity said teasingly.
She replied with a smile, “Aiyo! You’re too modest! You, poor? Who are you trying to fool?”
He responded, “Even if I do have money, I won’t be considered compatible, so I still won’t find favor in your eyes.”
“Listen to the way you carry on; you’ve gone off the subject,” she said as she picked up the wine pot to pour for him.
“I’ve had enough to drink; let’s have some rice,” he said. She called for the maid to bring the rice and also asked for her sister, Green Fragrance, to join them. “Green Fragrance has had dinner,” the maid answered.
Just when the two of them had finished dinner, a group of clients dropped in for a tea party and were taken into the vacant room across the way. After that came party calls for White Fragrance, so Amity took the opportunity to leave. Knowing he would not be detained, she saw him off at the door. He went downstairs, got on his sedan chair, and went straight home. Come the next evening, he had to invite all his friends to a double-table dinner at White Fragrance’s. But there is no need to go into the details here.
On the third of the third month, Amity got up at ten o’clock and went in his sedan chair to Panorama Garden, where the front door was decorated with lanterns and colorful silk banners. Here, Longevity Zhang, wearing a formal hat, reported to him, “Mr. Chen, Mr. Hong, and Mr. Tang have just arrived.”
Amity went in to greet them, inquired about the arrangements, and found that everything was ready. Delighted, he said, “Then I’ll go over there, and leave you three gentlemen to take care of things here.”
Cloudlet Chen, Benevolence Hong, and Whistler Tang all said, “We’ll do our best,” upon which Amity set out for Bright Pearl’s in Tripod Alley in his sedan chair.
::
1. [While the characterization of Water Blossom is based partly on Lin Daiyu in the Qing dynasty novel Honglou meng and her relationship with Jade Tao on that between Lin and Jia Baoyu, this particular conversation can be traced to the Tang dynasty story “Hou Xiaoyu zhuan,” in which the courtesan Huo Xiaoyu asked her lover Li Yi to spend eight years with her, after which he could marry someone respectable. E.H.]
CHAPTER 19 :: Deceived by love, Modesty Zhu misreads a hidden motive; plagued by illness, Water Blossom puts on a brave face
Amity Zhu went by sedan chair to Bright Pearl’s and then told the bearers, “Take the chair back to fetch Fifth Young Master here.” After that, he went upstairs. He was met by the maid, Second Sister Bao, who invited him to go into Bright Pearl’s room.
“I’ll just sit in the study,” he replied.
Bright Pearl’s house had five rooms on each floor. The two west rooms were the main ones. Of the three east rooms, the parlor was in the middle. On the right was the Western dining room. With its whitewashed walls, white curtains, an iron bed, and mirrors, it looked like a crystal palace. The room on the left was used as a waiting room for guests when the main rooms were occupied. Since it was furnished with paintings, calligraphy scrolls, books, and chess sets, it was called the study.
As Amity Zhu entered the east rooms, he saw the partitions between them had all been taken down. The parlor led straight to the little mezzanine room at the back. There, a small stage had been set up, with rows of tasseled lanterns suspended from the overhang. The screens and curtains onstage were made of beautifully embroidered silks and satins of a variety of colors. The foreign dining set had been moved to the center of the parlor. The table was covered with a tablecloth, on which were placed two condiments sets, cutlery, and eight drinking glasses, each displaying a linen napkin folded into the shape of a flower.1
At the sight of this, Amity said, “Excellent.” When he went into the study on the
left, he could see Bright Pearl doing her hair at the window on the other side of the house. Given the distance, they just nodded at each other in greeting. Second Sister Bao presented him with a water pipe and tea. The four or five girls owned by Bright Pearl all came out to entertain him, and the little girls in the all-girl theatrical troupes also came to sit with him.
Soon the five other hosts, Cloud and Jade Tao, Pragmatic Li, Crane Li, and Modesty Zhu had all shown up. Having finished her toilet, Bright Pearl also came over. They were just going to send a message to hurry Script Li up when Old Merit appeared, saying, “There’s no need. He’s on his way.”
On hearing this, Cloud Tao went off to make the arrangements. Sixteen kinds of imported fruits, nuts, candies, and cream cakes displayed in high-stemmed glass dishes were set out on the table. The players and musicians were all on standby, waiting to start as soon as Script Li arrived.
In a moment, a steward rushed upstairs to report, “His Excellency is here.”
They all stood up. Bright Pearl welcomed Script Li at the head of the stairs, where she took his hand and walked with him into the parlor. Script Li said in mock vexation, “You’ve gone to so much trouble. It’s quite uncalled-for.”
Everybody came up to greet him. Since this was Modesty Zhu’s first meeting with Script Li, the latter looked him up and down and then said to Amity, “If you don’t mind my saying so, he’s one better than you.”
Everybody covered his mouth and laughed. They all crowded with Script Li into the study.
Bright Pearl, who was standing to one side, asked, “May I take your jacket, Your Excellency?” So saying, she reached out to unbutton his jacket for him. He took it off and handed it to her, saying, “Much obliged.” She replied with a smile, “Your Excellency is courtesy itself!” The jacket was passed on to Second Sister Bao, who hung it on the clothes rack while Bright Pearl made Li sit down on a high-back chair.
The maid of the theatrical troupe submitted a list of operas asking for their choices. Bright Pearl answered on behalf of Script Li, “We should ask Mr. Yu to pick the plays.”
Old Merit chose two short plays and told Second Sister Bao to bring the call chits. Amity Zhu pointed at Jade Tao and Modesty Zhu, “What about these two? There aren’t that many girls they can call.”
“Never mind,” said Script Li. “They can call as many as they like or just call one. It’s up to them.”
Amity Zhu gave the names while Old Merit wrote them down. They were calling all the girls everybody had ever summoned before. In Jade Tao’s case, he could summon Water Blossom as well as her younger sister, River Blossom. But Modesty Zhu had no one to call but Twin Jade.
After the chits had been written, Cloud Tao asked them to take their seats at the table.
“It’s too early,” Script Li said.
“We can have some appetizers first,” Cloud Tao replied.
Script Li again complained to Amity Zhu, “It’s all your fault. You’re the one who started all this.”
Everybody proceeded into the parlor. There, they saw that eight foreign rattan chairs had been set out in a row in front of the dinner table and facing the stage, with a set of teacups for each person.
“Let’s sit wherever we like. Anyone who feels like eating can just help himself.”
As he said this, Script Li picked up a cream cake, pulled out a rattan chair, and sat down against the wall, so the others had to follow his example, dispense with ceremony, and sit around informally.
Private performances always started with the routine “Dance of Official Promotion.” After this came the two auspicious short plays they had picked, A House Full of High Officials and Beating the Princess. They bored Script Li, so he said to Modesty Zhu, “Come, let’s have a chat.” He took the young man by the hand and went back into the study. Amity Zhu followed them but was told off by Script Li. “You go and watch the play. Forget about this silly fuss of keeping me entertained, all right?” Amity had to obey. Script Li told Modesty Zhu to sit across from him on the divan and asked him his age, what books he was studying, and whether he was betrothed. Modesty Zhu answered all his questions.
Soon, Bright Pearl came in with a handful of imported hazel nuts, pine nuts, and walnuts she had shelled and presented them to Script Li. He took them and offered half of them to Modesty, saying, “Try some.” Modesty picked up a few but did not eat them. Script Li again asked him about all sorts of things. This went on for a long time. Bright Pearl, who was watching and listening to one side, got some idea of what Script Li had in mind.
They chatted until noon, when Second Sister Bao came to get the call chits. Bright Pearl realized it was time for lunch to be served, so she invited Script Li back into the parlor. Everybody stood up, ready to toast him and decide on the seating order, but Script Li would not permit it. Instead, he made Modesty Zhu sit beside him. The others could not very well insist, so, with the exception of Old Merit, they took their seats according to their age. The first course was oyster soup, after which came the fish. Bright Pearl hastened to bone it for Script Li with her knife and fork.
By then, the girls summoned to the party were arriving one after another. Onstage, they were performing the Kun opera Catkin Pavilion, in which the gongs and drums were silent and only stringed instruments played. That made it quiet and peaceful. Script Li looked around him and found that he was already surrounded by girls called to the party, yet more were still coming. He asked Amity Zhu, “How many girls did you call for me?”
“A very limited number,” Amity Zhu answered smiling. “Less than twenty.”
Script Li frowned. “You really don’t have any sense of proportion!” Then he looked at the others. Some had called two or three girls, some four or five, but Modesty Zhu had just one. Script Li learned it was Twin Jade. He looked her up and down and nodded in approval. “They do make a perfect couple.”
Everybody echoed his praise in chorus.
Script Li then turned to Amity Zhu. “You’re the elder brother. Don’t you play the fool! You should bring them together—seriously.”
On hearing this, Modesty Zhu was overcome with embarrassment. Even Twin Jade lowered her head.
“No need to be so formal, you two,” said Script Li. “Sit over here and chat, so I can listen in, too.”
“If you want to hear these two talk, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed,” said Amity Zhu.
Script Li was taken aback. “Is she a mute?”
The others could not suppress a smile.
“A mute she’s not; only they don’t talk,” Amity Zhu replied.
Script Li urged Modesty Zhu, “Come on, show them. You must say a few words for everyone to hear. Don’t let your brother triumph over you.”
Modesty Zhu was more embarrassed than ever. Then Script Li turned to Twin Jade and tried to get her to speak. She just smiled. Finally, pressed hard by Script Li, she said with a smile, “There’s nothing to say, though. What should I say?”
This sent everybody exclaiming: “Well done! She’s broken her golden silence.”
Script Li lifted his cup for a toast, “All of us should drink a cup to congratulate them.” He drained his in one draught and then showed Modesty Zhu the bottom of his cup. Everybody drank up. Modesty Zhu was so embarrassed even his ears turned red. He just would not drink. Fortunately, a new play, Tianshui Pass, had just started. The noise of its battle cries cut short Script Li’s badinage.
Seeing that the eighth course, curried chicken rice, was about done, most of the summoned girls took their leave. Twin Jade also made to go, but Script Li spotted her and said, “Don’t go just yet. I want a word with you.” She thought he still was teasing, but when Amity Zhu joined in to detain her, she had to return to her seat. Her servant girl Clever Baby whispered something in her ear. She just replied she’d be back directly. Clever Baby then left ahead of her.
At the end of the feast, everybody drank a cup of coffee with milk. Then they wiped their faces, rinsed their mouths, and dispersed. The th
eater troupe happened to have finished its main performance just then, and the maid came to ask for further choices.
“Would somebody just pick something?” said Script Li.
Amity Zhu knew that Script Li needed his afternoon nap. He thought it best to stop the show for now and have both troupes play together that night. Without even consulting Script Li, he just dismissed the troupe.
Taking Modesty Zhu in one hand and Twin Jade in the other, Script Li walked away from the others, saying, “Let’s go over here.” He walked slowly into the dining room and sat down on an air cushion on the sofa against the wall. He told them to sit on either side of him and then asked Twin Jade how old she was, where she lived, and whether her mother was still alive. She answered his questions one by one. He then turned to Modesty Zhu, “When did you start seeing her?”
Modesty Zhu looked lost and bewildered. She answered for him, “Only at the end of last month, when the elder Mr. Zhu called me to a party for him. He hasn’t been to our place yet.”
Script Li immediately pulled a long face. “You’re really not a nice person,” he chided Modesty Zhu. “Someone’s been longing for your visit day in and day out, so why disappoint her?”
Modesty Zhu got quite a turn. Only when Twin Jade let out a giggle did he realize what Script Li meant.
Then Script Li consoled her, “Don’t be angry. I’ll come with him tomorrow. Tell me if he’s not nice to you, and I’ll give him a beating.”
She turned sideways to hide a smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Wait till I’ve really played matchmaker for you, then say your thanks in one go.”
At this, even Twin Jade ceased smiling and said nothing.
“What is it? Don’t you want to marry him?” said Script Li. “Look, such a nice young fellow, what’s wrong with marrying him? If you refuse, you’ll be missing out on a great opportunity!”
“I’m afraid such blessings are not my lot.” she said.
“You can count yourself blessed if I speak up for you. Just say yes, and with a word from me it’s done.”