The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei

by Roy, David Tod

  When the servant returned and told Han Ai-chieh what he had heard, she consulted with Wang Liu-erh about it and then purchased a set of pig’s trotters, two roast ducks, two fresh fish, and a box of cookies; after which, in her upstairs room, she:

  Ground her ink and picked up her brush,

  Spreading out some flowered stationery,34

  and wrote out a note, which she entrusted to the servant to deliver to Ch’en Ching-chi.

  She then placed the presents in boxes, turned them over to the servant to carry, and enjoined him, saying, “When you enter the city and see Master Ch’en, you must hand these things over to him personally, and ask him for an answering note.”

  The servant proceeded to tuck the note into his sleeve and take charge of the gifts, but of the events of his trip there is nothing to tell. Upon entering the city, he went up to the front of the commandant’s yamen and sat down on the stone stylobate.

  Who should appear at this juncture but the servant Little Chiang, who happened to come outside, and on seeing him asked, “What have you come again for?”

  The Han family servant greeted him with a bow and then pulled him to an out-of-the-way spot, saying, “I’ve come to deliver some gifts to your master and have something to say to him. I’ll wait for him here, if you will be good enough to let him know that I’m here.”

  Little Chiang promptly turned around and went inside, and it was not long before Ch’en Ching-chi swaggered into sight. It was the fifth month at the time, and the weather was swelteringly hot. Ch’en Ching-chi was dressed in an outfit of thin silk, wore a tile-ridged hat, held in place with a gold pin, on his head, while his feet were clad in sandals and white socks.

  The Han family servant hastily bowed to him, saying, “Master, are you feeling somewhat better? Han Ai-chieh has commissioned me to deliver a note and some presents to you.”

  Ch’en Ching-chi accepted the note and said, “Is Han Ai-chieh well?”

  “On observing that you have not visited her for so long,” he replied, “she is suffering from heartache. She wishes to send you her regards and would like to know when you might come to see her again.”

  Ch’en Ching-chi then proceeded to open up the note and saw that it read as follows:

  RESPECTFULLY INDITED WITH STRAIGHTENED SKIRTS TO HER LOVER MASTER CH’EN BY HIS HUMBLE CONCUBINE HAN AI-CHIEH.

  Ever since parting from your distinguished countenance,35 my heartfelt admiration for you36 has not abated even slightly,37 but has remained suspended and unforgotten in my heart. Since you promised to return, I have been leaning on the door gazing fixedly into the distance38 but have failed to see you deigning to visit my humble abode. The other day, I sent a servant to ask after you, but he returned without having seen you,39 although he heard that you were suffering from some ailment. This has filled my breast with such regret that I remain depressed whether sitting or lying down. Alas, I am not able to sprout a pair of wings so that I might fly to your side. Since you possess a captivating wife to love you at home, you cannot be expected to think of me but have spit me out like the seed of a fruit. I am sending you some boxes of savory foods as a meager expression of my sincere concern for you, and I hope that you will accept them with a smile.40 I trust my sentiments will be apparent as I am unable to express myself more fully.41

  In addition I am providing a brocade perfume sachet embroidered with mandarin ducks, and containing a lock of my black hair,42 as a paltry expression of my heartfelt feelings.

  The twentieth day of the middle month of summer.

  Your humble concubine Han Ai-chieh salutes you.

  When Ch’en Ching-chi had read the note, he looked over the perfume sachet and found that it contained a lock of black hair and was embroidered with the motif of two mandarin ducks, and eight characters that read:

  Admiringly tendered to my lover,

  I’ll follow you wherever you go.

  He then folded it up as before and concealed it in his sleeve.

  There was a wine shop next door to the commandant’s yamen, and Ch’en Ching-chi told Little Chiang, “Take the Han family servant into the wine shop to have a drink of wine while he waits for me to write an answering note.”

  He then went on to tell Little Chiang, “Take these presents into my room, and if the mistress asks anything about them, just say that they were sent to me by Manager Hsieh from our tavern in Lin-ch’ing.”

  Little Chiang did not dare to be remiss and proceeded to take the four boxes of gifts inside. Ch’en Ching-chi then went into the library and secretively composed an answering note; after which, he wrapped up five taels of silver and, going out to the wine shop, asked the Han family servant if he had enjoyed a drink or not.

  “Thank you for the fine wine, sir,” the servant responded. “I can’t drink any more and am ready to be on my way.”

  Ch’en Ching-chi gave the silver and the answering note to the servant and said, “When you get home, convey my respects to Han Ai-chieh. These five taels of silver are meant as a contribution toward her living expenses. I will come to see her in the next two or three days.”

  The Han family servant then went downstairs, and Ch’en Ching-chi escorted him out the door of the wine shop and saw him off.

  When Ch’en Ching-chi went into his living quarters, Ko Ts’ui-p’ing asked him, “Who was it who sent these gifts?”

  “It was Fatty Hsieh, the manager of the tavern,” responded Ch’en Ching-chi. “He had heard that I was not feeling well and sent these gifts as an expression of his concern.”

  Ko Ts’ui-p’ing believed his explanation. The two of them then, after consulting with each other, sent the maidservant Chin Ch’ien-erh to take a platter with one of the roast ducks, one of the fresh fish, and half a set of the pig’s trotters back to the rear compound for Ch’un-mei to eat. She told her that they had been sent by one of the managers of the tavern, and she did not raise any questions about it. Now that this matter has been explained we will say no more about it.

  To resume our story, when the Han family servant reached the dock at Lin-ch’ing it was already late in the day, and on entering the door, he handed the silver and the answering note to Han Ai-chieh. On opening the note and perusing it by lamplight, she saw that it read as follows:

  RESPECTFULLY ADDRESSED IN REPLY TO THE DRESSING TABLE OF HIS INAMORATA HAN AI-CHIEH.

  I am much obliged to you for the generosity you displayed toward me at our previous meeting. The sentiments inspired by our love making, and the affection you displayed on pillow and mat, have not been forgotten. I have been intending to hasten to our expected reunion, but a temporary indisposition has forced me to disappoint your expectations. You have also sent someone to ask after me, and present me with these mouth-watering delicacies, for which my gratitude is impossible to contain. In the next two or three days I should be able to thank you in person. I am also sending you five taels of silver, and a silk handkerchief, as a meager expression of my regard, which I sincerely hope you will accept, and deign to appreciate.

  Signed: Respectfully presented by Ch’en Ching-chi

  When Han Ai-chieh had read the note, she saw that a poetic quatrain had been inscribed on the handkerchief, that read as follows:

  The handkerchief of Wu silk is inscribed

  with a palindrome;

  From a flourish of my writing brush the

  ink is still fresh.

  I have dedicated it to my affectionate

  love Han Ai-chieh;

  That we may enjoy the century-long love

  of mating phoenixes.43

  When she had finished reading it, Han Ai-chieh handed over the silver to Wang Liu-erh, and mother and daughter gave vent to:

  A thousand or ten thousand signs of joy,

  in anticipation of Ch’en Ching-chi’s return. But no more of this.

  Truly:

  When a favored friend arrives, one’s feelings

  can never be satiated;

  When a real confidant shows up, convers
ation

  is mutually agreeable.

  There is a poem that testifies to this:

  Beneath the green gauze window44 I opened

  the seal of your letter;

  The paper, with its cloud-soaring geese,

  is redolent with perfume.

  I know the flourishes of your brush are

  done with your jade hand;

  But your loving thoughts are seen only

  in what is left unsaid.45

  If you want to know the outcome of these events,

  Pray consult the story related in the following chapter.

  Chapter 99

  LIU THE SECOND DRUNKENLY CURSES WANG LIU-ERH;

  CHANG SHENG WRATHFULLY KILLS CH’EN CHING-CHI

  Some words of admonition:

  All of the forms of discontent,

  Arise from lack of forbearance.

  If you show patience to events,

  Your perception will be bright.

  Buddha’s words reject argument,

  Confucian texts abhor conflict.

  This avenue leads to happiness,

  But not many persons pursue it.1

  THE STORY GOES that Ch’en Ching-chi allowed two days to pass, since the third day, the twenty-fifth of the fifth month, was his birthday. On that occasion, Ch’un-mei prepared a feast in the rear reception hall to celebrate his birthday, and the entire household joined in the festivities.

  Early the next morning, Ch’en Ching-chi said to Ch’un-mei, “It is some time since I have been to the dock in Lin-ch’ing. Since I am not busy today, I plan to go there. In the first place, I will be able to go over the accounts with the managers of the tavern; and in the second place, I can avoid the stifling summer heat, and come back after my excursion.”

  Ch’un-mei said in response, “You should go in a sedan chair, and avoid any overexertion.”

  He then set out in a sedan chair, borne by two soldiers, and accompanied by Little Chiang, and headed straight for the Hsieh Family Tavern on the dock in Lin-ch’ing, but of the events of his trip there is nothing to tell.

  That afternoon, when he arrived in front of the tavern, got out of his sedan chair, and went inside, his two managers came out to welcome him, saying, “Sir, are you feeling somewhat better?”

  Ch’en Ching-chi, whose mind was preoccupied with Han Ai-chieh, merely responded, “I fear I have put the two of you to the trouble of worrying about me.”

  After sitting with them for a while, he got up; told them, “Write out a copy of the accounts so I can look them over”; and then headed for the interior. The Han family servant came out to meet him and announced his arrival to Wang Liu-erh and her mate. Han Ai-chieh was in her upstairs room:

  Leaning on the balustrade and gazing abroad,

  Flourishing her brush and expending her ink,

  as she composed a set of poems;

  In order to dispel her lingering depression.2

  When it was suddenly reported that Ch’en Ching-chi had arrived, she:

  Lightly moved her lotus feet

  Gently lifted her beige skirt,

  and made her way downstairs, where mother and daughter greeted him with their faces wreathed in smiles, saying:

  “The more eminent you are, the harder you are to see.3

  What wind has blown you here today?”

  Ch’en Ching-chi bowed in response to mother and daughter and then went into their room and sat down.

  In a little while, Wang Liu-erh prepared a serving of tea for them, and when they had finished drinking it, Han Ai-chieh said, “Sir, please come upstairs and have a seat in my room.”

  Ch’en Ching-chi went upstairs as requested, and the two of them:

  Just like fish in the water,4

  Resembling lacquer and glue,5

  did not fail to exchange words expressing:

  Deep-felt love and intimate feelings.6

  A sheet of flowery stationery was sticking out from under Han Ai-chieh’s inkstone, and Ch’en Ching-chi picked it up to look at.

  Han Ai-chieh explained, “Those are several poems that I wrote in my room up here while longing for you during my leisured hours, in order to:

  While away my lingering depression.7

  But I fear they may be unworthy of your distinguished eyes.”

  Ch’en Ching-chi then proceeded to peruse them, and they read as follows:

  Spring

  Leaning languidly against the embroidered bed,

  I’m too depressed to move;8

  Languorously unfastening my embroidered sash,

  I let my hair tumble down.

  Ever since my jadelike lover has departed

  I have had no news of him;

  Throughout the twenty-four hours of the day

  I can only yearn for him.9

  Summer

  From a high vantage point on the lofty tower

  I gaze into the clear radiance;

  The rose blossoms covering the entire arbor

  are clothed in rare fragrance.

  I have spent idle hours leaning over every

  one of the twelve balustrades;10

  As the perfumed breeze from the south has

  begun to penetrate my garments.

  Autumn

  Within the cold hibiscus-blossom curtains

  I am unable even to dream;

  Since my understanding lover has left me

  I can only grieve for him.

  The tears I shed upon my pillow are like

  the raindrops on the steps;

  Outside the window they drip unceasingly

  right up till the day dawns.11

  Winter

  Ashamed to face the caltrop-patterned mirror,

  I retouch my unblemished makeup;

  I have withered away on my loved one’s account,

  losing the freshness of my complexion.

  Closing the door, I am no longer concerned

  with the idle breeze and moonlight;

  And will henceforth instruct the plum blossoms

  to do whatever they please.12

  When Ch’en Ching-chi had finished perusing the poems:

  Expressing the most fulsome admiration,

  He praised them endlessly to the skies.

  Before long, Wang Liu-erh prepared wine and delicacies and brought them upstairs, where she moved the mirror stand out of the way and laid them out on Han Ai-chieh’s dressing table.

  The two of them sat down next to each other, and Han Ai-chieh proceeded to pour out a cup of wine and proffer it to Ch’en Ching-chi with both hands, bowing deeply to him, and saying, “Sir, during the whole time that you failed to visit me, I could not get you out of my mind for even a moment. But when our servant returned with your contribution toward our living expenses, our whole family:

  Felt they could not thank you enough.”13

  Ch’en Ching-chi took the proffered wine in his hand and bowed in return, saying, “It was my trivial indisposition that prevented me from keeping our engagement. Please do not hold it against me.”

  After downing his wine, he poured another cup and proffered it respectfully to Han Ai-chieh. When she had drunk it, they sat down together and prepared to enjoy some more. Wang Liu-erh and Han Tao-kuo also came upstairs to share a few cups with them but found excuses to go downstairs again in a little while, leaving the two of them to drink together, and share their experiences during the time they had been separated.

  After some time, as they drank until they began to feel the effects of the wine:

  Their lascivious excitement burned like fire,

  and they could not help recapitulating their former passion for each other.

  As they engaged in intercourse,

  Their affection knew no bounds.14

  Getting up and putting on their clothes, they washed their hands and resumed drinking. After downing several more cups:

  As their drunken eyes grew bleary,

  Their residual lust had not faded.15

  Ev
er since the last time they had met, the young man had been unhappy at home, and his mind had been so preoccupied with Han Ai-chieh that he had not engaged in intercourse with his wife. On this occasion, when reunited with his inamorata:

  He was reluctant to call a halt,

  after only one engagement. Truly, like:

  Alive or dead predestined lovers,16

  For the foregoing five centuries,

  they had finally been thrown together, and Ch’en Ching-chi’s psyche was led completely astray by her. In a little while:

  His lustful feelings rose again,

  and they engaged in intercourse a second time; after which, he felt that:

  His body was so utterly fatigued,17

  That he could carry on no longer.18

  He had not eaten anything for lunch and simply collapsed onto the bed and went to sleep.19

  It turned out to be one of those occasions when:

  A disaster was destined to occur.

  Unexpectedly, the silk merchant Magnate Ho showed up down below, and Wang Liu-erh entertained him with wine on the ground floor, while Han Tao-kuo went out onto the street to purchase vegetables, delicacies, and fruits to go with the wine. During his absence, the two of them engaged in intercourse, after which, Han Tao-kuo returned with the foodstuffs he had purchased, and the three of them drank several more cups of wine together.

  About the time that the sun began to sink in the west, who should appear but the Turf-protecting Tiger Liu the Second, the proprietor of My Own Tavern, who was stinking drunk, and whose shirt was hanging open to reveal a torso of purple flesh.

  With his fists raised on high, he strode into the ground floor of the tavern and shouted loudly, “Drag out the southerner Magnate Ho so I can beat him up.”

  This startled the two managers, who were afraid that Ch’en Ching-chi, who was asleep on the second floor, would hear him; so they hastily emerged from behind the counter, came forward, and bowed to him, saying, “Brother Liu the Second, Magnate Ho has not been here.”

  Liu the Second was not persuaded by this and strode into the interior in large strides, where he tore aside the portiere leading into Han Tao-kuo’s quarters with one hand and found that Magnate Ho was inside, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Wang Liu-erh, and drinking wine.

  Enraged by this, he cursed at Magnate Ho, saying, “You lousy servile dog! I’ll fuck your mother! I’ve looked everywhere for you, but now I’ve found you. You’ve been maintaining two powdered faces in my tavern but have failed to pay them for their services on more than one occasion. In addition to which, you have not paid your rent for the last two months but have been coming over here to make out with another woman.”