A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China

by Amy Kwei

  “Dragon and I have been planning for this for some time,” answered her husband. “I never told you because we hoped this move would never become necessary. But Dragon is correct. We have no time to lose. Golden Bell and Silver Bell should go with Dragon tomorrow. I’ll tell the chauffeur to have Iris meet them in Shanghai. The rest of us will arrange the transfer of our furniture and valuables, and we’ll go when we can.”

  “You can always return when the fighting is over.” Dragon added to soften the blow.

  “Oh Uncle Dragon, have you arranged a school for me in Shanghai?” Golden Bell asked, her eyes flashing with excitement.

  “Can I bring my silkworms to Shanghai?” chimed in Silver Bell. “I saved the colored cocoons last year. This year, all my cocoons might weave a rainbow on the basket tent!”

  “Hush girls.” Purple Jade gave them an acid glance. She held her breath and kept quiet for a long time. The prospects of rape and pillage had pervaded the air for a long time. Yes, she must be prudent and prepare for temporary adversity. Yes, she would return once the fighting was over.

  “Do we have a place to move to?” she finally asked the men.

  “Yes,” answered her husband. “Dragon says he has bought a small foreign house for us on Petain Road in the French concession.”

  “What? What kind of house, where?”

  “A two-story foreign house on Petain Road. It is named after a famous French general.”

  “Bei-tan, Precious Pawnshop Road? I don’t believe a general could have a name like that. It must be an inappropriate street to live on!” She sounded flippant, but it was the only objection she could think of. Purple Jade tapped her fist on the table. She looked to Comely Brook for agreement.

  Comely Brook looked confused, but she nodded.

  “Jade-jei, you must know by now the translation of sounds can have very strange meanings.” Her brother moved to sit beside her. “You could say that Bei-tan also means ‘Precious, Should Be,’ a more fitting meaning for our present purpose. However, I know you will be pleased to know our cousin Der Wei’s family and cousin Chou Ling both live in our Chou family-owned houses in the same French section, on Gavaine Road.”

  “Gau-en Road? High Grace Road is a good name. When is cousin Ling moving?”

  “Next week, perhaps sooner. You’ll be only a few streets away, with plenty of time to visit.”

  “Dragon-dee, you can always make the best of everything. No wonder my lord wants you here to convince me of this temporary move.” Purple Jade smiled uncertainly. “In order not to disrupt the household here, let’s just say we’re visiting our city home to celebrate Iris’s adoption. Golden Bell and Silver Bell, get ready to pack. Tomorrow, you may leave with your uncle Dragon.”

  “Oh M-ma, you must have more cheongsam made for us. Everyone in Shanghai wears those modern sheaths. We’ll look so old-fashioned in our jackets and skirts!” Golden Bell pleaded.

  “Yes, of course,” Purple Jade replied without thinking. The modern Hangzhou ladies also were wearing the sheaths. She turned to give Comely Brook a slight nod. Her sister-wife would remember to take care of another detail necessary for their life in the city.

  “Hooray, we’re going to Shanghai! We’re going to Shanghai.” Silver Bell skipped out of the room and pulled along her smiling sister. “Uncle Dragon is taking us.”

  Purple Jade gave specific directions to Comely Brook and to Winter Plum and other maids to start packing for their sojourn in Shanghai.

  WHILE THE FAMILY ate, the men tried their best to maintain a normal demeanor. They knew instinctively they must defuse the tension caused by their radical decision. The girls chatted about what they thought they would need in Shanghai. Purple Jade answered perfunctorily and made charts in her head about what to bring. Somehow, the customary dread lifted from her shoulders. The needed action released her pent-up weariness.

  “How can we afford to buy a house in Shanghai with our farm income?” Purple Jade asked her husband when dinner was over and the girls were sent to their rooms to pack.

  “To begin with, I cleared three mountains of our bamboo crop last year,” her husband replied. “Dragon helped me sell it for the war effort.”

  “For the war effort?”

  “Yes, you know all construction uses bamboo scaffolding, and porters use bamboo poles to carry food and ammunition. We have a precious commodity. We invested the profits in his uniform factory.”

  “Thank you, Dragon-dee. You are resourceful!” Purple Jade smiled. “But what’s this uniform factory? I thought we are in the silk business.”

  After Comely Brook poured tea for everyone, Purple Jade beckoned her to sit beside her.

  “Oh yes, I helped to develop silk parachutes. But our national air force is so limited, we can never prosper with just that.” Glorious Dragon reached for a cup of green tea to settle his stomach after the sumptuous dinner. “My mistress, Bright Crystal, told me our National army needed uniforms, so I started a factory.”

  “Useful information, even if it came from a mistress,” Purple Jade mused.

  “How did your mistress acquire such information?” Righteous Virtue raised his teacup. He looked intently at his brother-in-law over the curling steam. He slurped the tongue-searing tea . His lips never touched the cup. The ancient custom of drinking hot tea in summer brought him instant relief. The tea refreshed his breath and soothed his digestion. It brought him a full head of cooling sweat and dispelled his post-prandial lethargy.

  “She is also the mistress of General Chin Bar-tau.” Glorious Dragon relaxed into his chair and folded his arms over his nervous stomach. He must sound casual and not betray any hint of the disdain he felt for Chin.

  “Oh Dragon-dee, sharing a mistress! You are swatting a fly on the tiger’s head!”

  “I heard Chin is Generalissimo Chiang’s bodyguard and head of his secret police. He’s extremely powerful.” Righteous Virtue wiped his brow. Anxiety now annihilated the tea’s cooling relief.

  “I . . . I thought he also had a hand in the drug traffic.” Purple Jade’s voice shook as she remembered the fire they had caused in the Prosperous Dream. She grabbed Comely Brook’s hand.

  Dragon took up his teacup again and blew on the hot steam. “Wonderful tea.” He winked at his sister. He knew exactly what would cross her mind. “I hope someday you’ll meet Bright Crystal. She entertains well-connected people — acquires all the useful information.”

  “My lord” — Purple Jade turned to her husband— “did you know Dragon was so tangled in politics?”

  “Dragon-dee, your sister has good judgment. Never mix politics with business!”

  “Oh I can follow the politics all right.” Glorious Dragon took another sip, looking well composed. “You own the business!”

  “I do?”

  “Oh yes.” Glorious Dragon nodded. “You see, when I heard the uniform contract was out for bids, I told them my brother-in-law owned a uniform-manufacturing facility.”

  “But I do not own nor understand the workings of any factory!”

  “We’re all befuddled by your wheeling and dealing, Dragon- dee. I hope you’re not involved in anything illegal.” Purple Jade felt her heart pounding. She looked to Comely Brook for support.

  “Master Dragon and General Chin must be friends,” Comely Brook whispered in her mistress’s ear. “No one knows we went near the Prosperous Dream.”

  “Oh, everything is on the up and up,” her brother replied. “I rented a ‘go down’ on the Bund and lent you all my workers from our silk factory for one day. I had some difficulty renting sewing machines, but I managed to get enough.” He laughed. Yes, he would use any information from Chin to benefit his family and hurt the general.

  “We were lucky,” he continued. “The contracting official was very impressed when we toured your plant. He happens to be a graduate of St. John’s University and knows your name. I told him that since you work for the local legislative council here, I manage the East Asian Uniform Company
for you.”

  “That is partly true.” Righteous Virtue looked puzzled. His wife had turned crimson from worry, but he did not want to appear ungrateful. “After all, you do manage our share of the money in East Asian Uniform, which has been profitable.”

  “So you had the contract before the uniform company existed!” Purple Jade could not quite understand the scheme.

  “What better investment can you get?” Glorious Dragon gesticulated with both hands. “I have a contract in hand.” He formed his right hand into a fist. “Then Virtue gave me his money.” He formed his left hand into another fist. “I went to the bank for the rest.” He clapped his hands and proudly pronounced: “We now own the most modern uniform factory in China.”

  “All this is far too puzzling for me.” Purple Jade rose to bid them good evening. She would leave the moral quandary to her husband for the moment. She grimaced as her mind raced ahead in anticipation of their temporary flight. “Continue talking. I must pack for the girls. Brook-mei, come help me.” The women bowed to bid good evening. They left with their heads huddled together, consulting each other on what to pack.

  Purple Jade, Comely Brook and Winter Plum stayed up all night, sewing gold coins and small jewelry pieces into the girls’ clothing. Bedding and other lesser items were packed hastily into large trunks, marked for the luggage compartment of the train.

  Glorious Dragon and Righteous Virtue discussed finances far into the night. Glorious Dragon advised the Huangs to sell as many land holdings as possible. Righteous Virtue resisted, arguing that this would be a violation of ancestral trust.

  “Remember the American missionaries’ offer to buy the hill near West Lake?”

  “Yes, to build a church, but I refused. It is too close to our ancestral burial ground.”

  “Since you will move your family into the French concession, you must protect your ancestral grounds by placing them under American protection. Get an agreement from the church that they will respect your burial rights, then sell them the land. Ask them to deposit the funds in an account for you in America.”

  “There is something to what you say about placing the graves under American protection, but my family and I shall never leave our homeland. Why should I place our money in a foreign country?”

  “The way I see it, our country is headed for a great upheaval. We’ve just changed a dynasty, and the East Ocean Devils are gobbling up our land. The countries in the West are also on the verge of war, but America seems to stand by itself. They’re a vast country like ours,” he added, opening his arms wide. “After all, they did not acquire land concessions from us. Remember I had asked you to introduce Miss Tyler to me. I have already moved most of my funds there. They are held in trust for your daughters.”

  “Thank you, Dragon-dee, for thinking of my daughters. Truly I feel like a useless fool these days. I’m doing everything to protect my family, but all my actions go against the principles I so cherished.” Heedless of his show of emotion, Righteous Virtue stood up to pace, fuming: “When I was in Shanghai, I was a leader of the student protest movement. You were still very young in 1919. You may not remember. In the spring of that year, the Western powers met in Paris and totally discounted the Chinese ‘Bitter Labor’ contribution to the Allied forces during World War I. They awarded the German concessions in our Shantung Province to Japan.”

  “So, that’s how they came to occupy the land and named it Manchuria!” Dragon exclaimed.

  “Yes.” Virtue stopped to wipe his sweaty face with his handkerchief. “I marched with the other students and agitated for a complete boycott of Japanese goods. This May fourth movement turned me against all foreign intervention in Chinese affairs.”

  “That must have been really exciting!”

  “Exciting? Well, fury can be exciting. I was young and patriotic.” Virtue started to pump his fist into the air while he shouted. “No more extraterritorial rights! No more foreign concession!” When he lowered his fist, his eyes were blank and he stared at the ground. “Now, I’m going to place my family under the shelter of these same concessions.” Tears flowed down his cheeks. “Dragon-dee, I’ve always enjoyed your company — admired your pluck. But I’m uncomfortable with your business methods. I know my family owes you our lives, and your sister will rightly admonish me for my ingratitude. Never have I felt such helplessness, such anguish in my heart.”

  Glorious Dragon considered the gravity of the moment. He had become westernized in Shanghai; he felt uneasy when he saw a grown man in tears. He reminded himself that it was a time-honored Chinese tradition to use tears to express patriotism and loyalty. He let the thought rest. Playfully, he asked: “Virtue-ko, have you ever seen a marionette show?”

  Righteous Virtue wiped his face again. The question puzzled him. “Yes, in Shanghai. It was frivolous.”

  “Well, you and my sister are marionettes that have been manipulated by old Chinese traditions. To me, you represent all that is good and innocent in our ancient culture. But you’ll be crushed in these times of chaos. I’m a free man who loves your marionette show. I’m not without the basic virtues of Chinese charity and humanism. I practice ‘jen’ in my pragmatic way.”

  “Your honesty and courage only accentuate my timidity. I look to the East and West, and vacillate.” Righteous Virtue stood rigid and stared at the ground. “I hold myself in contempt — envious of what I despoil. Hai, what is this world coming to.”

  “Virtue-ko, the hour is late. We must prepare for the big move soon. It is best to humor my sister and agree that this is only a temporary visit. We can buy the necessary furniture in Shanghai. You and I both know it may be a long time before we’ll return here again — if at all.” He paused.

  When he was sure his brother-in-law had regained his composure, he instructed: “Arrange for this emergency. After all, the survival of your family is the first duty you owe to your ancestors.”

  Righteous Virtue looked about the spacious hall filled with ancient scrolls of calligraphy, watercolors, gleaming rosewood furniture and ancient porcelain vases. He pounded his fist against his open hand. “My grandfather, my father and I have all grown up in Hangzhou. These halls are the first fruits of my independence.” His voice rang with angry despair. “I know your judgment to be shrewd and correct. I must sell as much property as possible and turn it into liquid assets, but who am I” — he paused to wipe his eyes — “without my roots?”

  “If America seems too far, convert as much money as possible into English pounds. Ask your old classmate Chang Tar Guo of Chekiang Bank to manage it for you in their Hong Kong branch.”

  Righteous Virtue nodded in bitter silence. Glorious Dragon sighed. He hoped his brother-in-law had acceded to practical reality.

  As the two men bade each other good night, Righteous Virtue bowed deeply to his younger brother-in-law. “Dragon-dee, you’re wise beyond your years. My emotions have blinded my common sense. I shall do what I can to follow your advice.”

  Glorious Dragon quickly returned the bow. “My honored Virtue-ko, I cannot shoulder such esteem. As you know too well, it is difficult to ride with the dragon!”

  THE NEXT DAY, Purple Jade ordered palanquins to take the Huang women to the station. Palanquins were seldom seen in Shanghai. Residents of the bustling city vilified their ancient languid grace. Purple Jade thought it appropriate that her girls should have another leisurely ride to enjoy the local scenery, temper their excitement, and cultivate the necessary patience and reserve.

  The train station was a hive of swirling people and a jumble of luggage. News of war had set people in motion. When the palanquins arrived, Ah Lee was unloading their luggage from the car. Purple Jade lingered to pay the porters while Silver Bell hopped off the palanquin, skipped over the crossbar where the porters shouldered their load, and dashed toward the luggage.

  “You pissing bitchy slave girl!” the porter cursed, spitting after Silver Bell.

  “What?” Purple Jade gasped, glaring at the porter.

/>   “That pissing bitch passed her female ass over my shoulder bar!” He spat with disgust. “May she suffer the same evil fortune she brought me!”

  The porter alternately spat and cursed, disregarding the distressed mother in front of him. Purple Jade wrung her hands and fidgeted in silence. Comely Brook heard the commotion and entered the arena. Assuming her servant’s voice, she shouted: “Shut up, you old turtle! Don’t you know you’ve just carried the great ladies of the Huang household?”

  The porter ignored Comely Brook and continued his mutterings. He held out his hand to Purple Jade for compensation: a female had stepped over his crossbar, and in so doing, had blemished its honor.

  With a groan, Purple Jade handed over the extra coins and fled. She ran toward the men checking in the luggage and stumbled. The sting of reality hit her: Outside the protective walls of her house, she was but another female, a chattel to even the lowliest porter. Reluctant to upset her husband and the girls, however, she held her peace. Her tears would not come even when the girls boarded the train. She stood transfixed for a long time, weak with fear and pale as the white silk kerchief she held.

  Unaware of the indignity she had suffered, Righteous Virtue assumed that her stillness was due to her unaccustomed separation from her daughters. “You’ll be united with the girls very soon, Jade-mei.”

  Comely Brook clung solicitously to Purple Jade, not knowing how to assuage her mistress’s sorrow. She prayed more fervently now for a son. Yes, she would preserve her noble husband’s family line to avenge her mistress’s humiliation. All would be made right upon the birth of her son — no, “their” son.

  Several days later, Purple Jade, Comely Brook and Winter Plum left for Shanghai. Their house in the French concession was technically on foreign land and would remain safe from Japanese depredation. Purple Jade brought only what was essential to her personal needs, refusing to move antiques and family treasures, “since,” as she insisted, “the visit will be temporary.”