A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China

by Amy Kwei

  In Hangzhou, secure in her rank and status, her conduct and snobbery had seemed like a moral perfection. She saw it all now with a clarity that had eluded her. How presumptuous I was with Orchid! If Orchid had been accorded all the rights and dignity of a human being as the Westerners saw it, it would have been inconsiderate, indelicate and irrational of me to give her to an older married man! What madness and blindness led me to do such a thing! Yes, service to the needy must be my way to descend from my pedestal.

  “While you nurture the family in your way, I must devote my life to serving in a different way.” She reached out to hold Orchid’s hand.

  “You mean working with pregnant women as you did in Shanghai?”

  “Perhaps.” Purple Jade sighed. “But Dr. Rankling is still in Shanghai.”

  Purple Jade could feel their frustration. Yes, Western ideas led to many new understandings. She could see it now: Giving my husband a concubine was most propitious in Hangzhou, but under the new light of a strange culture, it is monstrous and barbarous. Dr. Crozier had called it cruel. If only I had not been so proud, justifying all my actions by cultural pride. Oh, I should have learned something from Miss Tyler’s tutoring!

  I cannot allow the problems of dislocation to pass into my husband’s hands alone. I practically forced Virtue to take a concubine! Comely Brook and the baby are not my flesh and blood, but I love them — like a mother? Not really, more like a father. I should have chosen my younger brother as a model to emulate. Glorious Dragon disregarded all old conventions, but followed the dictates of his mind and heart. In the end, aren’t love and friendship the paramount virtues? Yes, I will make sure that Comely Brook and the baby receive the proper respect and care in my society. By the terms of our culture, I did not commit any hideous crime. But . . . She turned to release Little Jade’s thumb from her mouth, and to reassure the young mother. “Yes, Brook-mei, the Western women work very hard to make sure our days of insignificance are over. We must not allow our anxieties to impede our progress.”

  Comely Brook was confused. She could not understand her mistress’s words. How can anxieties get in the way of progress? Perhaps her mistress was being kind as usual. In intellectual matters, she was afraid to ask for specifics. Her mistress read books and carried on conversations that were incomprehensible to her. At last, she determined that what her mistress meant by progress might have come from her work with Dr. Rankling in Shanghai. Yes, she must somehow help her — allow her mistress to enjoy the same work she did in Shanghai. This visit with the pretty doctor had caused them anxieties. The doctor was too young. She had breached the necessary decorum that would have given them face. She was certain that the doctor’s failure to suppress her surprise and her obvious insensitivity to the customs of the land had intimidated them. Hazily, she thought it had something to do with herself and Little Jade. Her mistress had elevated her to the status of a sister-wife. This was a more magnanimous gift than money. The old phantom of wishing for a son came back to rebuke her. To her, there was only one way to gain respect. She resolved to have another try for a son. She prayed again to be blessed with an heir. Perhaps then even foreigners would have to give them face.

  When they returned home, Comely Brook helped Purple Jade out of her silk gown and into her comfortable cotton sheath. She knelt before her silent mistress and broke into sobs. “Tai-tai, I’ve caused you shame.”

  “No, please stand, Brook-mei,” Purple Jade whispered. “Some foreigners are ignorant of our ways. We don’t seem to understand each other, and we have not learned from each other.”

  On a rainy morning a week later, Comely Brook rushed into the room where Purple Jade sat reading. “Tai-tai, Tai-tai, there is a medical emergency. Come down and meet the elder Old Fan.” She smiled broadly, in spite of the urgency. She looked so triumphant that Purple Jade did not protest, but allowed herself to be led toward the living room, where a man in a workman’s short jacket and baggy trousers stood holding his straw rain cape and hat.

  “Old Fan is a fisherman. His wife has gone into labor. They don’t have enough money to consult a real doctor.” Comely Brook babbled on as they descended the stairs. “Some days ago, I told the fish stall owner in the market what you did in Shanghai, and today, Old Fan came.”

  Old Fan did not lift his head when Purple Jade entered the room. He knelt and knocked his head on the floor. “Huang tai-tai, my wife is in great pain. The baby is not positioned right. The midwife doesn’t know what to do.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Purple Jade responded at once.

  Comely Brook quickly rounded up a raincoat and umbrella. “Old Fan has a rickshaw waiting.” She handed her mistress the old medicine bag, which she had secretly prepared some days ago. “I have included acupuncture needles, sterilizing equipment, rubber gloves, and the various ointments for massage.”

  Purple Jade smiled. “Tell the lord where I am when he wakes. Brook-mei, you are a gem.”

  “I hope you do not mind tending to a fisherman’s wife!”

  “No Brook-mei, her needs are just as real as those of book-fragrant families. There were many indigent patients in Dr. Ranklin’s hospital.”

  Old Fan rose and bowed his thanks repeatedly. He led Purple Jade to the rickshaw and ran beside the puller leading them to the harbor.

  A waiting sampan ferried Old Fan and Purple Jade to the houseboat in Aberdeen where Old Fan lived. The gentle rain-misted air obscured the vast sea. Purple Jade was reminded of her boat rides on West Lake, and the fisherman’s family who had brought her to Shanghai after her home was destroyed. She looked at Old Fan, and realized that he was in fact a rather young man, deeply sunburnt. Seams lined his forehead, nearly burying his deep-set eyes. Buckteeth dominated his face, which had an expression of profound tenderness. As they drew near the houseboat, Old Fan’s wrinkles sank deeper at the sound of his wife’s screams.

  Purple Jade held on tightly to Old Fan’s hand as he helped her to the houseboat. She took no notice of the disorder in the small cabin. She knelt before the screaming woman.

  “Shh . . . try not to thrash.” Her soothing voice and strong firm hands calmed the woman. She ordered the midwife to boil her needles. She inserted two needles into each leg, one a little below the knee, and the other slightly above the inner aspect of the ankle. Soon the patient became peaceful. Then Purple Jade began to massage the woman. Rubbing Tiger Balm ointment on her hands, she instructed the laboring woman in deep breathing while she gently pushed and manipulated her pelvic area for what seemed like hours until the child’s head descended the birth canal. She washed her hands and put on a new pair of sterile rubber gloves. She reached for the head and coached the mother to push and breathe.

  Old Fan shook and wept, when his son was placed into his arms. Purple Jade was too elated to notice her sore arms and sweat-drenched body. The delivery had taken four hours. Her knees felt raw from rubbing the floor. Tired but ebullient, she quietly ordered the midwife to bathe the baby and tidy up the small chamber. She refused any payment and asked only to be taken home.

  Once home, Comely Brook quickly prepared a hot steamy bath for her mistress. The girls tiptoed around their mother in awe, and Purple Jade knew she had found her calling. She had no words to describe her feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment — she had calmed the searing pain of the mother and brought a new life into the world.

  Every morning from that day on, Old Fan left a choice fish with the fish stall owner in the market for Winter Plum or Comely Brook to come and take home to her mistress.

  IN SHANGHAI, GLORIUS Dragon resumed his life of glamour. He missed his sister and his nieces, but the Huang and Chou factories were now busy with orders from the Japanese. His many business enterprises and social commitments consumed all his energy. He abandoned his bachelor apartment and openly hosted dinner parties in Bright Crystal’s villa on Avenue Joffre. Dragon and Bright Crystal talked frequently of marriage but procrastinated their union. So many of their friends had known them as tang cousins
that they felt awkward acknowledging their long years of deception.

  One evening, as Glorious Dragon returned home from work, he found two Japanese sentries stationed in front of Bright Crystal’s house. A white flag with the red sun of Japan fluttered from the arch over the great steel door. The soldiers refused to admit him.

  “General Goto’s order!”

  Glorious Dragon left, not daring to utter a word of protest. He went to his sister’s house, where Iris now lived with Lt. Kamasaki.

  No one knew that General Goto was enthralled by Bright Crystal’s sophisticated taste and saucy elegance. Glorious Dragon realized that he and Bright Crystal needed Goto’s political protection. After gaining so many contracts from the Japanese army, they were now in his debt.

  Inside her villa, Bright Crystal ordered tea, shrimp dumplings, and other Chinese savories that General Goto favored. Following Japanese custom, General Goto removed his boots at the door. He apologized for his uninvited presence, stating with exaggerated graciousness that her household was the most comfortable he had ever known.

  He sank his scrawny body into the deep sofa, but his short legs did not reach the floor. His calves stuck out over the edge, while his stockinged feet dangled in front. When he took out a cigarette, Bright Crystal leaned forward to light it, as she used to do for her important guests.

  General Goto sucked on his cigarette, saliva foaming in one corner of his mouth. With one long breath, he exhaled to blow out the match and in the same instant caught hold of Bright Crystal’s jeweled hand. He narrowed his beady eyes to look at her through the smoky veil but left the cigarette dangling from his lips. With his free hand, he drew her arm down with a vigorous tug. Crystal tumbled to the floor, tripped by his projecting legs. She had twisted out of the way just in time to avoid falling into his lap.

  Bright Crystal was accustomed to dealing with the indiscretions of drunken men, but General Goto was obviously sober. Though filled with rage, she knew she must hold her tongue. She lowered her head briefly to hide her disgust. When she raised her head, her eyes glowed with annoyance, and she gave a sharp, exasperating cry:

  “What a clumsy fool I am!” Her voice rose to a shrill shout. “Little Snow, bring a wet cloth. I just dropped a match on General Goto’s uniform.”

  General Goto was startled by the loud cry, but before he could resume his pursuit, Little Snow had come in. He had to relinquish Crystal’s arm and allow the serving girl to wipe away the small soot mark on his pants.

  “Oh, General Goto, you must be annoyed by my stupid blunder.” Bright Crystal regained her composure. She sat on a winged chair across from the general and lit a cigarette.

  “Enough. That’s all right.” Goto brushed Little Snow away with a scowl, irritated that his act of seduction was interrupted.

  “General Goto, you must stay for dinner and let me redeem myself.” Bright Crystal knew very well that the enemy had no intention of leaving, so now she would play the gracious hostess. “Little Snow, tell the kitchen that General Goto and his guards will stay for dinner with Lieutenant and Mrs. Kamasaki, Mr. Chou and myself. Oh, of course, the guards are to be fed in the back parlor.” She gave her orders with a swish of her hand and spat out puffs of smoke as if exasperated by such mundane details.

  “I didn’t know you were expecting guests. Lieutenant. Kamasaki did not mention anything.”

  “I arranged it this morning with Iris.” She lied. “I have a new gown that I want to show her.”

  “I’ve been patient.” Goto had decided to show his hand. Bright Crystal understood in a flash that the swaggering brute was about to proclaim his affection in broken Chinese. She must not allow him to continue.

  “I’ve been patient too.” She looked at General Goto sideways. “I hope you’re not working Lieutenant Kamasaki too hard. They are supposed to be here by now.” She walked toward the phone as she spoke and dialed Iris’s number before the general could object.

  “Hello, Iris? What has delayed you? General Goto is joining us for dinner!” she said as soon as the phone was answered.

  “Uncle Dragon is here,” Iris said. “The soldiers at your door would not let him in!”

  “Glorious Dragon was held up in the office, and you are coming together?” Bright Crystal spoke very loudly. She did not pause to listen to the assurance that all three would come to her rescue.

  General Goto, frustrated by Bright Crystal’s teasing playfulness, was also aroused. He snuffed out his cigarette. His uniform’s stiff collar chafed at his neck; he whipped open the first few buttons on his jacket. “Damn! I wish I had a soft kimono here.” In one quick maneuver, he slipped his feet to the floor and proceeded toward Bright Crystal. Fondling her breast, he said, “Let’s make it official. Tell Kamasaki that I’m taking General Chin’s place.” He laughed. He hadn’t expected Bright Crystal to be so compliant. She was behaving in the most beguiling manner. Even as she talked on the telephone, she smiled at him, allowing her dimples to quiver.

  “Oh General Goto, you mustn’t now . . . What will the servants think.” Bright Crystal cooed coyly, half to the general, half into the phone. “Well, Iris, I can’t talk. Come as soon as you can.” She hung up.

  “From now on, Mr. Chou will not be allowed in this house!” General Goto growled urgently. He pulled Bright Crystal into his arms. He had received intelligence that Glorious Dragon was not actually a cousin but a lover. He had plans to take care of Dragon very soon.

  “But I invited him long ago.” Bright Crystal extricated herself firmly.

  “That owner of the uniform company writes bad propaganda in Hong Kong. Mr. Chou cannot be a manager anymore. We will take over the factory!” General Goto did not mean to reveal his intention, but he felt the need to gloat.

  “Oh!” Bright Crystal was too shocked to respond. Her heart was beating wildly, and her mind raced ahead. She knew she must buy more time. Fawning to placate the general, she whispered smiling, “We must not be hasty. You must be comfortable here. Give me a week. I’ll have your kimono and a tatami room ready.” She looked at him with a meaningful wink. “Only one week.”

  General Goto was more stirred than ever. He had waited a long time to make this move. But Lt. Kamasaki’s uncle was a major general, and Goto did not wish to offend the lieutenant. He was uncertain how Bright Crystal and Glorious Dragon were related to Iris Kamasaki. It was not easy to collect information. Since the lieutenant was in the Kempetai, bypassing his authority on espionage was highly irregular. He’d had to select a special agent, and after eight months, he still lacked a clear understanding. The agent insisted that Mrs. Kamasaki was once a servant in a country manor. But that seemed preposterous! Who had ever heard of a maid speaking English and quoting Shakespeare? The agent must have listened to envious gossip. General Goto was impressed by Iris’s social graces and secretly admired Lt. Kamasaki’s unusual choice of a wife. He recently had learned that Bright Crystal, Glorious Dragon and Iris were not related, and that General Chin had been Bright Crystal’s sponsor. Clearly, Lt. Kamasaki would have no right to interfere, now that General Goto had decided to take over the sponsorship.

  He turned away from Bright Crystal with a smirk. “I’ll wait one week and no more!” He paced the room in irritation. It would not do to have Kamasaki see him under the spell of a woman. “I’m coming back in one week, exactly! I expect my quarters to be ready for me.” He turned abruptly, preparing to leave when Bright Crystal extended her hand for him to kiss.

  “Do you have to leave?” Bright Crystal purred. “We are all going to be so disappointed!” She smiled and set her dimples into full view. “Please, General Goto, leave a few guards at the front gate to protect me!” She knew it would be better to have the guards openly stand watch, keeping away Chinese spies.

  General Goto left feeling very pleased with himself. He speculated that perhaps Bright Crystal had been hoping for his protection all along. Mr. Chou might not be her lover after all. Dashing young men were seldom faithful or constant. B
ut General Goto hoped she wasn’t expecting to marry him, since he already had a wife in Japan. Ah, that Kamasaki’s American education had spoiled the women, he thought. Bright Crystal must be fishing for a husband. Yes, it would be more comfortable to have a Japanese-style house to share with Bright Crystal. He would give her a week to get ready. Where could she go? He gave a casual order to the two guards at the front gate to note the identity of all visitors.

  Bright Crystal, highly agitated when General Goto finally left her house, lit one cigarette after another. Feeling defiled and uneasy, she knew her coquettish behavior, which had so captivated the men around her, had now trapped a viper. Over the years, she had cultivated the movements of her mouth, her eyes, her dimples, and the gestures of her hands. She even learned to control the lifting and arching of her brows. Her charm had brought her financial security, social influence and even passionate love. But she now realized that she was playing with fire, and Glorious Dragon had been drawn into her destructive flame. When at last her friends arrived, she collapsed into Dragon’s arms, babbling, apologizing and ranting her outrage.

  The crisis brought Bright Crystal’s father from the kitchen, who joined them in their deliberations. Everyone agreed that Glorious Dragon should go into hiding immediately. If a way could be found, they should both escape to Hong Kong and then America, where they might begin life anew as a common working couple.

  “No, I cannot go until I personally avenge my country in one battle,” Glorious Dragon proclaimed after some thought. “I’m sorry, Akiro, if this will cause you trouble. Your military government and some of our corrupt generals have inflicted so much pain and destruction that I simply cannot run away without lifting a finger to help.”

  “We know you have already helped a great deal,” Iris said. While others might speak of Glorious Dragon as a sycophant to the enemy, she knew he had given generously to the support of all the kinsfolk in Shanghai and Hangzhou.