by Bangqing Han
She struggled free. “If you have anything to say, say it here.”
“It’s nothing special, just that I want you to be happier. No matter what time of day I come, you never show the least hint of a happy face. You’ve no idea how miserable I feel when I see you unhappy. Do me a favor, don’t be like this, all right?”
“I was born to be unhappy. If you feel bad, just go somewhere else where you’ll feel good.”
He could not help heaving a sigh. “I talk to you like this, but all I get from you is an unreasonable retort.” His voice choked, and he could not carry on. The two of them sat side by side in complete silence.
After a long time, she answered, “Just now I hadn’t either told you off or offended you, but you said I was unhappy and called me unreasonable. In fact, you’re the one who tells other people off, and you don’t even notice it. Would anyone be happy when they’ve been told off?”
He knew she was coming around and she was saying all this as a way out. He immediately put on a smiling face and said, “It’s all my fault. I made you unhappy because I didn’t put things the right way. Let’s forget it. The next time I behave badly, you can hit me or scold me. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re not so unhappy.” As he spoke, he steered her toward the divan. She could only lie down with him, each taking one side of the divan.
“There’s something else I want to consult you about,” he said. “I have asked my friends to come here, but it’ll be on the ninth. Round about now, there’re just too many feasts in honor of the money gods. There’s one on the seventh at Twin Pearl’s, another on the eighth at Green Phoenix’s. They said since you don’t have the money god ritual here, we can come on the ninth. I’ve agreed to that. What d’you think?”
“Well, just as you like.”
Seeing that she raised no objections, he was still more pleased. After smoking just a few pellets of opium, he urged her to have some congee.
“We have some homemade congee with ham. Would you like some?” she asked.
“That’d do very nicely.”
She called for Pearlie to bring the congee. Goldie also came in to wait on them. After they had finished, Lotuson smoked his fill of opium and then went to bed with Little Rouge.
The next day was the seventh. Talisman brought the sedan chair to fetch Lotuson at noon. After lunch, Lotuson left in the sedan chair to attend to some official business. When evening came, he reported back at Little Rouge’s before going to dinner at Twin Pearl’s in Sunshine Alley. Elan Ge, Mallow Yao, Amity Zhu, and Cloudlet Chen had all arrived there before him, as had the host, Benevolence Hong.
As the party in Twin Jade’s room across the way had started very early, Benevolence Hong said, “Let’s have the hot towels, too.”
“Who else is coming?” Lotuson Wang asked.
“Crane Li isn’t, so that only leaves Prosperity Luo,” Benevolence replied. Everybody then sat down, leaving a place empty.
After offering watermelon seeds to everyone, Twin Pearl asked Lotuson Wang, “Will you be calling a girl from this house?”
“She has a party in her room. Let’s forget it,” replied Lotuson.
After the first course, sharks’ fin, was served, Clever Gem arrived ahead of all the other summoned girls. Then Prosperity Luo came with Green Phoenix. Already a little tipsy, Prosperity was extremely high-spirited and called at once for large wine cups so he could be banker of a finger game. He picked on Mallow Yao as his opponent, saying he had lost to Yao last time and had been looking forward to getting his own back. Yao, for his part, was already pushing up his sleeves, eager to meet the challenge. Luck was not on Prosperity’s side, and he lost the first three rounds. Green Phoenix wanted to drink the penalty wine for him, but he would not allow it. Downing the wine in one gulp, he stuck his fist out to play again. This time, Mallow Yao lost two out of three rounds. By then, the summoned girls, White Fragrance, Snow Scent, Little Rouge, and Sunset, had all arrived, so Sunset drank a cup for him.
“Substitutes don’t count,” Prosperity Luo shouted.
Sunset said, “Says who? Our rules allow for substitutes. Whether you want them or not is up to you.”
Green Phoenix snatched the wine cup from Prosperity and gave it to Mama Zhao, saying, “Oh, big silly, why d’you insist on drinking it yourself?”
Prosperity Luo caught sight of a huge glass on the dressing table. He grabbed it and, pointing his finger at Mallow Yao, said, “Let’s give our pledge now: we’ll do our own drinking, no substitutes!” He took the wine pot and started to fill the glass, but the pot was emptied before the glass was full. He told Clever Baby to refill the wine pot while he started the game with Mallow Yao again. Mallow, rising to the challenge, proved a tough opponent. Their contest made the onlookers even more nervous than they were themselves.
The two were just coming to grips when they heard Clever Baby shouting in panic from the middle room, “Quick! There’s somebody there!” Everyone at the table was startled. Thinking it was a fire, they fought to be first to get out of the room and see. Clever Baby was pointing wildly out of the window, shouting, “There! Over there!” When they turned to look, they saw that it was not a fire but a foreign policeman standing bolt upright on top of the pitched roof of the storied house opposite. He was in a black uniform and had a steel sword in his hand that glittered in the electric light.
Benevolence Hong had a good idea what this meant. He immediately tried to put everybody at ease by saying, “It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”
Cloudlet Chen tried to summon his steward. Constant Blessing, to find out what was going on, but the small crowd gathered at the door made quite a hubbub, and Cloudlet called out to no effect. Longevity took this opportunity to dash upstairs and report, “It’s a gambling raid at Lucky You’s in the alley. Nothing to worry about.”
Just when everybody felt reassured, they suddenly saw a casement window open in the house opposite. A man crawled out and climbed onto the balcony, intending to escape via the shed next door. But his luck was out: a policeman pursuing him leaped out across the balcony to the shed, raised the truncheon in his hand, and caught the man on the ankle with his blow. The man lost his balance and, toppling headfirst, fell from the wall into the alley, bringing down two tiles with him. The tiles shattered loudly on the ground.
Twin Jade came out of her room badly shaken. She whispered to Twin Pearl, “A man in the alley has been killed in a fall.” Everybody exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing that Twin Jade’s party guests had all left, Benevolence Hong went into her room to peep out the window. Sure enough, the gambler who had taken the fall was lying motionless by the wall, looking as if he were indeed dead. The others also crowded into the room, jostling to have a look. Snow Scent, being timid by nature, was frightened by what had happened. Pulling at Elan Ge’s gown, she said, “Let’s go home.”
“If we go out now, we’ll get hauled off by the police,” Elan replied.
She would not believe him. “Nonsense!”
Twin Pearl intervened. “It’s not nonsense, though. The police are at our door. We’re not allowed to go out.”
Snow Scent had no choice but to wait. Benevolence Hong suggested that they should resume their party. “Let’s have a drink and leave the policemen to make their arrests. There’s nothing interesting to see.”
Twin Pearl went to the stairs herself to call out for Clever Baby to bring wine, but Clever Baby, standing at the front door taking in all the excitement, did not hear the summons at all. Twin Pearl then called out for Golden, but she didn’t answer, either. When her summons became urgent, however, Golden slipped out of the mezzanine cubicle with her head bent and went straight downstairs without a word. Twin Pearl looked toward the mezzanine room; it was pitch-dark, unlit by lamp or candle.
“What’s this supposed to mean?” She said, furious. “Do we still have any rules or manners here?”
Golden was in no position to answer back. The minute Twin Pearl turned her back, Longevi
ty emerged from the mezzanine room and sneaked downstairs. Twin Pearl, pretending not to have seen him, walked back into her own room.
By the time Golden brought the wine pot and handed it to Benevolence Hong, the others were all too eager to watch the gambling raid to care about drinking. Shortly there came the sound of footsteps in the alley, sweeping from west to east like a storm. Benevolence Hong, too, took a look. He saw that the gambler who had taken the fall was being carried out of the alley on a door plank under the escort of a large number of Chinese and foreign policemen. They were followed by a crowd of spectators, all gesticulating and joking. Even the menservants and the housekeeper downstairs joined the crowd. Soon all was quiet at the door.
The spectacle over, everybody walked away from the window. Benevolence Hong finally succeeded in gathering them back to the table, where fresh wine was poured. The interlude had allowed Prosperity Luo to sober up, and he refused to drink anymore. Mallow Yao, seeing that his curfew was approaching, withdrew from the finger game. Everybody called for rice and congee to be served. Snow Scent was the first girl to leave, and she was quickly followed by the others.
In the hustle and bustle, Longevity came upstairs again to report on what he had found out about the gambling raid and take credit for his diligence. He said, “Everyone at Lucky You’s has been arrested, including twenty or thirty guests. The house has been sealed up as well. The man who fell off the wall didn’t die; he’s just broken a leg.”
Everybody sighed and expressed regret over the incident. Just then, Worth brought in the rice and congee, so a downcast Longevity had to leave.
When dinner was over and the guests had gone, the host felt a little weary. Shortly afterward, a double-table party commenced in Twin Jade’s room, followed by another party downstairs in Twin Jewel’s. The house was again in a bustle.
Benevolence Hong, feeling a little off-color, bade Twin Pearl good night, and returned to spend the night at the Flourishing Ginseng Store. The next day, at dusk, he headed back into the International Settlement and made straight for Green Phoenix’s in Generosity Alley. Prosperity Luo came up to greet him and asked right away, “Crane Li has gone home, d’you know that?”
“Why, he didn’t mention it when I met him the night before last,” said Benevolence Hong.
“Just a while ago I sent him an invitation and was told he’d got on the boat home with Pragmatic,” said Prosperity.
“Something must have happened,” said Benevolence.
Just then, Elan Ge, Lotuson Wang, Amity Zhu, and Whistler Tang arrived one after another. When Crane Li was mentioned, they all said there must be a reason for his sudden departure. Cloudlet Chen was the last guest to arrive, and when he did, Prosperity Luo told Mama Zhao to hand out the hot towels.
Cloudlet asked Prosperity, “Did you invite Crane Li?”
“He’s said to have gone home. D’you know on what business?”
“It’s got nothing to do with business,” replied Cloudlet. “Last night, Crane Li was caught in the raid in Sunshine Alley. He was hauled into the new yamen and fined fifty dollars. As soon as he was released, he headed straight for the boat. I went to look in on him but just missed him.”
“Was it Crane who had the fall?” Benevolence asked anxiously.
“No, it was a gangster. Originally, he had bought the right to wear the hat of a third-grade official and traveled around in an official-style sedan chair, all very grand! But after a brush with the law in Suzhou, he ended up running a gambling den and taking his cut. He should count himself lucky that he wasn’t killed by the fall yesterday,” said Cloudlet.
“Why, that must be Clement Zhou! How come Crane got mixed up with such an unsavory character?” said Prosperity Luo.
Cloudlet replied, “It was Crane’s own fault. He’s addicted to gambling and lost thirty thousand in less than a month. If this had gone on, he’d have been in serious trouble.”
“Pragmatic was negligent then. He should have spoken to Crane,” said Prosperity.
“Pragmatic is something of a family man. Even on his trips to Shanghai, he refuses to party at sing-song houses. He’s very respectable,” said Cloudlet.
Benevolence said with a smile, “You call Pragmatic a respectable family man, but that may not be a good thing either. A friend in South End told me that Pragmatic has caught a little ailment because of his ‘family’ inclination.”
Cloudlet Chen was just going to ask what the ailment was when Clever Gem, summoned to the party, sat down behind him and surreptitiously tugged at his sleeve. He turned around, and she whispered in his ear. He could not quite hear her and said smiling, “Aren’t you busy! Last time it was the treasure scrolls, and now it’s the feast of the money gods.”
“It’s not for me,” she said and whispered in his ear again.
He thought for a moment and assented readily enough. The friends at the table were invited to accompany him to another party, to be held at the Hall of Spring. Everybody promised to go but wanted to know where the Hall of Spring was.
“On East Chessboard Street. It’s the place of Clever Gem’s sister. They’re having the ritual for the money gods, too, and we’re to go and lend our support.”
Clever Gem took the opportunity to ask, “Shall I tell Ocean to go over and set up the table first? Then everybody can bring their girls over later.”
Everyone agreed, and the maid Ocean left to carry out her orders.
Now Prosperity Luo started a bank and to everybody’s surprise turned out to be a big winner at the finger game. He had barely downed ten of the twenty cups he had set up when the others had lost as many as thirty. They consulted among themselves and decided to take turns challenging him and to share out the penalty wine. Only then did they manage to finish the game.
By then, they had come to the last four courses of the dinner. Ocean was back to report that everything was ready, and Clever Gem reiterated the invitation. Green Phoenix still had two other party calls in the house, so she explained to Prosperity Luo that she would be a little late and there was no need to send her another call chit. Prosperity Luo, Elan Ge, Lotuson Wang, Amity Zhu, and six courtesans went together in ten sedan chairs, while Cloudlet Chen walked with Benevolence Hong and Whistler Tang to the entrance of Generosity Alley, where his private ricksha was waiting, and told Constant Blessing to call two more rickshas.
Benevolence Hong was about to step into the ricksha when he saw that the puller was very young and that his face was familiar. He took a good look and started violently, exclaiming, “Why, you’re Simplicity Zhao!”
The puller turned around and, seeing it was Benevolence Hong, ran off westward with the empty ricksha as if fleeing for his life. Benevolence waved and shouted, but the puller did not come back. This so enraged Benevolence Hong that he just stood in the middle of the street, his eyes popping, lost for words. The rickshas bearing Chen and Tang had gone far away, and he was left on his own. Fortunately, the ten sedan chairs came out of the alley just then, and he was spotted by those walking along with the chairs. Golden and Ocean came up to him to inquire, “Mr. Hong, what are you doing here?”
Only then did his mind clear. He hailed another ricksha and followed the sedan chairs to a corner of East Chessboard Street, where he got off and went into the Hall of Spring with the others.
Love Gem was welcoming everybody at the head of the staircase. They saw the table was set in the upstairs parlor, but first they went to sit in Love Gem’s room for a while. Love Gem hastened to offer each of them watermelon seeds and to toast opium at the divan.
“Elder Sister,” Clever Gem said, “Don’t bother to fill the pipes. Just tell your people downstairs to bring the hot towels. Everybody here’s in a hurry.”
Love Gem said smiling, “Which of the honored guests will kindly have a smoke?”
Nobody spoke up, only Cloudlet said, “Thank you.”
Love Gem smiled coyly, saying, “Mr. Chen, you’re far too polite.”
Her patience taxed, Clev
er Gem left the room to stroll around. Finally, Love Gem told the menservants to bring the hot towels, and everybody, including the courtesans, settled down at the dinner table. Love Gem and Clever Gem sat down side by side behind Cloudlet Chen, and Love Gem tuned her pipa to sing a duet with her sister.
“You go ahead. I’m not singing,” said Clever Gem.
“No songs, thanks,” said Cloudlet Chen. But Love Gem would not listen and started tuning up her pipa again. At this, Clever Gem intervened, “Please don’t, Elder Sister. One song is quite enough.” Only then did Love Gem lay down her pipa. No other courtesan offered to sing after her.
At this point, Green Phoenix arrived from her other parties, and Prosperity Luo asked for a large cup in preparation for the finger game. The maid was gone for a long time and came back with a huge glass.
“That won’t do!” Love Gem said and hurriedly told the maid to get another cup.
Prosperity Luo was overjoyed at the sight of it. “That glass is just fine. Give it here.”
Love Gem offered it to him at once and then pushed up her sleeves to lift the wine pot and fill the glass.
Prosperity pounded the table with his fist. “I’ll start a bank with five glasses.”
Seeing the enormous vessel, nobody dared stick out a hand. Cloudlet Chen consulted Elan Ge. “Let’s share one glass, all right?”
“Good,” replied Elan.
Cloudlet played the first round against Prosperity Luo and promptly lost. Love Gem offered to drink for him, so he gave her a small cup as her share and another to Clever Gem.
“Since you’re the one who wanted to play, you should drink it yourself. I’m not substituting,” Clever Gem objected.
“I’ll drink it,” Love Gem said pleasantly and reached for the cup.
But Clever Gem stretched out an arm to block her, saying loudly, “No, Elder Sister!” Startled, Love Gem let go. Cloudlet smiled and without further ado took the cup and drained it. Elan Ge also took half a glass and drank his share.
Amity Zhu and Whistler Tang were the next to attack the bank, followed by Lotuson Wang and Benevolence Hong. Each team had to repeat the challenge three times before the game was over. After downing five glasses of wine, even Prosperity, who took pride in his capacity, was on the point of collapse. All the others were drunk, too. No longer in the mood for wine, they were just waiting for the girls to leave. Nobody wanted any congee, and the guests took their leave soon afterward. The only ones who remained were Benevolence Hong and Clever Gem. Cloudlet Chen and Love Gem invited the two of them to go and sit in her room.
