The Sing-song Girls of Shanghai

by Bangqing Han

  Benevolence heaved a long sigh, but then he smiled. “All the time when you were seeing Little Rouge, I told you it wasn’t worth your while, but did you listen to me? No. You doted on her. But now that you’re angry, you turn around and say I’m speaking up for her. That really leaves me with nothing to say.”

  “Then why d’you want me to go there?”

  “I’m not suggesting that you should go on seeing her, just that you should go one more time.”

  “What for?”

  “It’s for your own protection, in case anything happens. If you go, they’ll feel relieved, and you can also take a look at how things are with them. You’ve been seeing her for four or five years and must have spent some ten thousand dollars on her, so it doesn’t make sense to withhold money for this last bill. Go settle the account with her so she can pay her expenses and get through the festival. Come the next season, whether you see her or not is up to you, right?”

  Lotuson heard him out but said nothing, so Benevolence tried to encourage him. “I’ll go with you later and see what she has to say. If there’s half a word that jars on the ear, we’ll just leave.”

  Lotuson jumped up from his chair, yelling, “I’m not going!”

  Benevolence had to cut himself short with an awkward smile. After they had each had several cups of wine, they took lunch with Constance as usual. Then Benevolence had to see to Lotuson’s shopping list, while Lotuson wanted to return to his residence. An appointment was made for Benevolence to meet him at Constance’s again at sundown. Benevolence gave his promise and left.

  Lotuson took a few more puffs of opium and then called out for his sedan chair. When he got back to his residence on Fifth Avenue, he went to his upstairs bedroom and wrote a couple of routine social letters, with Talisman waiting on him. Suddenly, they heard the doorbell chime. Somebody seemed to come in and start talking to Lotuson’s nephew in the courtyard, and then a sedan chair came and stopped at the door. Thinking it was a visitor, Lotuson told Talisman to go and find out. Talisman did not come back to report; instead came the clickety sound of bound-feet shoes up the stairs.

  Lotuson went to the outer room to see for himself. It was none other than Little Rouge, followed by Pearlie. He was outraged at the sight of her. “How dare you show your face here! Get out!” He roared, stamping his foot.

  Little Rouge stood there silently, her eyes filled with tears. Pearlie came up and tried to explain, but Lotuson would not be calmed down. He kept shouting wildly and incoherently.

  Pearlie simply sat down. When Lotuson’s fury had slightly abated, she said in a ringing voice, “Mr. Wang, suppose you were the judge and we brought a complaint, you’d have to listen to the details of our case before you could pass sentence, be it a beating or some other form of punishment, right? Now we’re not allowed to say a word. So if an injustice has been done, how are you to find out?”

  “How have I done her an injustice?” he asked huffily.

  “Our maestro has been wronged, sir, and she wants to tell you about it. Will you let her?”

  “Since she’s been wronged, she might as well go and marry the actor.”

  Pearlie gave a mock chuckle. “If her brother wronged her, she could tell her parents; if her parents wronged her, she could tell you. But when you wrong her, sir, there’s really nobody for her to turn to.” Then she said to Little Rouge, “Let’s go. What else can we say?”

  Little Rouge was sitting in a high-back chair, sobbing into a handkerchief. With another outburst, Lotuson ran into his bedroom, leaving Little Rouge and Pearlie to their own ends. All was quiet. He picked up his writing brush to continue with his letter, but the words would not come. His attention was drawn to the whispering in the outer room. A while later, Little Rouge actually came into the bedroom and sat down facing him across the desk. He buried his head in his writing.

  She spoke in a trembling voice, “You can accuse me of all sorts of things, and I won’t defend myself. I was indeed in the wrong. I didn’t do right by you, so I’m willing to take whatever you mete out. But why won’t you let me speak? Do you really want to drive me to an unjust death?” Having said this, she started choking and was about to cry again.

  Lotuson put down his writing brush to hear her out.

  “It’s my own mother who’s been my ruin. She was the one who made me go into the business, and she was the one who insisted I renew my relationship with an old patron. I listened to her because she’s my mother. I did it against my own will, and now you use that to accuse me of taking up with an actor!”1

  Lotuson was about to retort when Talisman rushed upstairs to announce, “Mr. Hong is here.” He got up and said to Little Rouge, “You and I have nothing to talk about. Please go; I have something else to attend to.” He then walked away, leaving Little Rouge in the bedroom and Pearlie in the outer room, and went with Benevolence Hong to Constance’s in East Co-prosperity Alley.

  Constance showed Lotuson Benevolence’s purchases, and Lotuson told her how Little Rouge apologized. They all laughed and sighed over it. Benevolence stayed for supper that evening.

  As they got ready for bed, a smiling Constance asked Lotuson, “Will you be seeing Little Rouge again?”

  “Let Little Willow be her patron,” he replied.

  “Even if you won’t be seeing her, don’t be nasty to her, either,” she said. “If she asks you to go there, there’s no harm in going as long as you act thus and thus.” She then told him what he should do.

  “At first, it seemed that Little Rouge suited me rather well. But now that she’s no longer fierce, I actually look down on her. It’s puzzling.”

  “Probably your fated affinity has come to an end,” she said. After a leisurely discussion, they drifted off to sleep.

  The next day was the third of the fifth month. Benevolence Hong came to consult with Lotuson in the afternoon. As they agreed that the arrangements were mostly ready, the conversation turned again to Little Rouge. Benevolence repeated his advice as before, and because of what Constance had said to him, Lotuson readily agreed to go.

  And so Benevolence Hong and Lotuson Wang set off to see Little Rouge. As Constance saw them out at her door, she signaled Lotuson with her eyes, and he acknowledged it with a smile. When they arrived at Little Rouge’s door in West Floral Alley, Pearlie came out to meet them. Delighted by this unexpected visit, she said guffawing, “We thought Mr. Wang would never come here again. It’s a good thing our maestro hasn’t worried herself to death.” Her awkward laughter accompanied them all the way to the room upstairs.

  Little Rouge got up to greet them and then drew back and sat down mutely. Lotuson saw that she was wearing a plain off-white cotton blouse and no makeup, as if in mourning. Then he looked at the room: it was empty of all furnishings except for a full-length wall mirror, cracked at a corner. Struck by the contrast between such desolation and what he remembered of the past, he heaved a long sigh.

  Pearlie made conversation while serving them tea. “When Mr. Wang accused our maestro of such and such wrongdoings, our people downstairs asked me where the rumor had come from. I told them, ‘In his heart of hearts, Mr. Wang knows the truth. He’s accusing her just because he is too angry now. It’s not as if he really thinks she’s taken up with an actor.’”

  “Actor or no actor, what does it matter? Say no more,” said Lotuson. Pearlie left after doing her chores.

  Trying to break the ice, Benevolence said pleasantly to Little Rouge, “You pined for Mr. Wang when he didn’t come, so why don’t you say something now that he’s here?”

  With a forced smile, she took a pick to toast opium at the divan, prepared a pipe, and set it on the honored side. When Lotuson lay down to smoke, she said, “When I was fourteen, I used this opium set to fill the pipe for my mother, and since then it has been left untouched. Now it has come in handy.”

  Benevolence asked about this and that, saying whatever came into his head. Even before it was dark, Pearlie asked them to place their order for a casu
al dinner. Not waiting for Lotuson’s response, Benevolence took the decision and ordered four dishes. Lotuson went along with it.

  By the time dinner was over, Pearlie had already sent away Talisman and the sedan-chair bearers. Now that Lotuson was there, would they let him go? Benevolence took his leave and went home by himself, leaving Lotuson and Little Rouge alone in the room.

  Only then did Little Rouge speak. “In the four or five years I’ve known you, I have never seen you so angry. I do know that your anger at me shows that you care. Oh, the way you blew up! It was my fault that I followed my mother’s orders before I had talked to you about it. But if you accuse me of taking up with an actor, then even death will not put an end to my sense of grievance. Fashionable courtesans doing good business may want to amuse themselves with actors, but is my business good enough for that? I’m not an ignorant child, either. Don’t I know that taking up with an actor would mean the end of my business? People are all jealous because you’re so close to me. It’s not just Constance; even your friends say bad things about me. So when you accuse me of having taken up with an actor, there’s no one to speak up for me. The truth won’t be known until I’m at the court of the king of the dead.”

  “If you say you didn’t, you didn’t. What’s so serious about it?” he responded with a smile.

  “My body was born of my parents, but everything else I own, be it a piece of cloth or a length of thread, has been a gift from you, so it’s all right for you to smash them up. But if you want to cast me off, can you imagine what else I have to live for? There’s no other way out for me but death. If I die, it won’t be your fault; the blame’s on my mother. But this concerns your interests, too: you’re here in Shanghai on a posting, without your family for company. At your residence, there’s no one but a clumsy and thoughtless valet to take care of you. You do have friends, but even those close to you don’t always understand everything. I’m the only one who knows your temperament, who can guess what is on your mind and suit your wishes. Even in our casual conversation and jokes, we always get on well. It’s true that Constance is keen to play up to you, but can she be like me? You’re my only client; though I’m not yet married to you, I’m as good as yours, for I’m entirely dependent on you. As for you, I know no one else pleases you like I do. Now if you cast me off in a moment of anger, the worst that can happen to me is death. But I’m worried about you. You’re in your forties now, with no son or daughter. Your constitution is frail to begin with, and you like to smoke a little opium, too, so you do need somebody to keep you company, to make sure that you’ll have a happy life. Yet now you harden your heart toward the one person who pleases you. If your accusations drive me to death, who is going to take care of you when you’re unwell? When you let drop a remark, who will be there to guess what you want? When you look around for someone close to you, who will be there to answer your call? By that time if you think of Little Rouge, even if I rushed through a reincarnation, it’d be too late for me to come back and wait on you.” So saying, she started weeping again.

  Lotuson smiled again and said, “There’s no need to say things like that, is there?”

  Little Rouge felt that he was a changed man, completely indifferent to her. She suppressed her tears and went on, “After all I’ve said, you still won’t relent. What more can I say? Though my faults may be numerous, in the four or five years we’ve been together, I must have done some good. Just remember what’s good in me and look after my parents. As to me, I’ve told them to put me in a charity house. If one day the injustice is cleared up and you know that I’ve had no liaison with actors, you should take me back. Don’t forget that.”

  Before she had finished speaking, she was again in tears. Lotuson merely smiled. There was just no way Little Rouge could move him. When they went to bed, there was again endless tenderness and soft words on the pillow, but we will not go into the details.

  The next day, Lotuson got up after noon and prepared to leave. She held on to him and asked, “Once you’re gone, will you come again?”

  “I will.” He smiled.

  “Don’t try and fool me. I’ve said everything I can; it’s all up to you now.”

  He pretended to smile and then left.

  Not long afterward, Talisman came with the silver dollars to settle accounts for the last season. Little Rouge took the money and gave him her card as a receipt. The next three days, she saw no sign of Lotuson Wang. Though she sent Pearlie and Goldie to invite him several times, they never got to see him.

  On the eighth, Pearlie, who had gone to invite Lotuson again, came back greatly agitated. She told Little Rouge, “Mr. Wang is marrying Constance. Today is their wedding day.”

  Incredulous, Little Rouge sent Goldie to find out. When Goldie came back, she said loudly, “It’s all true! They had performed the marriage rites and were having a feast. There were lots of people. I just asked; I didn’t go in.”

  Little Rouge was in a towering rage. She stamped her feet and cursed, “It wouldn’t have mattered if you married somebody else. Why marry Constance?” She wanted to go to his house and confront him, but further consideration dampened her courage. Pearlie and Goldie went away, dispirited. Little Rouge cried the whole night long, her eyelids swelling to the size of walnuts.

  The next day was the ninth. Little Rouge had fallen ill from pent-up anger. Unexpectedly, after the clock had struck noon, Talisman delivered a call chit summoning her to Lotuson’s residence. He said it was a drinking party. Pearlie tried to detain him to find out more, but he rushed off on the excuse that he was busy. Since it was a party call, Little Rouge dared not turn it down. She forced herself to get up and do her toilet and then had a little breakfast before she went to the party.

  When she arrived at the Wang residence on Fifth Avenue, she saw the sedan chairs of other courtesans standing at the entrance. She walked up the stairs leaning on Pearlie’s arm and saw two dinner tables set side by side in the outer room, while an all-girl theater troupe was playing in the mezzanine room, the present number being the Kun opera Jump over the Wall to Play Chess. Little Rouge recognized all the faces round the table and realized that Lotuson’s friends were clubbing together to congratulate him on taking a concubine.

  Seeing Little Rouge’s swollen eyes, Benevolence Hong made a point of greeting her. His mild words, which could have been taken as consoling, served to stir up what was weighing on her mind. A teardrop fell, and she almost wept aloud. He hastened to change the subject. Those at the table were moved to pity and sighed to themselves. Iron Hua, Devotion Yin, and Second Bai Gao were the only ones who did not know the story, and they took no notice of her.

  The girl Second Bai had summoned was Third Treasure of Tranquillity Alley. Elan Ge knew Second Bai had not yet found the woman of his desires, so he asked, “Shall I make the rounds of all the first-class houses with you?”

  Second Bai held up a hand to decline the offer. “You couldn’t be more mistaken. It’s no use going on a search; one’s mate will appear when the time is right.”

  “And meanwhile our Second Bai’s chivalry and tenderness are left to cool. What a pity!” said Devotion Yin.

  Reminded of what had happened, Second Bai turned to Prosperity Luo, “There’s a girl called Gold Flower at your lady love’s place. A friend recommended her to me, but she was truly disappointing.”

  “Gold Flower doesn’t have what it takes. She’s gone to a second-class house now,” Prosperity replied.

  Just then a new play, The Green Screen Mountain, came on. The girl who took the part of Shi Xiu had a good voice and good acting skills; her performance was convincingly heroic. Her swordplay in the wine shop scene was pretty good, too. Though it was not real swordsmanship, it showed considerable training and control.

  This play was a poignant reminder for Little Rouge; she blushed.2

  Second Bai shouted, “Bravo!” but he did not know the actress’s name. Elan Ge, who recognized her, told him it was Wenjun Yao of Big Feet Yao’s at East C
o-prosperity Alley. Devotion Yin, seeing that Second Bai was quite taken with the girl, called the troupe’s maid over as soon as she had come off the stage, saying, “Mr. Gao calls Wenjun Yao to the party.”

  The maid immediately took Wenjun Yao to a seat behind Second Bai, who, when he looked closely at her, saw an indomitable spirit shining in her eyes: quite a challenge!

  By this time, all the girls called to the party had arrived. Lotuson Wang suddenly went into the bridal chamber and after a moment’s consultation came out to ask Snow Scent, Green Phoenix, Twin Pearl, Wenjun, and Little Rouge to go and meet the bride. Little Rouge had no choice but to join the other four. A smiling Constance stood up to greet them, inviting them to sit down and chat. Little Rouge’s mouth was sealed by shame and anger. Each girl received a present when she left: for Snow Scent, Green Phoenix, Twin Pearl, and Wenjun Yao, it was a green jade lotus pod hairpin, and for Little Rouge something much more valuable: a pair of earrings and a ring, both of pure green jade. She had to accept them and say thank you along with the others. By the time they returned to the party, half the summoned girls had left. Second Bai picked another play featuring Wenjun Yao. At the end of this number, all the girls were gone, so both the performance and the party drew to a close.

  ::

  1. [As a courtesan, Little Rouge is entitled to take on paying clients other than Lotuson Wang. That is why she claims Little Willow is a client. Had that really been the case, Lotuson, however jealous he might feel, would not be in a position to fault her. E.H.]

  2. [Wenjun Yao is playing a role in which Little Willow excels. E.H.]

  CHAPTER 35 :: Second Treasure, poverty-stricken, takes up the oldest profession, and River Blossom, falling ill, spoils everyone’s fun

  As the party at the Wang residence came to an end, the guests took their leave one after another. Benevolence Hong, though, stayed till dusk to help oversee various chores. When he left, he made for Twin Pearl’s in Sunshine Alley. Along the way, he thought about what had happened: who could have imagined that Little Rouge’s ready-made position would have been so easily lifted by Constance? What was more, Lotuson had behaved with indifference toward Little Rouge, and Little Rouge looked forlorn; it was probably all over between them.