by Bangqing Han
As he turned this over in his mind, Benevolence heard someone greet him as “Uncle.” He stopped and saw that it was indeed Simplicity Zhao. In a long gown of fine white cotton, silk shoes, and white socks, Simplicity had a prosperous look about him. Benevolence acknowledged his greeting with a nod. Overjoyed, Simplicity exchanged a few polite words with him and then stood at one side with the gesture of a farewell salute and watched Benevolence Hong proceed on his way via South Brocade Alley.
When Benevolence Hong had gone a long way off, Simplicity Zhao headed toward Fourth Avenue to look for Fortune Shi in the opium den at Splendid Assembly Teahouse. Fortune gave him a wad of banknotes and said, “Take this home and give it to Mother. Don’t let Flora Zhang know.” There was no other message.
Simplicity answered in the affirmative and returned to their house in Tranquillity Alley. He found his sister, Second Treasure, and their mother sitting face-to-face in the mezzanine room. Mrs. Zhao seemed to be sighing, while Second Treasure was wiping away tears of anger. He had no idea what had upset her.
Second Treasure said suddenly, “We’re not living in her house, and we’re not spending her money, so why should I suck up to her? Even the thirty dollars that we owe don’t come from her! How dared she ask me for it!”
Only then did Simplicity realize the reason for their falling out with Flora Zhang. Grinning, he took out the wad of money and handed it to his mother. Mrs. Zhao gave it to Second Treasure. “You put it in a safe place.”
Second Treasure turned aside in annoyance and said petulantly, “What for?”
Simplicity could not make any sense of this. Then Second Treasure said to him, “If you have money to settle our bills, we’ll just pay up and go back home. Otherwise, we might as well set up our own establishment and go into the business. It’s all up to you. What’s the point in our staying here?”
He murmured hesitantly, “How would I know what to do? I’ll do whatever you say, Sister.”
“Now you’re putting everything on my shoulders, so in the future don’t you turn around and say I’ve dragged you down!” said Second Treasure.
“Of course I won’t.” He tried to pacify her with a smile and then withdrew. As he could not see any other way out, he was content to go along.
A few days later, Second Treasure went by herself to find rooms in Tripod Alley and brought home three hundred dollars the sing-song house had advanced her. Only then did she inform Flora of her decision. Flora knew there was no dissuading her, so she just let her go. They decided to move on the sixteenth. The new rooms were furnished with rented rosewood furniture, and a lot of household items were speedily acquired. The servant girl Clever followed them to the new place. She was joined by a maid called Tiger and a manservant, both of whom were investing two hundred dollars.1 Simplicity personally wrote out the words “Residence of Second Treasure” on scarlet paper and pasted it at the door. That night, Fortune Shi came to give the opening dinner. The guests he invited were none other than Cloudlet Chen, Lichee Zhuang, and their group, so the news quickly reached Benevolence Hong. He sighed copiously and then decided to ignore them.
As soon as Second Treasure set up in a sing-song house, her business flourished. Mah-jongg parties and dinner parties came back to back, and she was riding high. Simplicity Zhao also put on a swagger and settled comfortably into his new profession. Since Fortune Shi single-handedly launched her career, Second Treasure gave him special treatment. This, however, made Flora Zhang so jealous that she took a sedan chair to his house in the Old City to tell her adopted mother about it. The old lady, ignorant of the true story, gave Fortune a scolding and told him off for all sorts of things. This so angered him that he broke with both Second Treasure and Flora and gave his patronage to the virgin courtesan Third Treasure instead.
There was no way Flora Zhang could manage without Fortune’s support. The example of Second Treasure’s triumphal success made her want to follow suit, so she moved to West Civic Peace Alley off Fourth Avenue. It was Belle Tan’s house, and she took the room opposite Belle’s. Their relationship turned out to be very cordial. When Cloud Tao happened to see Flora and praise her, Belle Tan immediately said, “She’s new in the business. If you’ve got friends, why not make a match for her?”
Cloud Tao gave his promise offhandedly. Flora, who took pride in her good looks, went riding in a carriage daily to attract clients.
It was now the middle of the sixth month. The weather had suddenly turned hot, and even a hand-pulled punkah fan in the room was of little help. Cloud Tao decided to go for a carriage drive to catch the breeze, and he sent a manservant to ask his brother, Jade, if he’d come along. The man got to Water Blossom’s house and sent in the message. Since Water Blossom’s health was on the mend, Jade Tao thought visiting gardens and parks would be of benefit, but he had no idea whether she felt like going.
“Your brother has asked us several times before,” she said, “So let’s go just this once. I do feel a lot better now.” When she heard this, River Blossom rushed out, demanding, “Brother-in-law, I want to go, too.”
“Of course. We’ll all go together. Let’s call two closed carriages,” he said.
“Your brother will laugh at you if you ride in a closed carriage. You better take one with a folding leather top,” said Water Blossom. The manservant was told that they’d be going, and an appointment was made to meet up in the foreign building in Luna Park. Laurel Blessing, her own manservant, was told to hire two carriages, one closed and one with a leather top.
River Blossom, greatly delighted, changed into a new outfit. Water Blossom just tidied her hair and checked that her hairpins, earrings, and other ornaments were all right. She then went to tell her mother, Fair Sister Li, they were going out, and Fair Sister urged her not to stay out too long. When Water Blossom returned to her room, Jade Tao and the servant girl, Beckon, had already gone to wait outside. She stood in front of the mirror for a long time, looking at her reflection, before taking the hand of River Blossom and walking out with her. When they got to the entrance of East Prosperity Alley, River Blossom insisted on traveling with Jade Tao in the leather-topped carriage, so Water Blossom rode with Beckon in the closed carriage. When they drove past Mud Town Bridge, the road ahead was lined with trees on both sides, and the overhanging branches blocked off much of the fierce sunlight. A refreshing breeze blew into the carriage, and they felt the summer heat melt away.
At Luna Park, they alighted and went up the storied building. Cloud Tao and Belle were already there, so Jade and Water Blossom sat down at a table across from them and ordered two cups of tea. River Blossom stood leaning against Jade Tao, unwilling to move even an inch. Though he told her to go downstairs and amuse herself for a while, she did not budge. Water Blossom said, “Off you go! Your clinging like that makes others very hot!” River Blossom had no choice but to go, leaning on Beckon’s arm.
Cloud Tao noticed that Water Blossom still looked thin and sallow-faced. “Are you still unwell?” he asked.
“I’m much better now.”
“You don’t look so good, so you really should take care of yourself,” he said.
“It’s hard to find the right doctor for her,” Jade put in. “The prescriptions she’s been given just don’t suit her.”
“Hill Dou is quite a good doctor. Have you tried him?” asked Belle.
“Oh, don’t even mention him! All those pills he prescribed, how could I possibly swallow them all?” said Water Blossom.
“I’ve heard Vigor Qian say that Second Bai Gao is a fine doctor, though he isn’t practicing,” said Cloud Tao.
Jade Tao was going to find out more about it, but just then River Blossom came back with Beckon. Shifting from one foot to the other, she asked with a smiling face, “Are we going home?”
“Why, we only just came. Let’s enjoy ourselves a little longer,” said Jade.
“There’s nothing to enjoy here. Nothing for me!” So saying, she clambered onto Jade Tao’s knees and rolled
about restlessly in his arms. He leaned forward and put his cheek against hers to ask what the matter was. She whispered into his ear, “Let’s go home.”
Seeing she was getting out of hand, Water Blossom intervened. “Don’t be silly! Come here.”
Not daring to disobey her, River Blossom made haste to go over. Water Blossom suddenly gasped, “Why is your face all flushed? Did you drink any wine?”
Jade Tao saw that River Blossom’s cheeks were indeed as red as rouge. He put his hand on her forehead; it was burning hot, as was her palm. He exclaimed in alarm, “Why didn’t you tell us? You’re running a fever!” She just laughed playfully.
“You’re not a child anymore. How could you not know you were running a fever? Why did you insist on coming out in a carriage?” said Water Blossom.
Jade Tao lifted River Blossom in his arms and sat her down in a sheltered corner, while Water Blossom told Beckon to summon the carriages to take them home.
When Beckon had gone, Cloud Tao said with a smile to Water Blossom, “Both of you are always falling ill; you’re really the best of sisters.”
Belle had heard that Water Blossom was one who easily took offense, so she signaled Cloud with her eyes. Fortunately, Water Blossom was too preoccupied to answer. Shortly afterward, Beckon came back to report, “The carriages are here.”
Jade Tao and Water Blossom bade Cloud and Belle good-bye. Beckon went ahead, helping River Blossom down the stairs. Water Blossom wanted the young girl to go in the closed carriage.
“I want to sit with Brother-in-law.”
“Then I’ll take the leather-topped one with Beckon,” said Water Blossom.
When they were all seated, the carriages took off. River Blossom sat with her head buried in Jade’s chest, and he covered her head and face with his sleeves so that not the slightest part was exposed to the breeze. They got off at East Prosperity Alley on Fourth Avenue and went home. Water Blossom immediately told River Blossom to go to bed. River Blossom, however, was reluctant to go and wanted to sleep in Elder Sister’s room. “I’ll lie down a bit on the divan,” she said.
Knowing how stubborn she was, Water Blossom just told Beckon to get a light quilt and wrap it around her. When Fair Sister Li heard of it, she sent Big Goldie to find out what was wrong with River Blossom. Water Blossom answered, “She probably caught a bit of a chill in the carriage.” Fair Sister was reassured. Water Blossom waved Beckon away and, together with Jade, watched over the young girl.
River Blossom was lying on the left side of the divan. As the room went all quiet, she lifted a corner of the quilt, poked her head out, and called, “Brother-in-law, come here.”
Jade Tao walked over to the divan and bent down to ask, “What d’you want?”
She pleaded, “Brother-in-law, will you sit here, please? Sit here and watch over me as I sleep.”
“All right. Now go to sleep.” He sat down on the left-hand side of the divan.
For a while, she slept, but her mind was still uneasy, and soon she opened her eyes and said, “Brother-in-law, please don’t go. I’m scared to be all by myself.”
“I’m here. You just sleep.”
But then she called for Water Blossom, “Elder Sister, would you like to come and sit on the divan?”
“You’ve got Brother-in-law there, you’re doing fine,” Water Blossom replied.
“But Brother-in-law won’t stay put. If Elder Sister comes and sits here, then Brother-in-law won’t go away,” said River Blossom.
Water Blossom smiled and assented to her request. She pushed the opium tray aside and sat down, her thigh pressing against River Blossom’s, and tugged the quilt tightly around her.
As they sat silently, dusk fell. Seeing River Blossom lying quietly in sound slumber, Water Blossom walked softly to the door and summoned Beckon. She whispered to her, “Bring a paraffin lamp.”
Beckon got the paraffin lamp, put it in the lamp tray, and withdrew quietly. Water Blossom said to Jade Tao in a low voice, “The poor child! She’s too young to be a courtesan. Clients think that she’s cute and keep calling her to parties; they keep her awfully busy. She got this fever because the night before last she was taken out of bed to answer a party call. She didn’t get back till dawn, so it wasn’t surprising that she caught a chill.”
He replied in an undertone, “Well, she’s very lucky to be in your house. Even real daughters don’t get any better treatment than this.”
“I’m lucky to have her, too. Otherwise, I’d have had to entertain all these old clients, that would’ve been the death of me!”
During their conversation, Beckon had brought dinner and set it on the center table, where she placed another paraffin lamp. So Jade Tao, too, walked softly away from the divan and sat down for dinner with Water Blossom. Beckon waited on them and filled their rice bowls. Although they were careful, they still made some noise, and that was enough to wake River Blossom. Water Blossom immediately put down her rice bowl and went to soothe her.
River Blossom looked dazed. A moment later, she collected herself and asked, “Where’s Brother-in-law?”
“He’s having dinner. You wouldn’t want him to go without dinner just to keep you company now, would you?”
“Why wasn’t I called to dinner?” River Blossom demanded.
“You have a fever. Never mind dinner.”
River Blossom became agitated and propped herself up. “I want to eat!” So Water Blossom told Beckon to help her over to the dinner table.
“Would you like to take a mouthful from my bowl?” Jade Tao asked. She nodded. He put the bowl to her lips and fed her one mouthful; she kept it in her mouth for a long time before finally swallowing it. When he offered her more, she shook her head.
“No appetite, right? I told you so. You’ve hardly eaten anything at all,” said Water Blossom.
Soon Jade Tao and Water Blossom had finished their meal, and Beckon cleared the table and brought hot water for them to wash. She also brought a message for River Blossom from Fair Sister Li, “Mother says you should go to bed. If there’re party calls, she’ll tell the two girls upstairs to substitute for you.”
River Blossom turned to Jade Tao. “I want to sleep in Elder Sister’s bed. Will you let me sleep here, Brother-in-law?”
He agreed at once. Instead of objecting, Water Blossom wiped the young girl’s face with a hot towel and then told her to go to bed. Beckon lit the bedside lamp and quickly made the bed. As Water Blossom did not use a summer straw mat, she just took away the thick quilts on the bed and spread out the light quilt that she had taken from the divan. She then put a little pillow at one end.
River Blossom did not go to bed right away after she had relieved herself. She looked at Jade Tao thoughtfully. He guessed what she wanted and said, “I’ll keep you company.” He walked over to the bed, unbuttoned her clothes, and helped her undress. She took the opportunity to plead with him in a whisper. He smiled but refused.
“What is it?” asked Water Blossom.
“She’s asking you to come to bed as well.”
“Enough of your tricks! Go to sleep now.”
River Blossom got into bed and then said loudly from under the quilt, “Brother-in-law, please say something to Elder Sister, won’t you?”
“What’s there to say?” he asked.
“Anything at all.”
Before he could answer, Water Blossom smiled and said, “All this is just to get me to come over to the bed, right? You and your tricks! You’re a real pest!” So saying, she went and sat down beside Jade Tao on the edge of the bed. River Blossom pulled the quilt over her head and laughed out loud. Jade Tao laughed. too.
With both Elder Sister and Brother-in-law keeping her company, a delighted River Blossom drifted off to the land of sweet dreams. Since Jade Tao was unencumbered by any business, he and Water Blossom went to bed when the clock struck eleven. For a long time, Water Blossom just tossed and turned. Knowing she was worried about River Blossom, he tried gently to reassure her.
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“She’s a child, so her fever is nothing to worry about. You yourself have been feeling better just these couple of days so you should take care of yourself.”
“I’m not worried, and I don’t know why my mind is made this way. Once I start thinking about something, no matter what it is, I go on and on, unable to sleep. Even if I want to stop thinking, I can’t.”
“Well, that’s the root of your illness. You should just put your mind at rest.”
“In fact, I was thinking about my illness just now. River Blossom was the first to get upset when I became ill. Sometimes when you aren’t here, she’s my only companion. While other people are sick of the sight of me, she not only keeps me company but tries to cheer me up in all sorts of ways. I do know this illness of hers is nothing serious, that all she needs is rest, but my heart is still uneasy.”
Before he could comfort her any further, they heard River Blossom turning over. Water Blossom sat up and called her name but received no response. She then reached out to touch her forehead: she was still running a fever and had pushed the quilt off her shoulders. Water Blossom pulled it up to cover her properly and then lay down again to sleep.
Jade Tao continued to reassure her. “However fond you are of her, you mustn’t worry yourself unnecessarily. Even if you brood all night, it won’t help her get well. Now suppose you yourself fall ill from lack of sleep, won’t that make things worse?”
She heaved a long sigh. “She’s a poor thing, too. I’m the only one who looks after her when she’s ill.”
“In that case, just take good care of her. There’s no need to brood.”
As they talked, River Blossom woke up and heard them. “Elder Sister,” she called out in a drowsy voice.
Water Blossom hastened to ask, “Would you like some tea?”
“No.”
