The Golden Lotus, Volume 1

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  So the young man was compelled to obey. “Very well,” said he, “I do not propose to lose my life for it, so I will sing. As a matter of fact, I have such a stock of songs that I can sing you a hundred if you like.”

  “Boastful, short-lived rascal!” Jinlian said. She poured wine for all of them, saying to Jingji: “You had better take one more cup and then you will not be too shy to sing.”

  “No,” Jingji said, “I’ll finish the song first, and then I’ll drink.”

  When he had done, he again asked Jinlian to give him the key. “Mother,” he said, “give me the key now. I don’t know what the clerks in the shop are doing, and Father may come at any moment.”

  “You think too much of yourself,” Jinlian said, “and your tongue is too ready. If your father does come, and says anything to me about it, I shall tell him you got drunk, lost the key, and came here to look for it.”

  “Dear, dear!” cried Jingji “You might be an executioner, the way you play with your wretched victim.” Then Li Ping’er and old woman Pan took pity on him and pleaded for him with Jinlian.

  “If Grandmother and the Sixth Lady had not asked me,” she said, “I would have made you sing till the sun went down. You have boasted that you know a hundred or two hundred songs, but so far you have only sung one. Yet you begin to spread your wings to take flight. I won’t let you get the better of me.”

  Chen Jingji offered to sing another song. He had just finished it, and Jinlian was telling Chunmei to pour out another cup of wine for him, when Yueniang suddenly came from the inner court. Ruyi’er was sitting on the stone steps outside the door with Guan’ge in her arms. Yueniang scolded her.

  “The baby is just getting a little better, and here you have him in a draft. Take him in at once.”

  Jinlian heard the voice and said: “Who is that?” One of the maids told her that Yueniang was coming. This put Jingji in a flurry. He hastily picked up the key and made for the door, but it was too late. The ladies were on their way to receive Yueniang.

  “What are you doing here, Brother Chen?” she said.

  Jinlian answered for him. “The Sixth Lady,” she said, “was kind enough to entertain my mother, and brother-in-law came to look for some clothes. We asked him to take a cup of wine with us. Great Sister, will you not sit down too, and drink something? The wine is very mellow.”

  “I must not stay to drink,” Yueniang said. “My sister-in-law and Aunt Yang are getting ready to go. I came to ask after the baby. I am anxious about him. Sister, why don’t you take better care of him, instead of allowing the nurse to have him in a draft? The other day old woman Liu told us that he had a bad chill. You really must be more careful.”

  “I was taking a little wine with Grandmother,” Li Ping’er said. “I never dreamed the rascally slave would take him out.”

  Yueniang stayed with them a few moments and then went again to the inner court. She sent Xiaoyu to ask the two ladies and old woman Pan to come. Jinlian and Li Ping’er powdered their faces and went with the old woman to the inner court. They drank wine with the two aunts until sunset. Then Yueniang and the others went with their guests to the gate and saw them off in their sedan chairs.

  As they were standing at the gate, Meng Yulou said: “Great Sister, Father is not at home. He has gone to a banquet at Master Wu’s. Why should we not go and have a look at Qiao’s house on the other side of the road?” Yueniang asked the gatekeeper for the key and was told that Laixing was in the house watching the laborers at their work.

  “Tell them to withdraw,” Yueniang said. “We wish to see it.”

  “Oh, Mother,” Ping’an said, “just go over. They are all busy sifting the sand in the fourth big room.” Yueniang and the others were carried across in their chairs. They went in, and found themselves in a large hall. The house had two stories, and Yueniang decided to go upstairs. She had hardly gone halfway—the stairs were very steep—when she missed a step. She slipped and cried “Ah!” Then she gripped the banisters on either side. Yulou was startled and asked what was the matter, grasping one of Yueniang’s arms to prevent her from falling. Yueniang was frightened. She would go no farther, and the others helped her down the stairs again. Her face was as pale as wax. Yulou said: “What made you slip, Great Sister? Have you hurt yourself?”

  “No,” Yueniang said, “I didn’t fall, but I wrenched my waist. It gave me such a fright that my heart is in my mouth even yet. It is because the stairs are so steep. I was thinking of those in our own house, and I missed one. Luckily I was able to take hold of the railing, or I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

  “We really ought not to have gone upstairs with you in your present condition,” Li Jiao’er said. They took Yueniang home, but, when they were back, she cried that the pains in her belly were so severe she could not endure them. Ximen Qing had not yet returned, and they told a boy to run for old woman Liu.

  “I am afraid you have hurt the baby,” old woman Liu said. “Indeed, in my opinion the damage is fatal.”

  “I am more than five months on the way,” Yueniang said, “and now I have slipped on the stairs and given myself a wrench.”

  The old woman suggested that, as it was too late to save the child, Yueniang should take some medicine and get rid of it. When Yueniang agreed, the old woman gave her two big black pills and told her to take them with a little herb wine. Just before midnight the medicine took effect and the child was delivered into one of the pails used for the horses. They took a light to look at it and found that it would have been a boy. Indeed, it was already a boy. Its shape was that of a perfect male child.

  Fortunately, Ximen Qing had decided to spend the night with Yulou. The next morning, Yulou came to see Yueniang and asked how she felt. Yueniang told her the whole story.

  “It is very sad,” Yulou said. “Does Father know?”

  “No,” Yueniang said. “After the party he came to my room. He was going to take off his clothes, but I told him I did not feel very well and asked him to go somewhere else. Then he went to you. I said nothing to him about it. There is still a little pain.”

  “Perhaps you have not got rid of all the blood,” Yulou said. “I think, if we had some wine heated and you take some medicine to warm you, you will soon be well again. But you must be careful for a few days, Sister, and keep to your room. You see, these miscarriages take longer to recover from than a regular birth. You must take particular care not to catch cold or you will be really ill.”

  “You are quite right,” Yueniang said. “Don’t mention the matter to anybody, for, if you do, the news will be spread abroad; people will talk of my ‘nest being empty,’ and everybody will have some comment to make.” Nothing was said to Ximen Qing about the matter.

  Clerk Han, whom Ximen Qing had recently engaged, was anything but a reliable character. He was the son of a needy fellow whom people nicknamed Han the Bald, and his personal name was Daoguo. He was a poor man, though there had been a time when he had served in Duke Yun’s guard, a post that his grandfather had held before him. Now he was constrained to live in a mean alley off East Street. Though he was nothing but a man of straw, he had a good deal to say for himself, did not spare his words, and was careful to watch which way the wind blew. Trying to get money out of him was as futile as grasping at a shadow, or trying to lay hold of the wind, but, when he himself was getting money from anyone else, his hand burrowed far into the sack. Now that he had secured a post with Ximen Qing, he put on extra swagger. He had some clothes made, lifted his shoulders higher, and strolled jauntily through the streets. People changed his name to Show-off Han in consequence. His wife was a sister of Butcher Wang, the sixth in the family. She was tall, her face was dark and shaped like a melon seed; she was about twenty-eight years old. They had a little daughter. Han’s younger brother, Han the Second, was known as Han the Trickster and belonged to one of the regular gambling sets. This young man had long made love to his brother’s wife, and whenever Han Daoguo had gone to attend to the sh
op, he would come to the house and drink with his sister-in-law. He often stayed all night.

  There were several high-spirited young fellows among the neighbors. They saw the woman painted and powdered, standing in her fine dresses at the door and ogling the passersby. Yet whenever they tried to make advances, they found her unkind and unresponsive. Indeed, she was so unsparing of her tongue that her young neighbors became irritated. In twos and threes they discussed the situation, and made up their minds to find out who was the favored suitor. It did not take them long to discover that it was her young brother-in-law.

  Three rooms of the Hans’ house looked upon the street; the rest of the house was bounded by the houses of the neighbors. At the back was a raised bank, and from this the young men watched, climbing upon the wall at night to look in. Sometimes, during the day, they would pretend to be catching butterflies on the bank, but actually they were trying to discover what was going on in the house. One day, Han the Second, knowing that his brother was out, bought some wine and took it to drink with his sister-in-law. They bolted the door and prepared to have a very merry time. But the young men were on the track, climbed over the wall, opened the back door, and all went in. When they burst open the door of the room, Han the Second tried to escape, but one of the young men knocked him down with a single blow. The woman was still upon the bed. She had no time to put on her clothes before one of the young ruffians was able to secure them. They bound the couple together with one cord. Before long the news spread all down the street and a crowd gathered before the door. While one asked what was amiss, another would go to have a look. In the crowd was an old man who, seeing the man and woman tied together, asked what was the matter. One of the more garrulous of the bystanders informed him.

  “Venerable Sir,” he said, “you may not know, but this is a case of unlawful relationship between a man and his elder brother’s wife.”

  “Dear, dear,” the old man said, nodding his head, “a younger brother and his sister-in-law indeed. I fear they will have their necks stretched when the matter comes before the courts.”

  Unfortunately, the garrulous fellow knew all about the old man’s reputation. He had three daughters-in-law, and his relations with all of them had been such that he had been given a rude nickname in consequence.

  “Venerable Sir,” the fellow said, “doubtless no one is better acquainted than yourself with the law on such matters. As you say, their necks will be stretched. But I wonder what is the punishment dealt out to a man who carries on with his sons’ wives.”

  The old man decided that the conversation was taking an inconvenient turn. He bowed his head and went off without another word.

  That day it was not Han Daoguo’s turn to stay late at the shop, and he left for home early. It was about the middle of the eighth month and he was wearing a light silk gown and a new hat. Whisking his fan about and walking along the street with an air of consequence, he stopped now and again to exchange a few words with his friends, babbling away like a flowing brook. Then he chanced to meet two of his friends, one a certain Zhang the Second, who kept a paper shop, the other Bai the Fourth, a silversmith.

  “Brother Han,” Zhang said, “it is quite a while since I last met you. I hear you are now set up in a splendid establishment belonging to his Lordship Ximen Qing. It shows, I fear, a great lack of courtesy on my part that I have been so remiss in offering my hearty congratulations. Pray forgive me.” He invited Han to take a seat.

  Han Daoguo sat down on a bench, lifted up his head and fanned himself importantly. “Indeed,” he said, “I recognize my own little worth. I place all my confidence in the generosity of others. That is how I have entered the service of my gracious master Ximen. We share the profits in the proportion of three to seven. His wealth is truly immense and he has numerous establishments of one sort and another. He thinks much of me and treats me on a different footing from others.”

  “I was given to understand,” Bai the Fourth said, “that you were selling thread for him.”

  Han Daoguo smiled. “You don’t understand, my dear brother. The thread business is only a sideline. As a matter of fact, I am in charge, and all the money that comes in and goes out passes through my hands. His Lordship always takes my advice and falls in with all my suggestions. Whatever the fates have in store, whether good fortune or ill, we meet it hand in hand. Why, he can’t exist a single moment without me. Every day, when he comes back from his official duties, he sends and asks me to dine with him. Without my company he has not the heart to eat. We spend our time in his retiring room, eating and chatting at our ease, till the night is very late and he goes to the ladies’ apartments. It was his lady’s birthday the other day, and my wife went in a sedan chair to the party. Ximen’s lady kept her so late that it was the second night watch before she returned.

  “Ximen and I, in fact, are bosom friends, and there are no secrets between us. Perhaps I should not say so, but he even goes so far as to tell me all that happens on the most intimate occasions. Such things, indeed, form one of the most frequent subjects of conversation between us.

  “I must say, of course, that I have always acted strictly as a man of honor, and have never been guilty of any kind of indiscretion. My sole desire has been to assist a man of high standing to acquire more wealth, with the object of succoring those in need and rescuing the drowning and the afflicted. In money matters, no matter what their nature, my hands are clean. Long ago I made up my mind that all my actions in such affairs should be strictly in accordance with the highest standards of probity. Even Fu cannot disregard my wishes. Please understand: I do not mean this as a boast; all I do is to carry out my master’s wishes.”

  The conversation was proceeding pleasantly when a man rushed up in a great state of excitement. “What, Brother Han,” he cried, “are you still gossiping here? I have been to the shop for you but missed you.” He dragged Han Daoguo to a quiet corner and told him all that had been happening at home. “You will have to bestir yourself,” he said, “and find somebody to get the matter settled. They are to come before the courts tomorrow morning.”

  Han Daoguo changed color. He sucked his tongue and stamped about, only wishing he could take wing and fly away. “Old Brother Han,” cried Zhang, “why are you going? We haven’t finished talking.” Han raised his hands. “His Lordship is waiting for me. We have some important business to transact, and I am afraid I must leave you.” He hurried away.

  CHAPTER 34

  Ximen Qing Administers Justice

  Han Daoguo hastened to the Town Hall to see what he could find out. There he discovered that his wife and brother had both been thrown into prison.

  He rushed back to the shop to ask Laibao’s advice. “If I were you,” Laibao said, “I should go and ask Uncle Ying to speak to our master about it. If he sends a card to the magistrate, I’m sure everything will be well, no matter how serious the case.”

  Han Daoguo went straight to Ying Bojue’s house. He was told that Ying was out and nobody knew where he had gone. Perhaps he was at Ximen’s house. Han said this was not so, and asked for Ying Bao. Ying Bao had gone with Bojue. This was very disturbing. Han decided to go and look for his man in the bawdy house. He the Second, the brother of He of Huzhou, had invited Ying Bojue to a party at a house in the Fourth Lane, and there Han Daoguo found him, well filled with wine, and red in the face. He took him aside and told him all his troubles.

  “You are in a very serious position,” Bojue said. “I can’t do less than go with you.” He said good-bye to He, and went with Han to his house, where he asked for all the details of the story.

  “I very much fear,” Han Daoguo said earnestly, “that the case will come up tomorrow. I can see only one means of escape, and that is if you will go to my master and ask him for a card to the magistrate. If all goes well, I will not forget you.” He knelt down before Ying Bojue.

  “My good lad,” Bojue said, pulling him up, “of course I’ll see what I can do for you. Write out a petition and don�
��t say anything that isn’t necessary. Say that you are often away from home, and, during your absence, a number of young scamps among your neighbors are always throwing bricks and tiles, and insulting your wife. This enraged your brother and he had a row with them, but, unfortunately, they seized him, kicked, pulled, and beat him, and finally tied him and your wife together. Then ask his Lordship to send a card to the magistrate to ask that your wife shall not be compelled to appear before the court. I am sure all will be well.”

  Han Daoguo took brush and ink, wrote quickly, and put the paper in his sleeve. Then Bojue went with him to call upon Ximen Qing. When they reached the house, they asked Ping’an, the doorkeeper, if his master was at home. “He is in his study in the garden,” Ping’an said. “Please go straight in.” Ying Bojue’s visits to the house were so frequent that the dogs had ceased to bark at him. They went in by the second door, passed through the hall, and came to the Kingfisher Hall. Here Ximen Qing was wont to seek coolness in the hot summer days. There were blinds and curtains on both sides, flowers everywhere, and bamboo trees spread a pleasant cool shade. Huatong was sweeping the floor. When he saw the two men, he cried: “Uncle Ying and Uncle Han are here.” They pulled up the blind and went in. Shutong asked them to be seated. “My father has just gone to the inner court,” he said. Then he told Huatong to go and find Ximen Qing.

  The boy went first to Jinlian’s room and asked Chunmei if his master was there. Chunmei called him a thievish, deceitful little slave. “Father is in the Sixth Lady’s room on the other side. You know that well enough. Why do you come here and ask?” The boy then went to the other side of the court. The maid Xiuchun was sitting on the steps. “Uncle Ying and Uncle Han are here,” he said. “They are waiting for Father to come and talk to them.”