A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China (21 page)

“So we’ll all have to go to Shanghai!” Comely Brook cried with a start, surprising herself. Her voice echoed the same thought in every one’s mind. No one noticed that it was Comely Brook’s first comment on any family deliberations.

“Oh, goodie!” Golden Bell and Silver Bell exclaimed almost in unison.

“Oh, my lord! This, this is impossible!” Purple Jade stuttered. The serenity of her house made the fighting in Shanghai seem very far away. Even when the warlords were feuding, she hadn’t left home except for a few trips to the monastery that provided safety while strong, armed men and servants guarded her house. Back then, safety had been much easier to attain than most people imagined. The contending parties had created a system whereby a little manipulation, an offer of food or money, would allow them to strut their might, while avoiding the loss of blood in real battle. Those who suffered were too proud to give face or too stubborn to share their wealth.

Directing her fan toward Comely Brook, Purple Jade muttered: “To leave this home . . . in Brook-
mei’s
condition . . .” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Now, now, nothing is decided. I must pick up Dragon from the station at five.” Righteous Virtue was not eager to discuss such weighty problems then. “Why don’t we all go for a ride in the car on this lovely summer day.”

“Oh, Uncle Dragon is coming! Uncle Dragon is coming!” Silver Bell chimed.

“Yes, Dragon will know more of what’s going on. He hasn’t been home for a long time. I wonder what’s kept him away?” Purple Jade paused. The long months of preparing for and enjoying the festivities had been blissfully free of anxiety. The pestilence of war had seemed miles and miles away. “I don’t feel like a ride now.”

“I’d better stay with
Tai-tai
,” Comely Brook said. “You’ll need space in the car for luggage.” It was like her to be thoughtful and practical. She also wanted to avoid Ah Lee.

“All right. Let’s go, girls!”

The train had just arrived when the Huangs reached the station. Chou Glorious Dragon was one of the first to emerge. Amid a sea of passengers clad in dark cotton tunics and baggy trousers, Glorious Dragon stood out in his three-piece suit of textured raw silk. His boater hat poised almost a head above all the other passengers. He swung his walking stick, and the golden chain of his watch sparkled between his vest pockets.

“Uncle Dragon, Uncle.” The girls waved from the car as the chauffeur went to pick up his luggage and Righteous Virtue greeted him.

“Welcome home, Dragon-
dee
.” Righteous Virtue smiled affably. “You show no sign of your recent brush with the immortals.”

“You didn’t tell my sister my accident in the opium den, did you?” A shadow crossed his sunny face.

“No, but what were you doing there?”

“Oh, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Glorious Dragon turned away to look at his luggage. “I happened to be passing the building when it collapsed. My sister does not need to worry about my bad luck.”

“No, of course not.”

“Thanks.” Dragon shook his brother-in-law’s hand. Though his half-sister was almost like a mother to him, he shared the traditional masculine desire to protect her. He would not know how to explain to her his continued raids on General Chin’s opium dens and his traumatic experiences in the city.

Glorious Dragon tossed the chauffeur several coins. “Find yourself a rickshaw to go home. I’ll drive the car.” He looked at the girls and smiled. “Ah, Golden Bell and Silver Bell, my Shanghai mistress will turn into a vinegar bottle if she hears that I’ve been riding with such beautiful young ladies.”

“Oh, they’re no better than other young women.” Righteous Virtue dismissed the compliment with a swish of his hand and beamed broadly. Tradition required a disclaimer on any compliment, though he agreed with his brother-in-law. His daughters were exceptional beauties. He could not see any man resisting their charm.

“Virtue, pardon my criticism, but such old-fashioned modesty is unbecoming to a modern man like you. Your girls are gorgeous!”

“Ah, young girls are a true worry today. Let’s hurry; your sister has prepared a feast.” He hoisted the front panel of his Chinese robe and climbed into the back seat. The chauffeur adjusted Glorious Dragon’s suitcase and left.

“Who wants to sit up front with me?” asked Glorious Dragon, and held open the passenger side door with a bow.

“I will! I will!” both girls chimed.

“All right, Golden Bell, you sit in the passenger seat and Silver Bell, you sit on my lap on the driver’s seat.”

“Oh my, Uncle Dragon, you’ll teach me how to drive?”

“Is it safe to have Silver Bell driving, Dragon? She is only nine.” Her father frowned.

“Open your heart, Virtue. I guarantee! This town is not Shanghai. Everyone will just gawk or run away when they see a car coming.” He lifted Silver Bell on to his lap, and placed her hands on the steering wheel. “Here, Silver Bell, you take charge of the steering like this; squeeze the rubber horn like this when you see anyone in the way.”

“I’ll help you pilot; do the shifting, and step on the pedal.” Her uncle pried her hand away from the horn that she was busy honking.

While Silver Bell steered, Golden Bell giggled and chirped about Iris and the mulberry trees. Righteous Virtue looked on nervously from the back seat. He had not burdened his wife with the coming demands of “
Tao Wren
” (running from chaos.) He was pleased his brother-in-law had lightened the atmosphere and did not alarm the girls.

Passersby smiled, pointed to the merry car, and ran out of the way. Glorious Dragon felt he had made the right entrance for his coming mission.

“O
H DRAGON-
DEE
, YOU’VE finally come.” Purple Jade greeted her brother with genuine pleasure. “You look so trim in your new foreign suit!”

“Don’t I look as if I’ve just stepped out of
Vanity Fair
?” Glorious Dragon turned around for everyone to admire him. He had lost weight during his hospital stay, but his carefree manner belied his ordeal.

“Dragon-
dee
, you have no shame! I don’t know another Chinese like you.
Vanity Fair
indeed! They all look like the devils!” Purple Jade scolded, but her eyes were glowing.

“Jade-
jei
, our ancestors still control you and Virtue-
ko
.” He laughed, twirled his walking stick, and sauntered before them with open arms. “There are opportunities all around us. I’m having the time of my life!”

“So I see.” Purple Jade swished her fan. “You always seem to bring rousing heat wherever you go.”

“And why not?” Glorious Dragon ripped open a package. “Look what I brought you — champagne from France via Shanghai. They call it the bubbly. It’ll make the most solemn man giggle!” He flourished the bottle and held it aloft for everyone to see.

“Oh Uncle Dragon, may I try some?”

“No, Silver Bell,” her mother answered. “You’re giggly enough as it is! Winter Plum, go get the set of jade wine bowls. We have to celebrate.”

“Ah, I forgot to bring you the champagne glasses.” Glorious Dragon did not seem disturbed by the omission.

He carefully lined up the precious wine bowls when they arrived. The thin green stone looked translucent and fragile. “What craftsmanship!” he exclaimed, standing back a moment to admire the bowls.

The girls screeched and giggled as the bottle was popped open and foam came spurting out.

“See, your mother is right! You’re giggling already, and you haven’t even tasted the bubbly.” Their uncle teased them with darting glances while he poured the wine.

Hiding their mouths behind their handkerchiefs out of propriety, the girls giggled some more.

“Drinking champagne in these fine jade bowls reminds me of Iris.” Glorious Dragon toasted everyone. “Did Golden Bell tell me in the car that she ran away to Shanghai and left a note in English? Fancy that!”

“M-Ma wouldn’t allow me into the schoolrooms, but Iris was with Golden Bell all these years.”

“Hush, Silver Bell. Dragon, can you use her in your factory?” Righteous Virtue asked. “It’s not proper that anyone from our house should turn into a bar girl.”

“Can I use her? A modern young woman who knows English? She’ll be invaluable in my dealings with foreigners and the export bureaucrats.”

Golden Bell shot her mother a triumphant look. She was ready to shout: “See, I told you so,” when Comely Brook rested a firm hand on her shoulder. Golden Bell turned to look at her. Comely Brook formed a silent “no” with her lips and shook her head ever so slightly with a gentle sway of her rounded body. As the elder young mistress of the house, Golden Bell could remonstrate with the concubine. But following Comely Brook’s steady gaze, she saw her mother’s uncertain, forlorn eyes and kept still.

“She has to be taught to use forks and knives and learn proper Western manners, of course. All the businessmen will be so impressed!” Glorious Dragon slapped his lap with enthusiasm. “I think I’d better adopt her as a niece, before someone else hires her.”

Righteous Virtue nodded. “Winter Plum, send for the chauffeur. He should be home by now.”

“Dragon, I suppose you know what you’re doing.” Fanning herself vigorously, Purple Jade frowned. “In truth, Iris has been much like a sister to Golden Bell, and this would give us lots of face.”

She passed a bowl of wine to Comely Brook and motioned her to sit and drink with them. Orchid was not in the habit of sitting down with the family, but she was Comely Brook now, and Purple Jade always made a point of being solicitous. Comely Brook nodded her thanks and sat demurely beside Golden Bell. Purple Jade sipped her wine, happy that her resourceful brother would take care of this “disgrace” in her household.

After the chauffeur bowed to everyone, Righteous Virtue addressed him: “Ah Lee, we know you have many friends and relations in Shanghai. We believe Iris has gone there.” He spoke with just enough gruffness to give weight to his mild words but avoid all recriminations. “We’ve always treated her like a child of the house. Now Mr. Chou has agreed to adopt her as a niece. Please help us get in touch with her.”

“You’re most generous!” The chauffeur bowed again. “The Buddha will bring blessings on this house, master.” He smiled, relieved that his complicity in the matter had been overlooked.

“Well then, please use your influence and see that the message is delivered.”

“Yes, master. I’ll do all I can.” He left.

“Now you must all come to Shanghai and attend the adoption ceremony.” Glorious Dragon swept his arms across the room.

“Why can’t we bring Iris home and have the celebration here?” Purple Jade slapped her fan shut.

Glorious Dragon took a deep breath. He wanted to swing his arms and bellow out his determination to risk everything to bring all the Huangs to safety. Instead, he spoke softly. “The chief purpose of my visit today is to bring our families to a foreign concession in Shanghai.” He had seized on the adoption celebration as a means to lure his sister out of her home, but he could no longer maintain the illusion. “The news from the war front is very bad indeed. The enemy seems to be gaining ground.” He sounded sober and very grave.

“Dragon-
dee
.” Purple Jade opened her fan again to hide her agitation. She paused to compose herself. “Our country is so vast, and we’ve often known war. Nothing has changed the stability of this household.”

“The East Ocean devils are brutes. They rape and kill indiscriminately.”

“Surely no one will touch an old woman like me or a pregnant lady like Brook-
mei
!” Purple Jade clutched her fist to her pounding heart, grappling with the contrast between the ordinary and her knowledge of war’s carnage.

“I do not wish to frighten the young ladies, but the truth must be told. The situation is urgent.” Her brother wiped his mouth and continued, “Lao Ting, our uniform shipper, has personally seen beastly acts performed against not only young women, but children, animals, and even old women in their sixties!”

“
Hai
, what war can do to people,” Righteous Virtue said in his gentle voice. “My classmate Liu went to school in Japan. He said the Japanese are the cleanest and most orderly people he has ever known.” He stood up to pace, lowered his head and avoided eye contact with anyone.

“There is no use lamenting. We must act quickly. The enemy is already at the mouth of Shanghai Harbor. They can march in any day. If I were you, I’d go to the French concession tonight!” A rush of blood added color to Glorious Dragon’s champagne-reddened face. The urgency in his voice electrified the room.

Purple Jade turned pale. Spasms of heat and chill ran through her body. “Dragon-
dee
, surely the wine has gone to your head!” She bit her lip. She did not want to panic in front of her children. “How can a household leave immediately? Where shall we live? What are we to live on?”

“Dragon and I have been planning for this for some time,” answered her husband. “I never told you because we hoped this move would never become necessary. But Dragon is correct. We have no time to lose. Golden Bell and Silver Bell should go with Dragon tomorrow. I’ll tell the chauffeur to have Iris meet them in Shanghai. The rest of us will arrange the transfer of our furniture and valuables, and we’ll go when we can.”