WSMTATMC C34

Chapter 34

After walking about the length of one stick of incense, they arrived at a street corner in the southern part of the city. This quarter was the equivalent of an ancient red-light district: seven or eight taverns and brothels of various size lined the road, gaudy signs hanging above, as though fearful passersby might somehow miss them.

The three of them stood before the gate of Autumn Moon House, their eyes solemn and steadfast, as if preparing to march onto a battlefield.

Wang Ying whispered to the man beside him, “Hey, have you ever entered a place like this before?”

Chen Qingyan’s face turned stern. “Of course not. Such a place is no haunt of gentlemen.”

“Is it not said that scholars and literati love to idle in such houses—scribbling poems for beauties, drinking by moonlight, singing and strumming the lute?”

“Bah! That is merely shameless libertines dressing up their lust. To whore is to whore—no need for excuses.”

Wang Ying raised a thumb in admiration. So principled at such an age—few youths had such a spine! Truly capable of resisting corruption.

After much puffing and hesitation, the three finally pushed inside, standing at the threshold like raw recruits on their first watch, unsure how to proceed.

It was not quite as television dramas once depicted; no gaudily dressed madame came swaying over to solicit them.

The ground floor was a hall with six or seven tables. It was noon; a few guests sat eating.

The only thing distinguishing it from a common tavern was a girl seated with a pipa on her lap, singing soft and haunting southern ballads. Her voice was clear, lingering, and moving.

For a moment, Wang Ying thought they had stumbled into the wrong place. But raising his head, he noticed several scantily clad courtesans loitering on the upper floor railings.

A waiter stepped forward to ask whether they came merely to dine or to take their pleasures upstairs.

Chen Qingyan startled as if facing mortal peril and immediately declared, “To eat! We are only here to eat!”

The waiter led them to a small table, handing over a wooden menu-board.

On it, about a dozen dish names were brushed neatly in calligraphy. But they were couched in florid poetic phrases—so refined that one could not at all tell what the dishes truly were. At random, Wang Ying pointed to three. The three companions sat anxiously.

“Cousin-in-law, do you think we will run into that man here?”

“I cannot say. Let us watch a while. If not, we shall try another house.”

There were few famous pleasure houses in the whole county. If Fang Shen truly treated them as his second home, he was bound to appear.

Half a quarter-hour later, their dishes were brought: “Snow of Early Spring”—merely scallions with cold tofu. “Threads of Green”—shredded cucumber in vinegar. “Listening to Mountain and Sea”—actually chilled slices of marinated pig’s ear.

And so, in this freezing weather, they had managed to order three cold dishes!

No wonder the waiter had looked at them so oddly, yet said nothing.

At least the staple was hot—each a bowl of millet rice. Driven by the thought of not wasting their coin, they bent their heads to eat.

As they ate, suddenly a shout rang out:

“Ah, Master, you are here! Please, this way—the upstairs chamber has already been reserved for you!”

All three raised their heads at once. A corpulent man entered, face florid, reeling with wine and dissipation. From his attire and his dissipated look—a man robbed hollow by drink and women—there was little doubt: this was Fang Shen, the infamous Second Master Fang.

Lin Qiu was so startled he nearly toppled. Wang Ying swiftly steadied him, murmuring, “Do not stare directly—be careful lest we be noticed.”

Thus Lin Qiu forced himself to lower his gaze, watching from the corner of his eye instead.

Fang Shen walked like one who knew the place well. As he passed the singing girl, he halted.

“This girl looks unfamiliar. Is she new?”

“Arrived from Guazhou but a few days ago. Possessed of a fine voice. Líniáng, greet Master Fang.”

She rose and murmured softly, “Greetings, Master.”

Fang Shen’s lips curled. “Yo~~ What a sweet little sound—you’ve already made my bones go soft. Well then, today I’ll not bother going upstairs. I shall stay right here and listen to your song.” He pulled a bit of silver from his bosom and thrust it into her bodice, taking the chance to pinch her breast.

The girl flushed deep red, yet dared not resist, and resumed her playing.

Lin Qiu turned away. This time no tears would come. Only one thought rang within him: To marry me to such a man—it would be better to die outright.

Chen Qingyan’s chest heaved in wrath. Their uncle was beyond all reason—willing to consign his son to this beast. And to say Fang Shen was “not so bad as rumors”—when in truth he was worse!

Fang Shen took a seat. Presently a boon companion joined him, and together they drank, jesting with obscene jokes unfit for the ear.

Wang Ying resolved to settle the bill and depart. But suddenly he heard Fang Shen’s companion bring up their uncle.

“That boy from the accountant Lin family you mentioned last time—how goes it?”

“Nearly settled. Isn’t it just a matter of a word from me?”

“You’ve seen that youth, then?”

“I have. Such a slender waist, tsk tsk—just looking at him lit a wicked fire in my gut. Were he not so handsome, I’d not have spent such sums buying him.”

“Master, you are blessed indeed! When the time comes, we brothers will all share in your fortune.” They smirked lasciviously, Fang Shen laughing heartily with them.

Few knew—Fang Shen had perverse tastes. It was whispered his last wife had been beaten to death by him rather than dying of illness.

“Master, you truly intend to go through with it?”

“Bah! I am only speaking. What right have I to bestow any of them about?”

“No, it is that old man—he’s mad for money.”

“Indeed! That old fool keeps a mistress outside. They say the woman just bore him a son last month, so he’s desperately short of funds…”

Chen Qingyan trembled, fists clenched under the table. Wang Ying pressed his hand down hard beneath, warning with his eyes—an altercation here would be ruinous.

“Waiter—check, please!”

“Coming! Altogether one hundred and thirty wen.”

What! So much for three cold dishes? Wang Ying did not even bargain, but tossed the coins down and dragged the others away.

On the road back, none spoke. Wang Ying never imagined the truth—that their Third Uncle had arranged this marriage for the sake of money. No wonder he was so adamant about sending his son into the Fang family—it had long been schemed.

At home, Aunt Chen was cooking. “Well—was the matter resolved?”

Lin Qiu ran at once into the west room without a word.

“You silly child—I am speaking to you!”

Wang Ying caught her sleeve. “Is Uncle at home?”

“He went out.”

“All the better. Set aside the cooking. Come with us—we must tell you what happened today.”

Seeing the grave look on Wang Ying’s face, Chen Rong quickly set down her tools, doused the fire, and followed into the room.

There, Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan recounted every word they had heard in the brothel.

At the end, she could hardly breathe. Chen Qingyan took her hand. “Aunt, do not despair. Your nephew is here. Whatever may come, we will shield you.”

Chen Rong leaned against the wall, nearly sliding to the ground, teeth clenched until her face warped with hate.

“No wonder—no wonder—no wonder he would treat my Qiu so! He already has a bastard with another woman! That beast, worse than swine or dog!”

She rushed toward the door to confront him, but Wang Ying intercepted her. “Aunt, do not lose yourself. Even if you faced him now, he would not confess. The most urgent thing is to calm Cousin. On the way back, I saw his face was not right—if we are not careful, some calamity may happen.”

Even as he spoke, a shriek came from the west room: “Brother, what are you doing!”

The three dashed over. Inside, Lin Qiu clutched a pair of scissors, pressing them to his throat. The first stab had missed the vital spot, but blood already gushed, staining him scarlet. Lin Sui clung to his arm desperately to stop another strike.

Lin Qiu’s eyes blazed with resolve. “Mother, I will not marry that man. Better I die now!”

Chen Rong cried aloud, snatched away the scissors, and gathered her son into her arms—sobbing so hard she could scarcely breathe. “Son—you will be the death of your mother! Let me die with you then—I will not live either—let us go together!”

Little Lin Sui stood frozen, hands covered with his brother’s blood, weeping too.

Wang Ying, blinking back hot tears, pulled them apart. “Third Aunt, stop weeping! Quickly—bind Cousin’s throat!”

She awoke as from a dream, pressing a kerchief hard to the wound. Chen Qingyan slung Qiu onto his back, and together with Chen Bo and Dunzi, they half-carried, half-ran to the city’s medical hall.

There, the physician unwrapped the cloth—everyone drew in breath. The neck, once whole, now gaped with a half-inch deep slice, flesh torn, a wound made with death in mind.

Wang Ying had to step outside, chest tight.

At the entrance he ran into Cao Kun, helping a porter who had crushed his foot unloading goods.

“Well, Shopkeeper Wang—fancy meeting you again.”

“Boss Cao.”

“Someone ill at your house?”

“Mn. My cousin hurt himself. He is inside receiving treatment.”

Cao Kun asked no more, simply supporting his man within. Yet again, he spotted the same taciturn youth as in the morning.

But now his pallor was ghostly, as if his soul had fled. He sat numbly on a wooden stool while the physician stitched his throat.

Cao Kun had once suffered his arm cut open delivering goods, and even he as a man had howled through the sewing of the wound. Yet this fragile-seeming boy did not utter a single sound. Cao felt a surge of both curiosity and admiration.

When the sewing was done, the physician admonished, “Such a grievous wound is bound to scar. Avoid spice and meat the next days. If it grows inflamed, it will be hard to heal.”

“Yes, doctor,” they answered.

He prescribed a mixture for bleeding and inflammation. Chen Qingyan collected the herbs.

Wang Ying paid. Chen Rong murmured, “We left in such haste I had no silver—when we return, I will repay you.”

“Aunt, don’t speak of repayment. The only matter now is Cousin’s recovery.”

“Sigh.”

They supported Qiu out. Cao Kun caught them again outside. “Shopkeeper Wang, a word.”

“What is it?”

Cao scratched his head awkwardly. “I have some salves for external injuries—folk like us in the courier trade get bumps and cuts often. They’re stronger than what the doctor gives. When you send goods later, take a bottle back with you.”

“This… I cannot trouble you.”

“It’s nothing. Worthless stuff—don’t forget.” With that, he strode back in.

Wang Ying could not help but sigh—Boss Cao truly had a generous heart.

Back home, Dunzi harnessed the mule cart to deliver the goods. Wang Ying saw Chen Qingyan standing pale with fury at the doorsill. He went forward to clasp his hand.

Chen Qingyan muttered: “A father should shield his children, protect them with his very life. Even a tigress will not devour her own cubs. Yet he would consign his son to such filth!”

“Alas. What use words now? With Aunt’s temper, once Uncle returns, there is sure to be a fight.”

“Should he not be beaten? Beaten to death he would deserve it! If my own father were still alive—had he known his sister was so degraded—he would have smashed the man’s skull with the rod!”

“True words. But remember, he is still our cousin’s father. This matter is not ours to decide—it lies in Aunt’s hand.”

Just then, Third Aunt emerged from the west room. “I have made up my mind. I will divorce him and take Qiu and Sui away.”

“Aunt!” Wang Ying stepped forward to steady her. “And Cousin—how fares he?”

“He sleeps now. I have hidden away all sharp tools. Little Sui guards him.”

Qingyan asked solemnly, “Aunt, are you truly decided?”

Her voice broke, “I am decided. If I do not leave him, Qiu will be hounded to death!”

“Then, Aunt, come back with us! Let us return together.”

She shook her head. “No. I still have part of my dowry kept aside. I had saved it for the boys’ future marriages. I will use it now to rent a small house. We three will live apart.”

Wang Ying frowned. “You do not wish to return to live at our town?”

Chen Rong shook her head. “If it were only me, so be it. But bringing two children—I cannot burden you thus…”

Wang Ying gripped her hand. “How can you say such things? Even strangers would stretch out aid at such a time—so how could we neglect our own kin? Qingyan’s father passed too soon—if he yet lived, never would he allow you to be humiliated thus. He would have carried you home long ago.”

At the mention of her elder brother, Chen Rong could not restrain her grief. She wailed loudly, “Elder Brother—oh, why did you depart so soon! With you gone, who looks after your sister?”

Chen Qingyan’s face streamed with tears. “I will. Aunt, I am the same as my father. So long as I draw breath, I shall protect you all!”

notes

: One stick of incense (一炷香) was a common time measurement in imperial China—roughly 30 minutes, the length an incense stick required to burn through.