A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China (40 page)

“Yes, but isn’t it strange that Chinese girls should imitate British soldiers?”

“Evening peace, my lord.” Purple Jade bowed. “What are you talking about — British soldiers?”

“Silver Bell sang a song of the British grenadiers. I thought it might not be appropriate.”

“Perhaps it is now.” Purple Jade handed her husband a hot towel. “After all, the British Empire protects us.”

“Ah, yes, if only I could have more faith in their might.” He let Little Jade squirm out of his arms. Seated on a cane chair, he wiped his face. “The English are only interested in their homeland. They won’t send more troops, and they’re counting on that obsolete fleet in the harbor to deter the Japanese.” He returned the towel to his wife and banged one fist into an open hand. “They think only the white man can fight. Why, the Hong Kong Defense Force has hardly any Chinese in it! They think it is a waste of time to give arms to the Chinese and train them!”

“The Chinese are too smart. We’ll leave the fighting to those with the firepower.”

“You may be right about that.” Her husband accepted tea from Comely Brook, who was pregnant again. “Brook-
mei
, please take the children away, and go rest a while. I have important news to discuss with Jade-
mei
.” He stared at his tea and averted his eyes from both wives.

Comely Brook paused. Purple Jade usually included her in their family deliberations, even though she was mostly a listener. Though a concubine, and therefore one of the mistresses of the house, she still served Purple Jade and attended to all her needs as if she were her personal maid. Still, she was now the principal manager of the house while Purple Jade worked with the boat people. She never discussed her household concerns with her husband, but ministered to his needs when he returned from work in the morning. She never questioned his commands. Without a word, she ushered the children outside.

“Mind, Jade-
mei
, this is not to my liking. Today, England declared war on Germany. We received the news early this morning. All English dependents in Hong Kong have been ordered to evacuate.”

Purple Jade shuddered. She had hoped that Golden Bell’s news from school was mere childish speculation! She sat down slowly and fanned herself. Her complexion turned red, then pale, then red again in waves of anxiety and panic. She had long anticipated what her husband was now saying. “Jade, you have more relatives in Shanghai, and we own our house there. You have to start preparing the family’s return.” He broke off, knowing the devastating effect of his words.

Righteous Virtue had stumbled into bed in the morning and had not announced the news to his sleeping family. For more than a year, he had struggled with his ambivalence. He had hoped and prayed that England and America might join in the war against Germany. As Japan and Germany were now allies, the Nationalist Chinese could then count on Western help. Many days and nights he sat dreaming of a fantastic invasion of occupied China by the combined forces of the American, British and Chinese armies. The absurdity of his dreams mingled with his guilt over the hardships his family would suffer under this path to liberation. His national pride struggled with his wish for peace and safety. He often discussed with his wife the possibility of English involvement in the European war. Now that England declared war, Hong Kong — a British Crown colony — was vulnerable to Japanese invasion. Righteous Virtue was reluctant to bring news of possible war and separation to the family. Yet he felt strangely exhilarated by the anticipation that some decisive action might be near, now that Japan had blundered into such powerful Western enemies.

“I understand.” Purple Jade’s voice rang out, strangely resonant in the rented house of evening shadows. “Golden and Silver Bell must eventually leave and go to study in America. Your editorials are rife with anti-Japanese sentiments, so we cannot remain here. You must flee to Chungking. The babies cannot tolerate the rigors of war in interior China.”

Inwardly, she was deeply shaken. Without her husband and her flesh and blood around her, would she be able to maintain her equilibrium? Once her daughters left for higher learning, as they must, she could become a true helpmate to her husband in the interior. Oh, to share in his active struggle against the East Ocean Devils! She dared not dwell on such heady possibilities.

Righteous Virtue was thinking along the same vein. “I could start a small newspaper in the interior to rally for our national cause, and you could start a clinic.”

They smiled wistfully at each other. Her mind quickly steered away from temptation. She had urged a concubine on her husband; she could not blame him. With her bound feet, her furtive reach for freedom would never have been possible without Comely Brook’s near-silent support. Yes, she was committed to Comely Brook in a way that transcended class, tradition, and power. They were fellow victim-slaves who had stumbled upon a central nerve in human relations — there is joy in kindly service, and peace in loving acceptance.

Her voice took on urgency. “Brook
-mei
is only a concubine. The child in her and Little Jade will have no status in Shanghai. I must return with them and protect them. I’m as much responsible for their lives as you are.” The shimmer in her eyes betrayed her brave words. “The silk factory in Shanghai is floundering under Japanese control, but they are still buying raw silk from Hangzhou. The Chou family will need my help.”

She saw herself and Comely Brook as the two white gulls in Tu Fu’s poem:

Righteous Virtue realized in a flash that his wife, at forty-one, was a true beauty. Her charm was imbued with integrity and courage, but it was shielded, as if under glass, by her formidable reserve. Her hair was graying, her skin still supple and smooth, her eyes liquid but so still. In any crowded room, her imperturbable civility, her patience, and her sweet insistence on pleasing formed an island of tranquility and grace.

He looked again, astounded. She sat calmly with her hands clasped in her lap. The setting sun lit up sparkles on the silver in her hair, but her eyes were luminous as slow-welling tears caught the light. Righteous Virtue etched her image into his mind.

He was weary, and longed to rush forward to hold her, but he restrained himself with an effort. Her dignity and formality were the foundations of her strength. He must respect and protect them. He gave his wife a desolate, longing glance. “Jade-
mei
, we’ll stay together as long as we can. Let’s hope the Japanese will not expel the English from Hong Kong. I’m loath to desert my family again, but I do not have the cunning or the necessary guile to deal with the enemy.” He turned to face the evening gloom.

“My master, you must not shoulder the blame of war, the force of fate.” Her placid voice smothered the feverish tumult within her. “You have no alternative, when it is a choice between your integrity and collaboration with violence and murder.” Her anemic tone masked the darkness in her heart. Silently she recited a Tu Fu poem to herself:

“I’ve written so many editorials urging the British to rouse the natives here.” Righteous Virtue’s knuckles on his clenched fists turned white. “Oh no, they can’t spare more troops, but why won’t they arm the Chinese? They refuse to listen to our intelligence from the mainland!
Hai
, the British don’t trust the Chinese to do anything!”

“Do you think the East Ocean Devils will dare to defy the British fleet here?”

“I won’t be surprised if they do. The fleet consists of nothing but rusty buckets.” Righteous Virtue sipped his tea. “I place my confidence in the American fleet out in Hawaii. They will not stand for an attack on the crown colony of their traditional ally. While they are guarding the Pacific, I hope Hong Kong will be spared.”

He balanced the teacup on the cane tabletop and looked morosely at his wife. “Sometimes I’m at a loss trying to understand the Western democracies. I’m told that the German and Japanese warships are still refueling from American lighters in the Shanghai harbors. The Americans prosper by selling scrap metal, gasoline and other war materials to Japan. They think they can feed a mad dog and not be bitten!” He gave a short bitter laugh. “It is no wonder so many Chinese fall for the Japanese line of ‘Asia for Asians.’ It makes sense.” He looked guilty. “In . . . in a global war, the United States is still the safest place. Perhaps we should send Golden Bell to America this year instead of the next.”

“Yes.” Purple Jade’s voice trembled. She tried to ignore the pain in her chest. “We should begin our inquiries, and the paperwork.” She turned away, unable to contemplate her daughter’s departure. There had been, and would be, many more sleepless nights of tearful examination. She had turned the matter over in her mind so often that she was now firm in her belief that this was the only safe option. Golden Bell still had another year of high school. Should she leave right now? Should they send Silver Bell as well? She remembered Peony and did not dare let her emotions dictate her daughters’ fate. Trembling with uncertainty, she lifted one hand to touch her brow.

Yes, I must visit the Ling Ying Temple on Lan Tao Island. Perhaps the Buddha will help with a propitious decision, oh-me-to-fo. It would be a blessing if Golden Bell could finish high school and stay home another year
. She fanned herself slowly and gasped for breath. In a timid voice she asked her husband, “Do you have news from the mainland?”

“Yes, the Nationalists are settling in for a long struggle. The Japanese are keeping up the massive air strikes on the civilian population around Chungking.” He sighed. “I try to send in supplies, but it is getting more and more difficult.” He wiped his sweaty brow and his voice lightened. “Last March we completely routed the enemy at Tai’erzhuang. We repelled them at Changsha, and though the Japanese control all the big cities along our eastern coast, they don’t have the use of our railroads.” He smiled. “Our guerrilla action is most successful. We harass the enemy with small firearms, then melt into the countryside.”

“In a large country like ours, that is the only way to wear down the enemy.” Purple Jade swept her arm in a wide arch in front of her. “We attack when they least expect us and withdraw when they’re prepared.”

“You’ve been reading Sun Tzu’s
The Art of War
by Sun Tzu.” Righteous Virtue nodded. He wanted to savor the triumph of their old methods. “In the white man’s eye, this is a war of interminable attrition. They think we are cowards because we won’t fight openly. But they are wrong! We shall prevail. I just hope we don’t have to devastate our country in doing so.”

Purple Jade lowered her head; the image of her charred home and courts in Hangzhou hovered before her. The thought of never seeing her brother’s bright face again gnawed at her heart. A vacant glaze blanked her eyes. Her husband whispered to help restore her composure.

“Jade-
mei
, I’ve promised to take the family out for a ride after dinner. Let’s get ready.”

P
URPLE JADE RECEIVED the news of Comely Brook’s second pregnancy with a sense of nameless malaise. With their home in ashes and their land under Japanese control, the family’s need for an heir was over. She had come to accept the randomness of gender after assisting in so many births. Some families were never blessed with a son, no matter how hard they prayed, while other families could never beget a daughter.

Comely Brook’s obvious elation at her second pregnancy baffled Purple Jade. But when Comely Brook confided that she prayed for a son, Purple Jade recognized her desperate effort to become “valuable.” Her simplicity and overwhelming devotion moved Purple Jade. She decided to conceal her growing doubts and resolved to bolster that glimmer of possibility that a son might still make a difference. “A son surely will add more yan elements to this household so dominated by the yin,” she said.

Somehow, a deeper part of her refused to hope. She turned her back on domestic management and left Comely Brook in full command. In her days of deformity, Comely Brook had brought dignity to her life. Now she would make certain Comely Brook received her due in full measure.

Was Comely Brook ever like a daughter to her? No, she was always fond of her, but she had also taken her for granted. Yes, she had used Comely Brook; not cruelly, but she had used her — just as she now used her own arms and legs. Thinking of her frequently sore arms, Purple Jade wondered why Comely Brook never complained. Like an old married couple, she and her maid had become one person. Right or wrong, they had adapted to the old conventions and acquiesced to life. War brought them some measure of freedom, but annihilated all refinements. Fate had set their lives on a congruent course. She must not permit the mere hint of jealousy to slip onto her countenance or into her words. Their activities must grow from need to necessity to essential harmony because Comely Brook was also her new womb. Indeed, their partnership was the very center of her being.