A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China (44 page)

“Did I tell you how I finally delivered the baby?”

“No.” Righteous Virtue caught on immediately. “You often said Mrs. Pien would have a difficult delivery.”

“That she had. Although Mr. Pien helped me massage for hours, we were unable to relax his wife’s pelvic muscles. Finally, she looked so uncomfortable, and my arms were so sore, I asked her what she felt like doing. Imagine my surprise when the woman apologized and said she did not want to make demands, but she thought she would be more comfortable squatting.”

“I imagine that’s what she’s used to doing every day on the boat: washing, cooking or eating,” Righteous Virtue chimed in.

“Yes, I imagine so. We helped her onto their low dining table. When she relaxed in her squat, the baby came!”

Drawn into the narration, Comely Brook took a deep breath and wiped her face.

Purple Jade grinned at her husband and her sister-wife, much gratified. She had behaved with atavistic courage in the face of disaster. Yet whenever she was alone in her room, she stared at the vacant walls and relived her idyllic days in Hangzhou. In the midst of the family’s general affliction and distraction, no one noticed her slipping into reverie.

Once, while watching Comely Brook cook, she said, “Orchid, remember to cover the silkworm baskets tonight. The chilly night winds might kill the new worms.”

Comely Brook kept her own counsel. She did not wish to add to her husband’s burden by informing him of Purple Jade’s mental lapses. She knew everyone was frustrated and anxious over the forced inertia.

One morning, while the family rested fitfully, a big black limousine flying the Japanese flag on its antenna drove up to the Huang residence on Blue Pool Road. Two Japanese soldiers stepped out of the car and held the door open. A uniformed officer emerged and rang the bell at the garden gate.

Righteous Virtue opened the gate and froze. Fighting an instinct to crouch and bow, he stared at a tall Japanese officer. He was certain they had come to arrest him. Time had been on the side of the enemy; they had discovered the Buick and the dead soldier.

“This house is requisitioned for the
Kempetai
!” the lieutenant shouted. He marched straight in and ordered the limousine to be driven into the garden.

When the gates closed, two soldiers stood guard outside. The limousine door opened again. Miss Tyler and Iris emerged.

The Huang women were peeping out of the windows and shivering in terror. They did not recognize Lt. Kamasaki. They ran to greet Iris and Miss Tyler immediately.

“I’m Akiro Kamasaki,” the officer introduced himself to Righteous Virtue and a gaping Purple Jade. She was speechless to find the Mr. Kam she had known turning into a hated East Ocean Devil. She at once recognized the hand of fate.

Miss Tyler and Iris related their story.

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor was totally unexpected, Miss Tyler had no time to leave Hangzhou. All the British and Americans, except the small numbers of Germans and Italians, were rounded up for the concentration camps. The Hangzhou natives hid Miss Tyler in a vegetable cart, then transferred her into a boat — following the same water route that had carried Purple Jade two years before — until the American was delivered to Petain Road where Iris was looking after the Huangs’ house. Once there, Lt. Kamasaki gave her Vichy French papers.

“Thank goodness the Japanese cannot tell the Caucasians apart. They thought my terrible French quite acceptable!” Miss Tyler gave a bitter laugh.

Righteous Virtue sighed. He produced Lt. Kamasaki’s high school ring. All thoughts centered for a long, quiet moment on Glorious Dragon and Bright Crystal.

Silver Bell told them of the death of Little Jade Bell and Winter Plum.

Purple Jade was further devastated when she learned that Dr. Rankling had died in the concentration camp. Her true advocate and one source of edification was gone. Desolation awaited her in Shanghai. She felt she was groping in the storage room of her Hangzhou house.
Shafts of dusty light sifted through the window vents and she saw in the corner a single petal dangling on a once-blooming peony. Oh, dear Buddha
, she groaned inside,
where has the light gone? Must I stand quite so alone?

“She might not have been willing to leave her patients in the camp anyway,” Comely Brook murmured, as much to herself as to the others.

Yes, I will always have Orchid
. Out loud, Purple Jade mumbled Tu-Fu’s poem:

Comely Brook shuddered, knowing her mistress was trying her best to minimize her loss. She whispered, “Dr. Rankling has gone to her heavenly reward.”

Purple Jade kept very still, but other lines by Tu Fu came unbidden:

My home is the humble assembly of my loved ones. I’ll be crushed if I lose them. Still, Orchid and baby Coral Bell came from my prideful choice. I owe them life and dignity. But my lonely boat, as ever, is moored to the heart that longs for home
.

“I hope I’ll meet her again in the next life,” she whispered.

Purple Jade’s silent thoughts seemed to have filled the air with somber anguish.

“I apologize for the crimes of my compatriots,” Lt. Kamasaki spoke, lowering his eyes to the ground.

“War is never decent. All soldiers loot and burn throughout history. Oh what bitterness!” Righteous Virtue muttered. “Let’s hope we can all leave this soon.”

“I cannot leave. The lives of my parents and the honor of my family in Japan make me a hostage to the military objectives. But I will help you escape if you have any idea where you want to go.” Lt. Kamasaki looked at the worried faces before him. “I plan to go with Iris and Miss Tyler to Saigon. From there, I’ll send them on to Calcutta, where Miss Tyler can get in touch with her mission and go back to the States. My country has gone crazy. They’ve declared war on the world!”

“My place is by your side,” said Iris. “I will remain with you in Saigon. Perhaps the Huangs will go with Miss Tyler.”

“Our thanks will never repay your kindness.” Righteous Virtue bowed deeply to their former maid and her husband. “We’ve had many hours of discussion during the last weeks. We wish to send Silver Bell to the States to join her sister.”

“Yes.” Miss Tyler nodded. “I can place Silver Bell in a high school near Syracuse University.”

“No!” Silver Bell cried and clung to her mother. Purple Jade held her in a fierce embrace, as much to console her daughter as herself.

Righteous Virtue continued, “Comely Brook and the baby should not endure the hardships of interior China. Purple Jade has agreed to take them back to Shanghai. For myself, I cannot sit idle while the country burns. I must go inland and help the Nationalist effort in Chungking. We have already arranged a fishing junk to take me to Hainan.”

“Then this shall be done,” Lt. Kamasaki answered right away. “Silver Bell will leave with us for Saigon next week as Miss Tyler’s servant. There will be no problem getting her papers ready. A ship leaves for Shanghai this afternoon at three. It will fly a flag identifying it as a refugee ship, so it will be safe from the Allied planes. I will wire Mrs. Chou Ling in Shanghai to meet her cousin, Comely Brook and the new baby. For yourself, Mr. Huang, I’ll need a few days to find a good cover.”

He paced back and forth, making jerky turns. “The South China Sea is patrolled thoroughly by the Japanese Imperial Navy, where I have no influence. You’ll never pass as a fisherman.” He came to an abrupt stop and extended an open palm. “Yes, I have it. I’ll give you identification as a special agent of the
Kempetai
under my command.”

As Righteous Virtue thanked Lt. Kamasaki, Purple Jade stood tall to fortify herself. The parting she dreaded had come. Ignoring the anguish in her heart, she commanded coldly: “Silver Bell, kneel before Miss Tyler!” She pointed an imperial finger at the floor. She straightened her shoulders and held her breath. “From now on you shall honor, obey and serve Miss Tyler as your mother!”

Miss Tyler did not move. She understood the honor conferred upon her. She would have embraced Purple Jade, but that would rob her of her dignity. When Silver Bell Kowtowed, Miss Tyler lifted her and hugged her. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks; she was unable to speak the words of reassurance surging through her mind.

Purple Jade refrained from clasping Silver Bell to her when the girl broke loose from Miss Tyler and pressed wordlessly to her mother’s side.
I shall never let her go if I held her
, she thought. She gently pushed Silver Bell to Miss Tyler again.

Then she walked to the bureau and took out the passbook for Silver Bell’s American savings account. She held it out to Miss Tyler with a bow.

“Thank you,” she said in English, surprising everyone. She bowed again and gave her face a quick swipe. She wobbled toward the stairs as if her bound feet were again a torment.

Comely Brook knelt at the foot of the stairs, blocking her way. “
Tai-tai
, I must abide by your decision, but I know what you’re doing for Coral and me.” She wept so bitterly, she could not continue.

“Rise up Brook-
mei
. Come and help me pack.” Purple Jade raised her. “Be strong, you are my only support now.” Together, they tottered upstairs, weeping quietly in each other’s arms.

When they came down, Purple Jade and Comely Brook were both dry-eyed. Purple Jade carried the three gray scarves. She bowed deeply to Righteous Virtue and gave him the large, plain piece. “My master, you’ve taught me decency, harmony and peace. Let this remind you of our time of grace.”

Righteous Virtue accepted the silk with downcast eyes, trying to maintain his composure.

Purple Jade gave the scarf with the peony flower that she had embroidered herself to Silver Bell. The luster on the silk was gone, but the peony flower took on an ashen sheen that melded into the gray scarf. “Yes, we are the silk. We should remain supple and gracious.” She gave her little heart-and-liver a brave, small grin. “This is your silk; never forget who you are.”

When Silver Bell reached to grab her mother, Miss Tyler drew her to her side, and placed the silk on her shoulder.

Clutching Little Jade’s scarf with the orchid, Purple Jade whispered, “We are ready to go.”

Comely Brook held her head erect, imitating her mistress’s stateliness. She bowed to Righteous Virtue. She allowed Silver Bell and Iris to embrace Coral Bell one last time and followed Purple Jade and Lt. Kamasaki out the door.

Purple Jade wore a blank mask of dignity and walked stiffly toward the waiting car. Fingering her silk all the while, she did not look back.

Like that of many other early peoples, Chinese civilization developed along river valleys. The fertile plains of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers nurtured a sophisticated culture thousands of years before the West learned of its existence — a culture that flourished, remote and undisturbed, largely thanks to the protection of its geography.

To the north and northwest, the sere Mongolian deserts shielded China, while the Himalayan Mountains loomed to the south and southwest. Along the eastern shore, a rugged coastline ran from Siberia to the jungles of Southeast Asia. The vast Pacific Ocean was an effective obstacle against intrusion from that direction.

It was not until the thirteenth century and the famous travels of Marco Polo that the Europeans were alerted to the fabulous wealth of this empire in the inaccessible Orient. The advent of the Renaissance saw every major European sovereign launching his galleons — including those of Christopher Columbus — to find a shorter trade route to the fantastic riches of the East.

By the nineteenth century, when the industrial revolution poised the Western powers for mercantile imperialism, the Chinese were experiencing the twin ravages of deforestation and overpopulation. The Chin (Pure) Dynasty (1644-1911), a Manchu government, had ruled the majority Han race for almost three hundred years, and its vigor would soon dissipate under the control of Tz’u Hsi (1835-1908), the corrupt, capricious consort of the Hsien-feng Emperor. The Empress Dowager maneuvered herself into absolute power by allying with conservative officials and powerful court eunuchs, who helped her suppress badly needed reforms.

At a time when the West had acquired a taste for tea, silk, porcelain, and other fineries of China, the Chinese were weak, divided, and incapable of safeguarding their treasures. When the Western flotilla arrived in the nineteenth century to end China’s “splendid isolation”, China was introduced to the world community under the muzzle of the gun.

Supported by the British sovereign position in India and its supreme naval forces, the East India Company cultivated poppy plants in India and shipped opium to China in defiance of Chinese imperial prohibition. China went to war in October 1839, and lost. Hong Kong became a British colony. There followed one unequal treaty after another, until the major powers — Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Portugal, and Britain — all held Chinese territories as concessions in which Chinese sovereignty was waived and extraterritorial rights and privileges granted to the interlopers. Although the United States did not acquire territorial rights in China, traders participated in the opium trade alongside the British, and benefited consistently from advantages gained by the British through the unequal treaties.