Ch. 15
The next morning, Zhu Ma, who was helping her to get ready, frowned and sighed, ‘It was peaceful for a few days and now you’ve fallen out with him again…’
Qin Sang was in a bad mood herself and so said nothing. In the afternoon, Yao Yuping telephoned her and after some small talk, hesitated a little before telling her, ‘I’ve asked to meet him today.’
Qin Sang brightened up and replied, ‘Then I’ll just pretend to run into you so I can have a look at him. I want to see what kind of person it is who has attracted you.’
Yao Yuping was only too eager for Qin Sang to be there hence she urged, ‘I’ve arranged to meet him at three p.m. at Xishengzhuang. Do come along as well. I’ll treat you to coffee.’
Qin Sang replied laughingly, ‘I can do without coffee but I shall certainly be happy to drink¹ a bowl of winter melon soup in the future.’
¹ In Chinese, soup is drunk rather than eaten.
Although Yao Yuping was from Fuyuan, she knew from her Northern classmates that a bowl of winter melon soup was an expression meaning to thank the matchmaker and as such was already feeling embarrassed. Qin Sang also knew that she was on the shy side and so refrained from teasing her too much. She changed the subject and before hanging up at last, it was agreed that everyone would meet at three o’clock at Xishengzhuang.
At three, Qin Sang was already dressed and out of the house, directing the chauffeur to drive her to Xishengzhuang that was situated beside Lake Fu. Originally a well-established hotel, it had changed hands and been turned into a restaurant serving Western food which enjoyed excellent business. However, since it was teatime rather than lunchtime, there weren’t as many customers. By the time Qin Sang arrived, Yao Yuping was already seated and hailed her ‘Jiejie’* from afar, before saying with a slight blush, ‘He’s not here yet.’
* Elder Sister
‘I hope he hasn’t changed his mind because he’s shy,’ Qin Sang returned.
Yao Yuping said, ‘I didn’t tell him I would be meeting you here so he will definitely come.’
‘You little imp!’ Qin Sang exclaimed. ‘If you haven’t told him, how are you going to introduce me to him when he comes later?’
Yao Yuping said, ‘I’ll just pretend that we met by chance. Isn’t that what we agreed upon before? And as agreed, you’ll help me to observe just what sort of person he is.’
Qin Sang replied, ‘I consider it my bounden duty.’²
² 義不容辭 yì bùróng cí: not to be shirked without dishonor (idiom). If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
She immediately summoned the waiter over and indicated another table for herself. Although her table was diagonally opposite Yao Yuping’s, it happened to be partially blocked by a folding screen. People walking in from outside couldn’t see the table but anyone sitting there had a clear view of the exterior. Qin Sang ordered a coffee and had just drunk half of it when Yao Yuping suddenly winked at her before standing up and saying with an engaging smile, ‘You’re here.’
Qin Sang had been very curious to find out what kind of person had caught Yao Yuping’s fancy so she she turned round slightly from behind the screen to glance outside. What she saw though had the effect of a bolt from the blue and she froze in her seat. For it was none other than Li Wangping, now known as Pan Jianchi.
Pan Jianchi had never expected to see her there either so he only stared blankly at her. Yao Yuping pretended to have just caught sight of Qin Sang and exclaimed laughingly, ‘Oh, you’re here too, Jiejie! What a coincidence.’ This remark was what they had agreed on earlier but to Qin Sang, it now had another meaning and sounded especially mocking. There was a buzzing sound in her ears. Pan Jianchi had recovered himself so he strode forward, bowed and greeted her with ‘Madam’.
This form of address reminded Qin Sang that she was already another man’s wife and even if Pan Jianchi and Yao Yuping were in love³, it was a perfectly reasonable state of affairs.
She forced herself to smile a little and replied, ‘No need to be so courteous. So it turns out you have a date with Miss Yao.’
³ 兩情相悅 liǎngqíngxiāngyuè: 1. (of a couple) to be harmonious. 2. to be each other’s sunshine. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Pan Jianchi did not say anything, merely bowing in response.
Qin Sang enquired, ‘How is your injury?’
Pan Jianchi replied, ‘Thank you for your concern, Madam. It’s much better now and I shall be able to resume my normal duties in a few days.’
‘There’s no hurry…’
Whilst conversing with him, Qin Sang struggled to maintain her self-possession, only feeling it to be an unspeakable strain, almost as though she couldn’t breathe. It was like being underwater with the water pressing down on her chest, so that her heart beat at an especially slow and heavy pace. The Western-style school where she been educated had been quite open-minded and there had even been swimming lessons. The first time she had gone into the water, she had slipped and sunk: it was the same horrible feeling. She had only seen a speck of light above her but no matter how hard she had reached, how hard she had moved her arms, she just couldn’t get hold of anything and down she had sunk… farther… and farther…
Yao Yuping, seeing that Qin Sang looked extremely unwell, impulsively grasped her hand and asked, ‘Jiejie, are you unwell? Your hands are so cold…’
Qin Sang shook her head and said with an effort, ‘I’m fine…’ but before she could finish, the world went black and she slumped gently to the floor.
This fainting spell felt like a groggy sleep, but also like the time when Mother had fallen ill and she had stayed up for a few nights by her bedside but then had nodded off from sheer fatigue. Hazily she could feel Mother tossing and turning on the bed and she wanted to reach out and take Mother’s hand but after murmuring ‘Mama…’, she found herself grasping nothing. Cold sweat prickled all over her body and slowly she understood that Mother was long gone, home was long finished whilst she herself had been in this morass for some years. It felt like many years when in fact it had only been a short three years. Three years that had been harder than half a lifetime of suffering which was why she felt that all of this had happened a long — a very long — time ago. Mother’s illness, Mother’s passing, her own marriage… to think it had all happened only three years ago…
When she thought of all this, she didn’t feel like opening her eyes and wished she could continue sleeping like this. But the murmuring sound by her ears sounded like rain, or a whole group of people talking and disturbing her so that she had to wake up. Slowly she opened her eyes to find that she was lying in her own bed. There really were several people in the room: a few physicians dressed in Western garb and some nurses. Zhu Ma was gazing at her with a worried expression and when she saw Qin Sang open her eyes, exclaimed joyfully⁴, ‘Missy is awake! Missy is awake!’
⁴ 歡天喜地 huāntiān-xǐdì: with boundless joy; wild with joy; overjoyed.
Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
The physicians also seem relieved that she had come to and the head physician said to Yi Liankai, ‘Since Madam is awake, everything is all right. There’s no need for any medicine. She just needs to rest well.’
Qin Sang had never expected Yi Liankai to be present as well. He was the last person she wanted to see so she closed her eyes wearily and turned her face away. Yi Liankai ordered Zhu Ma to see the physicians out and in a while the doctors and nurses all left and even the servants bowed themselves out, leaving the two of them alone.
In front of Qin Sang’s bed was a Western-style soft couch on which Yi Liankai was currently sitting, silently gazing at her. She opened her eyes and saw that he was still observing her so she asked dully, ‘Is there anything else?’
Her words were intended to show him the door5 and she knew, given his temper, it would provoke him into quarrelling with her. However, she was feeling out of sorts today and was in no mood whatsoever to humour him. If he wanted to quarrel, so be it; better still if he left in a huff so that she could be left in peace. But Yi Liankai bit his tongue though he was visibly annoyed.
5 逐客令: 2. (fig.) notice to leave. 3. words or behavior intended at turning visitors out. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Despite the unusualness of his behaviour, Qin Sang did not dwell on it and added, ‘I’m all right now. You can go.’
Yi Liankai raised his head and looked at her. She felt that his expression was extremely odd but didn’t think too much of it. After a long pause, he finally said, ‘I want to talk to you.’
Qin Sang was extremely fatigued by this point so she merely turned her face away and said, ‘Can we talk about it another day? I’m really tired.’
Yi Liankai actually smiled but it was quite a strange smile and he only replied, ‘If we wait, it might be too late again.’
Qin Sang, unable to bear his mystifying manner¹, sat up slightly and said, ‘Go ahead then.’
¹ 陰陽怪氣 yīnyángguàiqì: (of a person’s manner of speaking) mystifying; enigmatic; deliberately ambiguous.
‘I know you loathe me.’ Yi Liankai seemed calm as he continued slowly, ‘I also don’t expect that you’ll like what I’m going to say, but since matters have come to such a pass, I have to be honest with you.² Just now the physician told me that you’re two months with child.’
² 實話實說 shíhuà-shíshuō: speak frankly; talk straight; not mince matters. If you’re not reading this chapter athiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
Qin Sang seemed to have suffered a sudden blow as her entire person shrank back slightly, her lips drained of colour as she stared at Yi Liankai.
‘I also know all about the little tricks you’ve been playing. Those Western medicines you take to prevent getting a child harm your health over time so I replaced them all with vitamins sometime back. I know you don’t want this child, but if you dare do the same heartless thing you did last year… if you ever dare do such a thing again…’
He leaned forward, looking at her ashen face with a sort of satisfaction and promised through gritted teeth, ‘I’ll kill you with one shot!’
Qin Sang’s lips quivered faintly. Her face was devoid of expression but her voice was calm: ‘What are you saying? I don’t understand.’
‘Must you make me spell it out? You think I really don’t know what you were sick with last year? The baby was almost three months along when you insisted on taking the medicine to abort it… I acted dumb back then, thinking you couldn’t possibly be so heartless…’ He had seized her arms to force her to keep looking at him.
‘I kept hoping you would come and tell me yourself. I thought maybe you were thin-skinned, you were embarrassed. So I kept waiting for you to come and tell me… but instead you went secretly to the hospital, you ate a whole lot of foul•medicine to abort the baby before coming back and claiming that you had been ill… I’ve long wanted to have your measure, to see just what your heart is made of. That was also your own flesh and blood; how could you bring yourself to do it? How could such a heartless woman like you exist? You think you got away with murder?³ You think just because I didn’t say anything, therefore I knew nothing? I’m telling you — if you dare try it again, I’ll make sure you’re buried together with this child!’
³ 滴水不漏 dī shuǐ bù lòu: 1. lit. not one drop of water can leak out. 2. watertight (fig.). Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
As Qin Sang watched him glaring at her as though he would have liked to swallow her whole⁴, she suddenly felt exhausted. She had been imprisoned in the cage for too long, so long that she seemed to have forgotten how to struggle. So this was the face after all pretences were torn away5: a vile visage6. No wonder when she had been ill for half a year in Changye last year^, he had refused to go home even once — he had been hurt after all. But did such a man even have a heart?
5 撕破臉 sīpòliǎn: 2. to shed all pretense of cordiality. 3. to tear into each other.
6 面目猙獰 miànmù zhēngníng: ferocious features; a vile visage
She said slowly, ‘Why must you keep forcing me? Back then it was your father’s decision to send someone to propose our marriage. I had no choice but to agree for my parents’ sakes. After marrying you, I found that our temperaments and personalities aren’t compatible. Never mind that I’ll have to pay7 with my entire lifetime but why involve a child in all this… Assuming you like children — even if you have one with someone else outside — it’ll still be your child should you bring one home… Why won’t you let me off…’
She had not come to the end of her speech when Yi Liankai suddenly clenched his fists as though he were going to hit her but at last, he slowly lowered his hands.° She did not feel any fear; she only watched him.
His face was red — as though drunk — and he averred, ‘It’s you who won’t let me off…’
Having said this, even his eyes reddened and he had to turn his face away. After a long silence, he said hoarsely, ‘Sorry.’
After another long pause, he seemed to have recovered himself somewhat and continued, ‘I was brought up by a concubine aunt myself, which is pathetic enough. So I will never allow any child of mine to be brought up by a concubine. I don’t care how much you blame me, dislike me, or believe that we’re incompatible… You’ll have this child. I only want this one and I won’t ask you to have another. Whatever you want, I’ll agree to it. I treated you badly in the past — I’m sorry about it. In the future, if you should find it a chore to bring up the child, there’ll be a wet nurse and servants to help. I promise not to make you angry any more and anything you want, I’ll get it for you. Or that matter about Miss Yao: I can speak with Commander Yao immediately… As long as you agree to have this baby, I promise you I’ll change all those bad habits from before…’ By the time he got to this point, his voice had trailed off gradually and it was some time before he raised his head to look at her again.
Qin Sang looked at him. Never had she seen him with such an expression. Her heart was in confusion, like a silk loom with countless threads8 that she couldn’t begin to unravel.9
She lay back down on the pillows with an effort before saying, ‘Then I want you to look for someone for me. I have some urgent questions to ask this person. After I’ve talked to this person, we can discuss our affairs again.’
8 千絲萬縷 qiānsī-wànlǚ: countless ties; a thousand and one links
9 理 lǐ: 14. to put in order. 頭緒 tóuxù: main threads (of a complicated affair).
Translation belongs to theresanother (DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Yi Liankai asked, ‘Whom do you want found?’
‘It’s the man who originally swindled my father. His name is Fu Rongcai and he disappeared after cheating my father of his money. Find him for me so I can ask him some questions.’
Before she had finished speaking, Yi Liankai’s expression had already changed. She looked at him searchingly as she asked, ‘What? Is it so hard for you to look for this person?’
‘I wouldn’t say that exactly.’ Yi Liankai seemed to relax all of a sudden, as though nothing were wrong at all, before he said, ‘But trying to find him in a sea of people isn’t a matter of a few days’ searching. It will take a long time.’
‘You’re the Chief Commander. Surely it won’t be a problem if you deploy more people to look for such a person.’ Qin Sang stated with a smile, ‘Unless you’re not willing to look for him.’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ Yi Liankai asserted. ‘He cheated my father-in-law which amounts to cheating me of my money. As a son-in-law, the least I can do is to ferret him out and make him repay the sum of money. Only then would I be doing my filial duty.’
Qin Sang nodded slowly: ‘If you think that way, there won’t be any difficulty.’
Yi Liankai said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll definitely send people to look for him.’
‘What if he’s dead?’
Yi Liankai paused, then questioned, ‘What makes you think he’s dead when we’ve yet to make enquiries?’
‘With all the wars and fighting10 nowadays, human life is so cheap that you can be alive one day yet dead the next. If he’s dead, then I may never find out what I want to know.’
10 兵荒馬亂 bīnghuāng-mǎluàn: soldiers mutiny and troops rebel (idiom); turmoil and chaos of war. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Yi Liankai said, ‘You just like to imagine the worst. I’ll send people now to look for this Fu Rongcai. Until he’s found, you should just stop worrying and look after your health.’
Qin Sang slowly let out an imploring sigh and said, ‘Then let’s just wait until we do find him.’
Yi Liankai saw that she was looking extremely fatigued so he stood up and told her, ‘You should rest now. I’ll send Zhu Ma in to accompany you.’
Qin Sang said ‘mm’ softly, seemingly in assent. Yi Liankai was already at the door but couldn’t help turning back to look at her. She was huddled under the down blanket, her figure as delicate as that of a child’s. Her face, framed by the pillows, was extremely pale and made her look even more fragile and pitiable. His heart was filled with untold cares and in the end he heaved only the tiniest of sighs before closing the door behind him.
After telling Zhu Ma to keep Qin Sang company, he made his way downstairs. Directly opposite the staircase was a hall. Originally used to conduct the official business of the city defence headquarters, it had been temporarily converted into living quarters. Although lavishly¹ decorated, it still had an empty feeling to it because it was too big a place. After they had moved in, a large Persian rug had been placed in the middle of the hall with sofas encircling the rug. In the corner stood an antique grandfather clock. At this moment, its pendulum swung ponderously from one side to another, emphasising the quietness of the hall.
¹ 富麗堂皇 fùlì tánghuáng: beautiful and imposing; in majestic splendour; sumptuous.
Yi Liankai sat down for a smoke. In the silence of the hall, the striking of a match could be heard, a scratching sound like that of rain… one strike then another but the match wouldn’t light so he simply tossed it into the ashtray and tried a new one. This time he was finally able to light up a cigarette but he only took two pulls before stubbing it out. Somewhere in one of the rooms a telephone was ringing — brrring-brrring-brrring — damn annoying sound. He listened for a bit and concluded that it probably came from one of the rooms down the corridor. The ringing ceased abruptly² and he guessed that someone had answered it. Sure enough, he heard approaching footsteps soon after and a voice from outside called out, ‘Report.’
² 戛然而止 jiárán ér zhǐ: (of a sound, etc.) cease abruptly; come to an abrupt end. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
It was Pan Jianchi who entered the room. As Yi Liankai did not stand on ceremony³ with whom he was familiar and since he was presently in civilian dress, Pan Jianchi did not salute but merely bowed slightly before saying, ‘Miss Min just called and said she feels very ill. Will Master go and see how she is?’
³ 熟不拘禮 shúbùjūlǐ: know each other too well to stand on ceremony; familiar and easy with each other. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Yi Liankai’s brow puckered slightly. Pan Jianchi lowered his voice and whispered, ‘Miss Min has never been one to be difficult on purpose⁴. I think something urgent has happened.’
⁴ 無理取鬧 wúlǐ qǔnào: to make trouble without reason (idiom); to be deliberately provocative.
Yi Liankai thought for a moment then said, ‘Tell them to get the car ready. I’ll just look in on her for a bit. Stay home and if the Mistress should ask where I am, tell her I went to see Commander Yao.’
Pan Jianchi thus went to give orders to the driver and to arrange for an escort of bodyguards before personally seeing Yi Liankai out to the main gate and then returning to the house.
The car sped along and soon turned off into a side street, racing through several big streets before pulling into a quiet alley. Although not far from the heart of the city, it was an oasis of peace and quiet5: an inclined street with trees planted outside the residences on both sides. However, it was midwinter presently and the bare branches quivered in the wind. They resembled pressed leaf bookmarks, flat and stark, sticking out against the grey sky. They also looked like the floatinghearts in a pond, reflected in the clouds yet shimmering in the water, giving off a slightly chilly atmosphere.
5 鬧中取靜 nào zhōng qǔ jìng: seek peace and quiet in noisy surroundings.
Min Hongyu’s residence was a small but exquisite two-storey house with a front garden which, being screened off by trees, was particularly quiet. As Yi Liankai was a frequent visitor, a few blasts of his car horn had the gate attendant running out to open the gate to let his car in.
Min Hongyu’s servant girl was also quick to react and had quietly come out from the hall. Upon seeing that the car had stopped outside the front steps, she went up to open the car door.
Yi Liankai did not say anything but merely strode into the house. Steam pipes had also been installed in the house and it was warm enough to make him remove his overcoat and hat as soon as he entered and hand them to the servant girl to hang up. At that moment though, a laughing voice drifted over from the staircase: ‘Oh dear, now don’t remove your coat because we have to go out again in a while.’
Yi Liankai did not have to turn around to know who the owner of such a charming voice was. He merely made straight for the sofa where a servant brought him some tea: his favourite Longjing. He lifted the tea cup and savoured the steaming fragrance of the freshly brewed tea. It was so hot that steam wreathed upwards like puffs of cigarette smoke, obscuring his features. Min Hongyu sat down on the sofa opposite and observed with a smile, ‘And here I thought you wouldn’t come today.’
‘If I hadn’t come out, how would that Pan fellow feel easy?’
Min Hongyu gave a scoffing laugh and said, ‘I’ve never seen someone act like you do, deliberately leaving your wife alone with your adjutant.’
Yi Liankai’s face darkened. Knowing that one of his displays of temper was imminent, she pressed a slender white hand on his shoulder and pouted, ‘Look how petty you are. I know that when it comes to your heart’s darling, a lowly6woman like me isn’t fit to make jokes about her, but when I think about my own ill-starred7 life…’ At the mention of ‘ill-starred’, her eyes reddened and she bit her dark red lip with two little pearly teeth, as if about to cry.
6 低三下四 dīsān-xiàsì: lowly; humble; degrading.
7 命苦 mìngkǔ: to be born under an ill star. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
However, Yi Liankai laughed a little and said, ‘Who says she’s my heart’s darling? My darling is here!’ So saying, he stretched out an arm and pulled her to him. Min Hongyu was already soft and light as a feather and a gentle tug from him had her sitting on his lap. However, she seemed displeased and pushed lightly at his shoulders, complaining, ‘You only like to humour me with such talk. When you go back and see that wife of yours later, who knows with what words you’ll demean me then?’
Yi Liankai’s mood seemed to have improved slightly as he hugged her around the waist and said, ‘Why, haven’t you heard of the saying: “A wife can’t compare with a concubine…”
But Min Hongyu spat disgustedly. ‘Bah! Who says I’m your concubine? Shouldn’t a grand Chief Commander like yourself be holding a tea ceremony8 at the very least if you really are taking a second wife? You should be sending a matchmaker over with tea gifts8 first to ask if I’m even willing to be your concubine.’
Yi Liankai went ‘Hahaha!’ then added, ‘But I haven’t finished my sentence. As the saying goes: “A wife can’t compare with a concubine, a concubine can’t compare with a lover.”9 Aren’t we doing nicely like this now? Why bother ourselves with such vulgar conventions?’
Min Hongyu pushed away his hand and stood up with a cold smile: ‘You’re getting more insulting with every word. Don’t think I don’t know about your cunning10little plot. Shall I reveal the juicy details? Remember what you promised at the start? Yet the moment we returned to Fuyuan, the first thing you did was to try and silence those in the know.11 You still find me slightly useful now but the day you don’t, I’m afraid your Lordship won’t deem me worthy even of a single bullet and will instantly give an order for me to be tied to some slabs and tossed into Lake Fu.’
10 花花腸子 huāhua chángzi: cunning; trickery; deceit. (slang) a cunning plot.
11 殺人滅口 shārénmièkǒu: kill a witness to silence them; kill sb. to prevent secrets from being disclosed.
Yi Liankai merely took out his cigarette case in a leisurely12 way, carefully extracted one, lit it and took a pull before observing indifferently13, ‘Since you’re aware of it, why not behave more sensibly?’
12 慢騰騰 màntēngtēng: at a leisurely pace; unhurriedly; sluggishly.
13 輕描淡寫 qīngmiáo-dànxiě: touch on lightly; mention casually.
Min Hongyu gritted her teeth, only feeling waves of hatred wash over her. This man just had to be born with good looks: a classically handsome face and distinctive bearing, especially a pair of piercing eyes that could be so domineering when looking straight at one. To think that the look described in books — ‘slanted dark brows, a masterful mien’14 — was true. Right at that moment though, there was no evidence of that heroic air as he reclined on the sofa, his legs idly propped on a footstool embroidered with flowers. No matter from what angle, he looked the epitome of honour15 but that heart of his, one feared, was made of stone.
At this thought, her throat became dry and she said, ‘I know it’s only a matter of time before you deem that I’ve outlived my usefulness. But I’ve been keeping a record of all your doings and come the day you grow tired of me, don’t blame me for exposing all you’ve done and either you die or I do.’16
16 魚死網破 yúsǐ-wǎngpò: either the fish dies or the net gets torn. a life and death struggle (idiom).
Yi Liankai chuckled derisively before taking the cigarette from between his lips and flicking it into the crystal ashtray, saying, ‘You were the one who offered to work for me in the first place; I never forced you. You blame me for being ruthless and forcing Yi Lianshen’s wife to die, damned if I know why. You’ve been fudging the truth about your past dealings with Yi Lianshen so I’ve played dumb as well. Are you seriously finding fault with17 me because of his wife?’
17 興師問罪 xīngshī wènzuì: to send punitive forces against. (fig.) to criticize violently. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Min Hongyu took a deep breath then but her voice softened slightly as she said, ‘I used to think he had no conscience, but who would have thought you’re even more ruthless than he is? That Er Sao of yours was carrying your own flesh and blood. Leaving aside the despicable18 seduction of your own sister-in-law, that was your own child you wouldn’t even spare19…’ Before she could finish speaking, there was a pa sound as Yi Liankai slapped her hard. It had enough force in it to cause a red palm mark to bloom on Min Hongyu’s alabaster cheek, the imprint of his fingers leaving instant weals. She bit the corner of her mouth, but refused to cry and only glared at him.
After slapping her, Yi Liankai leisurely pulled out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dusted his fingers clean of rouge and powder before remarking, ‘Since you’re working for me, then you should know there are certain things you can say, and certain things you can’t. I know you’re tired of living, but until the business is finished, you don’t have to court death.’20
20 作死 zuòsǐ: seek death; take the road to ruin; look for trouble.
Min Hongyu raised her chin and replied through gritted teeth, ‘I have no intention of dying. I’m going to live very well so I can see your downfall. If that wife of yours — the apple of your eye — ever learns of the kind of heartless21 business you’ve been dealing in, imagine how she would treat you.’
21 喪盡天良 sàngjìn tiānliáng: devoid of conscience (idiom); utterly heartless
Yi Liankai shot her a look. ‘Are you going to tell her?’
Min Hongyu laughed. ‘Not a word.’ She added slowly, ‘“Persisting in evil brings about self-destruction”22. That wife of yours isn’t stupid: sooner or later she’ll find out for herself and that will be far worse than my telling her. You wait, you’ll have your retribution one day.’
Yi Liankai, listening to her hate-filled23 words, leisurely lit a cigarette instead. ‘I have so much retribution due that honestly, I no longer need to care.’
23 恨之入骨 hèn zhī rùgǔ: to hate somebody to the bone (idiom). Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Min Hongyu looked at him sitting there calmly, utterly and unapologetically cynical24 as though what they had just discussed was nothing but a joke. She suddenly felt chills wash over her heart: this man was only in his twenties and came of a prominent family but when it came to being vicious and merciless25, no one was his equal. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him care about anyone or anything in his life. She used to feel that the only person who had a place26 in his heart was that wife of his: if he ever did anything out of character, it was always for his wife’s sake. But now it seemed as though his wife was just for show — it was second nature to him to make use of people and things around him as a façade. Her own heart was still wavering as she watched him sit there, smoking unconcernedly.
Outside, a wind was rising. Below the big window was a flourishing evergreen which never shed its leaves all year round: instead, it had put out clusters of hawthorn fruit which looked beautiful. Outside this window, the bitingly cold north wind was blowing soundlessly and causing the tree to quiver as it cast its vast shadow around him, making it appear as though a pair of strange, gigantic wings had sprouted from his back.
Outside the window was a tree. A wind had risen, stirring the branches such that they tapped lightly against the window. Qin Sang had been asleep but fuzzily heard this tapping sound and woke up. Back when she had been living in the school dormitory, if she had a date with Li Wangping, he used to throw pebbles at her room window. That light rattling sound sounded like the rustling of the branches now, familiar and intimate. As soon as she thought of Li Wangping, she woke up completely. After lying awake for some time, during which sleep wouldn’t come, she gave up altogether and sat up.
Zhu Ma had been doing some needlework outside but was on the alert for any signs of movement in the bedroom. The moment she sat up, Zhu Ma put down her sewing and entered the room to ask her, ‘Missy, do you feel like something to eat?’
Qin Sang shook her head but Zhu Ma said smilingly, ‘You’re suffering from morning sickness now so your appetite is probably quite dull. The kitchen just brewed some chicken soup. Shall I get them to make you some noodles with that soup?’
Qin Sang asked, ‘Where is he?’
Zhu Ma knew that she meant Yi Liankai so she replied, ‘He said he had official business but won’t be out too long. Missy, actually I can tell Master does love you dearly. When Commander Yao’s daughter brought you back here and said you had fainted dead away in the restaurant, Master was really shocked — I saw him turn pale. He just stood at the doorway and shouted for the physicians to be sent for and refused to leave your side for even a moment until the physicians came.’
Qin Sang was already in a bad mood and such long-winded¹ chatter only served to irritate her further so she asked abruptly, ‘Did he go out alone?’
¹ 絮絮叨叨 xùxudāodāo. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
Zhu Ma blinked a little and answered, ‘Of course, he took the guards along…’
‘Adjutant Pan?’ Qin Sang asked with studied casualness. ‘Did he follow him out too?’
Zhu Ma said, ‘Adjutant Pan didn’t go with him.’
Qin Sang nodded slightly and said, ‘Then go and call Adjutant Pan here. I have something to ask him.’
Zhu Ma entreated, ‘Missy, you’re not feeling well now, you should lie down and rest. If there’s anything you want to ask him, I can do it for you.’
Qin Sang had been half-reclining on the pillows but was now pulling a comb through her hair. She replied, ‘It’s all right. I’ll ask him myself.’
Zhu Ma, thinking that she wanted to interrogate Pan Jianchi about Yi Liankai’s whereabouts, felt uneasy². However, she still helped Qin Sang to change her clothes, wash her face and comb her hair before going down to look for Adjutant Pan.
² 犯嘀咕 fàn dígu: have misgivings; have doubts. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
‘a white plum blossom in a vase’ — Ch. 15.4, © 12
Image source
After such a delay, it was already dark when Pan Jianchi came upstairs. It being winter, the days were short so Qin Sang had turned on the light in the room. She was wearing a peacock blue qipao, the top of which was sparsely embroidered with plum blossoms. She was sitting on a sofa, bathed in the soft golden light of a lamp behind her. Under that glow, the blue qipao resembled a porcelain vase and had an almost chilly lustre. Her face, which was exceedingly pale in contrast, put one in mind of a white plum blossom in a vase.
Unconsciously, Pan Jianchi made his steps lighter but still she seemed to have sensed something and lifted her head. As she looked up, the lamplight seemed to trickle down her back like flowing water whilst her ears appeared to turn a faint translucent pink, like the lychee* stone seal on Yi Liankai’s study table. So just for that spellbound instant, he hesitated a fraction and did not immediately greet her.
However, Qin Sang merely said gravely, ‘Zhu Ma’ and gave her a speaking look. Zhu Ma understood that Qin Sang had something to discuss with Adjutant Pan so she picked up her needlework and went outside, shutting the door behind her.
The door was shut with a very soft click but it seemed to give Pan Jianchi a jolt for he bowed slightly and said almost inaudibly, ‘Madam.’
Qin Sang, hearing him address her thus, was also slightly taken aback but she recovered immediately, pointed to a sofa beside hers and said, ‘Have a seat.’
However, Pan Jianchi did not move at all as he replied, ‘Please say whatever is on your mind, Madam.’
Qin Sang stated, ‘I’m not interested in what you’re planning to do. I won’t ask what motives you have working for Yi Liankai or what you hope to achieve by making use of him. But Miss Yao is just a young girl. Don’t you think what you’re doing to her is too despicable?’
Pan Jianchi was silent for a long time, gazing at the window. Beyond it, the dusk•was a vast expanse of black where nothing could be seen. The glass window reflected a figure in the room who stood unmoving for a long time. It turned out to be himself. He listened to the tree branches swaying in the wind as they tapped lightly against the window, a soft rustling sound as though it were snowing ice pellets.
After a long time, he finally asked, ‘Xiaosang, do you still remember why we took to the streets in protest back then?’
Of course she did.
It had been because the Cabinet had agreed to the terms laid out by Russia and was about to cede Chuanli Peninsula° to the latter. How impassioned they had been, she thought, not like the present where they seem to have become dullards. Filled with fervour back then, believing that women were in no way inferior to men and could respond as swiftly to the call, she had lost no time in joining street demonstrations to protest the forfeiture of national sovereignty by the Cabinet and the humiliation of a nation.³
³ 喪權辱國 sàngquán-rǔguó: to forfeit sovereignty and humiliate the country (idiom). Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Thousands of students had stayed up overnight, rushing out countless slogans, turning their bedsheets into banners on which they had written ‘Return Chuanli Peninsula’. In the streets and alleys, so many leaflets had been given out that it seemed to have been snowing. Like the tide, they had rushed the police and barged into the house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to remonstrate with him…
It had only been a few years ago, but now it seemed like another lifetime altogether.
‘Do you still remember what I said to you back then? All warlords are corrupt, they carve the country up for their own ends while the Cabinet is just a puppet — outwardly strong but inwardly weak.⁴ When these warlords fight among themselves5, without exception, they’re all brave and good at fighting6 but when facing the Great Powers, each and every one of them becomes weak and easy to bully.7
⁴ 外強中干 wàiqiáng-zhōnggān.
6 驍勇善戰 xiāoyǒngshànzhàn.
7 軟弱可欺 ruǎnruò kě qī.
Murong Chen and his son meekly handed all of Hengchuan°° and a huge chunk of northern territory on a silver platter8 to the Russians: that was more than a hundred thousand mu9 of woods, of mineral resources, of land… Li Chongnianworks hand in glove with the Japanese by leasing the naval port to them, remarkably akin10 to inviting the enemy in11; while in the north-west, that Jiang Shuangxi has murky connections with the British… These warlords do everything only for their own benefit, plotting to snatch more provisions, more territory, more political capital. Not a single one of them really cares about the people or the country — every last one of them is a running dog of the foreign powers. If we want there to be peace throughout the land, if we want the people to lead good lives, we must first exterminate these warlords.’
8 拱手讓人 gǒngshǒu ràng rén.
9 畝 mǔ: a traditional unit of area equal to one fifteenth of a hectare.
Qin Sang stared at him dazedly.
His voice was extremely soft: if she so much as moved, she would not be able to hear what he was saying. Every word had been enunciated, very softly, but very precisely.
He was not so much speaking as declaring, ‘I know you think I’m a scoundrel, but I’m not doing this for myself. Do you know how my parents, my older brother, my younger sister… how they all died? They were all killed at Xuzhuang — how many were killed in that last civil war between Li Chongnian and Jiang Shuangxi? How many families were torn apart? How many people lost their families12 like I did? You think I don’t want revenge? You think I don’t want to live my days peacefully? But the country is ruined and the people are starving13: when the nest is upset, how can any eggs be left intact?14 This country is on the verge of collapse15 — what home is there to speak of then? My family died at the hands of the warlords, tens of thousands more families have been ruined by these men. Compared to all they’ve done, how can my making use of an innocent girl’s feelings be considered despicable?’
14 Variant of 覆巢之下無完卵 fùcháozhīxiàwúwánluǎn: 1. lit. when the nest is upset no egg is left intact (idiom) 2. fig. when one falls in disgrace the whole family is doomed. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
(Approx. 1082 words)
12’s notes:
* A mineral rock so named because the whiteness looks like the flesh of the lychee.
• 夜色 yèsè: dusk. The original title of this book was《夜色》so I think its being mentioned here has some significance.
° A fictitious name that I’m cautiously certain corresponds to Shandong Peninsula. Probably she was referencing this incident where there really was a case of the students setting fire to an official’s house.
5 自相殘殺 zì xiāng cánshā: (of persons within a group, party, etc.) kill each other; cause one another’s death.
°° Another fictitious place that I’m also cautiously certain corresponds to the Liaodong Peninsula.
10 活脫脫 huótuōtuō: remarkably alike
11 引狼入室 yǐn láng rù shì: invite a wolf into the house – open the door to an enemy
12 家破人亡 jiāpò-rénwáng: family bankrupt and the people dead (idiom); ruined and orphaned
13 國破家亡 guópò-jiāwáng: the country ruined and the people starving (idiom)
15 搖搖欲墜 yáoyáoyùzhuì: 1. tottering 2. on the verge of collapse.
Ch. 15
The next morning, Zhu Ma, who was helping her to get ready, frowned and sighed, ‘It was peaceful for a few days and now you’ve fallen out with him again…’
Qin Sang was in a bad mood herself and so said nothing. In the afternoon, Yao Yuping telephoned her and after some small talk, hesitated a little before telling her, ‘I’ve asked to meet him today.’
Qin Sang brightened up and replied, ‘Then I’ll just pretend to run into you so I can have a look at him. I want to see what kind of person it is who has attracted you.’
Yao Yuping was only too eager for Qin Sang to be there hence she urged, ‘I’ve arranged to meet him at three p.m. at Xishengzhuang. Do come along as well. I’ll treat you to coffee.’
Qin Sang replied laughingly, ‘I can do without coffee but I shall certainly be happy to drink¹ a bowl of winter melon soup in the future.’
¹ In Chinese, soup is drunk rather than eaten.
Although Yao Yuping was from Fuyuan, she knew from her Northern classmates that a bowl of winter melon soup was an expression meaning to thank the matchmaker and as such was already feeling embarrassed. Qin Sang also knew that she was on the shy side and so refrained from teasing her too much. She changed the subject and before hanging up at last, it was agreed that everyone would meet at three o’clock at Xishengzhuang.
At three, Qin Sang was already dressed and out of the house, directing the chauffeur to drive her to Xishengzhuang that was situated beside Lake Fu. Originally a well-established hotel, it had changed hands and been turned into a restaurant serving Western food which enjoyed excellent business. However, since it was teatime rather than lunchtime, there weren’t as many customers. By the time Qin Sang arrived, Yao Yuping was already seated and hailed her ‘Jiejie’* from afar, before saying with a slight blush, ‘He’s not here yet.’
* Elder Sister
‘I hope he hasn’t changed his mind because he’s shy,’ Qin Sang returned.
Yao Yuping said, ‘I didn’t tell him I would be meeting you here so he will definitely come.’
‘You little imp!’ Qin Sang exclaimed. ‘If you haven’t told him, how are you going to introduce me to him when he comes later?’
Yao Yuping said, ‘I’ll just pretend that we met by chance. Isn’t that what we agreed upon before? And as agreed, you’ll help me to observe just what sort of person he is.’
Qin Sang replied, ‘I consider it my bounden duty.’²
² 義不容辭 yì bùróng cí: not to be shirked without dishonor (idiom). If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
She immediately summoned the waiter over and indicated another table for herself. Although her table was diagonally opposite Yao Yuping’s, it happened to be partially blocked by a folding screen. People walking in from outside couldn’t see the table but anyone sitting there had a clear view of the exterior. Qin Sang ordered a coffee and had just drunk half of it when Yao Yuping suddenly winked at her before standing up and saying with an engaging smile, ‘You’re here.’
Qin Sang had been very curious to find out what kind of person had caught Yao Yuping’s fancy so she she turned round slightly from behind the screen to glance outside. What she saw though had the effect of a bolt from the blue and she froze in her seat. For it was none other than Li Wangping, now known as Pan Jianchi.
Pan Jianchi had never expected to see her there either so he only stared blankly at her. Yao Yuping pretended to have just caught sight of Qin Sang and exclaimed laughingly, ‘Oh, you’re here too, Jiejie! What a coincidence.’ This remark was what they had agreed on earlier but to Qin Sang, it now had another meaning and sounded especially mocking. There was a buzzing sound in her ears. Pan Jianchi had recovered himself so he strode forward, bowed and greeted her with ‘Madam’.
This form of address reminded Qin Sang that she was already another man’s wife and even if Pan Jianchi and Yao Yuping were in love³, it was a perfectly reasonable state of affairs.
She forced herself to smile a little and replied, ‘No need to be so courteous. So it turns out you have a date with Miss Yao.’
³ 兩情相悅 liǎngqíngxiāngyuè: 1. (of a couple) to be harmonious. 2. to be each other’s sunshine. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Pan Jianchi did not say anything, merely bowing in response.
Qin Sang enquired, ‘How is your injury?’
Pan Jianchi replied, ‘Thank you for your concern, Madam. It’s much better now and I shall be able to resume my normal duties in a few days.’
‘There’s no hurry…’
Whilst conversing with him, Qin Sang struggled to maintain her self-possession, only feeling it to be an unspeakable strain, almost as though she couldn’t breathe. It was like being underwater with the water pressing down on her chest, so that her heart beat at an especially slow and heavy pace. The Western-style school where she been educated had been quite open-minded and there had even been swimming lessons. The first time she had gone into the water, she had slipped and sunk: it was the same horrible feeling. She had only seen a speck of light above her but no matter how hard she had reached, how hard she had moved her arms, she just couldn’t get hold of anything and down she had sunk… farther… and farther…
Yao Yuping, seeing that Qin Sang looked extremely unwell, impulsively grasped her hand and asked, ‘Jiejie, are you unwell? Your hands are so cold…’
Qin Sang shook her head and said with an effort, ‘I’m fine…’ but before she could finish, the world went black and she slumped gently to the floor.
This fainting spell felt like a groggy sleep, but also like the time when Mother had fallen ill and she had stayed up for a few nights by her bedside but then had nodded off from sheer fatigue. Hazily she could feel Mother tossing and turning on the bed and she wanted to reach out and take Mother’s hand but after murmuring ‘Mama…’, she found herself grasping nothing. Cold sweat prickled all over her body and slowly she understood that Mother was long gone, home was long finished whilst she herself had been in this morass for some years. It felt like many years when in fact it had only been a short three years. Three years that had been harder than half a lifetime of suffering which was why she felt that all of this had happened a long — a very long — time ago. Mother’s illness, Mother’s passing, her own marriage… to think it had all happened only three years ago…
When she thought of all this, she didn’t feel like opening her eyes and wished she could continue sleeping like this. But the murmuring sound by her ears sounded like rain, or a whole group of people talking and disturbing her so that she had to wake up. Slowly she opened her eyes to find that she was lying in her own bed. There really were several people in the room: a few physicians dressed in Western garb and some nurses. Zhu Ma was gazing at her with a worried expression and when she saw Qin Sang open her eyes, exclaimed joyfully⁴, ‘Missy is awake! Missy is awake!’
⁴ 歡天喜地 huāntiān-xǐdì: with boundless joy; wild with joy; overjoyed.
Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
The physicians also seem relieved that she had come to and the head physician said to Yi Liankai, ‘Since Madam is awake, everything is all right. There’s no need for any medicine. She just needs to rest well.’
Qin Sang had never expected Yi Liankai to be present as well. He was the last person she wanted to see so she closed her eyes wearily and turned her face away. Yi Liankai ordered Zhu Ma to see the physicians out and in a while the doctors and nurses all left and even the servants bowed themselves out, leaving the two of them alone.
In front of Qin Sang’s bed was a Western-style soft couch on which Yi Liankai was currently sitting, silently gazing at her. She opened her eyes and saw that he was still observing her so she asked dully, ‘Is there anything else?’
Her words were intended to show him the door5 and she knew, given his temper, it would provoke him into quarrelling with her. However, she was feeling out of sorts today and was in no mood whatsoever to humour him. If he wanted to quarrel, so be it; better still if he left in a huff so that she could be left in peace. But Yi Liankai bit his tongue though he was visibly annoyed.
5 逐客令: 2. (fig.) notice to leave. 3. words or behavior intended at turning visitors out. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Despite the unusualness of his behaviour, Qin Sang did not dwell on it and added, ‘I’m all right now. You can go.’
Yi Liankai raised his head and looked at her. She felt that his expression was extremely odd but didn’t think too much of it. After a long pause, he finally said, ‘I want to talk to you.’
Qin Sang was extremely fatigued by this point so she merely turned her face away and said, ‘Can we talk about it another day? I’m really tired.’
Yi Liankai actually smiled but it was quite a strange smile and he only replied, ‘If we wait, it might be too late again.’
Qin Sang, unable to bear his mystifying manner¹, sat up slightly and said, ‘Go ahead then.’
¹ 陰陽怪氣 yīnyángguàiqì: (of a person’s manner of speaking) mystifying; enigmatic; deliberately ambiguous.
‘I know you loathe me.’ Yi Liankai seemed calm as he continued slowly, ‘I also don’t expect that you’ll like what I’m going to say, but since matters have come to such a pass, I have to be honest with you.² Just now the physician told me that you’re two months with child.’
² 實話實說 shíhuà-shíshuō: speak frankly; talk straight; not mince matters. If you’re not reading this chapter athiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
Qin Sang seemed to have suffered a sudden blow as her entire person shrank back slightly, her lips drained of colour as she stared at Yi Liankai.
‘I also know all about the little tricks you’ve been playing. Those Western medicines you take to prevent getting a child harm your health over time so I replaced them all with vitamins sometime back. I know you don’t want this child, but if you dare do the same heartless thing you did last year… if you ever dare do such a thing again…’
He leaned forward, looking at her ashen face with a sort of satisfaction and promised through gritted teeth, ‘I’ll kill you with one shot!’
Qin Sang’s lips quivered faintly. Her face was devoid of expression but her voice was calm: ‘What are you saying? I don’t understand.’
‘Must you make me spell it out? You think I really don’t know what you were sick with last year? The baby was almost three months along when you insisted on taking the medicine to abort it… I acted dumb back then, thinking you couldn’t possibly be so heartless…’ He had seized her arms to force her to keep looking at him.
‘I kept hoping you would come and tell me yourself. I thought maybe you were thin-skinned, you were embarrassed. So I kept waiting for you to come and tell me… but instead you went secretly to the hospital, you ate a whole lot of foul•medicine to abort the baby before coming back and claiming that you had been ill… I’ve long wanted to have your measure, to see just what your heart is made of. That was also your own flesh and blood; how could you bring yourself to do it? How could such a heartless woman like you exist? You think you got away with murder?³ You think just because I didn’t say anything, therefore I knew nothing? I’m telling you — if you dare try it again, I’ll make sure you’re buried together with this child!’
³ 滴水不漏 dī shuǐ bù lòu: 1. lit. not one drop of water can leak out. 2. watertight (fig.). Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
As Qin Sang watched him glaring at her as though he would have liked to swallow her whole⁴, she suddenly felt exhausted. She had been imprisoned in the cage for too long, so long that she seemed to have forgotten how to struggle. So this was the face after all pretences were torn away5: a vile visage6. No wonder when she had been ill for half a year in Changye last year^, he had refused to go home even once — he had been hurt after all. But did such a man even have a heart?
5 撕破臉 sīpòliǎn: 2. to shed all pretense of cordiality. 3. to tear into each other.
6 面目猙獰 miànmù zhēngníng: ferocious features; a vile visage
She said slowly, ‘Why must you keep forcing me? Back then it was your father’s decision to send someone to propose our marriage. I had no choice but to agree for my parents’ sakes. After marrying you, I found that our temperaments and personalities aren’t compatible. Never mind that I’ll have to pay7 with my entire lifetime but why involve a child in all this… Assuming you like children — even if you have one with someone else outside — it’ll still be your child should you bring one home… Why won’t you let me off…’
She had not come to the end of her speech when Yi Liankai suddenly clenched his fists as though he were going to hit her but at last, he slowly lowered his hands.° She did not feel any fear; she only watched him.
His face was red — as though drunk — and he averred, ‘It’s you who won’t let me off…’
Having said this, even his eyes reddened and he had to turn his face away. After a long silence, he said hoarsely, ‘Sorry.’
After another long pause, he seemed to have recovered himself somewhat and continued, ‘I was brought up by a concubine aunt myself, which is pathetic enough. So I will never allow any child of mine to be brought up by a concubine. I don’t care how much you blame me, dislike me, or believe that we’re incompatible… You’ll have this child. I only want this one and I won’t ask you to have another. Whatever you want, I’ll agree to it. I treated you badly in the past — I’m sorry about it. In the future, if you should find it a chore to bring up the child, there’ll be a wet nurse and servants to help. I promise not to make you angry any more and anything you want, I’ll get it for you. Or that matter about Miss Yao: I can speak with Commander Yao immediately… As long as you agree to have this baby, I promise you I’ll change all those bad habits from before…’ By the time he got to this point, his voice had trailed off gradually and it was some time before he raised his head to look at her again.
Qin Sang looked at him. Never had she seen him with such an expression. Her heart was in confusion, like a silk loom with countless threads8 that she couldn’t begin to unravel.9
She lay back down on the pillows with an effort before saying, ‘Then I want you to look for someone for me. I have some urgent questions to ask this person. After I’ve talked to this person, we can discuss our affairs again.’
8 千絲萬縷 qiānsī-wànlǚ: countless ties; a thousand and one links
9 理 lǐ: 14. to put in order. 頭緒 tóuxù: main threads (of a complicated affair).
Translation belongs to theresanother (DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Yi Liankai asked, ‘Whom do you want found?’
‘It’s the man who originally swindled my father. His name is Fu Rongcai and he disappeared after cheating my father of his money. Find him for me so I can ask him some questions.’
Before she had finished speaking, Yi Liankai’s expression had already changed. She looked at him searchingly as she asked, ‘What? Is it so hard for you to look for this person?’
‘I wouldn’t say that exactly.’ Yi Liankai seemed to relax all of a sudden, as though nothing were wrong at all, before he said, ‘But trying to find him in a sea of people isn’t a matter of a few days’ searching. It will take a long time.’
‘You’re the Chief Commander. Surely it won’t be a problem if you deploy more people to look for such a person.’ Qin Sang stated with a smile, ‘Unless you’re not willing to look for him.’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ Yi Liankai asserted. ‘He cheated my father-in-law which amounts to cheating me of my money. As a son-in-law, the least I can do is to ferret him out and make him repay the sum of money. Only then would I be doing my filial duty.’
Qin Sang nodded slowly: ‘If you think that way, there won’t be any difficulty.’
Yi Liankai said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll definitely send people to look for him.’
‘What if he’s dead?’
Yi Liankai paused, then questioned, ‘What makes you think he’s dead when we’ve yet to make enquiries?’
‘With all the wars and fighting10 nowadays, human life is so cheap that you can be alive one day yet dead the next. If he’s dead, then I may never find out what I want to know.’
10 兵荒馬亂 bīnghuāng-mǎluàn: soldiers mutiny and troops rebel (idiom); turmoil and chaos of war. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Yi Liankai said, ‘You just like to imagine the worst. I’ll send people now to look for this Fu Rongcai. Until he’s found, you should just stop worrying and look after your health.’
Qin Sang slowly let out an imploring sigh and said, ‘Then let’s just wait until we do find him.’
Yi Liankai saw that she was looking extremely fatigued so he stood up and told her, ‘You should rest now. I’ll send Zhu Ma in to accompany you.’
Qin Sang said ‘mm’ softly, seemingly in assent. Yi Liankai was already at the door but couldn’t help turning back to look at her. She was huddled under the down blanket, her figure as delicate as that of a child’s. Her face, framed by the pillows, was extremely pale and made her look even more fragile and pitiable. His heart was filled with untold cares and in the end he heaved only the tiniest of sighs before closing the door behind him.
After telling Zhu Ma to keep Qin Sang company, he made his way downstairs. Directly opposite the staircase was a hall. Originally used to conduct the official business of the city defence headquarters, it had been temporarily converted into living quarters. Although lavishly¹ decorated, it still had an empty feeling to it because it was too big a place. After they had moved in, a large Persian rug had been placed in the middle of the hall with sofas encircling the rug. In the corner stood an antique grandfather clock. At this moment, its pendulum swung ponderously from one side to another, emphasising the quietness of the hall.
¹ 富麗堂皇 fùlì tánghuáng: beautiful and imposing; in majestic splendour; sumptuous.
Yi Liankai sat down for a smoke. In the silence of the hall, the striking of a match could be heard, a scratching sound like that of rain… one strike then another but the match wouldn’t light so he simply tossed it into the ashtray and tried a new one. This time he was finally able to light up a cigarette but he only took two pulls before stubbing it out. Somewhere in one of the rooms a telephone was ringing — brrring-brrring-brrring — damn annoying sound. He listened for a bit and concluded that it probably came from one of the rooms down the corridor. The ringing ceased abruptly² and he guessed that someone had answered it. Sure enough, he heard approaching footsteps soon after and a voice from outside called out, ‘Report.’
² 戛然而止 jiárán ér zhǐ: (of a sound, etc.) cease abruptly; come to an abrupt end. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
It was Pan Jianchi who entered the room. As Yi Liankai did not stand on ceremony³ with whom he was familiar and since he was presently in civilian dress, Pan Jianchi did not salute but merely bowed slightly before saying, ‘Miss Min just called and said she feels very ill. Will Master go and see how she is?’
³ 熟不拘禮 shúbùjūlǐ: know each other too well to stand on ceremony; familiar and easy with each other. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Yi Liankai’s brow puckered slightly. Pan Jianchi lowered his voice and whispered, ‘Miss Min has never been one to be difficult on purpose⁴. I think something urgent has happened.’
⁴ 無理取鬧 wúlǐ qǔnào: to make trouble without reason (idiom); to be deliberately provocative.
Yi Liankai thought for a moment then said, ‘Tell them to get the car ready. I’ll just look in on her for a bit. Stay home and if the Mistress should ask where I am, tell her I went to see Commander Yao.’
Pan Jianchi thus went to give orders to the driver and to arrange for an escort of bodyguards before personally seeing Yi Liankai out to the main gate and then returning to the house.
The car sped along and soon turned off into a side street, racing through several big streets before pulling into a quiet alley. Although not far from the heart of the city, it was an oasis of peace and quiet5: an inclined street with trees planted outside the residences on both sides. However, it was midwinter presently and the bare branches quivered in the wind. They resembled pressed leaf bookmarks, flat and stark, sticking out against the grey sky. They also looked like the floatinghearts in a pond, reflected in the clouds yet shimmering in the water, giving off a slightly chilly atmosphere.
5 鬧中取靜 nào zhōng qǔ jìng: seek peace and quiet in noisy surroundings.
Min Hongyu’s residence was a small but exquisite two-storey house with a front garden which, being screened off by trees, was particularly quiet. As Yi Liankai was a frequent visitor, a few blasts of his car horn had the gate attendant running out to open the gate to let his car in.
Min Hongyu’s servant girl was also quick to react and had quietly come out from the hall. Upon seeing that the car had stopped outside the front steps, she went up to open the car door.
Yi Liankai did not say anything but merely strode into the house. Steam pipes had also been installed in the house and it was warm enough to make him remove his overcoat and hat as soon as he entered and hand them to the servant girl to hang up. At that moment though, a laughing voice drifted over from the staircase: ‘Oh dear, now don’t remove your coat because we have to go out again in a while.’
Yi Liankai did not have to turn around to know who the owner of such a charming voice was. He merely made straight for the sofa where a servant brought him some tea: his favourite Longjing. He lifted the tea cup and savoured the steaming fragrance of the freshly brewed tea. It was so hot that steam wreathed upwards like puffs of cigarette smoke, obscuring his features. Min Hongyu sat down on the sofa opposite and observed with a smile, ‘And here I thought you wouldn’t come today.’
‘If I hadn’t come out, how would that Pan fellow feel easy?’
Min Hongyu gave a scoffing laugh and said, ‘I’ve never seen someone act like you do, deliberately leaving your wife alone with your adjutant.’
Yi Liankai’s face darkened. Knowing that one of his displays of temper was imminent, she pressed a slender white hand on his shoulder and pouted, ‘Look how petty you are. I know that when it comes to your heart’s darling, a lowly6woman like me isn’t fit to make jokes about her, but when I think about my own ill-starred7 life…’ At the mention of ‘ill-starred’, her eyes reddened and she bit her dark red lip with two little pearly teeth, as if about to cry.
6 低三下四 dīsān-xiàsì: lowly; humble; degrading.
7 命苦 mìngkǔ: to be born under an ill star. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
However, Yi Liankai laughed a little and said, ‘Who says she’s my heart’s darling? My darling is here!’ So saying, he stretched out an arm and pulled her to him. Min Hongyu was already soft and light as a feather and a gentle tug from him had her sitting on his lap. However, she seemed displeased and pushed lightly at his shoulders, complaining, ‘You only like to humour me with such talk. When you go back and see that wife of yours later, who knows with what words you’ll demean me then?’
Yi Liankai’s mood seemed to have improved slightly as he hugged her around the waist and said, ‘Why, haven’t you heard of the saying: “A wife can’t compare with a concubine…”
But Min Hongyu spat disgustedly. ‘Bah! Who says I’m your concubine? Shouldn’t a grand Chief Commander like yourself be holding a tea ceremony8 at the very least if you really are taking a second wife? You should be sending a matchmaker over with tea gifts8 first to ask if I’m even willing to be your concubine.’
Yi Liankai went ‘Hahaha!’ then added, ‘But I haven’t finished my sentence. As the saying goes: “A wife can’t compare with a concubine, a concubine can’t compare with a lover.”9 Aren’t we doing nicely like this now? Why bother ourselves with such vulgar conventions?’
Min Hongyu pushed away his hand and stood up with a cold smile: ‘You’re getting more insulting with every word. Don’t think I don’t know about your cunning10little plot. Shall I reveal the juicy details? Remember what you promised at the start? Yet the moment we returned to Fuyuan, the first thing you did was to try and silence those in the know.11 You still find me slightly useful now but the day you don’t, I’m afraid your Lordship won’t deem me worthy even of a single bullet and will instantly give an order for me to be tied to some slabs and tossed into Lake Fu.’
10 花花腸子 huāhua chángzi: cunning; trickery; deceit. (slang) a cunning plot.
11 殺人滅口 shārénmièkǒu: kill a witness to silence them; kill sb. to prevent secrets from being disclosed.
Yi Liankai merely took out his cigarette case in a leisurely12 way, carefully extracted one, lit it and took a pull before observing indifferently13, ‘Since you’re aware of it, why not behave more sensibly?’
12 慢騰騰 màntēngtēng: at a leisurely pace; unhurriedly; sluggishly.
13 輕描淡寫 qīngmiáo-dànxiě: touch on lightly; mention casually.
Min Hongyu gritted her teeth, only feeling waves of hatred wash over her. This man just had to be born with good looks: a classically handsome face and distinctive bearing, especially a pair of piercing eyes that could be so domineering when looking straight at one. To think that the look described in books — ‘slanted dark brows, a masterful mien’14 — was true. Right at that moment though, there was no evidence of that heroic air as he reclined on the sofa, his legs idly propped on a footstool embroidered with flowers. No matter from what angle, he looked the epitome of honour15 but that heart of his, one feared, was made of stone.
At this thought, her throat became dry and she said, ‘I know it’s only a matter of time before you deem that I’ve outlived my usefulness. But I’ve been keeping a record of all your doings and come the day you grow tired of me, don’t blame me for exposing all you’ve done and either you die or I do.’16
16 魚死網破 yúsǐ-wǎngpò: either the fish dies or the net gets torn. a life and death struggle (idiom).
Yi Liankai chuckled derisively before taking the cigarette from between his lips and flicking it into the crystal ashtray, saying, ‘You were the one who offered to work for me in the first place; I never forced you. You blame me for being ruthless and forcing Yi Lianshen’s wife to die, damned if I know why. You’ve been fudging the truth about your past dealings with Yi Lianshen so I’ve played dumb as well. Are you seriously finding fault with17 me because of his wife?’
17 興師問罪 xīngshī wènzuì: to send punitive forces against. (fig.) to criticize violently. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Min Hongyu took a deep breath then but her voice softened slightly as she said, ‘I used to think he had no conscience, but who would have thought you’re even more ruthless than he is? That Er Sao of yours was carrying your own flesh and blood. Leaving aside the despicable18 seduction of your own sister-in-law, that was your own child you wouldn’t even spare19…’ Before she could finish speaking, there was a pa sound as Yi Liankai slapped her hard. It had enough force in it to cause a red palm mark to bloom on Min Hongyu’s alabaster cheek, the imprint of his fingers leaving instant weals. She bit the corner of her mouth, but refused to cry and only glared at him.
After slapping her, Yi Liankai leisurely pulled out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dusted his fingers clean of rouge and powder before remarking, ‘Since you’re working for me, then you should know there are certain things you can say, and certain things you can’t. I know you’re tired of living, but until the business is finished, you don’t have to court death.’20
20 作死 zuòsǐ: seek death; take the road to ruin; look for trouble.
Min Hongyu raised her chin and replied through gritted teeth, ‘I have no intention of dying. I’m going to live very well so I can see your downfall. If that wife of yours — the apple of your eye — ever learns of the kind of heartless21 business you’ve been dealing in, imagine how she would treat you.’
21 喪盡天良 sàngjìn tiānliáng: devoid of conscience (idiom); utterly heartless
Yi Liankai shot her a look. ‘Are you going to tell her?’
Min Hongyu laughed. ‘Not a word.’ She added slowly, ‘“Persisting in evil brings about self-destruction”22. That wife of yours isn’t stupid: sooner or later she’ll find out for herself and that will be far worse than my telling her. You wait, you’ll have your retribution one day.’
Yi Liankai, listening to her hate-filled23 words, leisurely lit a cigarette instead. ‘I have so much retribution due that honestly, I no longer need to care.’
23 恨之入骨 hèn zhī rùgǔ: to hate somebody to the bone (idiom). Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Min Hongyu looked at him sitting there calmly, utterly and unapologetically cynical24 as though what they had just discussed was nothing but a joke. She suddenly felt chills wash over her heart: this man was only in his twenties and came of a prominent family but when it came to being vicious and merciless25, no one was his equal. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him care about anyone or anything in his life. She used to feel that the only person who had a place26 in his heart was that wife of his: if he ever did anything out of character, it was always for his wife’s sake. But now it seemed as though his wife was just for show — it was second nature to him to make use of people and things around him as a façade. Her own heart was still wavering as she watched him sit there, smoking unconcernedly.
Outside, a wind was rising. Below the big window was a flourishing evergreen which never shed its leaves all year round: instead, it had put out clusters of hawthorn fruit which looked beautiful. Outside this window, the bitingly cold north wind was blowing soundlessly and causing the tree to quiver as it cast its vast shadow around him, making it appear as though a pair of strange, gigantic wings had sprouted from his back.
Outside the window was a tree. A wind had risen, stirring the branches such that they tapped lightly against the window. Qin Sang had been asleep but fuzzily heard this tapping sound and woke up. Back when she had been living in the school dormitory, if she had a date with Li Wangping, he used to throw pebbles at her room window. That light rattling sound sounded like the rustling of the branches now, familiar and intimate. As soon as she thought of Li Wangping, she woke up completely. After lying awake for some time, during which sleep wouldn’t come, she gave up altogether and sat up.
Zhu Ma had been doing some needlework outside but was on the alert for any signs of movement in the bedroom. The moment she sat up, Zhu Ma put down her sewing and entered the room to ask her, ‘Missy, do you feel like something to eat?’
Qin Sang shook her head but Zhu Ma said smilingly, ‘You’re suffering from morning sickness now so your appetite is probably quite dull. The kitchen just brewed some chicken soup. Shall I get them to make you some noodles with that soup?’
Qin Sang asked, ‘Where is he?’
Zhu Ma knew that she meant Yi Liankai so she replied, ‘He said he had official business but won’t be out too long. Missy, actually I can tell Master does love you dearly. When Commander Yao’s daughter brought you back here and said you had fainted dead away in the restaurant, Master was really shocked — I saw him turn pale. He just stood at the doorway and shouted for the physicians to be sent for and refused to leave your side for even a moment until the physicians came.’
Qin Sang was already in a bad mood and such long-winded¹ chatter only served to irritate her further so she asked abruptly, ‘Did he go out alone?’
¹ 絮絮叨叨 xùxudāodāo. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
Zhu Ma blinked a little and answered, ‘Of course, he took the guards along…’
‘Adjutant Pan?’ Qin Sang asked with studied casualness. ‘Did he follow him out too?’
Zhu Ma said, ‘Adjutant Pan didn’t go with him.’
Qin Sang nodded slightly and said, ‘Then go and call Adjutant Pan here. I have something to ask him.’
Zhu Ma entreated, ‘Missy, you’re not feeling well now, you should lie down and rest. If there’s anything you want to ask him, I can do it for you.’
Qin Sang had been half-reclining on the pillows but was now pulling a comb through her hair. She replied, ‘It’s all right. I’ll ask him myself.’
Zhu Ma, thinking that she wanted to interrogate Pan Jianchi about Yi Liankai’s whereabouts, felt uneasy². However, she still helped Qin Sang to change her clothes, wash her face and comb her hair before going down to look for Adjutant Pan.
² 犯嘀咕 fàn dígu: have misgivings; have doubts. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
‘a white plum blossom in a vase’ — Ch. 15.4, © 12
Image source
After such a delay, it was already dark when Pan Jianchi came upstairs. It being winter, the days were short so Qin Sang had turned on the light in the room. She was wearing a peacock blue qipao, the top of which was sparsely embroidered with plum blossoms. She was sitting on a sofa, bathed in the soft golden light of a lamp behind her. Under that glow, the blue qipao resembled a porcelain vase and had an almost chilly lustre. Her face, which was exceedingly pale in contrast, put one in mind of a white plum blossom in a vase.
Unconsciously, Pan Jianchi made his steps lighter but still she seemed to have sensed something and lifted her head. As she looked up, the lamplight seemed to trickle down her back like flowing water whilst her ears appeared to turn a faint translucent pink, like the lychee* stone seal on Yi Liankai’s study table. So just for that spellbound instant, he hesitated a fraction and did not immediately greet her.
However, Qin Sang merely said gravely, ‘Zhu Ma’ and gave her a speaking look. Zhu Ma understood that Qin Sang had something to discuss with Adjutant Pan so she picked up her needlework and went outside, shutting the door behind her.
The door was shut with a very soft click but it seemed to give Pan Jianchi a jolt for he bowed slightly and said almost inaudibly, ‘Madam.’
Qin Sang, hearing him address her thus, was also slightly taken aback but she recovered immediately, pointed to a sofa beside hers and said, ‘Have a seat.’
However, Pan Jianchi did not move at all as he replied, ‘Please say whatever is on your mind, Madam.’
Qin Sang stated, ‘I’m not interested in what you’re planning to do. I won’t ask what motives you have working for Yi Liankai or what you hope to achieve by making use of him. But Miss Yao is just a young girl. Don’t you think what you’re doing to her is too despicable?’
Pan Jianchi was silent for a long time, gazing at the window. Beyond it, the dusk•was a vast expanse of black where nothing could be seen. The glass window reflected a figure in the room who stood unmoving for a long time. It turned out to be himself. He listened to the tree branches swaying in the wind as they tapped lightly against the window, a soft rustling sound as though it were snowing ice pellets.
After a long time, he finally asked, ‘Xiaosang, do you still remember why we took to the streets in protest back then?’
Of course she did.
It had been because the Cabinet had agreed to the terms laid out by Russia and was about to cede Chuanli Peninsula° to the latter. How impassioned they had been, she thought, not like the present where they seem to have become dullards. Filled with fervour back then, believing that women were in no way inferior to men and could respond as swiftly to the call, she had lost no time in joining street demonstrations to protest the forfeiture of national sovereignty by the Cabinet and the humiliation of a nation.³
³ 喪權辱國 sàngquán-rǔguó: to forfeit sovereignty and humiliate the country (idiom). Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Thousands of students had stayed up overnight, rushing out countless slogans, turning their bedsheets into banners on which they had written ‘Return Chuanli Peninsula’. In the streets and alleys, so many leaflets had been given out that it seemed to have been snowing. Like the tide, they had rushed the police and barged into the house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to remonstrate with him…
It had only been a few years ago, but now it seemed like another lifetime altogether.
‘Do you still remember what I said to you back then? All warlords are corrupt, they carve the country up for their own ends while the Cabinet is just a puppet — outwardly strong but inwardly weak.⁴ When these warlords fight among themselves5, without exception, they’re all brave and good at fighting6 but when facing the Great Powers, each and every one of them becomes weak and easy to bully.7
⁴ 外強中干 wàiqiáng-zhōnggān.
6 驍勇善戰 xiāoyǒngshànzhàn.
7 軟弱可欺 ruǎnruò kě qī.
Murong Chen and his son meekly handed all of Hengchuan°° and a huge chunk of northern territory on a silver platter8 to the Russians: that was more than a hundred thousand mu9 of woods, of mineral resources, of land… Li Chongnianworks hand in glove with the Japanese by leasing the naval port to them, remarkably akin10 to inviting the enemy in11; while in the north-west, that Jiang Shuangxi has murky connections with the British… These warlords do everything only for their own benefit, plotting to snatch more provisions, more territory, more political capital. Not a single one of them really cares about the people or the country — every last one of them is a running dog of the foreign powers. If we want there to be peace throughout the land, if we want the people to lead good lives, we must first exterminate these warlords.’
8 拱手讓人 gǒngshǒu ràng rén.
9 畝 mǔ: a traditional unit of area equal to one fifteenth of a hectare.
Qin Sang stared at him dazedly.
His voice was extremely soft: if she so much as moved, she would not be able to hear what he was saying. Every word had been enunciated, very softly, but very precisely.
He was not so much speaking as declaring, ‘I know you think I’m a scoundrel, but I’m not doing this for myself. Do you know how my parents, my older brother, my younger sister… how they all died? They were all killed at Xuzhuang — how many were killed in that last civil war between Li Chongnian and Jiang Shuangxi? How many families were torn apart? How many people lost their families12 like I did? You think I don’t want revenge? You think I don’t want to live my days peacefully? But the country is ruined and the people are starving13: when the nest is upset, how can any eggs be left intact?14 This country is on the verge of collapse15 — what home is there to speak of then? My family died at the hands of the warlords, tens of thousands more families have been ruined by these men. Compared to all they’ve done, how can my making use of an innocent girl’s feelings be considered despicable?’
14 Variant of 覆巢之下無完卵 fùcháozhīxiàwúwánluǎn: 1. lit. when the nest is upset no egg is left intact (idiom) 2. fig. when one falls in disgrace the whole family is doomed. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
(Approx. 1082 words)
12’s notes:
* A mineral rock so named because the whiteness looks like the flesh of the lychee.
• 夜色 yèsè: dusk. The original title of this book was《夜色》so I think its being mentioned here has some significance.
° A fictitious name that I’m cautiously certain corresponds to Shandong Peninsula. Probably she was referencing this incident where there really was a case of the students setting fire to an official’s house.
5 自相殘殺 zì xiāng cánshā: (of persons within a group, party, etc.) kill each other; cause one another’s death.
°° Another fictitious place that I’m also cautiously certain corresponds to the Liaodong Peninsula.
10 活脫脫 huótuōtuō: remarkably alike
11 引狼入室 yǐn láng rù shì: invite a wolf into the house – open the door to an enemy
12 家破人亡 jiāpò-rénwáng: family bankrupt and the people dead (idiom); ruined and orphaned
13 國破家亡 guópò-jiāwáng: the country ruined and the people starving (idiom)
15 搖搖欲墜 yáoyáoyùzhuì: 1. tottering 2. on the verge of collapse.
