Chapter 3

The next day, a guest arrived—a potbellied man about Master Zhao’s age. His surname was Zhang, I heard. He still wore his Qing queue.

Master Zhao and his four surviving madams entertained him. At the table they chatted happily, trading toasts, while Xiaolan and I hurried about pouring wine and bringing dishes.

Master Zhang got drunk. His eyes kept straying toward Su Xiu.

“Brother Zhao, what a fortunate man you are! A whole house full of heavenly beauties. There’s something special about a lovely woman by lamplight, isn’t there?”

Su Xiu’s face flushed. I couldn’t tell whether she was embarrassed or angry.

The Third Madam covered her mouth and laughed, her shrill voice hurting my ears.

“My, Lord Zhang, you certainly know quality when you see it. Our lovely Su here used to be a college student.”

His eyes lit up.

“No wonder she carries herself so differently! Come, recite a poem for me.”

He seized her hand and rubbed it hard. “Such a delicate wrist. You could snap it with a touch. Ha!”

Su Xiu went white. Her nails dug into her palm as she looked at Master Zhao for help.

He frowned, reluctant. She’d only been here six months. He hadn’t had enough of her yet.

Master Zhang slowly released her hand.

“Never mind,” he said coldly. “I thought you understood me, Brother Zhao. I came here so we could pursue great things together. Clearly I was mistaken.”

He stood as though to leave.

Master Zhao laughed heartily. “Brother, what are you saying? She’s only a woman. If you want her, why would I refuse? Su Xiu, go and get ready. You’ll attend Master Zhang tonight.”

The First and Third Madams looked triumphant. The Fourth Madam lowered her head and tucked her little feet beneath her skirt, terrified of being drawn into it.

Su Xiu stared in disbelief, biting her lip until it bled.

Master Zhang stayed in a guest room that night.

When I went to wash Su Xiu’s feet, I found her climbing onto a chair. A length of white silk hung from the beam overhead.

My basin crashed to the floor.

The noise startled her too. Her gathered courage broke. She crouched on the floor and sobbed.

The room was deathly still.

“I could go instead.”

My voice was calm.

She looked up in astonishment, her face still streaked with tears. She looked almost comical.

“What did you say?”

“I’ll go. You don’t want to, do you?”

“Of course I don’t,” she choked out. “I’m a living person!”

After a moment she looked at me carefully. “Hongzhi, why would you help me?”

I shrugged. “It’s not really for you. I’m trying to make something of my own life. If Master Zhao treats him so politely, he must be somebody important. If I can attach myself to him, why shouldn’t I have a good life?”

Su Xiu’s lips moved, but nothing came out.

At last she bowed down and touched her forehead to the floor before me.

“Whatever your reason, Hongzhi, thank you.”

And so, under cover of darkness, I went into Master Zhang’s room.

He abused me. Mercifully, it didn’t last long; he was an old man. Afterward he fell straight asleep, snoring.

I cried from the pain.